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!
1. The Banshees of Inisherin
Writer/director Martin McDonagh whisks his audience away to a secluded Irish isle for a tale of failing friends, mortality, and small-town life. This pitch-black comedy has sharp and biting dialogue that draws the audience in for this small-town life and perspective. The cast is offering up amazing performance after amazing performance with their sights set on creating an authentic and engaging Irish experience. This is an unexpected ride worth your time.
2. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Writer/director Rian Johnson offers up a few new mysteries in the world of investigator Benoit Blanc. Craig’s dashing southern investigator finds himself on the private island of a tech billionaire for a weekend with his friends. This story is layered and full of subversive surprises and an incredible ensemble cast. There are laughs, scares, and plenty of bold entertainment.
3. The Batman
Matt Reeves just may have created the quintessential Batman film with this latest outing for the Dark Knight. This young and inexperienced hero stumbles upon a serial killer who is taking down those in power in Gotham. The atmosphere is dark and ominous, the music is top-tier, and the production design brings an exciting new look to Gotham. The cast is scary good as the audience is taken on a crazy thrill ride.
4. The Fabelmans
One of the most intimate films of the year, we get to see behind the curtain of one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. Spielberg shows audiences how he fell for film and the unique perspective that he has of the world. Bolstered by a breakout Gabriel Labelle and a top-notch supporting cast, the loose biopic is one of the most moving and poignant films of the year. There might be a new Oscar soon for Spielberg.
5. Everything Everywhere All at Once
The Daniels did the unthinkable and created one of the most unique films of all time. This new film is a wondrous mixture of many genres from fantasy, science fiction, martial arts, action, and so many more. Michelle Yeoh gives the performance of her lifetime as well as Ke Huy Quan (with an amazing career resurgence). Exciting but also deeply emotional and thematic, this might be one of the most well-rounded cinematic experiences of the year.
6. The Northman
Robert Eggers is given a budget upgrade and he leaves folk horror behind for a massive Viking odyssey that is a towering experience. Alexander Skarsgard is a terrifying presence as a bloodthirsty entity bent on vengeance. This Nordic Hamlet is deeply atmospheric, ominous in tone, and arresting in style. Eggers pulls no punches (as always) with this epic film full of visual splendor, violent bursts, and intense performances.
7. EO
This is the little Polish film that could. This tale about humanity and our relationship with the environment around us is told expertly through the most unexpected eyes…a donkey. This donkey gives one of the most moving performances of the year (no joke) as expert direction teleports the audience into the head of this tough and brave creature. This is no fun and hopeful journey, but it will hit you so deeply and unexpectedly.
8. Bodies Bodies Bodies
This film is expectedly tense and insane for a bunch of college-age girls (and a few select others) hanging out and partying during a hurricane. This simple setup leaves the audience open to experience some impressive scares and unbearable tensions. This crew of impressive young actors delivers some of the craziest and most fun characters on screen in 2022. This captures the energy of Gen Z in a bold and arresting way while delivering an unexpected thrill ride.
9. Official Competition
Time to jump the sea to experience this new Spanish hit in the vein of Almodovar. A trio of impressive actors (Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas, and Oscar Martinez) brings to life this insane experience of the creative process. This is a poignant commentary on the creative process, what is “art”, and the elitism that exists. The visual splendor that is this film is only matched by the depth of its ideas and themes.
10. Tár
Cate Blanchett is coming for that Oscar with this towering and complex performance. She is a problematic and talented conductor who takes audiences on one of the most impressive descents seen on film in a while. The direction is sharp, and the cinematography is gorgeous. There is a coldness to the whole surrounding Tar and that is only matched by the cold-hearted figure at the center of it.
11. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Marcel might be one of the cutest characters put to film in years. Thanks to some earnest and beautiful direction and a wonderfully sincere voice performance by Jenny Slate, this little film has become one of the most impactful films of the year. There is heart overflowing in every scene and a beautiful journey for the whole family.
12. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
The towering task of filming a sequel without Chadwick Boseman was overcome as Ryan Coogler delivers a poignant and bold sequel to the beloved comic book adaptation. The emotional depth offered up by the blockbuster is impressive and impactful. The introduction of a brand-new world and race of characters broadens the MCU and delivers a big and exciting follow-up. A new Black Panther has arrived and opened a whole new world of opportunities.
13. Fire of Love
The love and sacrifice of one couple help create one of the most impactful and moving documentaries of not only the year but in years. These volcanologists put themselves in danger for our benefit to see volcanoes like never before. This is a gorgeous film that captures the natural wonders of the world but also a moving and endearing love story between a husband and wife. A unique cinematic experience that is a true highlight.
