I’m sure I say this every year but wow, 2022 has been a good year for films. I found it so hard to cut my list down but for what it’s worth here is my Top Ten, in no particular order:
Aftersun
My favourite film of the year. It is a personal, beautiful, original masterpiece. I adored it, even if I did make me sob my heart out.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
I was lucky enough to attend the UK premiere at London Film Festival and it was altogether one of my most enjoyable evenings of the year. Watching this riot of a murder mystery set on a billionaire’s private island with a full audience was just a delight. It is laugh out loud funny, clever and twisty, with a full house of hilarious performances from the ensemble cast and some brilliantly unexpected cameos.
Bones And All
Now, this is a coming of art cannibal road trip love story but keep reading! It is gory and shocking in places but more than that it is human and beautiful and everything else you would expect from Luca Guadignino who made the wonderful Call Me By Your Name.
The Banshees of Inisherin
I might start a petition that Martin McDonagh, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson have to make at least one film a year together.
Top Gun: Maverick
I wrote a longer post about this back in May, so suffice it to say I absolutely loved it.
Decision to Leave
A Korean noir thriller, this has to be seen for the most beautiful and creative film direction (from the brilliant Park Chan-wook) and cinematography plus captivating performances.
Triangle of Sadness
An absolute blast of a film, funny riotous gross out and clever. It could be argued that shooting arrows at the super-rich is a bit obvious but when the arrows are this sharp it is a joy to watch.
The Wonder
Florence Pugh is an absolute wonder. Her performance was the highlight of the otherwise slightly disappointing Don’t Worry Darling and she excels again in this, a weird and disconcerting story of a starving girl in post-famine Ireland.
Elvis
If you’re looking for a subtle exploration of the phenomenon of Elvis Presley, this is not the film for you. Baz Luhrmann brings his usual ‘more is more’ style to the subject and Austin Butler is a perfect lead man.
The Worst Person in the World
I absolutely loved this Norwegian comedy drama about finding and losing yourself in your twenties. It is smart, poignant and funny and deserves a lot more attention than it got.