Welcome to Scribeing Cinema with Shane! What do cinephiles love to do most? Rank all things movies and that is what we will do in this series. Favorite actors… filmmakers… genres… narratives… you got it here! Time to highlight the Best Picture nominees for films released in 2022!
1. The Banshees of Inisherin
I was so excited for a Martin McDonagh film coming out in 2022 but I had no idea just how great this dark comedy would be. Set in a small island village in Ireland during The War, The Banshees of Inisherin takes the small scale and makes it feel cinematic and makes the drama and comedy tower over us. The death of a friendship is at the core of this film, and we see deep into the souls of these everyday Irish people. That is where McDonagh finds the humor and tension. Colin Farrell might give his best performance as he is supported expertly by a giant cast of character actors including Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon, and Barry Keoghan. This has the sharpest humor in any film this year and plunges the depths of the human condition while offering up some shocking moments and surprises along the way.
2. The Fabelmans
Who else but Steven Spielberg could have directed a semi-autobiographical drama about themselves and just deliver such a compelling experience along the way? The tale of Sammy Fabelman is one full of dreams, wonder, betrayal, loss, failure, drive, and passion. His perspective is unique and cinematic as we see the hints of a cinematic genius shining through his young eyes and experiences. The top-notch supporting cast of adults like Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Judd Hirsch, and Seth Rogan help bolster a career-making performance from Gabriel Labelle. The way Spielberg conveys this cinematic eye is so dynamic and organic that it is no surprise that such an auteur was the one who put it all together. The Fabelmans is more than just a biopic and leaves the audience with a giant grin thanks to one of the most excellent cameos in a long time on screen.
3. Everything Everywhere All at Once
This is by far (leaps and bounds) the most unique and bold film to make this list. For this very reason, it has reached the top of many people’s lists like this. Don’t get me wrong, I love this film to pieces! The films above might hit my sensibilities perfectly or hit a chord that spoke to me deeply, but this film had me smiling, tearing up, and laughing like no other. A multiverse full of madness and fanny-pack-filled action, The Daniels can create a film that checks so many boxes while feeling completely removed from any type of expectations. This is not only a science fiction ride of madness but also an action film filled with unique experiences. On top of that, it is not only a heartbreaking and moving tale of a broken marriage but also one about a shattering mother-daughter relationship. How many tears did this movie need to make me shed? But the insane directional and technical aspects only live to support this perfect cast with veterans like Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Jamie Curtis, and James Hong getting their day to shine. But you better watch out for Stephanie Hsu as well…she is on the rise.
4. TAR
The discourse around cancel culture is absolutely exhausting which makes it so shocking that a film about the fall of a world-renowned conductor would garner so much love from me. How does TAR do it? The easy answer is Cate Blanchett. Upon walking out of my showing of the film, I knew that this would be the best female performance of the year. Months and months later…that is still the case. She is alluring, powerful, commanding, egotistical, cruel, and destructive in a whirlwind of performance as Lydia Tar. But seeing this towering performance is just the first reason. Todd Field delivers a compelling and visually arresting experience as well. The camera work (especially as Tar conducts) is exceptionally dynamic and engrossing. You will see a few films that feel so organic or compelling as this. This character descent piece will blow you out of your theater with the ferocity of Blanchett’s performance and the biting commentary.
5. Avatar: The Way of Water
Is this real? Did this film come out? Shocking! After all these years and pushed-back release dates, Avatar: The Way of Water finally arrives and not only did it make an obscene amount of money but it is a great film. The first film did not impress me in ways that it captured many but this biggest, longer, and grander sequel captured more depth in character and themes. There are revisited elements throughout but the magic of it all is that it delivers so much heart and soul. The visual effects are some of the greatest ever put to film. James Cameron spent the time to perfect and advance his filmmaking techniques and you can see ever penny. The action is impeccable, and the wonder is there. This film was so mesmerizing that it made me actually want to see these other sequels.
6. Top Gun: Maverick
How did they make such a great film from a cheesy and overly macho 80s flick? Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, and Joseph Kosinski create something special with this long delayed sequel that most people never thought that they needed. Top Gun: Maverick takes a story of an aging pilot who is forced into a mentoring role when he still dreams of the sky. Maverick still seeks love and his dreams despite many feeling that he is a relic from a bygone time. Cruise gives one of his best performances in the role that features surprising depth and emotion. This legacy sequel features great moments from characters from the original film and delivers a crew of great new additions. Miles Teller and Jennifer Connelly offer up strong supporting turns. But most importantly, the action is breathtaking and thrilling. Oh…DANGER ZONE!
7. All Quiet on the Western Front
Who would have thought that a World War I novel adapted in 2022 and dropped on Netflix would blow up the way that this has? All Quiet on the Western Front took the Oscars by storm with its performance with 9 nominations. This is a striking film with some of the most dynamic and visceral visuals of any film nominated for Best Picture. The shocking moments of darkness and brutality explode off the screen (even at home as you watch it on Netflix). This is a classic anti-war film depicting the harrowing effects of war on those that fight it, especially in a war fought for next to no valid reason. This is the hardest watch of all the Best Picture nominees this year and probably an easy winner for International Film. But it just might be the big surprise of the night.
8. Women Talking
Should I start this off with the most obvious joke in film discourse at the moment? Woman Talking is one of the most accurate titles in 2022…there I did it. To be fair, so would Women Are Talking but that only exists in Mark Wahlberg’s head. But all joking aside, this is a moving story of women coming together to debate and make tough decisions about their future. The men are away and the women have experienced so much abuse and force. This play-like film is filled with fantastic performances across the board. Rooney Mara, Jessie Buckley, Claire Foy, and so many other talented stars bring so much passion and fire to this script as they choose what to do in face of adversity. There is depth of themes and emotions as these are not easy decisions that must be made. The film might feel a bit constricted with its set up, but it is still a moving and poignant film and worth checking out (even if it is not Best Picture material).
9. Triangle of Sadness
What a whirlwind of a film Triangle of Sadness is? This wave of debauchery and insanity goes off the rails quickly but what an interesting ride that it is. This is a film of three distinct acts each offering up something completely different. A romance on the rocks. A thriller on a boat filled with barrels of human excrement. A survival film on a desert. There is merit in each of these parts even though they are quite uneven. The cast is overall new faces minus Woody Harrelson as a luxury yacht captain with plenty of thoughts on class warfare. Speaking of class warfare, the themes are deep and permeate each piece of the film in a unique way. Everything might not come together perfectly but maybe on future watches, more of the pieces will come together. This is still too messy to offer up a coveted Best Picture nomination to.
10. Elvis
Then there was the one film that shouldn’t be nominated, right? The Bohemian Rhapsody of 2022. A music biopic with a fantastic central performance shine as a middling film overall. Sure, Baz Luhrmann offers up plenty of energy and excitement along the way. The style is off the charts. Austin Butler and Tom Hanks do some wonders. But even for a long film like this, there are so many elements that feel undercooked and thin. There are memorable scenes and those physical performances from Butler are so on point. But there is a lack of depth and meaning that makes this film feel quite hollow. Is it a more fun watch than others on this list? Sure. Does that mean it should be getting a Best Picture nomination? No. Hopefully, it gets people to check out Elvis’ work but it is overall just a fine and flashy flick.
