By: Jaden Shniderman
Photo Stills: Courtesy of Jaden Shniderman
2022 was a big year for movies all around. Many releases this year were incredible, some
laughably awful, some a hell of a good time. Several movies on this list, I can guarantee will be considered classics in due time. However, out of all the projects released this year, these 10 films stood out to me as the best movies this year had to offer.
Before beginning this list just a reminder that this ranking does not reflect AllTheClassics’
opinions, these are my opinions of what I think were the best films of the year. Also, I want to give a potential spoiler warning for any of the movies I discuss here. I will try my best to avoid spoilers, but some of my favorite aspects of these ten films involve major plot points. So this is your warning. Also before reading, be sure to check out my honorable mentions for this year:
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (dir. Rian Johnson)
Avatar: The Way of Water (dir. James Cameron)
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (dir. Eric Appel)
Now without further ado,
These are my Top 10 Movies of 2022.
10. On the Count of Three (dir. Jerrod Carmichael)
Of all the films that are going to appear on this list, On the Count of Three will probably be the most important one that I talk about. While this movie wasn’t exactly the most popular release of the year, the impact that this movie left on me was profound. On the Count of Three chronicles two suicidal best friends who decide to spend one final day on Earth together before killing themselves. The two seek to make amends with loved ones, settle unfinished business, and receive closure. But as the day goes on, there is a clear difference of agenda between the two characters.
What screenwriters Ari Katcher and Ryan Welch created with this script was an insanely unique concept, asking the audience in a very twisted way what we would do during our last day on earth. Our protagonists Val and Kevin have very different responses to this, creating conflict between the two, and asking the audience to draw a line between melancholy and genuine hopelessness. A lot of movies and shows that depict suicide feel overly dramatized, even with a message about how fortunate we are to be alive, it still feels performative. I really admired that while the message of On the Count of Three is certainly about how fortunate we are to be alive, by no means does this movie feel performative or try to shame those who might not have learned that fact yet.
The shining aspect of the movie is without a doubt the direction of Jerrod Carmichael. It was quite the surprise to hear that this was his directorial debut. Carmichael matches the locations with the emotions of the characters, with a pessimistic, gloomy environment, therefore demonstrating his knack for visual storytelling. I think On the Count of Three is a movie that everybody should see and have a discussion about.
9. Nope (dir. Jordan Peele)
Mark my words Jordan Peele is going to be studied in film history in the future and Nope is just another reason why. Nope brings back a retro subgenre of sci fi, where audiences have to ask themselves what they would do if they were in the movie? I miss these kinds of sci fi projects where it’s not just an hour long visual spectacle, but contains a thought provoking message which you think about the following day. For Nope, Peele gives us an honest theory of what humanity’s response would be to what they don’t understand: Exploitation.
In Nope there is an active incentive to profit off of what’s unconventional. To manipulate what you really shouldn’t have any power over. While there may not be any malicious intent, there is a clear sense of apathy at the expense of another. Peele asks us to reflect on examples in reality where one party seeks enjoyment at the cost of someone’s well being. Nope warns us that while this story may be fictional, the greed that humanity possesses in this story is very real and immoral. In other words, while the antagonist of the story is the alien Jean Jacket, the monsters of the story are the humans for exploiting what is beyond their control.
It just so happens that this message is coupled with some remarkable visuals. The Jupiter Claim inflatable fighting Jean Jacket, the Akira slide, the digestion scene, all amazing visuals. I also love the chemistry of Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer, both complete opposites but work so well together. Cinematically, Nope was marvelous.
I can understand why some people were a bit let down by this one, it is very different compared to Get Out and Us, stylistically and thematically, but that’s honestly why I love it so much. I can always appreciate a director who flexes their range the way Jordan Peele does.
Between the strong message and stunning filmmaking, Nope is absolutely worth your watch!
8. Banshees of Inisherin (dir. Martin McDonagh)
The Banshees of Inisherin is one of those projects where everybody is going to find a scene, character, or aspect to relate to. On a personal note, I think I discovered Banshees of Inisherin at the right time in my life. Many of the themes depicted were ones that I was wrestling with upon watching. I found myself resonating with every character here.
The Banshees of Inisherin teaches us about how compassion towards one another can make all the difference in one’s life. Inisherin is located right across from a war torn territory in Ireland, but is none the more beautiful at the beginning, when all is well. But as the friendship between Colm and Pádraic deteriorates, and Pádraic succumbs to more loneliness, the town feels uglier and inhabitable. That being said, there is an inverse painful lesson that some relationships have to end. Sometimes it's no longer healthy for you to engage in a friendship. It’s up to us to determine the gray area, while there’s nothing wrong with ending a friendship, we don’t have to promote hostility.
