Worth the wait: Favorite movies of 2024
Yes, I can read a calendar.
Most film critics release their Top 10 lists closer to the start of January. Sadly, for those of us living in the Inland Northwest, a bit more patience is required to catch up with many of the year’s most acclaimed films.
While my 2024 “To watch” list remains incomplete, plenty of excellent films from the past year deserve a few celebratory words. Out of more than 100 titles from 2024, the following 20(ish) movies stuck with me the most. For the first time in a couple of years, I ranked my Top 10 (rather than listing the titles alphabetically). However, because ranking is hard, the honorable mention section reverts to alphabetical cowardice.
1. "I Saw the TV Glow"
An unforgettable and haunting drama about a pair of outcast teens (Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine, both terrific) who bond over their shared love of a cult TV show, Jane Schoenbrun’s “I Saw the TV Glow” is a profoundly personal story of repression, personal discovery and the suffocating pressure of social expectations.
With a smattering of horror movie imagery, Schoenbrun dramatizes the effects of anxiety in a way that transcends the story’s direct allegorical intentions. With a masterful soundtrack, stunning imagery and a vibrant cast that includes both acclaimed award-winners (Danielle Deadwyler) and Limp Bizkit frontman (Fred Durst), “I Saw the TV Glow” is a shattering, one-of-a-kind experience. “There is still time.” Available on video on demand and streaming on Max.
2. "All We Imagine as Light"
Lyrical and engrossing, director Payal Kapadia’s drama about three overworked nurses in Mumbai showcases broad cultural themes with sincerity, specificity and abundant humanity. Quiet, observational moments build into an absorbing story of women across three generations, all struggling to maintain agency in a social system that exploits and disfavors them. The film builds to a stunning final third that depicts acceptance and camaraderie with achingly compassionate, character-focused detail. In theaters.
3. "The Substance"
Gnarly, hilarious and horrific, Coralie Fargeat’s “The Substance” has nevertheless become one of the year’s most celebrated films, in large part thanks to the fearless performances of Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, playing two versions of the same Hollywood starlet who turns to a grotesque “beauty regimen” to maintain their fledgling fame. This movie goes big, bold and extremely bloody in service of a story about double standards and all the ways culture shames so-called imperfection. Available on VOD and streaming on MUBI.
4. "Memoir of a Snail"
An adult-themed stop-motion animated film that tackles the mundane, darkly comedic tragedies of human existence. The film, written and directed by Adam Elliot (an Academy Award winner for the 2003 animated short, “Harvie Krumpet”) follows the life of a lonely woman who finds comfort in her growing collection of snail-themed collectibles. The movie puts audiences through emotional turmoil before reaching its stirring finale. Not for kids! Available on VOD and streaming on AMC+.
5. "Anora"
Sean Baker (“The Florida Project”) routinely dramatizes human behavior in places in America most filmmakers actively avoid. Mikey Madison gives a stellar, tornado-of-a-performance as a sex worker who hastily marries a Russian oligarch, leading to a furiously funny “One Crazy Night” with a trio of less-than-intimidating goons. Winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes, the final scene recontextualizes the film and seals its status as one of the year’s more adventurous-yet-satisfying narratives. Back in theaters and available on VOD.
6. "The Wild Robot"
Perhaps it’s an empty compliment to declare “The Wild Robot” as the best movie ever made by Dreamworks Animation, a studio with plenty of financial success but few enduring classics. Still, “The Wild Robot,” a vivid adaptation of the book by Peter Brown, is a touching family film with top-of-the-line technical achievement. Lupita Nyongo’s vocal performance is a richly tuned combination of vulnerability and strength. Available on VOD and streaming on Peacock.
7. "Nosferatu"
One of the most gorgeously shot studio films in recent memory, Robert Eggers’ pristinely assembled adaptation of the classic vampire tale is a maximalist gothic horror. With charismatic performances across the board, chiefly Lily-Rose Depp as a woman plagued by the animalistic urges of a bloodthirsty monster. In theaters.
8. "Daughters"
An enrapturing fly-on-the-wall-style documentary about a prison’s “Date with Dad” program, in which daughters and their incarcerated fathers attend a dance together. Footage of the Daddy-Daughter Dance is predictably heart wrenching, then directors Natalie Rae and Angela Patton pivot the film in its final 20 minutes to a necessary probe on the American justice system. An unforgettably human story. Streaming on Netflix.
