Previous Rankings
#171-183
#151-170
#131-150
#111-130
#91-110
#71-90
#51-70
SEE HOW THEY RUN (review) is a fun murder mystery, effectively trading in on the self-aware trend going around. Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan are terrific in the leads (like you’d expect anything else). We all knew Jenny Slate and Charlie Day were comedic forces, but I WANT YOU BACK gives them a chance to flex some dramatic chops too. With APOLLO 10-1/2: A SPACE AGE CHILDHOOD, Richard Linklater once again shows off his insane ability to go all-in on nostalgia without it feeling cheap or corny. SMILE is one of the surprises of the year for me. Sosie Bacon shines in this horror take on trauma. A little predictable in the end, but it built up too much goodwill leading up to it for that to matter too much. When the Sam Raimi flourishes are on full display, DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS (review) really shines. Benedict Cumberbatch, (especially) Elizabeth Olsen, and newcomer Xochitl Gomez are all very strong.
AFTERSUN is good, but it’s another one where I struggle to see the near-masterpiece so many are claiming it to be. That being, powered by an exceptional Paul Mescal and a tremendous Frankie Corio, it does offer some powerful commentary on reconciling childhood memories with who the people in those memories ultimately became later in life. I like WOMEN TALKING just fine, but I think it’s more an important movie than a good movie, but it’s bolstered by one of the strongest ensembles and scripts from 2022. NOPE was pretty good, but is easily the weakest of Jordan Peele’s three directorial efforts. The originality and next-level awesome Keke Palmer help make up for some of its shortcomings. Danielle Deadwyler is incredible in TILL; there’s no other word to describe it. The movie as a whole, though, is ultimately a little generic, and relies too heavily on Deadwyler. I get the complaints about THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER (review), but I liked it. It doesn’t always find the balance between silliness and seriousness, but it’s a Taika Waititi-directed Thor movie; that’s not at the top of the list of what I’m looking for. Christian Bale instantly went to somewhere near the top of MCU villains, and could be higher if he had been more effectively used (ie, more screen time).
If you don’t know about FRESH (review), keep it that way before seeing it. One of the most abrupt – and effective – hard right turns that you likely wouldn’t see coming without having prior knowledge. TURNING RED is a refreshingly mature animated movie, a feature that is lacking in the kids animated world. And to boot, it still has the trademark Disney humor and heart. SCREAM is another strong entry in my favorite horror series. It was a great mix of paying respect to the original cast while preparing to pass the torch to the next generation. EMILY THE CRIMINAL is another 2022 movie full of social commentary, but it’s contained within a relatable story (in a broad sense, that is) and on the back of a top-of-her-game Aubrey Plaza. HUSTLE (review) is a by the numbers sports drama, but it’s a formula that works. Adam Sandler is in fine form, as is first-time Juancho HernanGomez. But my MVP is my hometown favorite Antony Edwards, playing the “villain” role perfectly. Dude is a legitimately funny guy in real life, and that charisma naturally translates to the big screen. Hustle benefitted from using NBA players, and more sports movies should use people who actually know how to play whatever game their movie is about.
You don’t see many women-led action movies, and certainly not to the scale of THE WOMAN KING. It has aspects of a great movie, with themes of empowerment and family (plus some killer action), but it seemed a little scattered, not allowing the several subplots to fully gain traction. Chloe East in THE FABELMANS is one of my favorite performances from the entire movie slate, and I’m so disappointed she’s not getting recognition anywhere. GATLOPP (review) strikes a great balance between horror and comedy. It kind of spoon-feeds its larger message to the audience, but it’s still a message worth hearing. This is my #1 “hidden gem find” of 2022. LIGHTYEAR (review) has gorgeous animation and some cool world-building, but story gets bogged down, especially with the time travel elements. AFTER YANG features a great ensemble cast with a more emotional futuristic sci-fi story. Colin Farrell is on a heater this year and this is no exception.