The third important lesson McDonagh wants us to learn is to learn when it’s time to walk away. Pádraic (brilliantly portrayed by Colin Farrell) is the more sympathetic character but his desire to save his dying friendship becomes so futile it turns annoying. Through the character of Siobhan, we see a woman who tries so hard to find her place in her small town, but is only met with closed doors. She too has to learn that there’s no point in fixing something beyond repair, leading to her leaving Inisherin. McDonagh wants us to take the elements of the story and apply them to real life. Have you ever tried salvaging a connection which didn’t feel like a winning cause? Have you tried so hard to belong that you end up ostracizing yourself further? We’ve all had to learn one way or another that the sometimes best way to fix a broken relationship is to not even bother.
The Banshees of Inisherin is probably one of the saddest movies I’ve seen all year. Several
scenes broke my heart. Unfortunately the movie doesn’t have a happy ending, but this makes it so much more poetic as all characters have to live with the choices they have made.
Seeing the praise that this movie is getting is so awesome to see. If Banshees of Inisherin
wasn’t already on your radar, I strongly suggest you give it a watch.
7. Cha Cha Real Smooth (dir. Cooper Raiff)
Cha Cha Real Smooth is the ultimate “feel good” movie of 2022. Full of charm, humor,
heartbreak, and important themes on moving forward, it’s something that I really connected with.
I think we are living in a time where people are getting more disconnected with each other. (Especially in my generation) Not only is it significantly harder to make meaningful connections, but it’s easier to find faults in people and define them by it. Cha Cha Real Smooth feels like a much needed middle finger to that notion, as the movie teaches us about how we are all capable of bringing out the best in people.
In telling us how we should raise up other people, this film also encourages audiences to find a sense of individuality. Cha Cha Real Smooth tells us that nobody can tell us who we are or should be, only we can figure that out for ourselves. This movie also reminds us that we never stop growing up. We never stop improving ourselves and that’s nothing to be ashamed of.
My favorite part of Cha Cha Real Smooth is how Cooper Raiff writes. Each character is
someone you want to root for, whether it’s Andrew or Domino, even side characters like Joseph or Greg. All of their emotions feel so raw. Particularly Andrew’s struggles, whose existentialism and awkwardness felt like the first honest reflection on Gen Z challenges I’ve seen in a movie. Everyone in the project feels like people I’ve encountered in places I’m all too familiar with. I love films where you know that the director really puts their soul into the movie. Cooper Raiff as a director truly puts his soul into Cha Cha Real Smooth.
Cha Cha Real Smooth was an enjoyable and heartfelt movie. Cooper Raiff has a lot of potential to be a modern day John Hughes.
6: The Fabelmans (dir. Steven Spielberg)
I hate to be yet another pretentious film lover who says The Fabelmans is literally about me, but I have no choice. It felt like I was watching myself and my family on the screen. Many people mistake the Fabelmans as a Steven Spielberg biopic but in reality it is a love letter to all the people that made Steven who he is.
Recently some of the projects Spielberg has worked on have been surprising, while I wouldn’t say that The Fabelmans is his best work, it is another reminder why he is one of the greatest directors to grace the film industry. The fact that someone with the massive career he has can still flex his versatility with the same undying enthusiasm for the craft needs to be applauded.
Maybe it’s the way my brain has been conditioned, but The Fabelmans excelled at subverting my expectations. After watching all the bully scenes, I half expected an all out brawl scene where Sammy kicks the bullies’ asses. Instead how he dealt with them in the end felt more realistic and satisfying. The scene where Sammy goes to his girlfriend’s house, I expected them to have a romantic moment, but it’s interrupted by a prayer session. Most of the unexpected moments involve Sammy’s mom Mitzi. Throughout the story she impulsively buys a monkey, drives very close to a tornado, and believes her dreams are real, yet this still barely covers her hilarious unpredictability. If there is a Best Fictional Dad of the Year award, it belongs to Burt Fabelman, the patience this man had was insane. All in all, I loved the depiction of Sammy’s parents and how they clearly represented what made Sammy/Steven who he is.
The Fabelmans is a reminder of what makes art so special. Art is the greatest friend you can ask for. It was there to comfort Sammy when he felt the world was against him, it was there to accompany him at his happiest moments, it helped him communicate when words failed. And after a couple of years where art as a medium felt discarded, this message feels important now more than ever.
5. Bullet Train (dir. David Leitch)
Perhaps the most fun I’ve had with a movie this year, Bullet Train delivers exactly what it’s intended, an outrageous action packed film. The movie can best be described as the lovechild of Kingsmen and A Fish Called Wanda.
