Another year of film in the books! And no better way to celebrate than continuing the time honored tradition of making a list.
It made me laugh to look back at my Best Films of 2022 list & my Best Films of 2023 list to see how the number of films celebrated each year continues to grow. The 2022 list was only 10 films, the 2023 list was 50 films, and this year will include 75 films.
My reason for expanding this list this year is simple - I want to make sure the good films are recognized & the great ones are celebrated. Thus, anything on this list is a film that I believe is worth your time. Everything from #75 through #29 are 3/5 or 3.5/5 star films from the year that I would suggest watching (if they interest you). Then, everything from #28 through #1 are either 4, 4.5, or 5 star movies that I highly recommend checking out.
My hope is that this can serve as a reference guide going forward as these films start to pop up on streaming & you are trying to determine if they are worth your time.
While there are 75 films on this list, there are even more 2024 releases that are not on the list.
I watched 252 films throughout 2024 & 156 films that were 2024 releases.
So while there are 75 films that made the list, there were 81 films that didn’t make the list. Some notable films that you will NOT see on this list include:
Trap (Directed by M. Night Shyamalan)
Blitz (Directed by Steve McQueen)
Emilia Perez (Directed by Jacques Audiard)
Wicked (Directed by Jon M. Chu)
Here (Directed by Robert Zemeckis)
Queer (Directed by Luca Guadagnino)
Wolfs (Directed by Jon Watts)
It Ends With Us (Directed by Justin Baldoni)
Blink Twice (Directed by Zoe Kravitz)
Heretic (Directed by Scott Beck & Bryan Woods)
Deadpool & Wolverine (Directed by Shawn Levy)
Nightbitch (Directed by Marielle Heller)
Mufasa (Directed by Barry Jenkins)
While I wouldn’t say that 2024 was the deepest year when it came to quality films (we can think the strikes for that), there were still quite a few excellent worth celebrating, so let’s do that!
Without further ado, here are my top 75 films of 2024:
Gladiator II (Directed Ridley Scott)
His Three Daughters (Azazel Jacobs)
Martha (Directed by R.J. Cutler)
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (Directed by Tim Burton)
Girls State (Directed by Jesse Moss & Amanda McBaine)
Jim Henson Idea Man (Directed by Ron Howard)
The Bikeriders (Directed by Jeff Nichols)
We Live In Time (Directed by John Crowley)
The Line (Directed by Ethan Berger)
Monkey Man (Directed by Dev Patel)
Mean Girls (Directed by Arturo Perez Jr. & Samantha Jayne)
The Room Next Door (Directed Pedro Almodovar)
Sweethearts (Directed by Jordan Weiss)
The Beekeeper (Directed by David Ayer)
The Apprentice (Directed by Ali Abbasi)
Lisa Frankenstein (Directed by Zelda Williams)
The Fire Inside (Directed by Rachel Morrison)
Small Things Like These (Directed by Tim Mielants)
Am I Ok? (Directed by Tig Notaro & Stephanie Allynee)
Inside Out 2 (Directed by Kelsey Mann)
A Quiet Place: Day One (Directed Michael Sarnoski)
Carry-On (Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra)
The Order (Directed by Justin Kurzel)
Babygirl (Directed by Halina Reijn)
Better Man (Directed by Michael Gracey)
Didi (Directed by Sean Wang)
I Saw the TV Glow (Directed by Jane Schoenbrun)
Alien: Romulus (Directed by Fede Alvarez)
Maria (Directed by Pablo Larrain)
Woman of the Hour (Directed by Anna Kendrick)
The Beast (Directed by Bertrand Bonello)
The Idea of You (Directed by Michael
Saturday Night (Directed by Jason Reitman)
My Old Ass (Directed by Megan Park)
Snack Shack (Directed by Adam Rehmeier)
Kinds of Kindness (Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos)
The End (Directed by Joshua Oppenheimer)
The Outrun (Directed by Nora Fingscheidt)
September 5 (Directed by Tim Fehlbaum)
Magpie (Directed by Sam Yates)
Twisters (Lee Isaac Chung)
Daddio (Directed by Christy Hall)
Rebel Ridge (Directed by Jeremy Saulnier)
The Fall Guy (Directed by David Leitch)
The Piano Lesson (Directed by Malcom Washington)
How To Have Sex (Directed by Molly Manning Walker)
Love Lies Bleeding (Directed by Rose Glass)
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (Directed by George Miller)
Love You (Directed by Josh Safdie)
Strange Darling (Directed by JT Mollner)
25. A Complete Unknown (Directed by James Mangold)
What the film is about - “In the early 1960s, 19-year-old Bob Dylan arrives in New York with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music.”
