Top 10 films of 2022

As the year draws to a close, I thought it would a perfect time to reflect on a fantastic year for filmmaking. There have been a lot of strong options for this list and this year and so here are the top 10 films, released this year that I have loved.

10. Pearl

When I saw the advertisement for X, I thought it looked intriguing but ultimately not something that I would love; I would check it out once it reached streaming platforms. Little did I know its follow up would make it on to my top 10 films of the year. Ti West and Mia Goth have found such a great pocket of creativity that has worked wonders on both sides. Mia Goth already delivered such a strong performance in X but Pearl allows the focus to be trained exclusively on her and it works all the better for it. Mia delivers a standout performance and the rural, 1910’s American setting propel this film into one of the best horror films of this year. Mia Goth is a star, and I am so excited for Maxxxine to see where this story ends

9. Top Gun Maverick

I was slightly apprehensive to check this out as I had not watched the original, but I am so glad that I listened to others and watched this. Not all films have to be genre defining, challenging experiences, sometimes you want to sit down, shut off your brain and enjoy a story. This is not to dismiss Top Gun Maverick, there is clearly so much care put in to this film and it really translates into the viewing experience. The dedication from Cruise, the filmmakers and the rest of the cast is admirable and truly elevates this above all other blockbuster shtick that gets churned out each year. The commitment to realism from the cast was worth it because those jet scenes are genuinely breath-taking. It is such a great viewing experience and the last of the movie stars really does set the standard for the Hollywood blockbusters moving forward.

8. Jackass Forever

This may seem out of place with the rest of the films here, but I think that is a misjudged assumption. Jackass has so much merit and I genuinely love it as a series. Is it juvenile? Without a doubt! Is it grotesque? certainly! Is it a fantastic time? Yes, yes and again yes. Jackass has always been a great series although the high moments were surrounded with a lot of filler in my opinion. With this entry they have acknowledged what makes the series so funny and homed in on it. The highs are so high, and it feels a lot more streamlined with most gags hitting and hitting hard. The new additions to the cast gel fantastically and the air of nostalgia really hits home how formative this series was to me and countless other people over the past 20 years or so. It is a thing of beauty in a strange, sadistic way and I am so glad it got the grand send off it was so deserving of.

7. Bodies Bodies Bodies

The more I sit with this film, the more I love it. It is just so likeable, from the cast, the direction, the production choices, the script. It feels very much within the vein of a scream, yet it feels so unique and its own thing that it almost feels silly comparing it to other films within the genre. The cast is perfect, and I hope Rachel Sennott gets the flowers she is so overdue. She was fantastic in Shiva Baby and truly steals the show here. I had so much fun watching this, and I am so glad that there are still fun areas of the horror genre to explore. This balances so many moods and emotions: fear, anxiety, sadness and comedy but never leans too much into any of these to tie it down in a way that you feel like you know what to expect. This is such a fresh twist that I for one welcome to the slasher genre. For me this is this generation's cult classic, and I really hope more people check it out.

6. Nope

What a return to form for Jordan Peele. I was not a fan of Us so much so that I almost did not check this out when it was released theatrically. I am so glad I did not listen to my idiot self because this is genre defining work from Jordan Peele. I loved this so much that I saw it in cinema twice and told everyone I knew to go watch it. I have never been a huge alien film enjoyer until this. This film knocks it out of the park. I love Peele’s approach to film and how he weaves a story from small intricate details that all ad up to an overarching story. Peele cares so much about this film and the viewing experience that it is hard not to do the same as the watcher. Peele is such a force in modern cinema, and I am all for his fresh approach to the genre. I feel like he could have a Del Toro like impact on the horror/monster genre, he is that impressive to me. This film has everything that I want from this kind of film, suspense, drama, genuinely horrifying scenes, some classic Peele comedy that really stamps his mark on the movie. Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer are incredible leads and have such great chemistry that elevates an already stellar script. What’s more, the cinematography of Nope is beautiful. There are some breath-taking shots in this that made me want to say “wow” out loud in the theatre when I first saw them. Such a great film and I am so excited to see where Peele takes us next.

5. Pinocchio

Speaking of Del Toro, here we are with my most wholesome entry into this list. I love a fresh, new, unique story but I also love it when an established story is given a new twist, so much so that you can hardly compare it to the original. Do not get me wrong, I love the Disney film and think it is timeless. That said, this new Del Toro entry is a work of art and a clear labour of love. When a director is so passionate about their work, it often translates into the final product, and this is certainly the case here. Like a carpenter, Del Toro carves his own mark into Pinocchio that leaves this version distinctly his own. It helps that it is so visually stunning. The craftmanship that went in to the stop motion here cannot be undersold. I was in awe at the attention to detail and the overall visual spectacle that this film is. It is beautiful and the story compliments it so well. Del Toro has carved his own style into the classic wooden boy whilst staying true to the original story. I am so glad there are film makers like Del Toro that have crazy passion projects like this and that they are given the platform to create them.