14. The House
This might be the most obscure film on this whole list. Back in January, Netflix dropped an anthology stop-motion horror film. This was a horrifying and intense experience that came completely out of the left field. I didn’t see this coming and would have no idea that it would be sticking around to be in my Top 15 of the year. This is one of the most interesting and haunting experiences of the years.
15. Cha Cha Real Smooth
Cooper Raiff is back at it again! This young man has a great sense of characters and storytelling offering up another moving comedy/drama after his great debut Shithouse. Raiff is doing his best The Graduate homage as a college kid at home working parties when he falls for a young mother. Dakota Johnson delivers one of her best performances in this film and you find yourself rooting for Raiff and Johnson…or at least what is best for them both.
16. Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
Emma Thompson is sexy, proud, and vulnerable and that is all on display in this new drama. Hulu delivered an engaging and impactful connection between a retired teacher and her hired escort. Daryl McCormack makes for a wonderful on-screen partner for Thompson as their dynamic becomes increasingly more personal and wonderfully intimate. This unlikely pairing makes for one of the best this year.
17. The Territory
An endangered tribe must compete with new age manifest destiny to protect their home, the rainforest. This documentary starts as a nature documentary which soon shifts gears into a pseudo-thriller. This is an important story that must be seen as horrible injustices and crimes happen every single day in this area of the rainforest. This is an emotional and poignant story that needs to be heard.
18. Great Freedom
This is certainly one of the hidden gems of international cinema that graces my list this year. A man is thrown in prison for his homosexuality and must exist for years living a life in the shadows and lies. This raw and poignant story looks at how men will live their truth behind bars as well as the horrible depths life will take them with such adversity. Anchored by a great Franz Rogowski, this drama delivers.
19. Happening
The abortion narrative has become quite common on film in recent years with great films like Never Rarely Sometimes Always garnering much praise. France delivers this latest offering that captures the great lengths a woman must venture to get this choice in a place where it is banded. This renewed normal in America is so seen in this film and will mostly strike a chord with those who desperately seek this option. Poignant and emotional, this French film fires on many cylinders.
20. Avatar: The Way of Water
James Cameron has FINALLY delivered the next Avatar film after 13 years. This story expands upon the world of Pandoro as Jake Sully and his family are pushed out to the oceans and we experience the water tribes of this beautiful world. The effects are second to none and the action is some of the best this year. The narrative goes in new and unexpected ways with resurgent characters and ghosts coming back from the past. This is a towering achievement in film that will teleport audiences to this wonderful world that must be seen on the biggest screen possible.
21. Nope
Jordan Peele does Spielberg in his new science fiction thriller. An alien terrorizes a ranch as a pair of siblings must go on the hunt starring Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer. This is the biggest scale that Peele has tackled with plenty of big ideas regarding fame and spectacle. This is another big win for the former comedian as he is slowly creating an impressive filmography for himself with his genre-bending fair.
22. Top Gun: Maverick
The largest film of the year is a sequel to Top Gun which came out decades later. Let that sink in. Even crazier…this is leaps and bounds BETTER than Top Gun. This has incredible action and spectacle featuring some of the best practical effects of today. Tom Cruise offers up one of his most nuanced performances of his career. Somehow…this all works on every level. This is one of the most impressive films of the year and was a wonder to see on the silver screen.
23. Living
Bill Nighy finally gets his spotlight to shine as one of the great actors in the world. This new drama does the unthinkable and takes an Akira Kurosawa film and delivers a fascinating and impressive British take on Ikiru. Nighy provides one of the most emotional and nuanced performances of the year with his turn as a dying bureaucrat who tries to find his last great meaning by helping make a park. This is a gorgeous and moving film that will pull on all the heartstrings.
24. The Menu
This is one of the best satires you will watch all year. This is a dark and twisted look at food culture and celebrities. This ensemble is impressive from top to bottom including a charismatic and impactful Anya Taylor Joy. Ralph Fiennes is haunting and unnerving as the enigmatic chef of this mysterious kitchen. There are laughs to be had, scares to be experienced, and plenty to sink your teeth into.
25. Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.
Two amazing actors tackle the hypocrisy of organized religion in this big and bold satire. Regina Hall and Sterling K Brown give towering and powerful performances with real vulnerability shining through. The narrative is peeled back methodically and with impressive tension and suspense. The commentary is sharp and biting like no one’s business. Hall just might have given one of the best performances of the whole year.