9. "The Brutalist"
With the scope of an Old Hollywood epic (despite a meager budget), Brady Corbet’s three-and-a-half-hour immigrant tale interrogates the American Dream through the eyes of an architect and Holocaust survivor who becomes entangled in the obsessions of a wealthy industrialist. The entire movie hinges on the brilliant performance of Adrien Brody in his best role since his Oscar-winning turn in “The Pianist.” In theaters.
10. "Hundreds of Beavers"
A black-and-white, ultra-low budget silent comedy made by some fellas in the Wisconsin woods, “Hundreds of Beavers” deploys 1,001 silly gags with the witty zaniness of a classic “Looney Tunes” cartoon. Streaming on Prime, Tubi, Freevee.
Honorable mentions
"Conclave"
A twisty thriller about the politicking of choosing a new Pope, this Edward Berger-directed film makes fantastic use of shadowy corridors and A-list talent, most significantly Ralph Fiennes in yet another essential performance. Available on VOD and streaming on Peacock.
"A Different Man"
A bewildering-but-entrancing dramatic comedy in which Sebastian Stan plays a man living with a genetic facial disfigurement who is offered a chance to change his life completely. If only he could figure out how to fix the man inside. Available on VOD and streaming on Max.
"Dune: Part II"
A true cinematic spectacle that improves and deepens Part I while delivering a thrilling conclusion to what many believed would be an impossible adaptation. Director Denis Villeneuve works on a blockbuster scale without sacrificing nuanced storytelling. Available on VOD, streaming on Netflix and Max.
"The End"
A mixed-critical response out of the festival circuit led to a quiet release for this unconventional musical from director Joshua Oppenheimer (who made the masterful 2012 documentary “The Act of Killing”). It stars Tilda Swinton, Michael Shannon and George MacKay as a wealthy family living in their spacious bunker following an extinction-level event on Earth’s surface. The strange mix of melodic and mundane song-and-dance numbers will turn off some viewers, but Oppenheimer orchestrates a piercing attack on the complacence and dissonance of privilege. Available on VOD.
"Flow"
This dialogue-free, tiny-budgeted Latvian feature about a cat trying to survive a fantastical water world has charmed its way into frontrunner position in the Oscar race for Animated Feature. The film utilizes realistic animal behavior to deepen its memorable cast of characters, making it a surprising, delightful adventure for all ages. Available on VOD.
"Hit Man"
Glen Powell and Adria Arjona spark ALL the chemistry in Richard Linklater’s darkly comedic caper, loosely based on a true story of a civilian who helps police catch criminals by pretending to be a contract killer. Streaming on Netflix.
"Kneecap"
A kinetic musical biopic (sorta) about the Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap, who play themselves in the film (alongside Michael Fassbender in a key supporting role). A foul-mouthed good time with a surprisingly balanced mix of comedy and drama. Streaming on Netflix.
"My Old Ass"
Silly title aside, this funny and heartfelt coming-of-age story follows college-bound Elliott (a star-making performance by Maisy Stella) who inexplicably meets the 39-year-old version of herself (Aubrey Plaza) during her final summer at home. The movie, written and directed by Megan Park (watch her fantastic and underseen debut film “The Fallout” on Max), smartly avoids trite life lessons yet still lands a deeply emotional climax. Streaming on Prime.
"Sing Sing"
An empathetic and nuanced narrative about a rehabilitation through the arts program in prison, “Sing Sing” surrounds a towering Coleman Domingo performance with nonprofessional actors who participated in the real-life program. Clarence Maclin, in particular, becomes the film’s stunning emotional anchor. Back in theaters. Available Jan. 31 on VOD.
"Thelma"
June Squibb: The breakout, 90-plus-year-old action star of 2024. An action-comedy with surprising heart and a few poignant things to say multi-generational bonds. Available on VOD and streaming on Hulu.
"Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl"
Another clever and meticulous stop-motion feature from Aardman Animation, the iconic British characters square off against the year’s best villain (a returning Feathers McGraw) in a story about technology gone haywire. Come save us from ourselves, Gromit! Streaming on Netflix.
"Will & Harper"
A sweet and often hilarious documentary that follows longtime friends Will Ferrell and Harper Steele taking a road trip across the country after Steele comes out as a trans woman. The film is a quietly impactful celebration of friendship and kindness. Streaming on Netflix.
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Tyler Wilson can be reached at twilson@cdapress.com.
