It\u2019s here. The big one. According to Grandmaster Letterbox, I\u2019ve watched 59 films that were released this year, and it\u2019s time to give \u2018em a ranking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m defining 2024 films as films that were released in the UK in this year, so don\u2019t be getting confused if you see ones that were technically released earlier in the ol\u2019 US of A.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and if you\u2019re not a fan of those newfangled words and such like, you can view a summary list of the films on my Letterbox account at the bottom of the post. Enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
59 Kinds of Kindness<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This might be a controversial placement for some, but in this writer\u2019s humble opinion, Kinds<\/em> honked. Absolutely honked. Yorgos has different levels of weird, sure. Poor Things<\/em>, which arrived in the UK early this year, was my perfect level of Yorgos weird. This one though, not so much. I really liked The Favourite<\/em>, but I was kind of indifferent to The Lobster<\/em> and The Killing of a Sacred Deer<\/em>. This one? Definitely the weakest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 58 Megalopolis<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yeah, this was ass. I didn\u2019t think it was too bad on my initial viewing, but it seems kind of shite on reflection. And it\u2019s kind of an achievement that Shia Le Beouf has created a supremely irritating, nonsensical figure that\u2019s on par with Jared Leto\u2019s crackpot figure in House of Gucci. What are they doing there? Why? Why can\u2019t I procure some Willy Wonka style tech, reach through the screen and give them a major league bitch slap? There are plenty of other problems, but yeah. It hard not to think that Francis Ford Coppola could\u2019ve poured all his millions into a more charitable endeavour rather than the dreaded \u2018passion project\u2019 that has unfortunately come into being here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 57 Red One <\/p>\n\n\n\n Really? A $250 mil budget and this was all you could come up with? The cast is pretty decent, but this doesn\u2019t change the fact that the film\u2019s shite. No Christmas spirit, a horrible screenplay and a lacklustre plot to boot. Boot this stinky brown present onto the curb and don\u2019t give it a second glance. Arguably, don\u2019t give it a first glance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 56 My Old Ass <\/p>\n\n\n\n What is this garbage? I was expecting something smart, sassy and a little bit poignant, but this film is none of those things. I like Aubrey Plaza, but the whole narrative felt hollow and needlessly sentimental. The film couldn\u2019t really settle on whether it wanted to be a cheesy chick flick (chick flick, yay! My most-hated film genre) or a more serious coming-of-age drama. Like the above entry. Ass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare \u2013 I knew this flick would be dumb as hell before starting it. You just need to look at the director to confirm that (it\u2019s directed by Guy Ritchie, btw). There\u2019s also an increased level of dumbness when it begins with the usual bs \u2018based on a true story\u2019 shtick. And a further level of dumbness when I saw that Freddie Fox is in this joint. Bleugh. But hey, it\u2019s about opening a British can of whoop ass on a bunch of Nazis, which is nice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 54 Hostile Dimensions<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is probably more of a reflection of my inexperience with super low budget flicks, but the plot just didn\u2019t quite work for me, and the acting quality was pretty low, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 53 Damsel<\/p>\n\n\n\n Decent visuals and a spirited performance from Millie Bobbie Brown aren\u2019t enough to detract from weak plotting and weaker characterisation. Also, it\u2019s probably in competition for the \u2018Film That\u2019s Quickest to Mention Its Own Title\u2019 award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 52 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 <\/p>\n\n\n\n The voice acting is great (a particular shoutout to Keanu Reeves, charismatic as ever), and the choice to cast Jim Carey as Doctor Robotnik is certainly inspired. However, the high energy, multiple cut excuse for a narrative isn\u2019t something I got into so much. It\u2019s a kid\u2019s film, after all, but still, it needed more focus. Most of the kids in the theatre enjoyed it though, so there\u2019s that. *Goes into Seymour Skinner monologue* Am I so out of touch? No. It\u2019s the children who are wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 51 Kraven the Hunter <\/p>\n\n\n\n Not quite as terrible as a lot of people said, but I realise that\u2019s not a ringing endorsement. Essentially an advertisement for Aaron Taylor Johnson\u2019s abs. If you\u2019re looking for narrative depth or half decent characterisation, hunt elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 50 Venom: The Last Dance<\/p>\n\n\n\n The original was fun and silly, the sequel didn\u2019t work, and the threequel\u2019s slightly superior to the sequel, which isn\u2019t saying a whole lot. But, you know, it could\u2019ve been worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 49 Maestro<\/p>\n\n\n\n OH HEY IT\u2019S YOU BRADLEY COOPER WEE WOO I GUESS A STAR IS BORN WASN\u2019T ENOUGH OSCAR BAIT FOR YOU EH SO LET\u2019S GO AGAIN WEE WOO OH NO IT DIDN\u2019T WORK THIS TIME EITHER OH WHAT A SHAME WEE WOO BEGONE YOU UNDERWHELMING FU-<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was at this point that the writer was forced to step away from the laptop and rationalise that she probably had an irrational hatred of Bradley Cooper, partly because she thinks he\u2019s an overrated actor\/director, but mostly because of The Place Beyond the Pines<\/em>. If you know, you know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 48 Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hey. It\u2019s me again. Yeah, I\u2019m cool. But not as cool as this frozen mess. Admittedly, I didn\u2019t see Afterlife, but the characterisation here didn\u2019t do much for me, even despite the charisma of Paul Rudd. Also, the nostalgia ploy with the original crew appearing again felt a bit cheap and unwarranted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 47 The Beekeeper<\/p>\n\n\n\n These generally aren\u2019t the kind of films I\u2019m into, but it does a decent job of, uh, doing what it does, I guess. And it\u2019s fun to see Josh Hutchinson play an all-out douchebag for once. If you\u2019re willing to accept the complete lack of logic in this flick, you\u2019ll probably enjoy it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 46 Bob Marley: One Love <\/p>\n\n\n\n Admittedly, I did arrive to this screening a couple of minutes late, but that doesn\u2019t change the fact that One Love can be quickly added to the very average pile of music biopics like Bohemian Rhapsody that follow the lead musician\u2019s career in a rather dull, linear and unilluminating fashion. And like Bohemian Rhapsody, the central performance is impressive, but there\u2019s not much going on in terms of supporting characters or screenplay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 45 If<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m sure there was a bit of heart in this, and the central concept is nice, but the plot doesn\u2019t really go anywhere, and Ryan Reynolds doesn\u2019t bring a whole lot to the table. Good intentions, bad execution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 44 The Iron Claw<\/p>\n\n\n\n This one didn\u2019t really do it for me, despite getting a lot of love from critics. Zac Efron puts in a good performance and widens his acting range, and there\u2019s other good acting in there, the plot just didn\u2019t really convince me. It is based on a true story, but that fact didn\u2019t pull enough punches (see what I did there?) to add any depth to the narrative. For me, anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 43 Joker Folie a Deux<\/p>\n\n\n\n I didn\u2019t hate this as much as most peeps did, but it wasn\u2019t exactly vintage, either. Juaquin Phoenix puts in a committed performance as Arthur Fleck\/Joker, but the plot structure holds on by a thread. Then again, the soundtrack certainly pops. Gotta love those scary strings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 42 The Bikeriders<\/p>\n\n\n\n This, like a few of the entries on here, is based on a true story. But again, this doesn\u2019t change the fact that it\u2019s not very good. Sure, there\u2019s a decent amount of rizz being shared around here with Tom Hardy, Austin Butler and Jodie Comer, but the source material seems inconsequential and the screenplay ain\u2019t as smart as it thinks it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 41 Wicked <\/p>\n\n\n\n No, it won\u2019t be getting me into musicals any time soon, but I guess it\u2019s good at what it does. That\u2019s not to say I\u2019m completely against the musical as a genre. There are certainly some bangers out there (see: Bugsy Malone, Oliver!), but Wicked just didn\u2019t do much to change my mind. I certainly appreciate the immense revenue it brought in for the cinematic world, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 40 Society of the Snow<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hey look, another guy based on a true story. But a definite true story this