Why I loved the film - Whether you have a deep relationship with Bob Dylan & his work (like my father in-law) or a minimal relationship with Bob Dylan and his work (like myself), there is something for you in “A Complete Unknown”.
Timothee Chamalet gives another revelatory performance as the music legend, but it is Monica Barbaro’s performance as Joan Baez that stole the show for me. Would be thrilled to see her get a surprise Oscar nomination.
The whole “cut the sound” shenanigans of the third act almost made me turn on the entire film, but the first 1.5 hours are so good & the musical moments so authentic that I’ll forgive it.
I’ve seen a lot of people talking about how “A Complete Unknown” falls into the same trappings and beats of many other music biopics, but I honestly don’t see that at all. It doesn’t even feel like a movie in stretches, which is why it works so well.
24. The Taste of Things (Directed by Tran Anh Hung)
What the film is about - “The story of Eugenie, an esteemed cook, and Dodin - the fine gourmet chef she has been working for over the last 20 years.”
Why I loved the film - Upon first glace, it is obvious that “The Taste of Things” makes the case for being the best food movie of all time. When you look closer though, you see a searing portrait of relationships, what it means to care for another, and the beauty of sharing something with someone.
The opening sequence is a 40ish minute scene of Dodin & Eugenie cooking a meal together & it is one of the most beautiful things you will see this year. What follows will take you on a journey of the human spirit, leave your mouth watering, cause you to shed a tear, and maybe.. just maybe, learn a thing or two about happiness & sustenance.
23. Daughters (Directed by Angela Patton & Natalie Rae)
What the film is about - “Four young girls prepare for a special Daddy Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers, as part of a unique fatherhood program in a Washington, D.C., jail.”
Why I loved the film - Documentaries are at their best when they shed a light on a problem/event & dive deep into it with meaningful intent. So many docs these days focus on the first part while forgetting the latter. “Daughters” does both remarkably well. The best documentaries though take it one step further to offer a solution, which “Daughters” doesn’t shy away from.
The film is just as emotional as you can imagine, if not more so. The filmmakers don’t get in the way of things or try to draw conclusions that aren’t there. They simply shine a light on the young girls that are impacted by their fathers actions. So munch intention is put into highlighting all sides of the subject matter - the perspective of the fathers, the perspective of the daughters, and the perspective of the mothers.
One of the most eye opening documentaries I have ever seen, but more importantly, one that I think will spark some serious positive change.
22. Nosferatu (Directed by Robert Eggers)
What the film is about - “In the 1830s, estate agent Thomas Hutter travels to Transylvania for a fateful meeting with Count Orlok, a prospective client.”
Why I loved the film - Despite the intense explorations of folklore throughout Eggers’ films, there is always an odd sense of comfort I get when watching his films.
That sounds like a psychotic thing to say for something like “The Witch” & maybe an even crazier thing to say for something like “Nosferatu”. But hear me out.
Given the style/tone of his films it isn’t the feel good comfort I get from watching “When Harry Met Sally” or “Mamma Mia”. Instead it is the kind of comfort I get in watching someone do something they were born to do.
You know you are in good hands, even if the film itself may be unsettling.
It is so abundantly clear when you watch an Eggers’ film that he is doing the kind of thing he has always dreamed of & that he was born to do. From his commitment to historical accuracy to his fascination with myth to the level of craft that he infuses into each production.
They all reflect him as a person.
Does this sometimes result in his films feeling like they were made in a lab and therefore lacking emotional connectivity that audiences expect in film? Sure, but I actually think that is bound to happen when you are as obsessed with realism as Eggers is.
Anyways, I’d happily take a new Eggers movie every few years for the rest of my life.
21. The Brutalist (Directed by Brady Corbet)
What the film is about - “When visionary architect László Toth and his wife Erzsébet flee post-war Europe in 1947 to rebuild their legacy and witness the birth of modern America, their lives are changed forever by a mysterious and wealthy client.”
Why I loved the film - It doesn’t take long while watching “The Brutalist” to realize it is not only about a different time, but the film itself is quite literally of a different time.
The towering 3 hour 35 minute run time includes a 15 minute intermission in the middle.
It is the first American film since 1961 to be shot on VistaVision (a higher resolution, widescreen variant of the 35MM file format).
