In No Particular Order: My Ten Favorite Films of 2024
Saw a lot of movies, enjoyed them, but these are my ten favorite.
I usually get this list out before the Academy Award nominations, but it has been a busy week. Traditionally, I spend the time between Christmas and the nomination announcement catching up on all the possible contenders. The reason is that once the Oscars nominations are done, I like to be done with my list. It’s good to have a deadline. Otherwise, I will keep wanting to go back and revisit it. What can I say? A man has to have a code.
Okay, enough of a preamble, on to the list.
A Complete Unknown - Directed by James Mangold
Yes, it’s a biopic, but it’s not a cradle-to-grave one. This is about a specific moment span of time in Bob Dylan’s life in which he is trying to define himself as an artist. This is something that he is trying to do while other people are trying to define him as an artist to suit their own needs. Which makes the climactic scene at the Newport Folk Festival such a great decision. He goes “electric,” and people are livid. Whatever, he is following his creative impulses. Extra points for his mentor figure being Johnny Cash.
Saturday Night - Directed by Jason Reitman
The hook of this movie is that it takes place in real-ish time before the first episode of Saturday Night Live. What happens on screen isn’t what happened in the 90 minutes before the first episode of Saturday Night Live, but who cares? This is a love letter to the myth of Saturday Night Live. As somebody that loves that myth, I in turn loved this movie. Also, one of the best screenplays of 2024.
Dune: Part Two - Directed by Denis Villeneuve
Christopher Nolan was out helping to promote this film and said it was like Empire Strikes Back. After my first viewing I didn’t share that opinion, but that changed over time. This takes was done in the first one and built upon it while also going deeper. Also, it was an absolute thrill to watch this on the big screen.
Civil War - Directed by Alex Garland
I left the theater after seeing this movie super annoyed with what I just saw. Then, as the weekend went on, I totally changed my mind. It’s a movie that explores a theme. In this case it is the lack of humanity that happens in a civil war. It is exceptionally well done.
The Last Stop in Yuma County - Francis Galluppi
I suppose one could say that this is a throwback to some Tarantino films, or the ones that followed Pulp Fiction in the 90’s. The thing about this film is that it feels so fresh and exciting even if it does feel like a throwback to those films.
A high concept character driven thriller? Buddy, you know I’m going to be for it!
The Wild Robot - Directed by Chris Sanders
This is a wonderful movie, yes. It is made even the more wonderful for me because my daughter was the one that made me hip to it. Her class read it together so when she saw the preview she was very excited to see it.
Hit Man - Directed by Richard Linklater
This film is just a delight. The two leads, Glen Powell and Adria Arjona, have palpable chemistry. It’s so fun that I didn’t realize that I was being taught of philosophy lesson.
Woman of the Hour - Directed by Anna Kendrick
It turns out that Anna Kendrick is a really good filmmaker as well as actress. This film is expertly crafted. The haunting tone is so perfectly handled. Every second of the 90 minute runtime is effectively used.
Conclave - Directed by Edward Berger
There were two films released last fall that felt like 90’s films. Specifically, they felt like the high concept adult drama that were released every December. I went with this one over Juror #2 because this one had just a bit more of a kick.
The Beekeeper - Directed by David Ayer
No other film last year delivered more on its promise. In this case it was seeing Jason Statham do bad things to evil people. Like I said, promises made and promises kept.
Honorable Favorites:
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire - Saw it with my son who loves these movies. An incredible movie going experience for me.
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story - He made us believe a man can fly and this movie shows us why.
Deadpool and Wolverine: It had Wolverine in his proper costume and Deadpool makes me laugh. What more could I ask?
Yacht Rock: A DOCKumentary: The music stuff is great but I love it because they properly credit the Channel 101 show for re-creating the hype.