Is this my second to last 2024 film piece? Yes. What took me so long? Mind your business. In all seriousness I’m not sure it has ever taken me this long to get to a quorum of films to feel comfortable enough to put out my top 10. Furthermore, it has been years since I’ve had to reevaluate my rankings this much. I rewatched some, pondered for quite a bit, and really dug into why I would suggest something to be on this list. In the end, I pulled together a top 10 that I am thrilled by and happy to say represented the 2024 film year well. Without any further ado, here’s my top 10 movies of 2024.
10. Ghostlight – A quietly observed film that just grows in estimation and humanity as the run time continues. This is such a great humanity litmus test that will challenge your preconceived notions and biases before leading you to an uplifting place.
9. Trap – M. Night Shyamalan is truly the master of the concept and here, he carries his wacky concept through to its gonzo heights and along the way
8. Hundreds of Beavers – One of the year’s “most” movies, this Buster Keaton-esque near silent film about a man doing battle against a bunch of animals is truly a revelation.
7. Les Indésirables – Ladj Ly’s film is a searing portrait of gentrification, politics, and race. Every single aspect of the film is good to great, from the brilliant performances (Anta Diaw in her film debut is spectacular) to the script that piles injustice on top of heartbreak and humanity.
6. Anora – A movie that harkens back to the character dramas of the 70s, this movie is incredibly well made and acted. But the MVP is the scripts 25 minute sequence in which Anora has to face off against her husband’s father’s henchmen, just a brilliant resetting and propelling of a film that was already solid.
5. I’m Still Here – It’s not so much a history lesson as it is an exhumation of a time period and a lovely character study of a woman just trying to hold the family together. Torres’ performance is titanic.
4. Nosferatu – I won’t be able to get those sucking sounds out of my mind, nor will I soon forget just how accomplished of a movie this is. From the fierce commitment of the actors to Robert Eggers conducting of his below the line team, everything is pitch perfect.
3. Sing Sing – Like a wrecking ball Sing Sing knocked me off of my axis during its run time. It’s so smartly made, never indulging in judgement or explotation and with Clarence and Colman trodding its boards, deeply resonant.
2. Dìdi – A movie that’s so realistic a simple still from the film can send me spiraling, this is a triumph of making you connect with characters. I saw so much of myself and my relationship with my parents in this film and Joan Chen’s performance is not one I will soon forget.
1. The Brutalist – A movie that makes due with what it has and also exceeds beyond limitations, The Brutalist is a messy, thrilling, complex piece of work that manages to be epic and contained all at once. A feat of filmmaking.