The performances in this film were actually pretty phenomenal, particularly from Brad Pitt and Aaron Taylor Johnson. Brad Pitt excels at the comedy in this project, Aaron Taylor Johnson has a couple moments in this high octane project which made me choke up. All of the actors really made me care about each of their characters' goals. It was hard to pick who to root for at times.
If I was grading this movie solely on stunt choreography, it would easily be an A+. I can always appreciate a project that shows nitty gritty stunts instead of frequent close ups, covering the combat. I think the strength of the stunts has to be credited to David Leitch, the director of this project/former stuntman. Seeing this in IMAX elevated the experience to eleven.
There were a few elements in this movie where if it was in any other movie, I would’ve probably disliked it. Such as the numerous cameos, the frequent plot twists, But Bullet Train really makes these work to its advantage. What also makes Bullet Train so special in my eyes was how great it was at escalating the story. Each crazy situation presented to protagonist Ladybug is immediately trumped by an even crazier situation, creating a cycle which kept me on my toes the whole time.
Bullet Train is one of those movies where the more I think about it, the more I found myself enjoying it. If you’re looking for a funny, intense movie to leave you smiling from ear to ear then Bullet Train just might be up your alley!
4. Elvis (dir. Baz Luhrmann)
There are probably a handful of readers wondering why Elvis is so high on the list. Well, it’s hard not to put one of the best musical biopics on this list. The reason I have a lot of love for the Elvis movie was because of how unique it was compared to other musical biopics in the past. This wasn’t a standard Elvis life story, but a tragedy about how a talented star became corrupted by his power-hungry manager. Baz Luhrmann does a fantastic job of showing how obscure Elvis’ life truly was. In addition, Baz adds touches of fantasy to his locations. His interpretations of Las Vegas, Memphis, or Graceland all feel like something which would appear in your dreams rather than an actual place.
Elvis was two movies combined into one, the first documented the rise of a young star with a gleam in his eye, the second a near horror story of an opportunist enslaving Elvis, with no hope in sight. The way that these two stories blended into each other was so natural it was almost scary. Watching Elvis slowly get taken advantage of while we sat there, knowing what would happen, unable to stop it, was pure nightmare fuel.
When first hearing that Austin Butler would be playing the King of Rock and Roll, I was a little skeptical. Could a Disney channel star have what it takes to play such an important American icon? However it only took 5 minutes of seeing him on screen to convince me he was going to give the best performance of the year. Not only did he play Elvis to perfection but you could absolutely feel the love he had for this man. At no point did it feel like an Elvis impersonation, it was as if Elvis had merged with Austin’s soul.
However the best part of Elvis was its central theme, when you’re lost, look back on where you came from. I think this theme is best translated when the movie recognizes the black artists who influenced Elvis as an entertainer. Whenever he’s stuck in his career, he feels safest when looking back on the African American musicians who took him under their wings. When dealing with the devilish Colonel Tom Parker, he thinks back to his loved ones, especially his mother or his wife Priscilla. These cherished moments in his life remind the audience that despite being the King of Rock and Roll, he’s still human at his core.
Elvis was a roller coaster with an electrifying beginning and an ending which almost brought me to tears. There are so many more great things I could say about this movie, Elvis is definitely worth your viewing.
3. The Northman (dir. Robert Eggers)
After leaving the theater from this movie I grew a full beard, a six pack, and raging bloodlust. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I loved this movie.
Staying true to the Viking lore, this movie is unbelievably gory and my goodness it is so much fun! All the combat scenes were a pure adrenaline rush. Every act of violence felt so personal to the core. In spite of this, none of the bloodshed in this film ever felt like it was done without reason, which I can really respect with this kind of movie.
I don’t think there was a moment where The Northman lost my attention. In those 2 hours and 17 minutes. I my attention was glued to the screen in amazement. Cinematically speaking, The Northman is a wonder. I found myself falling in love with Jarin Blaschke’s camera work, the score which really settled you into the Scandinavian mystical landscape, and the captain of it all Robert Eggers who created such a magnificent work of art.
Every single performance in this movie delivers. The highlight is Alexander Skaarsgaard, who does a really good job at making the audience become Amleth, his pain becomes our pain, his victory becomes our victory. It was impossible not to root for him. But other small performances in this movie deserve equal amounts of high praise. Actors like Willem Dafoe and Ethan Hawke, who don’t appear in the movie too much, treat their roles like the main characters, bringing their A-game to every single line.
The Northman is a classic retelling of Hamlet, but I promise you this will be the last thing going through your head while watching. Combining Shakespeare with Norse spirit along with some remarkable filmmaking, and you have the product to make a perfect piece of cinema.
