The Best Films of 2022
HomeThe Best Films of 2022
Posted January 2, 2023 12:00 AM by Brian Orndorf
A dragon holding up the world, a meal to die for, a friendship that takes fingers, Princess Diana
vs. the Media, baby selling blues, Detective Dark Knight, deep inside the Scumdogs of the
Universe, Puss in Boots at death's door, DIY robot pal, and hey, parents, don't leave those kids
alone. Blu-ray.com's Brian Orndorf takes a look at his
favorite films of 2022.
Please post your own lists in the comments.
The Menu
In a film year that lacked surprises, "The Menu" delivered some welcome shocks to the system with its vision for a twisted evening of culinary horror. Expectations for a more routine understanding of madness were gracefully avoided by screenwriters Seth Reiss and Will Tracy, who aimed to make something more sinister with darkly comic highlights. "The Menu" is a real roller coaster ride from start to finish, boosted by wonderful performances and sharp direction from Mark Mylod, who commits to the wild tone and enticing mystery of the material, which reaches a delightfully macabre conclusion, offering a delicious follow through when it comes time to properly deal with nasty people and the insane chef looking to prepare a special multicourse of madness.
The Batman
There have been a lot of Batman movies over the last two decades, but co-writer/director Matt Reeves finds a way to make his take on the Dark Knight feel fresh again. "The Batman" was a proper epic, returning the superhero to his roots of revenge and rage, offered three hours of screen time to explore the grimy world of Gotham City and the sicko game of intimidation created by the picture's villain, The Riddler. Soaked in rain and supported by melancholy music and mood, "The Batman" offered a rich atmosphere of doom, reviving the saga of Bruce Wayne and his fight to bring some type of order to urban and psychological chaos. This take on Batman's detective skills and blunt-force reaction to crime was superbly executed.
The Innocents
It's nearly impossible to make a movie about children in peril without crossing the line of good taste, but "The Innocents" manages to accomplish such a creative feat. Writer/director Eskil Vogt gives "The Bad Seed" a makeover with the picture, which explores the development of psychic abilities within a group of lonely kids spending their days around an apartment complex. Vogt takes the premise to a dark place, but his command of suspense is remarkable, offering a slow burn take on corruption and confusion that provides a haunting viewing experience.
My Father's Dragon
Cartoon Saloon continues their animation excellence with "My Father's Dragon," providing a loose adaptation of Ruth Stiles Gannett's 1948 book. While the production aims to offer a more accessible understanding of adventure than previous Cartoon Saloon endeavors, director Nora Twomey remains committed to providing a rich sense of feeling and fantasy with the picture. "My Father's Dragon" is gorgeously animated, retaining the company's love of the artform, and voicework is charming, generating moods of mischief and urgency. However, the power of love remains most important, with Twomey managing complex relationships and environmental connections with real storytelling grace.
Broker
Writer/director Hirokazu Kore-eda returns with "Broker," adding to an impressive filmography that largely concentrates on the emotional lives of his characters. The feature focuses on the business of selling babies on the black market, but the material isn't interested in horrors, instead working to understand the mental states and motivations involved with the players in this strange game. "Broker" provides multiple perspectives on the central situation, and the helmer aims to understand all of them, going deep with personalities in this satisfying, oddly endearing drama.
This Is Gwar
While music documentaries are plentiful these days, "This Is Gwar" manages to do something special with its subject, giving a band known for its unrelenting vulgarity and outrageous depiction of violence an unexpectedly tender study of its turbulent history. Director Scott Barber goes beyond the costumes and "spew" to best understand the working parts of Gwar, which has weathered multiple line-up changes and stunted success, sitting down with the musicians to analyze the endurance of an art collective/metal act. "This Is Gwar" illuminates relationships and working conditions in an eye-opening way, giving fans unique access to personal connections. If you're a fan of Gwar, the film is an engrossing study of longevity. If you're new to Gwar, the picture is a riveting educational viewing experience.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
DreamWorks Animation wasn't in a hurry to launch a sequel to 2011's "Puss in Boots," but a follow-up finally arrived, and it's a more impressive film in every way. Changes in animation style and thematic interests make for a more satisfying endeavor, with "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" looking to pair sweeping adventure with an existential crisis for the swashbuckling feline. The production team takes a few risks with the effort, including the addition of numerous villains, but "The Last Wish" never falls apart, delivering a bigger, slightly darker "Puss in Boots," allowing star Antonio Banderas to add some real depth to his wonderful vocal performance, while the "Shrek"-iverse moves forward in the best way possible.