time, since it\u2019s based on Alive!, an earlier adaptation of the true story based on the book of the same name that was based on the true story of the tragic plane crash. Yeah, a lot of confusing prose to deal with there. The narrative is pretty clinical, and it\u2019s difficult to engage with the characters. It\u2019s still an impressive piece of filmmaking, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 39 Civil War<\/p>\n\n\n\n I don\u2019t get the people who are hyping this up so much. Which isn\u2019t to say it\u2019s bad, because it\u2019s not. It\u2019s a compelling dystopian narrative and there\u2019s some decent characters to latch onto. And Jesse Plemons is on impressive scary form, even though he\u2019s only a cameo. There\u2019s just not enough depth here to give the film much attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 38 Paddington in Peru<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yep, I\u2019m going to repeat the boring narrative that this threequel\u2019s not as good as the first two films. Because it isn\u2019t. But that\u2019s not to say that the third entry is terrible. It\u2019s got the same spirit, it\u2019s just a shame that original Paddington director Paul King handed over the reins and that Sally Hawkins departed from her role as Mary Brown. Paddington in Peru is nonetheless perfectly cromulent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 37 Red Rooms<\/p>\n\n\n\n A compelling psychological thriller in the vein of David Cronenberg, with an equally compelling plot and an intriguingly blank protagonist to go along with it. You never know exactly what the motivations are behind her actions, but that\u2019s what makes things interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 36 The Fall Guy<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hey, it\u2019s not vintage Gosling, but it\u2019s still a decent bit of fun, and his chemistry with Emily Blunt is suitably impressive. Like The Nice Guys, but not as good. Then again, The Nice Guys is Gosling\u2019s comedic magnum opus (so far, anyway), so that\u2019s hard to beat. Lots of fun stunts, and the film is a nice shout out to the stuntman community in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 35 Drive Away Dolls<\/p>\n\n\n\n I wasn\u2019t really sure which direction this joint was going in, but maybe that\u2019s kind of the point. It is a Cohen film, after all (just the one, mind you; Ethan Coen departed from the dynamic duo to make a solo film venture). Also, I wish Pedro Pascal had more screen time, because this is Pedro pascal we\u2019re talking about here, goshdarnit. But hey, I can\u2019t have everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 34 Wicked Little Letters<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s always great to see Olivia Coleman on screen, and even though this isn\u2019t one of her standout performances, she still has some decent sparring with Jessie Buckley. The attempt to eject some emotional oomph in there with the suggested repressed background of Colman\u2019s character doesn\u2019t quite land, but there are some decent verbal fights to enjoy here nonetheless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 33 Deadpool and Wolverine<\/p>\n\n\n\n The second entry in the Deadpool franchise was a slight disappointment, but this instalment puts things back up to standard. And it justifies Hugh Jackman\u2019s return after Logan, which is nice. Because I wasn\u2019t expecting that. And while the central villain ain\u2019t that compelling, it\u2019s got enough jokes and camaraderie from the duo to make sure that it\u2019s definitely worth a watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 32 Cadejo Blanco<\/p>\n\n\n\n An impressive, slow-paced thriller that has a lot more to it than you might think. Yes, this film was indeed released officially three years ago, but it only received its UK release this year. It\u2019s only available on digital platforms, but you should seek it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 31 Inside Out 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still can\u2019t get over the fact that this is already the highest-grossing animated film of all time. Don\u2019t get me wrong, I really enjoyed it, I just wasn\u2019t expecting it to gain traction that quickly. Anyway, it\u2019s a big boost for the cinema in general, and it should also act as a subtle nudge to Disney executives to maybe not put their animated joints straight on Disney+ before airing them on the big screen. Like the original, this sequel manages to pack a big emotional punch, but also opens up warranted ideas for potential future films in the series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 30 The Apprentice<\/p>\n\n\n\n No, it was never going to win voters towards the democrat side. If anything, it probably encouraged right wing leaning folks in the annoying orange\u2019s direction. Nonetheless, Ali Abbasi\u2019s biographical film on Trump\u2019s rise to power is an illuminating look at the structures of power and corruption in the US of A.