It’s that time of year again where I talk about the best films the previous year had to offer, and 2022 had plenty of good films, ranging from multiverses to fine dining, and even a murder mystery or two. With that being said, here are what I think are the best films of 2022!
#10.) Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
Tired of those biopics that fail to accurately portray its subject for the sake of making an entertaining movie? Well, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story is for you! Weird does for Bohemian Rhapsody what Walk Hard did for Walk the Line, and that is to lampoon the hell out of musical biopics. As expected, Weird has that Weird Al touch and it wants you to know it. Like the subject himself, Weird goes all out with its goofiness as it spends the majority having fun with what it does. It helps that the real Weird Al had a hand in writing the film (even going so far as to having a cameo). I had fun watching Weird, despite the buffering problems with Roku, which you can watch on the site for free.
#09.) Mad God
Technically, Mad God came out in 2021 at the 74th Locarno Film Festival, but it didn’t get an official US release until the summer of 2022 when Shudder acquired the distribution rights. After watching Mad God, I was blown away by the entirety of it. Though it tends to get sidetracked with incoherent weirdness, the world of Mad God is a visual feat thirty years in the making. Phil Tippett made a name for himself working on films like Star Wars and Jurassic Park, but with Mad God, he made something special. Through all the grit and grime lies a beauty that shines through. Had it not stumbled in parts, I probably would have ranked it higher.
#08.) Hustle
Thought that Uncut Gems was a fluke in Adam Sandler’s recent career? Well, The Sandman is here to prove you all wrong with Hustle. A sports drama on Netflix. I have always liked Sandler even when waddling through his garbage. But when he does drama, he can actually act. Though Hustle may not be Sandler’s most Oscar-worthy performance, it may just be Sandler’s most uplifting film. Calling Hustle “inspirational” is a cop-out. It is so much more and then some.
#07.) The Lost City
An adventure-Rom-Com with the likes of Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum sounded like a recipe for greatness, and The Lost City delivers in almost every aspect. It never lets up as it goes from one hilarious situation to the next. The Lost City is a comedy I needed to get me through the year and I enjoyed the ride. Bullock and Tatum have great chemistry, while Brad Pitt and Daniel Radcliffe also add hilarity to their parts. Hollywood needs to make more comedies like The Lost City.
#06.) Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
After the disappointment that was Knives Out (Sorry to admit that), I was not sure what to expect with Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, but I can tell you that it truly surprised me in more ways than one. Not only is its ensemble cast of characters impressive with more to do, but its twist and turns kept me on the edge, making for a fun, hilarious, and thrilling movie that outdoes its predecessor. A third Knives Out is in the works, so only time will tell if Rian Johnson hits gold with the next installment.
#05.) Pearl
Ti West’s follow-up to X is a technicolor achievement that hearkens back to the golden age of Hollywood, with inspiration taken from The Wizard of Oz and Psycho. Pearl outdoes its predecessor in more ways than one by giving a compelling backstory of last year’s most complicated villain. Mia Goth is at her best here as she goes through a range of emotions from the excitement of a girl with hopes and dreams to the crazed rantings of a psychopath in the making, coming full circle in a lengthy monologue that rivals Charlie Chaplin’s speech in The Great Dictator as the best speech in film history.
#04.) The Menu
I just watched The Menu quite recently, and I was blown away by its atmosphere. The film is at first an inviting look at fine dining and luxurious cuisine with interesting characters making commentary. Then, once Ralph Fiennes’ Chef enters the picture, things take a dark, disturbing turn. Though it isn’t all doom and gloom, as The Menu is a darkly hilarious satire of the food industry vs. the rich and privileged that grabs you and leaves you thinking about its finale. Also, never has a cheeseburger looked so appetizing.
#03.) Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio
Guillermo Del Toro returns with a new version of Pinocchio that is more or less the version we know, but with a different twist. After the slog that was Robert Zemeckis’ version of Pinocchio, we have been blessed with a film that takes Carlo Collodi’s source material and adds something fresh to the story. The animation is fantastic, of course, with its perfect stop-motion visuals, but its themes of mortality, grief, and what it means to be a person is what makes Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio shine through. I am rooting for this film to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar.
#02.) Everything Everywhere All At Once
Throughout the year, no film has had much of an impact on cinema as Everything Everywhere All at Once. Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert have crafted an original film exploring the many possibilities of the multiverse, with mind-bending results, while also being exciting, hilarious, and even emotional. Michelle Yeoh has never been better as she tackles many different versions of herself, while the return of Ke Huy Quan is something to celebrate. There is no doubt that Everything Everywhere All at Once is making an impact during awards season, and I see it being nominated for the Oscars as well.
#01.) Bullet Train
It was hard to top Everything Everywhere All at Once, but something about Bullet Train hit all the right notes. The film is exciting, bright, colorful, hilarious, and satisfying. I don’t think I have ever had fun with any movie than I did with Bullet Train. It may not win any Oscars, but it won a spot at the top of my list for sure!
Honorable Mentions:
The Bad Guys
Dreamworks Animation’s latest feature never lets up when it comes to delivering fast-paced action and relentless hilarity. I had a blast with The Bad Guys and would love to see more of this group take on more adventures!
The Bob’s Burgers Movie
It really is a shame that The Bob’s Burgers Movie didn’t do well at the box office, and more than likely fell into obscurity at this point, because this movie is delightful! As someone who has rarely watched the show, I found it to be quite an enjoyable little film. There is something about seeing a 2D animated feature that just feels fresh. Maybe it will gain a cult following of some kind.
Marry Me
Just when I thought that romantic comedies were leaning towards generic, in comes a rom-com that changes my view a bit. I was really surprised by Marry Me with its fresh take on the genre, along with the chemistry between Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson.
The Batman
To anyone who has doubted whether The Batman would work based on casting alone, you would be surprised as to how much merit it holds. Matt Reeves’ take on the Caped Crusader is a grounded superhero film that works as a gritty crime drama and detective film. While Robert Pattinson is good as Batman/Bruce Wayne, the real star is Gotham City in all its dark nature.
Top Gun: Maverick
As someone who was not too into the original Top Gun, I was not holding out too much for its sequel. Yet the hype could not be ignored, and I gave in. I can say that Top Gun: Maverick is quite an improvement over its predecessor. The flight sequences are breathtakingly exciting, while the story is poignant with Tom Cruise’s Maverick having a bit more depth as he deals with the ghosts of his past while also training a new slew of pilots, including Goose’s son, Rooster (Miles Teller). It is less of fan service and more of a rewarding film in its own right.
My Father’s Dragon
It may be a movie for children, but there is no denying that the animation in My Father’s Dragon is amazing to say the least. It is easy to enjoy a simplistic film if it is pleasant to look at.
Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood
Richard Linklater’s latest animated film is a time capsule of 60’s nostalgia and a sentimentality of simpler times, and that is where Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood succeeds, even if half of its story doesn’t work.
What were your favorites of the past year? Let me know in the comments!
Jon Spencer Reviews 