The Princess
The world doesn't need more documentaries about Diana, Princess of Wales, with her life and times covered from all angles since her death 25 years ago. "The Princess" hopes to find fresh perspective from coverage itself, with director Ed Perkins and his editorial team questing to understand Diana using only the words and attitudes of media commentary. There are no talking heads, just footage of the subject's development in front of cameras, subjected to predatory media practices and manipulation as popular royal figure was welcomed and eventually rejected. "The Princess" manages to unearth a newfound sense of understanding (and creepiness) when it comes to the Diana Experience, supplying a captivating study of private and public battles and a growing weariness of a life she was groomed for.
Brian and Charles
"Brian and Charles" explores a relationship between a lonely man and the robot he's built out of parts around his property. The oddball concept is sold with a faux documentary approach, and brightly performed by David Earl and Chris Hayward, who find all the corners of behavior and cohabitational itchiness with their work, making for a highly enjoyable comedy, guided by director Jim Archer. "Brian and Charles" is frequently hilarious, but the trio put in the effort to examine the power of relationships, making something more than pure silliness, giving the movie an unexpected emotional push that elevates the production.
The Banshees of Inisherin
Writer/director Martin McDonagh elects to follow up the massive success of "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" with a highly idiosyncratic and dark understanding of friendship. "The Banshees of Inisherin" retains McDonagh's love of grim storytelling and lived-in characters, presenting a tale of sudden estrangement that gradually spirals into self-harm, triggering all sorts of fascinating confusion and exposure of secrets. "The Banshees of Inisherin" is expertly acted by the cast, and McDonagh remains attentive to tone, getting in some flashes humor whenever possible. The movie also scores as a communal experience, succeeding in making viewers highly uncomfortable yet responsive to turns of plot and behavior.
Also of Note: A Christmas Story Christmas, Metal Lords, The Whale, Mickey: The Story of a Mouse, Women Talking, Top Gun: Maverick, Official Competition, Thirteen Lives, The Sea Beast, Armageddon Time, Turning Red, Hatching, Raymond & Ray, The Good Nurse, and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.
Please post your own lists in the comments.
The Menu
In a film year that lacked surprises, "The Menu" delivered some welcome shocks to the system with its vision for a twisted evening of culinary horror. Expectations for a more routine understanding of madness were gracefully avoided by screenwriters Seth Reiss and Will Tracy, who aimed to make something more sinister with darkly comic highlights. "The Menu" is a real roller coaster ride from start to finish, boosted by wonderful performances and sharp direction from Mark Mylod, who commits to the wild tone and enticing mystery of the material, which reaches a delightfully macabre conclusion, offering a delicious follow through when it comes time to properly deal with nasty people and the insane chef looking to prepare a special multicourse of madness.
The Batman
There have been a lot of Batman movies over the last two decades, but co-writer/director Matt Reeves finds a way to make his take on the Dark Knight feel fresh again. "The Batman" was a proper epic, returning the superhero to his roots of revenge and rage, offered three hours of screen time to explore the grimy world of Gotham City and the sicko game of intimidation created by the picture's villain, The Riddler. Soaked in rain and supported by melancholy music and mood, "The Batman" offered a rich atmosphere of doom, reviving the saga of Bruce Wayne and his fight to bring some type of order to urban and psychological chaos. This take on Batman's detective skills and blunt-force reaction to crime was superbly executed.
The Innocents
It's nearly impossible to make a movie about children in peril without crossing the line of good taste, but "The Innocents" manages to accomplish such a creative feat. Writer/director Eskil Vogt gives "The Bad Seed" a makeover with the picture, which explores the development of psychic abilities within a group of lonely kids spending their days around an apartment complex. Vogt takes the premise to a dark place, but his command of suspense is remarkable, offering a slow burn take on corruption and confusion that provides a haunting viewing experience.