4. The Batman

Ok, the nerd in me is dying to explore every tiny detail about this film but I will try and keep it comprehendible. To be blunt, this is the standard for superhero films moving forward. Now this is not me saying that I want Spiderman to be a 3-hour long, black and white crime noir film (although I would definitely go see that movie), I just want future superhero films to be treated with the care that Matt Reeves gives the character of Batman and this film. Batman has been done to death by now and Nolan has created arguably the pinnacle of the genre 3 times over so what is left to say? That is where Reeves steps in and creates HIS Batman. I grew up with Batman as my superhero, I read the comics, played the video games, watched the films, the animated series and I am so glad to see a new rendition of the character in Pattinson’s Batman. Reeves takes the fundamental core characteristics of Batman, adds a stellar supporting cast of rouges, and crafts a story that could have come straight out of the comics, yet feels so fitting to modern society. Early-years Batman is not something that has been explored in film but made for some fantastic games and comics, so I am so glad it translated so well to the silver screen. The soundtrack and cinematography added so much to the moody atmosphere and created such a unique feeling to a well known and loved character. I am so pleased with all the choices made in this film and I am so excited for follow up films and I am praying that the Court of Owls rumours are true.

3. Triangle of Sadness

I do not think I have laughed harder at a film than this one right here. I am sure the cinema I was in hated me because I could not keep myself together during this, especially the storm scene. Adam Mckay should take notes, this is how you do a satirical film. Whilst the satire is not ground-breaking, it does not need to be, it is so well written, so effective, and so hilarious that it succeeds in its intentions. Satire does not need to be so conceptual and ground-breaking that it leaves your jaw permanently stuck to the floor, it just needs to be effective. And by God is Triangle of Sadness effective. The choice to separate the story into chapters that are very distinct yet tying to the overall story keeps things fresh and allows the story to focus on hyper-intense scenarios that might have got lost had the story tried to flow. The argument over the bill is a hilarious scene on its own that could be an effective short film; tie that into the survivor portion of the film on the island and it creates a snowball effect that makes the latter scene even funnier. Great performances and a hilarious script leaves this as the funniest film of the year by a country mile.

2. Everything Everywhere All at Once

Just missing out on the top spot is this film. Where to start here, I heard all the hype surrounding this film so went in with high expectations. Halfway through the film, I was enjoying myself but the film then shifted, and I was left an emotional wreck. This is an incredible film about family that gets reduced to the multiverse. Is the multiverse part entertaining? For sure, but it is merely the means to tell a beautiful story. The way the multiverse is used is wonderfully clever and adds different elements at different times. It is reassuring to see a film run with a concept that is silly and fun and really run with it. The fact that one of the hardest hitting scenes in this film takes place between two rocks and how emotional it makes you is testament to the writers and how much attention is paid to the script. What makes this so good is that it is a well told and known tale that is told through such a unique lens. This allows the filmmakers to explore themes such as detachment from parents, partners, life ambitions in unique ways that have not been told before. A fresh perspective on an established tale can be just as impressive and impactful as an entirely new story and I am so impressed with the creator of this for taking such a unique approach and making it hit all the emotional beats like clockwork. This is one of those films that everyone needs to see, and I love that cinema keeps producing works of art like this.

1. Aftersun

Sometimes a film comes around that just dominates everything. If you had asked me straight after seeing Everything Everywhere All at Once if I would see a better film that year I would have laughed and confidently said “not a chance.” That was before seeing Aftersun. This is a timeless piece of media that transcends just watching a film. I love this film and how it has made me feel since seeing it. I watched this early December and have not been able to shake it from my thoughts since then. It is such a harrowing story but also wonderfully heart-warming. I went from scene to scene, one moment feeling an overwhelming sense of warmth and adulation for the father/daughter relationship shown on screen to utter horror, dread and all-consuming sadness within minutes. It is such powerful story telling and my love for this film has grown day by day since having had time to sit and process it. Paul Mescal is the sad boy voice of a generation. From Normal People to this, that man has suffered enough on-screen misery for a whole career, but by God does he do a good job of making me feel just soul crushing sadness. Frankie Corio equals Paul’s performance and the two’s natural chemistry is a marvel that I doubt any other combination of actors could match. Both give such powerful performances that complement the story so well, I hope they both clean up at the award season as they rightfully deserve to.

Initially I was not a fan of the inconsistencies and vagueness in certain aspects of the story, but upon reflection and having read some other reviews on LetterBoxd, I kept finding unique takes that I had not considered when I viewed the film. As the whole film is one big memory (bar the tape recordings), the vagueness works perfectly. Memories are subjective, you could experience the exact same day with another person and in 10 years have very different recollections. To replicate this on screen is an incredible achievement and I cannot think of any other film like it. The more artistic choices throughout may initially be confusing but towards the end tie into the story so well and create such a beautiful yet harrowing visual metaphor. I think that is what is so special about this film, there are so many feelings that are touched on just enough on screen to provoke deeper feelings in the viewer, to allow interpretation without leaving things too vague or spelling things out too much. I love this film and do not know when I will stop thinking about it. It is a modern masterpiece that should be heralded among the best. What a way to close the year. Charlotte Wells is a wonderful filmmaker, storyteller, artist and I hope her work has as strong an impact on you as it did on me.