2022 was a massive bounce back for quality cinema. I’ve slowly gone back to the theater more and more each month since the end of the pandemic, and that’s primarily due to the quality of films being released. This year was gratifying because almost every movie I saw in the theater was good. This past year also marked a massive milestone for my family. My wife and I took our three-year-old son to the movie theater for the first time. His joy and awe renewed my love for the cinema.
10. Vengeance
B.J. Novak is beyond talented. He was one of the creative driving forces on The Office, and I’ve been waiting to see his next big move. Vengeance was a massive surprise for me only because of the emotional tone. Novak’s direction and lead performance stand out, but the script makes the most significant impression. For most of the film, the writing is almost perfect. The biggest problem with Vengeance is a predictable and over-the-top ending.
Rating: 7.5/10
Favorite Quote- Abilene Shaw: “When I told my mom I was going to New York, she said, bless your heart. Which is Texas for go f*** yourself.”
9. Cha Cha Real Smooth
Cha Cha Real Smooth is another low-budget tour de force. Cooper Raiff greatly impacted the indie scene with 2020’s Shithouse. However, Raiff took his game to another level with Cha Cha Real Smooth. Raiff plays Andrew, a fresh-out-of-college party starter for bar/bat mitzvahs who is still struggling to figure out who he is. Andrew meets a mother named Domino, played by Dakota Johnson, who is having a midlife crisis. Johnson is fantastic. She is quickly developing into one of my favorite actors. The dysfunctional relationship between Andrew and Domino plays out in one of the most realistic and relatable ways imaginable. This film is funny, sweet, and endearing.
Rating: 8/10
Favorite Quote- Domino: “Giving your heart to somebody is the scariest, most dangerous, most perplexing thing.”
8. Barbarian
2022 was a big year for horror. So many excellent horror films were released, but none stuck with me like Barbarian. In many ways, it felt like a throwback to the great horror films of the ’80s and ’90s, but it also felt so unique. There is a swift left turn halfway through the film that will either make or break your experience. For me, the curveball was perfect. I genuinely adore writer-director Zach Cregger’s brave script. It takes big chances that more than pay off in the end. I don’t want to say too much because there is a lot to spoil!
Rating: 8/10
Favorite Quote- Tess: “That’s because you are a guy. Life is different for you!”
7. RRR
I haven’t seen many Indian films, but I can firmly say this is my favorite. RRR (Rise Roar Revolt) is the most expensive Indian film ever made, and it sure feels that way. The robust film is set in 1920s India; revolutionaries Rama Raju and Komaram Bheem team up to take down the British rulers. While Raju and Bheem are real-life Indian heroes, this story is fictitious… but in the best way possible. This is a three-hour visual feast. Director S.S. Rajamouli pours his blood, sweat, and tears into this, and it shows. RRR is the most epic film of the year, including Avatar: The Way of Water!
Rating: 8/10
Favorite Quote- Komaram Bheem: “Your friendship is more valuable than this life, brother. I’ll die with pride.”
6. The Menu
The Menu was one of my most anticipated films of the year, and it did not disappoint. Ralph Fiennes gives a fantastic performance as a maniacal chef. Anya Taylor-Joy plays the foil to Fiennes’s sinister plot. The two performances balance each other out how an excellent meal balances the flavor profile. Taylor-Joy plays a high-price escort whose street smarts are more valuable than anything else. The critiques of class, culture, criticism, and fandom are uneven, but the performances and direction make up for it all. The Menu says a lot, but the performances make this movie worth watching.
Rating: 8/10
Favorite Quote- Chef Slowik: “The s’more. The most offensive assault on the human palate ever contrived.”
5. Windfall
I’ve seen some very divisive reviews about Windfall. Most of the poor reviews find the pacing slow and the ending too much. I couldn’t disagree more. Windfall is a throwback to the thrillers of the ’60s. The Hitchcockian vibes are layered throughout the film. The three lead performances are perfect. Jason Segel, Lily Collins, and Jesse Plemons ooze chemistry. Windfall is the type of film that could easily be a play, and I love those types of movies—one location and a small cast with an excellent script.
Rating: 8.5/10
Favorite Quote- Nobody: “Deep down, I really wanted you to be good, because then at least things might make sense. Life might feel more fair. And then I saw you, the real you, and you’re so disgusting.”
4. Jackass Forever
I think it would be disingenuous to say that I’m not biased. I grew up on Jackass. I love the entire cast. I’ve watched every show, spinoff, and special they’ve ever done. Jackass Forever came at a perfect time. Watching a bunch of friends goof off and pull pranks on each other was a great release. Jackass Forever isn’t going to win any awards, and it isn’t going to change cinema, but it’s as entertaining as anything I have watched all year.
Rating: 8.5/10
Favorite Quote- Johnny Knoxville: “Almost twenty years ago today, we filmed the original cup test… and now twenty years later, we’re still doing the same stupid shit.”
3. Wakanda Forever
I didn’t rate the original Black Panther as high as many others. It’s a good film; don’t get me wrong, it’s well-made. However, I didn’t love the CGI and felt like Warmonger wasn’t given the best arc. Wakanda Forever, on the other hand, was insanely good. It’s one of the best MCU films ever made. The handling of the passing of Chadwick Boseman was done perfectly. Namor is one of the most nuanced villains the MCU has ever put on screen. Namor is torn between lusting for vengeance, protecting his people, and cultivating his legacy. Those attributes could be the motivations of every real-world dictator. Ryan Coogler’s direction and script are superb. I encourage those who have seen the film to read his script! It’s borderline perfect.
Rating: 9/10
Favorite Quote- Namor: “Only the most broken people can be great leaders.”
2. Bones and All
Luca Guadagnino’s direction isn’t my favorite. I didn’t like Call Me By Your Name, and his remake of Suspiria was thoughtful but nothing special. However, Bones and All was a completely different experience. Taylor Russell plays Maren, an 18-year-old girl whose father has abandoned her because she can’t control her compulsion to eat human flesh. I know this sounds extreme, but the gore is minimal and handled in a way that feels real but not over the top. The cast is fantastic, and Mark Rylance gives one of the year’s best performances as the creepy Sully. This is an allegory about addiction wrapped in a cannibal love story. Also, there is Timothée Chalamet.
Rating: 9/10
Favorite Quote- Maren: “I don’t trust you. It doesn’t matter if I’m right or wrong about that; it matters that I feel it.”
1. The Banshees of Inisherin
Martin McDonagh has his pulse on American culture unlike any other creator today. Not everyone agrees with his point of view, but he makes compelling art. The Banshees of Inisherin is about two best friends who suddenly can’t stand each other. The fallout of their quarrel is felt throughout the small island. The film is a reflection of the division in America. I was moved to tears by the end. The movie made me reflect on not only my personal relationships but also my relationship with passing strangers. This is the power of cinema. This is why I love it. Movies like The Banshees of Inisherin can change perspectives and even lives.
Rating: 10/10
Favorite Quote- Pádraic Súilleabháin: “I am not putting me donkey outside when I’m sad, okay?”
This year also featured many movies that I loved but didn’t quite make my list. Here is a list of honorable mentions: The Fabelmans, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Prey, Clerks III, The Batman, Emily the Criminal, and Tár.