My Father's Dragon
Cartoon Saloon continues their animation excellence with "My Father's Dragon," providing a loose adaptation of Ruth Stiles Gannett's 1948 book. While the production aims to offer a more accessible understanding of adventure than previous Cartoon Saloon endeavors, director Nora Twomey remains committed to providing a rich sense of feeling and fantasy with the picture. "My Father's Dragon" is gorgeously animated, retaining the company's love of the artform, and voicework is charming, generating moods of mischief and urgency. However, the power of love remains most important, with Twomey managing complex relationships and environmental connections with real storytelling grace.
Broker
Writer/director Hirokazu Kore-eda returns with "Broker," adding to an impressive filmography that largely concentrates on the emotional lives of his characters. The feature focuses on the business of selling babies on the black market, but the material isn't interested in horrors, instead working to understand the mental states and motivations involved with the players in this strange game. "Broker" provides multiple perspectives on the central situation, and the helmer aims to understand all of them, going deep with personalities in this satisfying, oddly endearing drama.
This Is Gwar
While music documentaries are plentiful these days, "This Is Gwar" manages to do something special with its subject, giving a band known for its unrelenting vulgarity and outrageous depiction of violence an unexpectedly tender study of its turbulent history. Director Scott Barber goes beyond the costumes and "spew" to best understand the working parts of Gwar, which has weathered multiple line-up changes and stunted success, sitting down with the musicians to analyze the endurance of an art collective/metal act. "This Is Gwar" illuminates relationships and working conditions in an eye-opening way, giving fans unique access to personal connections. If you're a fan of Gwar, the film is an engrossing study of longevity. If you're new to Gwar, the picture is a riveting educational viewing experience.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
DreamWorks Animation wasn't in a hurry to launch a sequel to 2011's "Puss in Boots," but a follow-up finally arrived, and it's a more impressive film in every way. Changes in animation style and thematic interests make for a more satisfying endeavor, with "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" looking to pair sweeping adventure with an existential crisis for the swashbuckling feline. The production team takes a few risks with the effort, including the addition of numerous villains, but "The Last Wish" never falls apart, delivering a bigger, slightly darker "Puss in Boots," allowing star Antonio Banderas to add some real depth to his wonderful vocal performance, while the "Shrek"-iverse moves forward in the best way possible.
The Princess
The world doesn't need more documentaries about Diana, Princess of Wales, with her life and times covered from all angles since her death 25 years ago. "The Princess" hopes to find fresh perspective from coverage itself, with director Ed Perkins and his editorial team questing to understand Diana using only the words and attitudes of media commentary. There are no talking heads, just footage of the subject's development in front of cameras, subjected to predatory media practices and manipulation as popular royal figure was welcomed and eventually rejected. "The Princess" manages to unearth a newfound sense of understanding (and creepiness) when it comes to the Diana Experience, supplying a captivating study of private and public battles and a growing weariness of a life she was groomed for.
Brian and Charles
"Brian and Charles" explores a relationship between a lonely man and the robot he's built out of parts around his property. The oddball concept is sold with a faux documentary approach, and brightly performed by David Earl and Chris Hayward, who find all the corners of behavior and cohabitational itchiness with their work, making for a highly enjoyable comedy, guided by director Jim Archer. "Brian and Charles" is frequently hilarious, but the trio put in the effort to examine the power of relationships, making something more than pure silliness, giving the movie an unexpected emotional push that elevates the production.
The Banshees of Inisherin
Writer/director Martin McDonagh elects to follow up the massive success of "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" with a highly idiosyncratic and dark understanding of friendship. "The Banshees of Inisherin" retains McDonagh's love of grim storytelling and lived-in characters, presenting a tale of sudden estrangement that gradually spirals into self-harm, triggering all sorts of fascinating confusion and exposure of secrets. "The Banshees of Inisherin" is expertly acted by the cast, and McDonagh remains attentive to tone, getting in some flashes humor whenever possible. The movie also scores as a communal experience, succeeding in making viewers highly uncomfortable yet responsive to turns of plot and behavior.
Also of Note: A Christmas Story Christmas, Metal Lords, The Whale, Mickey: The Story of a Mouse, Women Talking, Top Gun: Maverick, Official Competition, Thirteen Lives, The Sea Beast, Armageddon Time, Turning Red, Hatching, Raymond & Ray, The Good Nurse, and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.