The sweeping story covers 30+ years of an immigrants life as he comes to America following the war.
It is quite jarring at first just how different it is from everything else released in theaters during this day and age. “The Brutalist” is very often the complete anthesis of modern cinema, in the best way possible.
You not only feel enveloped in the world that Corbet builds of post-war America, but you feel like you are watching the movie in that era.
A bold movie with bold ideas. An examination of the American Dream. An examination of the intersection between art and business. An examination about the enduring nature of art. An examination of the cause and effect of violence/trauma.
It is such a rich text.
A staggering achievement that shouldn’t be missed.
20. Civil War (Directed by Alex Garland)
What the film is about - “A journey across a dystopian future America, following a team of military-embedded journalists as they race against time to reach DC before rebel factions descend upon the White House.”
Why I loved the film - Garland is pleading throughout for us to not forget the humanity of everyone around us. He’s done that in past films when he warns us of something that could happen if we aren’t careful. Just look at “Ex Machina”. It’s not about the ins and outs of AI technology, but it is a warning about a path that even though it seems crazy, we were headed down. 10 years later it doesn’t seem so crazy.
Similarly, “Civil War” isn’t about ins and outs of politics, it’s about the humans at the center. It’s about how really everyone isn’t that different. It’s a warning that even though it seems crazy, we are heading down this path. It’s a plea to remember the humanity of those around you. To have a conversation with them.
Those who are upset that the film didn’t really show its hand politically are just obsessed with seeing their political opposition condemned by a film. So obsessed that they can’t accept their political opposition’s humanity. Which does nothing but further the point of the film.
19. Robot Dreams (Directed by Pablo Berger)
What the film is about - “The adventures and misfortunes of Dog and Robot in New York City during the 1980s.”
Why I loved the film - Both irresistibly delightful & utterly heartbreaking all wrapped into 100 minutes.
Wouldn’t normally label myself as someone who would enjoy a silent animated film about a lonely dog who buys a robot, but “Robot Dreams” had me feeling like a kid again. The captivating animation, bright colors, and tremendous detail in every frame are enough to make you giddy whether young or old.
Anytime I rewatch one of the animated classics from my childhood, I often think to myself, “I can’t wait to show this to my kid someday”. “Robot Dreams” is the first animated film I have watched as an adult where I had that same thought upon my first watch. And the thought crossed my mind multiple times throughout the entirety of its runtime.
Can’t think of a higher compliment than that.
18. The Wild Robot (Directed by Chris Sanders)
What the film is about - “Shipwrecked on a deserted island, a robot named Roz must learn to adapt to its new surroundings.”
Why I loved the film - Chris Sanders is no stranger to animated hits. He previously wrote & directed “How to Train Your Dragon”, “The Croods”, and “Lilo & Stitch”, yet he somehow elevates once again to deliver his best work to date.
One of the most beautiful animated movies in recent memory. The voice performances. The grand vision of Chris Sanders. The score. The story. The style.
It all ties together remarkably well.
While there is much to love, my favorite thing is how the film leaves you with a similar feeling to the early Pixar films. The kids are entertained & the parents are moved. It isn’t too heavy handed in its messages that kids will be bored, but it isn’t so focused on being entertaining that it loses its message.
It is the kind of film you will enjoy as a child & then see through a different light as a teenager & then see through a completely different light as an adult.
One that truly the whole family will enjoy, not just tolerate. And will be in living rooms for generations to come.
17. Last Summer (Directed by Catherine Breillat)
What the film is about - “Successful lawyer Anne leads a happy life with her husband Pierre and their two daughters. But when she begins an affair with Theo, Pierre's son from a previous marriage, her career and family life are in jeopardy.”
Why I loved the film - Saw this a few weeks ago and am yet to shake it from my mind. Sure it’s an excellent film, but more importantly it’s the kind of film that reminds you how important it is to engage with the global cinema & not just my corner of the world.
Got to admit that I’m not always the best at actually doing that & I often have a hard time getting myself to actually sit down & engage with international films at home. A good reminder that the best films transcend even that resistance & can even provide a breath of fresh air from not only our studio system, but our indie film scene.
16. The Substance (Directed by Coralie Fargeat)
What the film is about - “Elisabeth Sparkle, renowned for an aerobics show, faces a devastating blow on her 50th birthday as her boss fires her. Amid her distress, a laboratory offers her a substance which promises to transform her into an enhanced version of herself.”