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 29 Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, it\u2019s technically a television movie rather than a big screen movie, but Letterbox let me put it on my account, so I\u2019m, uh, counting it. The dynamic duo\u2019s latest adventure perhaps doesn\u2019t have the simplicity and subtlety that made the original trilogy so iconic, but it\u2019s still got oodles of creativity as Wallace and Gromit are forced to go up against their feathered foe once again. The guy who stands in for Peter Sallis\u2019s voice is also pretty convincing too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 28 Frida<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve got a lot of love for Frida Kahlo. I loved studying her in art lessons, and I even got the opportunity to see her famous portrait in New York\u2019s Museum of Modern Art (It\u2019s tiny! Whoa!). The film tells Kahlo\u2019s life story through her letters rather than using the talking heads technique, and it\u2019s cool to hear her own thoughts rather than talking heads explaining her work with their lofty opinions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 27 Priscilla<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a pretty admirable feat to be associated with a visual aesthetic all of your own. At least from my point of view, I can\u2019t think of the colour \u2018pink\u2019 in the film world without going straight to Sofia Coppola. The director keeps her distinctive pastel visuals here, building an immersive picture of a woman in her husband\u2019s shadow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 26 Firebrand<\/p>\n\n\n\n A very impressive period piece that focuses on Henry VIII\u2019s final bride. Katherine Parr is often set aside for earlier partners in film and television, so it\u2019s nice to see the queen take the spotlight here. Assuming you\u2019re willing to forgive a few historical revisions here, you\u2019ll have a good time. Oh, and I didn\u2019t notice the guy playing Henry VIII was Jude Law until the end credits. So good acting and make-up work there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 25 The Kitchen<\/p>\n\n\n\n Daniel Kaluuya\u2019s debut directorial joint had a really cool vibe, but it seems to have mostly fallen under the radar for some reason or other. It combines a low-key sci-fi aesthetic with a more timely political edge, to not give away details. This one definitely deserves more attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 24 American Fiction<\/p>\n\n\n\n A great mix of comedy, drama and social commentary. I haven\u2019t really seen Jeffrey Wright in many central roles, and on the evidence of American Fiction, he certainly needs to be in more. The screenplay\u2019s electric, and the supporting cast are pretty great too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 23 Road House<\/p>\n\n\n\n This remake of the Patrick Swayze original (I can\u2019t think of that name without the sound of Trailer Park Boys\u2019 Conky entering my head. If you know, you know) didn\u2019t get enough love. Part of that was probably due to the appearance of a certain Irish boxer in this, and, while he may indeed be the weakest element, that\u2019s not enough to detract from a thoroughly entertaining joint that\u2019s full of great scrambles and fight choreography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 22 Love Lies Bleeding<\/p>\n\n\n\n A really original noir that\u2019s lifted (body lifted?) by main leads Kristen Stewart and newcomer and real-life body lifter Katy M. O\u2019Brian. The distinct female gaze feels like a rare and fresh balm that definitely needs to be applied more in cinema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 21 Alien: Romulus<\/p>\n\n\n\n My Alien knowledge isn\u2019t great. As in my Alien franchise knowledge. My knowledge of aliens in general ain\u2019t great either. Because those dudes don\u2019t exist *X Files title theme plays*. But yeah, I\u2019ve only seen the original and prequel. Plus Prometheus, I guess. That one was shite. I haven\u2019t seen the other ones. But Romulus is definitely the strongest entry since the sequel. Despite relying on nostalgia in some cases, it has enough effective shocks and engaging plot to make a serious scary impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 20 We Live in Time<\/p>\n\n\n\n A surprisingly powerful British romance. Not British in the sense of Brexiteers, alcoholics or hefty amounts of c bombs being thrown around, but more in terms of the food. You know, chocolate oranges, Jaffa Cakes and plenty of Weetabix. And a bit of Weetabix foreplay. Compelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 19 Heretic <\/p>\n\n\n\n I watched this shortly before another viewing of Paddington 2 with my brother, who had yet to see the masterful ursine spectacle. It helped me remember that, while Hugh Grant\u2019s devious magician is a lovably hateful pantomime villain, the dude Grant portrays in Heretic is an all-out bastard. Claustrophobic, unsettling and tense, it\u2019s probably not the kind of horror I normally go for, but it\u2019s certainly effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 18 Jackpot!