Best Movies of the year 2022

1. THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN

The Banshees explores huge ideas, like the meaning of life, the meaning of our existence, friendship, and accomplishment, and our need to remain vital throughout our lives. A cynical take on the human condition with an unusually humorous reflection on mortality and social connection managing to be both of the moment and totally timeless. It was also superbly acted (especially Farrell and Gleason) and handsomely photographed. Without a doubt, the most complex, rich and nuanced work of the year, a rare gem that is both funny and devastatingly bleak.

2. RRR

Employing vibrating creativity, RRR offers grand spectacle and drama, exhilarating action sequences, adrenaline-charged stunts and a inspiring story. This three-hour extravaganza is cinema at its finest! The most thrilling and unique action-adventure movie in recent memory, offering an epic mythical and unexpectedly unique superhero bromance.

3. Tar

Anchored by another magisterial Blanchett performance, Tar is fascinating piece of work, a virtuosic study of power and privilege set within an artistic and refined realm. Todd Field (director) uses surgical dialogues and striking visual compositions to bring a very dense, electric entrapment of ideas and treatment of a timely and provocative subject.

4. Aftersun

One of the most beautiful and affecting films I have seen this year, small and enormous, anchored by a brilliant performance by Paul Mescal. A captivating meditation on memory and the experience of looking back on your childhood with an adult perspective of seeing things we didn’t notice back then. A film about belonging, painful loss, and making recollections delivered with haunting and bruising effect.

5. Marcel and the shell with shoes on

One of the most delightful, most creative surprises of the year, funny and extraordinarily profound. Don’t be discouraged about the odd premise, this movie is as human as anything you’re see this year. Adorable, affecting and amazingly inventive, a tender, sweet, and thought-provoking look at the transformational power of family and friendship. - As much as this is a comedy, it’s an emotionally cathartic experience.

6. After Yang

This movie carries quite the philosophical weight- set in the future but rooted in timeless human emotions. It is thought provoking, a gently paced mediation on life, love, our relationship with artificial intelligence and the complexities of Asian-American relations- Only an exceptional movie can equally think and feel so vastly and pose unresolvable queries. Although movies about robots and artificial intelligence are not new, After Yang shows how artistic, beautiful and grounded science fiction can be, saying a lot about identity, loss and what it means to truly be human.

7. Pinocchio

An absolute technical marvel, the most beautiful stop-motion animation film in years. A gorgeous film, with complex themes, darker impulses and political subplots, interesting characters, and meticulous visuals. Pinocchio learns bittersweet lessons on morality, the messiness of immortality, grief and war.

8. Bardo

Bardo might be abrasive, overstuffed, political loaded, clunky and arrogant, but Iñárritu’s meticulous craftsmanship shapes Bardo into something majestic, profound and epic. It is definitely one of the most ambitious and exciting films of 2022, filled with lot scenes that are very impressive and imaginative. In essence, Bardo is an inventive and intoxicating quest to resolve unresolvable issues flowing between scenes of normal life, the surreal and the absurd.

9. Armageddon Time

This is a rare period film that can feel so powerfully timely, painting a picture of an restless society in the 1980’s divided over issues of race and class. This film turns into a sharp denunciation of privilege, generational racism and a refutation of the American Dream, where the seeds were sown decades ago. A brilliant work of memory and self-implication that embeds itself in messy social dynamics with introspection and painful relevance, pounding home uncomfortable truths with intelligence and sensitivity.

10. Triangle of Sadness

Although it takes aim at some pretty easy targets and is far from subtle about what it wants to say, Ruben Ostlund’s social satire is delightfully wicked, chaotically funny and too fun and ridiculous to not enjoy. It is a hilarious and shameless parody that makes fun of its many excesses and absurdities.

Oscar Predictions (March 2023)

Best Picture

Who is going to win: Everything Everywhere All at Once

Who should win: The Banshees of Inisherin

Comment: Some might wonder why Everything Everywhere All at Once is not on my top 10 list- well, is dramatically overrated. It is messy, incoherent, redundant and full of propositions. There are a couple of things that were interesting, but overall, a mess of a movie.

Best Director

Who is going to win: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)

Who should win: Todd Field (“Tár”)

Comment: No director was more nuanced and technically impressive that Todd Field. The Daniels will win the Oscar, but Todd Field deserves it.

Best Actor

Who is going to win: Brendan Fraser (“The Whale”)

Who should win: Brendan Fraser (“The Whale”)

Comment: This is the most competitive race this year, a tight race between Brendan, Austin and Farrell- It is a tossup, but going with Brendan due to his SAG/BAFTA wins

Best Actress

Who is going to win: Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)

Who should win: Cate Blanchett (“Tár”)

Comment: This is a very competitive race as well, but there is no question Cate deserves her third Oscar, but Michelle Yeoh is riding on the Everything wave.

Best Supporting Actor

Who is going to win: Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)

Who should win: Brendan Gleeson (“The Banshees of Inisherin”)

Comment: Ke Huy Quan was the best thing on Everything, he was great and deserved the Oscar nomination. But Gleeson deserves this Oscar, for his more nuanced, complex and wonderful performance.

Best Supporting Actress

Who is going to win: Angela Bassett (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”)

Who should win: Kerry Condon (“The Banshees of Inisherin”)

Comment: Angela will win the Oscar, not necessarily because of her performance, but her great career.

Best Original Screenplay

Who is going to win: Everything Everywhere All at Once

Who should win: The Banshees of Inisherin

Comment: The will argue that Everything was so creative and imaginative (it was, but also super messy, basic in dialogue and incoherent). Banshees was the best scrip period.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Who is going to win: All Quiet on the Western Front

Who should win: All Quiet on the Western Front

Comment: Weak category. I did like All Quite, it was a very good war film, almost made it into the top 10 list.