Sunday, December 29, 2024

The Best Movies of 2024

Here's a handy youtube playlist of all the trailers in one place, and a Letterboxd list so you can look up where to watch them. Everything is in alphabetical order.

A Different Man
It's great seeing Renate Reinsve getting english roles.


Anora
I've been a fan of Sean Baker since Starlet.


The Boy and the Heron
Might be his best since Spirited Away.

La Chimera
A dream of archeology.


Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
The CGI shows a bit in this one but it's still the best action movie of the year.


Gasoline Rainbow
Kids trying to take a trip to the coast before the end of summer, facing obstacles and relying on the goodness of strangers.  It's punk as hell.


Hundreds of Beavers
The funniest movie in years.  It's a live action Looney Tune.


Kneecap
This isn't a "true story" as much as it is a showcase.  Like 8 Mile but better.


Longlegs
For fans of The Exorcist 3


Love Lies Bleeding
"I have no idea what's going on but I'm into it"


My First Film
Odessa Young with one of the most complex performances of the year.


Naga
Really fun ride through the dark in Saudi Arabia.  How the hell did this get made?


Nosferatu
I've seen 5 versions of this movie and it's the 2nd best?


Oddity
Probably the best Golem movie ever.


Poor Things
When the reveal happens I giggled with joy.


The Promised Land
Simon Bennebjerg for villain of the year. And oh, what a comeuppance. 


Rebel Ridge
Been a fan of Saulnier since Murder Party.  Why does Don Johnson make such a good villain.


Red Rooms
I've never seen a film like this.  One of my favourites of the year.


Riddle of Fire
Kids vs cult.


Rumours
Madden's most accessible film in years.  It makes Canada look really good.


Sasquatch Sunset
The poop stuff made me laugh really hard.


Saturday Night
If you are a fan of the lore of SNL then it's a must watch.


Strange Darling
I was worried this would just be another Wolf Creek but it was a roller coaster.


The Sweet East
Not a film for the easily offended.  Great cameo from Gibby Haynes.


The Vourdalak
The vampire is a puppet.


Zef:  The Story of Die Antwoord
A note on Die Antwood, this didn't make my top 25 but this is one of the best documentaries I've seen all year. It's here as an honorable mention.  Every frame is beautiful in it's own unique way and is worth watching.  They do address some of the controversy surrounding the band, but not all.  I'll leave it up to you to look it up if you want to know.
 

Saturday, December 30, 2023

THE BEST FILMS OF 2023

Here's a handy dan youtube playlist with all the trailers

ASTEROID CITY
It's like an art gallery where the guides are part of the exhibits.


BARBIE
"Hey look!  It's the Supreme Court!"  I've been a big Greta Gerwig fan since Baghead.



BEAU IS AFRAID
Reminded me so much of Orson Welles' The Trial.



BLACKBERRY
If Glenn Howerton isn't nominated for an Oscar then there is no justice.


    THE DELINQUENTS
A wonderful little heist film with an breezy 3 hour runtime.


DICKS: THE MUSICAL
I can do with a little less Megan Thee Stallion and Bowen Yang but this is Nathan Lane's best role in years.



FALLEN LEAVES
This is what cool is in Finland.  Zero fat.



GIVE ME PITY
This whole movie is just cinematic mischief.



GODZILLA: MINUS ONE
Face it. The Japanese just make them better.



HUMANIST VAMPIRE SEEKING CONSENTING SUICIDAL PERSON
Pre Ed Wood Tim Burton Vibes. I'll watch anything Sarah Montpetit is in.



INFINITY POOL
 It's just awful people getting away with shit and I almost feel bad for enjoying it so much.


THE KILLER
All the things I love about this movie are spoilers.


OPPENHEIMER
I'm a big fan of hearings.  Just take days of boring answers and condense it down to 10 minutes of soundbites.


PAST LIVES
Kinda like Burning except nobody gets stabbed to death at the end.


THE PEOPLE'S JOKER
One of the punkest things I've ever seen.



THE PERSIAN VERSION
When she named the baby at the end of the movie I almost started crying.



PIAFFE
I have no idea what it was about but give me more weird mutant sex stuff.



ROTTING IN THE SUN
Holy shit, the turn in this move made me jump out of my chair.  One of the best non endings ever.



SANCTUARY
Qualley is quickly becoming one of my favourite actresses.  Abbott is "the guy you need to cast".



SICK OF MYSELF
This one is really fucked up.  Gives The Worst Person in the World a run for her money.




SLEEP
In the running for horror movie of the year.



SUBTRACTION
Hitchcock Iranian style.



TALK TO ME
Also in the running for horror movie of the year.  The Aussie setting is really refreshing.


TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM
Easily the best TMNT movie since the original.  And no Shredder!


UFO SWEDEN
The best Spielberg inspired film of the past 10 years.
 

 Movies cut from the long list: Suze, Dream Scenario, No Hard Feelings, La Chimera, Perfect Days, Anatomy of a Fall, Banel & Adama, How To Have Sex, The Popes Exorcist, Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, Evil Dead Rise, Bottoms, The Crime is Mine, Teachers Lounge, Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls, Polite Society, The Mountain, The Beasts, Brother, Falcon Lake, Carmen, Suzume, Skinamarink.


Biggest Disappointments: Saltburn, Outlaw Johnny Black, Afire, Exorcist Believer, My Animal, Renfield, Shazam 2, Medusa Deluxe, Joyland, The Five Devils, The Offering


Movies I haven’t seen still in consideration for 2024: Poor Things, Taste of Things, The Peasants, Monster, The Boy and the Heron, American Fiction, Zone of Interest