Why I loved the film - “The Substance” is many things - outrageous, grotesque, pulsating, and breathtaking (just to name a few).
But above all, it is a breath of fresh air.
You have no choice but to be in awe of its insanity and originality. It handles the screenplay in such bold, visceral, and disgusting ways that you are left either gagging at its grotesqueness or applauding by the end.
From the opening scene, there is no subtlety in its satirical take on aging, how society forces women to face it, and how they deal with that internally. Yet, it never feels overbearing or heavy handed. The performances and screenplay are having enough fun with it & tackles the source material in a way that makes it far more entertaining than it has any right to be.
Don’t get me wrong though, there are moments that are still as disturbing as movies can get.
As much fun as the unrelenting nature is, it is inevitably going to be too much for many to handle (especially the last 30 minutes). Then again, it’s also the bold, entirely original, swinging for the fences sort of spectacle that doesn’t come along very often.
Absolutely bananas in the best way possible. No other way to describe it.
15. Hard Truths (Directed by Mike Leigh)
What the film is about - “Pansy, angry and depressed, lashes out at family and strangers. Her constant criticism isolates her, except from her cheerful sister Chantal, who remains sympathetic despite their differences.”
Why I loved the film - There is something so authentic about how Pansy & her immediate + extended family are portrayed here. There isn’t any attempt to condemn her & how she moves through the world. Instead, we are just shown moments both quiet & secluded & loud & obnoxious. Moments that juxtapose how she lives her life in contrast to how those around her live. Moments that show the real pain she is dealing with. Moments that show how those around her navigate her & her actions.
It’s those collection of moments that say the quiet parts out loud, even if they aren’t verbalized throughout the film. Which is my favorite kind of filmmaking. The kind that has respect for the intelligence & emotional awareness of the audience.
14. Conclave (Directed by Edward Berger)
What the film is about - “Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with leading one of the world's most secretive and ancient events, selecting a new Pope.”
Why I loved the film - On paper you would think that “Conclave” would be a drama as serious as they come. In reality, it plays like an airport novel mixed “Mean Girls” set in the Vatican (with lots to say about electoral politics).
That may be one of the most bizarre descriptions of a movie ever, but trust me when I say that I loved every second. The whole thing is a blast.
As a side note, if you hold the Catholic church or Catholic faith in high regard, probably not the movie for you.
13. The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (Directed by Benjamin Ree)
What the film is about - “Mats Steen, a Norwegian gamer, died of a degenerative muscular disease at the age of 25. His parents mourned what they thought had been a lonely and isolated life, when they started receiving messages from online friends around the world.”
Why I loved the film - This is without a doubt one of the most moving and innovative films that I have ever seen. It’s not every day that you literally see something you never could have imagined. Ibelin is a love letter not only to the gaming community, but to those who quietly make their impact on the world in unique ways.
While his physical life seemed pretty routine, thanks to game logs and animators, Mats digital life is brought to life throughout the documentary in incredibly moving ways. In twenty years, there may be dozens of docs like this one, but Ibelin will always be the first.
Major kudos to all involved with this, specifically the animators. Technology shouldn’t be a scary thing if we keep humanity and kindness at the center.
12. A Different Man (Directed by Aaron Schimberg)
What the film is about - “An aspiring actor undergoes a radical medical procedure to drastically transform his appearance. However, his new dream face quickly turns into a nightmare as he becomes obsessed with reclaiming what was lost.”
Why I loved the film - One of the smartest, most original screenplays of the year. In fact, there were multiple moments throughout the film where I gasped not only at all just how smart script is, but how Schimberg’s blocking maximizes the material in the best way possible.
It is kind of shocking that there are two satirical films this year (this & the substance) that are satires about how we physically distort and mangle ourselves to gain a better standing in society & how that can back fire. I like them both quite a bit, but I will no doubt return to this one more.
11. Red Rooms (Directed by Pascal Plante)
What the film is about - “Kelly-Anne is obsessed with the high-profile case of a serial killer, and reality blurs with her morbid fantasies”
Why I loved the film - This French thriller is one of the most bone chilling, disturbing, and thought provoking films of the decade so far. Seriously, the subject matter is pure evil/sickening yet the whole thing is so beautifully crafted & directed that you are glued to your seat. It makes the same choice that “The Zone of Interest” from 2023 does where you don’t ever see the horror on screen, but you can hear it, which leads to a feeling just as haunting.