2. The Batman (dir. Matt Reeves)
I desperately wanted this movie to be good. I was so scared that what was my most anticipated movie of the year would be a flop. However I couldn’t be more happy to see my high expectations met.
This is the Batman movie that I have been dying to see ever since I fell in love with the
character. Every adaptation of Batman has a unique interpretation of the character and his
world. Burton gave us the supernatural side of Batman, where all around him viewed him as something larger than life. Nolan gave us the heroic aspect of Batman, where Batman learns to become the protector of Gotham. (We’re not even going to bring up Schumacher). While both of these iterations are great, I’ve always wanted to see Batman’s detective side shown on the silver screen. Additionally, Matt Reeves picked the best villain possible to bring a detective Batman story to life with the Riddler. In other adaptations Riddler is shown to be a bit more eccentric with a superiority complex, but here we have a macabre Riddler who is naturally gifted at blending in with the crowds of Gotham. This change of detail makes him one of the scariest movie villains of Batman’s next to Bane in The Dark Knight Rises.
If there’s one aspect I took from this movie, it’s that Matt Reeves not only understands Batman but all the key players and places in the Batman lore. Every character in this movie felt organic and had a significant role in the story. This movie left no loose ends, all details would eventually connect together.
The best part of this movie was the portrayal of Batman. What makes this Batman so unique is he thinks like a villain, stalking wrongdoers like prey, remaining apathetic to those who might hurt along the way. This is someone who is practically begging for violence to show up at his doorstep. Robert Pattinson really nailed the concept of Batman being an obsession, which Bruce Wayne cannot be distracted from.
The unsung hero of The Batman was Michael Giacchino. His score felt like a script within itself. Each piece elevated the story, all the themes let us know more about who the character was at their core. Batman’s theme told us the story of a prince of darkness who once was a child surrounded by warmth and joy, but now serves to rise above the conditions he lives in. Catwoman’s theme tells us the story of a woman operating in gray areas of morality, unpredictable in every sense. Riddler’s theme tells us the story of a traumatized manchild, wanting nothing more than to mercilessly destroy those who beat him down.
To top it off, The Batman contains the best cinematography of movies in 2022. Every shot in this movie is beautiful enough to frame in a museum.
As someone who has seen this film five times, it just keeps getting better with each rewatch. If this is just the beginning of what Matt Reeves has in store for us, then I’m so stoked for this franchise’s future!
1. Top Gun: Maverick (dir. Joseph Kosinski)
Honestly, was there any surprise? Top Gun Maverick absolutely deserves the #1 spot here. This movie fell under one of my favorite categories of film, one where I wasn’t expecting much, but was completely blown away by after watching it.
There are so many praises I could sing about this movie, but I think we should start with the obvious: Tom Cruise. Whether you love him or hate him, nobody can deny that Tom Cruise is the hardest working person in Hollywood, and Top Gun Maverick further cements that statement. With the advancements in technology these days making this movie could have been a lot easier and it would have turned out ok. But the authenticity Cruise implemented in this movie made me love Top Gun: Maverick even more
.Top Gun: Maverick at its core is a message about the power of camaraderie. In Fightertown, San Diego, we are introduced to a coterie of Navy pilots, who are already exceptional at flying, but are lacking in establishing connections with one another. While Maverick is tasked to train these cadets for a daunting mission, he realizes that he must teach them to build a strong community with this team if they are ever going to succeed. Watching the bonds naturally formed by this team felt so rewarding. Never once did I feel any chemistry was rushed or misplaced. On top of that, I don’t think this chemistry was solely for the movie, it seemed like everyone really loved each other in this pack.
What I really admired about Top Gun: Maverick is how it breathed life into every character.
Rooster wasn’t just a legacy character, but someone who had his own agency apart from his father, Goose. Penny wasn’t a simple love interest for Maverick, but a woman with her own life and conflicts. No character ever felt like a standard archetype, everyone had their own salient identities.
When I was watching this in the theaters, there were several moments where I thought to myself if they end the movie here it would still be a perfect movie, but to my surprise the movie carried on and led to one of the best endings I could have asked for. The fact that I was kept on my toes all throughout the third act I think truly is the mark of a good story.
I think the fact that Top Gun: Maverick was released at the beginning of summer was also a huge selling point. Everyone’s already in a great mood, so what better time than to release a masterful feel good flick.
Top Gun Maverick is an amazing summer film filled with heart, a great story, and overall just a good time. It’s movies like these which remind me why I love cinema as an art form.
Conclusion
Overall 2022 was a fantastic year for the movies! I cannot wait to see what 2023 has in store for cinema.
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