This has been an exceptional years, in spite of the generally horrific vibes of the rest of the year. At the risk of sounding too cliche, there was a fair bit of something for everyone. Breathtaking sci-fi, existential horror, white-hot romance, it was a real "the movies are back" type of year, and while I haven't seen everything, I'm confident enough in my tastes to run through my top ten. So, let's begin!
10. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Rather than attempt to recapture the lightning in a bottle adrenaline rush that is Mad Max: Fury Road, George Miller made Furiosa something a lot more intimate and character-focused, willing to sit with it's strange collection of oddballs and outcasts and let us truly witness their rise and fall. That's not to say this isn't an exciting movie, as Miller directs the hell out of exhilarating set-pieces that vary from a chaotic ambush to a desperate shootout/escape that made me audibly exhale when it ended, but it's more focused on the psychology of the wasteland. Anchored by great performances from Anya Taylor-Joy (stepping into the shoes of Charlize Theron with a remarkable confidence and often stunning grace) and Chris Hemsworth (delightfully unhinged in one of the best villainous performances of the year), Furiosa is a tragic, suitably epic origin story for it's iconic heroine. If it really is the final film in the series, it's a fitting end.
9. Dune: Part Two
Denis Villeneuve's stunning second part of his adaptation of the borderline unfilmable magnum opus of Frank Herbert is stunning in it's ambition and willingness to truly lean into the strangeness of the original material. It truly throws everything at the wall and leaves you astounded as, somehow, it all manages to stick. One moment it stuns you with a monochrome duel in a gladiatorial arena, the next it has the confidence to let you sit with a quiet, beautifully understated love story between Paul (Timothee Chalamet, a genuine force of nature) and Channi (Zendaya, in what is a banner year for her). It's a film overflowing with treats for the eye and mind, sweeping you in it's narrative with gorgeous designs and powerhouse performances that by the time the true tragedy of the imperial power struggle rears it's head, it leaves you with an ugly sinking feeling and the realization that there's no heroes here.
8. Cuckoo
Part disturbing mystery story, part harrowing fight for survival, and part coming of age tale, Cuckoo is a delightfully bonkers creature feature, playing with the idea of both physical and mental isolation in the face of overwhelming, mysterious terror and carefully dropping bits and pieces of information without giving the game away too quickly. Hunter Schafer is a scrappy, emotionally compelling scream queen, making you root for her against the seemingly endless challenges thrown at her, while Dan Stevens, perpetual favorite of mine, steals the show as slimy, manipulative mad scientist Herr Konig. Atmospheric, intriguing, but with an undeniable heart at it's core, Cuckoo is one of the strongest horror films in a year overflowing with them.
7. Civil War
Upon the release of Alex Garland's Civil War, I felt the film was unfairly maligned, criticized for it's lack of a firm political stance in favor of something closer to the likes of speculative fiction. Those willing to look past the (largely untrue) accusations of apoliticism will find one of the year's most thrilling films, a gorgeously shot road movie that owes more to the likes of Garland's 28 Years Later or The Last of Us than any traditional political thriller. By largely stripping away any traditional commentary, Garland is able to hyperfocus on the film's human element, reveling in analyzing the way humans hurt (and help) one another when they think there's no rules and the addictive nature of willingly putting yourself so close to violence. This leaves a near suffocating sense of tension behind every interaction, the perpetual threat of violent escalation hanging heavy on the minds of both the viewer and the characters. It makes for unbelievably nerve-wracking viewing, the kind that doesn't leave you feeling safe until the credits roll.
6. Nosferatu
Robert Eggers lends his intricate, detail-driven to one of the classic horror stories, successfully modernizing it to weave a tail of abuse and love, both toxic and redeeming, and the desperate struggle of women to claim their own agency in the face of a world that increasingly cares little for them beyond possession. One of our great modern auteurs, Eggers brings together an astounding cast and, like with 2022's similarly excellent The Northman, manages to bring his style to the mainstream without sacrificing any of it's appeal. Nosferatu is bleak, suitably nasty in it's presentation and execution, and yet deeply earnest, an ode to the bonds of love in the face of cruelty and just what we're willing to do for those we care about. Lily Rose-Depp is a revelation as Ellen, tortured by both the monstrous Orlok and her own desires, while Willem Dafoe is an unsurprising scene stealer, projecting a strange warmth and safety underneath the eccentricity. It's a film firing on all creative cylinders and a worthy remake of the iconic original.
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