An indictment on the true crime obsessed society we live in and a reminder of where isolation and rubbernecking ultimately can take us.
10. Hit Man (Directed by Richard Linklater)
What the film is about - “A professor moonlighting as a hit man of sorts for his city police department, descends into dangerous, dubious territory when he finds himself attracted to a woman who enlists his services.”
Why I loved the film - The perfect date night movie. It has that charm and rewatchability of the great movies from the 80s and 90s. I have a hunch that 20 years from now, when I look back and which movies from 2024 I rewatched the most, Hit Man will be at the top of the list.
Richard Linklater gives us another all timer in the “great hang” movie cannon and Glen Powell confirms he’s got the stuff to be the next great movie star. If you missed it, I wrote about how Glenn Powell was the next great movie star earlier this year & I couldn’t be feeling better about that take.
9. All We Imagine As Light (Directed by Payal Kapadia)
What the film is about - “Nurse Prabha's daily life in Mumbai takes an unexpected turn when a surprise present arrives from her estranged husband. Her younger roommate, Anu, faces frustration in her quest to secure a private spot in the city to be intimate with her partner.”
Why I loved the film - Payal Kapadia finds a way to capture the energy and beauty of Mumbai unlike anyone ever has before on film. The hustling and bustling of the city at night, the inward struggles of a people pushing against societal norms, and the found family that they were rubbing shoulders with the whole time. A staggering feat in filmmaking & moved more than I ever expected.
It is absolute shame that this isn’t eligible to be nominated for the best international film Oscar. The Oscars require that individual countries chose one film to be “the official submission” to represent that country in the Oscars. The Oscars voting body then chooses the nominees (and eventual winner) based on those official submissions.
In an instance like this, India is never going to pick a film that goes against the politics/traditions of their country. So the only hope it had to get a nomination would be for another country to select it, which didn’t happen.
It is a major flaw in the system because not only should this be nominated for best international film at the Oscars, it should win.
8. Good One (Directed by India Donaldson)
What the film is about - “During a weekend backpacking trip in the Catskills, 17-year-old Sam navigates the clash of egos between her father and his oldest friend.”
Why I loved the film - Set against the backdrop of the Catskill mountains, “Good One” first presents itself as your typical coming of age tale. It is as quiet and nuanced as the mountains themselves, but also just as revelatory.
Very quickly though our expectations are subverted. The youngest member of the group is far more mature than her age suggests. In fact, she may actually be the most mature of the whole group.
I’ve never seen a film so accurately portray just how much a traumatic event can completely destroy the normalcy in a parent/child relationship.
Beat for beat it just nails every single thing that can happen when a kid has to grow up too fast & it warps the parents view of them. From the over reliance on the child’s thinking/logic, to asking them to do too much (without even thinking about it) or just simply having conversations that a parent should never have with their kids.
It is as quiet and nuanced as the mountains themselves, but also just as revelatory.
7. Juror #2 (Directed by Clint Eastwood)
What the film is about - “A juror for a high-profile murder trial finds himself struggling with a serious moral dilemma that could influence the verdict and potentially convict, or free, the accused killer.”
Why I loved the film - In what will likely be his final film, Clint Eastwood spends 114 minutes interrogating the American judicial system in the most entertaining way possible. At times this interrogation will seem subtle, but per usual Eastwood does a masterful job threading the needle between entertainment & commentary on our world/morality.
Also, a huge shoutout to the cast of this film for bringing their A game. Nicholas Hoult, JK Simmons, Kiefer Sutherland, and my personal favorite, Zoey Deutch turn a great screenplay into the exceptional film.
6. Sing Sing (Directed by Greg Kwedar)
What the film is about - “Imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit, Divine G finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men, including a wary newcomer.”
Why I loved the film - Theater, there is nothing like it.
It stirs the soul & takes you to places you never thought attainable. It brings beauty and authenticity to every space it inhabits. It can even remind us of our own humanity.
You form bonds you never thought possible & explore parts of yourself you didn’t know existed.
It can change lives & save lives, but it can also just get you through a hard day.
There is a rawness in the performances, storytelling, and the direction that takes “Sing Sing” from the gimicky production that it could have been to the special film that it is. In fact, in hands that didn’t care about the heart of the story or the people involved so much, this could have been a colossal miss.
Thankfully, Greg Kwedar and the village of participants in the real-life events helped turn “Sing Sing” into what it is - a beautiful testament to the power of art. The power it has to change, to bond, to remind, and even to alter the course of our lives.