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If Everything Everywhere All At Once came across The Purge and those two got together, well, their lovechild could look something like this. This was a whole load of fun, and I need to watch more of John Cena\u2019s stuff. Even though I can\u2019t think of the name John Cena without hearing the \u2018IT\u2019S JOHN CENA\u2019 music followed by a loud chorus of some horn orchestra, that\u2019s ok. Even though thinking of that leads me to think of the dude on YouTube who harnessed the power of his nostrils to recreate that song through not one, but two recorders. Outstanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 17 Gladiator II <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ridley Scott\u2019s epic sequel ended up being a lot more entertaining than I expected. As long as you\u2019re willing to accept a few historical edits (no, there were no sharks in the colosseum. There were apparently crocodiles, though?). Denzel Washington may take the ham too far at certain points, but main man Paul Mescal keeps the narrative grounded in some good old-fashioned action and rage. And yes, there are various extreme close-ups of hands touching wheat at the start and end. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 16 Robot Dreams<\/p>\n\n\n\n A fairly simplistic but really sweet animation about friendship and loss. I\u2019m always going to be a fan of silent films (understood as films with no spoken dialogue), so this touching, quirky tale of a dog and his robot definitely hit the spot. No, the animation isn\u2019t anything revolutionary, but it\u2019s nonetheless creative and colourful. At the end of the day, there\u2019s nothing wrong with a bit of whimsical and slightly melancholic storytelling when, as with this example, it\u2019s done right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 15 Conclave<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential Popes parlaying with other potential popes with potentially pernicious purposes to try and achieve papal omnipotence (omnipopence?). Okay, that\u2019s enough \u2018p\u2019 sounds for now. Claustrophobia and tension are only increased by tight framing and jarring strings in this adaption of Robert Harris\u2019 hit novel. Ralph Fiennes also puts in one of his best performances as the morally ambiguous convenor of the conclave. Not quite as shouty and impactful as some of his \u2018louder\u2019 roles (career highlights include Harry Waters and Gustave H), but Fiennes is effective nonetheless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 14 Kneecap<\/p>\n\n\n\n I didn\u2019t quite know what to expect here with this mockumentary of the real-life Irish political musical band, but there\u2019s tonnes to enjoy here. It\u2019s incredibly refreshing to get a modern music biopic that doesn\u2019t slavishly follow cliches and expectations. Riotous, funny and very entertaining crack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 13 Longlegs<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s standard practice at this point to expect craziness when you see the name \u2018Nicolas Cage\u2019 on a cast list. You still get occasional powerhouse performances in more subdued roles like Pig and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, but this one\u2019s definitely in the realm of crazy Cage. And scary, too. Like many great horror villains, he doesn\u2019t have much screen time, but he certainly makes an impact whenever he\u2019s around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 12 A Quiet Place: Day One<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first Quiet Place was a great slice of tense horror with an intriguing central concept. The second entry was also fantastic (contrary to what a lot of critics might tell you). I wasn\u2019t sure about this one when I heard about it, but it definitely exceeded my expectations, with a killer performance from Lupita Nyong\u2019o. I also thought the old \u2018don\u2019t talk or you\u2019ll be instantly killed by alien monsters\u2019 idea would be getting tired by now, but hey, it isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 11 Late Night With The Devil <\/p>\n\n\n\n If the name David Dastmalchian doesn\u2019t sound familiar to you, then that\u2019s a crying shame. The dude has played multiple bit parts in major films over the years, most of them directed by Dennis Villeneuve and Christopher Nolan, two of my all-time favourite directors (not sure who I prefer, though. That\u2019s another tightly fought issue entirely). Examples include The Dark Knight, Blade Runner 2049 and the first Dune film. He finally gets a chance to shine in a lead role here, and it\u2019s well worth the wait. No spoilers, though. Or plot description, for that matter. My favourite horror of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 10 Challengers<\/p>\n\n\n\n Goshdarn, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross\u2019 soundtrack absolutely slaps. I\u2019m a fan of electro music as it is, but damn. The film is also complimented by the many fine performances from Zendaya, Josh O\u2019Connor and Mike Faist. Luca Guadagnino tricked you into thinking he was making a standard movie about tennis rivalries, when he was actually making a film about sex. Wow (It\u2019s much better than that, I\u2019m just not describing it very well). But yeah, great soundtrack, great acting and supreme editing and directing. Nice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9 Poor Things<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gloriously odd through and through, with a deliriously strange and joyous ending to boot. Easily one of Emma Stone\u2019s finest performances. And props to Mark Ruffalo for also dedicating them to the cause of going for the all-out whacky performance. Definitely my favourite Yorgos film. Which does make me wonder how he can make a film as disappointing as entry 59. But hey, everyone\u2019s got their preferences, I guess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 8 Perfect days<\/p>\n\n\n\n An absolutely beautiful, quiet and soulful piece of cinema. I really want to put this higher up, but there has been a load of great films this year and it\u2019s hard to decide. But anyway, this is bound to be a cult classic one day. It\u2019s also got one of the best ending facial expressions on film I\u2019ve seen in a decent while. I won\u2019t go into too much detail on that, because you\u2019ll have to watch the whole film to appreciate its subtle beauty and sadness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7 Monkey Man<\/p>\n\n\n\n As soon as I heard some guy compare this film to The Raid, my backside was firmly in a cinema seat. And it certainly lives up to that flick\u2019s feral brutality, with Dev Patel\u2019s intense training regime resulting in various broken bones. Outstanding fight choreography, plus a great performance and directorial debut from Patel. Very violent, very enjoyable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6 The Holdovers<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not sure why the US decided to release this later over here, but whatever, their loss. A genius, heartfelt treatise about loneliness and companionship, this is easily one of Paul Giamatti\u2019s finest roles. And I still really need to get round to watching Sideways, too. Anyway, great performances from all the central cast here, and the film was absolutely deserving of all its awards attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5 Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga<\/p>\n\n\n\n Definitely the loudest entry of my top 5, but its placement is more than justified. Somehow managing to better the fantastic 2015 original, Furiosa gives us the origin story of one of the Mad Max Saga\u2019s most compelling characters. Violent, chaotic and chock full of, uh, fury, Furiosa also features some dynamite performances from Anya Taylor Joy and Chris Hemsworth, as well as a nice understated cameo from Tom Burke. And I still want to do a Furiosa cosplay at some point in the future. The more you (didn\u2019t ask to) know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4 All of Us Strangers<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two Irish lads, one darn fine emotional drama. Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal are at the top of their game playing two loners in a seemingly abandoned building of flats. Intimate, poignant and tragic in turns, Andrew Haigh\u2019s latest venture might just be his best yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3 Dune Part Two<\/p>\n\n\n\n Expectations were high after Denis Villeneuve\u2019s first entry into the Duniverse. Somehow, the director managed to eclipse his first film and create an outstanding second part with audacious spectacle, fascinating characters and daring scope. His decision to split Frank Herbert\u2019s tome in two was a supremely educated decision, and one that\u2019s paid off in spades. Not spades of sand, mind you. Spades of spice. Lots of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2 Small Things Like These<\/p>\n\n\n\n This one came later in the year and knocked me straight out of the park. It\u2019s understated and slow paced, and I imagine it won\u2019t be getting anywhere this high a position in the critics\u2019 top picks for this year (if at all). But that\u2019s of no consequence. If you see Cillian Murphy\u2019s name on the cast list, you know it\u2019s worth a watch. He puts in one of the finest performances of his career as a taciturn coal merchant who discovers a shocking secret in his small community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 The Zone of Interest<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jonathan Glazer\u2019s latest film skews closest to his previous masterpiece Under the Skin, employing silence to sound to unbearably chilling effect while unseen suffering takes place in the background. It\u2019s still incredible to remember that this is the same guy who directed Sexy Beast, another stone cold classic with a completely different tone. Oh, and Mica Levi is the legend of scary synth tunes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awards:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yeah, just some shout outs to my faves. Nothing out of the ordinary. The Oscars. Or the Nancys, if you (arrogantly) will. Also, no spaces here, because WordPress doesn\u2019t let you use single line spaces, and the double line spaces look a tad weird. So get ready for some cramped entries:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Picture: Zone of Interest Best Sci-fi: Dune Part Two (Runner Up: Furiosa) Best Drama: The Holdovers (Runner Up: All of Us Strangers) Best Soundtrack: Challengers (Runner Up: Dune Part Two) Best Actor: Cillian Murphy (Runner Up: Paul Giamatti) Best Actress: Lupita Nyong\u2019o (Runner Up: Kristen Stewart) Best Supporting Actor: Dominic Sessa (Runner Up: Paul Mescal, All of Us Strangers) Best Supporting Actress: Katy M. O\u2019Brian (Runner Up: Da’Vine Joy Randolph) Best Screenplay: The Holdovers (Runner Up: Poor Things) Best Costume Design: Poor Things (Runner Up: Furiosa) Best Foreign Film: Perfect Days (Runner Up: Robot Dreams) Best Animated Film: Robot Dreams (Runner Up: Inside Out 2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yep, those are enough jumbled up awards before your eyes go square.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Summary Thoughts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Top 10: Oof, it was so difficult to order these. So many great films, such competition. I could have gone a bit cheeky by including multiple films in the same spot like Mark Kermode did for his top 5, but I didn\u2019t go for that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dark and\/or depressing films: 5. Not bad. My top 10 normally has a greater number of these guys, as dark vibes are generally my bread and butter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Comedies: 1. Like I said, dark and depressing is where I\u2019m at. But The Holdovers was a golden slice of wit and wisdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mysterious: 3. I\u2019m aware Mysterious isn\u2019t a recognised genre, but that\u2019s what I\u2019ll go for when putting together All of Us Strangers, Perfect Days and Small Things. They\u2019re all a bit different, but in a nice way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sport: 1. Sure, Challengers is so much more than that genre, but yeah, this is my only sport-y one in the top 10<\/p>\n\n\n\n Big up the Irish: Those lads have done well this year. As they should. Cillian got the second spot, while Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal bagged number four. Mescal even got in again at entry 17. Good work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bottom 10: Sure, there are some honkers here, but it\u2019s fair to say that some honked a lot more than others. It\u2019s not like all the ones down here are all atrocities, just a few here and there *COUGH*KindsOfKindnessMegalopolisRedOne*COUGH*. Phew. That was a big cough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gaps: Foreign Films. Yep, my Cineworld is never going to help me out in this area, since it prefers to stick to safer commercial fare. I\u2019ll need to travel further afield to try and see more of this kind of stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rom-coms. My most hated genre besides the evil chick flick. I\u2019m not going to go out of my way to see these next year, but it\u2019s worth acknowledging that it\u2019s nonetheless a gap in my viewing routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n