5. A Real Pain (Directed by Jesse Eisenberg)
What the film is about - “Two cousins travel to Poland after their grandmother's death to see where they came from and end up joining a Holocaust tour.”
Why I loved the film - There are many emotions evoked throughout Jesse Eisenberg’s second feature film but the authenticity and sincerity at the heart of it is what really sticks with you. The script is tight and character focused, but gives itself room to breath in all the right spots.
Kieran Culkin steals the show & is utterly remarkable from start to finish. He and Eisenberg balance each other out perfectly on screen. Speaking of Eisenberg, he delivers a monologue at a dinner scene in the middle of the film that is one of the best scenes of the decade so far. More importantly, he’s shown great growth as a filmmaker and it’s clear that he’s got what it takes to stay behind the camera if he chooses.
There’s not a second wasted in the entirety of the film. Such a perfect way to spend 90 minutes.
4. Nickel Boys (Directed by RaMell Ross)
What the film is about - “Elwood Curtis' college dreams are shattered when he's sentenced to Nickel Academy, a brutal reformatory in the Jim Crow South.”
Why I loved the film - For the first 30 minutes, you are fighting the way that RaMell Ross is using the camera so unconventionally. To be honest, there were moments where I wasn’t even sure I would be able to finish the whole film.
Once the story gets really moving, you are more than locked in & on board with the swings being taken. By the end of the film, you leave surprised that this isn’t a more traditional way to tell a story.
A ride unlike any other, a story unlike anything I’ve ever seen, and all told by the only person who could tell it.
3. Challengers (Directed by Luca Guadagnino)
What the film is about - “Tashi, a former tennis prodigy turned coach, turned her husband into a champion. But to overcome a losing streak, he needs to face his ex-best friend and Tashi's ex-boyfriend.”
Why I loved the film - Put simply, “Challengers” is so much fun it hurts. Days after watching the film, you finds yourself still trembling from the on edge feeling you get spending two plus hours rooted in this world with the pulsating score in the background.
The tension that is created both in the back and forth nature of the performances and the tennis is jolting to the senses. I have now watched it three times and each time through the nuances between each individual character and their relationship to one another becomes even more rich than I previously thought.
The more you chew on it, the more you realize just how much meat is on the bone. Which is something you can’t say about many movies these days.
2. Anora (Directed by Sean Baker)
What the film is about - “Anora, a sex worker from Brooklyn, gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as the parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.”
Why I loved the film - Sean Baker strikes again! This time with the culmination of his previous work - a humorous & rollicking journey delving into the many layers of our transactional society.
What starts out as delightfully modern take on “Pretty Woman”, slowly morphs into a film that has much more in common with the chaotic energy of “Uncut Gems”.
At the center of this spectacle of chaos is Ani, a charming yet fiery sex worker (portrayed by the marvelous Mikey Madison). Madison gives a gutsy performance filled with so much emotion that at times, Ani seems invincible.
Yet, in one small & powerful moment, we see just how far from reality that is. It’s in that moment that “Anora” goes from a great film to one of the best of the year.
1. Dune Part 2 (Directed by Denis Villeneuve)
What the film is about - “Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family.”
Why I loved the film - As the credits rolled for my first viewing of “Dune Part 2” on February 25th, 2024 I sat stunned that I just witnessed my generations “Empire Strikes Back” moment. In that moment, I had a pretty strong hunch that I would see nothing better in 2024.
Not only did that remain true, but “Dune Part 2” is the only 5 star film of the year & despite how great everything else on this list was, nothing comes closing the touching what Villeneuve accomplished in Dune Part 2.
Every great film has one or two signature scenes that take your breath away. “Dune: Part 2” has so many that you lose count.
Every great film has a few dozen shots that rattle around in your brain for weeks. “Dune: Part 2” has so many that your eyes can barely process the visual feast that is before it.
Villeneuve achieves a scale and scope throughout the film that makes you gasp, but still maintains a heart and authenticity that will move your soul.
Chalamet claims his spot as a genuine star, Villeneuve leaves no doubt that he’s one of the greatest working filmmakers, and Dune’s place in the pantheon of great sci-fi sagas is solidified.
There are many words that can be used to describe “Dune: Part 2”, but the most fitting is masterpiece.
That is all for 2024! Stay tuned over the next couple of days for a sneak peak at my most anticipated films for 2025.
As always, enjoy some great films until next time!
Aaron Nolan