Honorable Mentions are as Follows
X, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Julia, Hustle, The Sea Beast, Survivor, Top Gun: Maverick, Turning Red,
10: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
This film leans in on the nostalgia of Nicolas Cage and his entire persona. He is very self-deprecating regarding making fun of himself and that persona he has gained over the last few decades. The cast, most notably Pedro Pascal, is fantastic. The action-adventure aspects of the film all are fantastic This is surely one of the best films halfway through 2022
9: Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
This film is an adorable cute little film that talks about big ideas within it. The voiceover cast, led by Jenny Slate and Isabella Rossellini, is phenomenal. A little personal project from Dean Fleischer-Camp and Jenny has become something bigger thanks to A24. Families of all ages will be able to relate to this amazing film.
8:Cha Cha Real Smooth
The idea of a young man trying to find his way in the world is one filmgoers have seen before, but not like this. Cooper Raiff infuses this film with a lot of himself, and it shows in the end result. This coming-of-age tale of a man who oversees bat mitzvahs as a way to grow as a human being is masterful. Dakota Johnson gives one of the best performances of her career. This film had a great message about caring about people and those who are not as good off as everybody else.
7: The Black Phone
Horror set in the ’70s and ’80s has become a subgenre that fans have embraced wholeheartedly. This era of film is the best there is for this genre. Scott Derrickson and Ethan Hawke have kept this genre interesting and original. The kids on bikes aspect played perfectly into the film’s plot and were very fulfilling to witness as they unfolded on screen. The twist in the story was pretty cool as well.
6: RRR (Rise, Roar, Revolt)
This is a Bollywood film I never knew I needed until I saw it. The action is never-ending, and the camaraderie between the two leads, Ram Charan and N. T. Rama Rao Jr., is one of the best I’ve seen in a film in a long time. The country of India puts out great movies, and this is another stellar example of it.
5: The Northman
This is the third film by director Robert Eggers. It might just be his most ambitious film yet. This Viking epic is filmed with backstabbing bloody action sequences and great performances from the entire cast, most notably from Alexander Skarsgard. He gives a visceral, raw performance like he has never given before. I wished this film was even longer than it was because I was completely immersed in this epic Viking take on revenge.
4: Elvis
This film is the Elvis biopic I’ve been waiting for my entire life. My mother, a huge Elvis fan, would be proud of how this film turned out. Baz Luhrmann’s style and vibe worked perfectly for this man’s incredible life. Austin Butler gives an Oscar-caliber performance, singing and dancing his way into our hearts. Tom Hanks gives a great performance as the film’s villain, Colonel Tom Parker. The first of his career. The costumes, editing, and set production are all first-rate as well.
3: Lightyear
Lightyear isn’t your daddy’s Toy Story film. It’s the origin of what made Andy in the Toy Story franchise want to buy a Buzz Lightyear action figure. The voice-over work is fantastic, especially Chris Evans, who replaces Tim Allen. The animation by Pixar, maybe the best in the business, is gritty and darker than usual. The whole grain and darker animation make for some of the best ever for this stalwart of animation Pixar.
2: The Batman
The Batman is the fourth reboot of the Batman franchise, and it’s comparable with the Christopher Nolan franchise, which was great. The whole film noir and detective aspects of the film were very good and right up my angle. The entire look and sound of the film from cinematographer Greg Fraser are gorgeous, and the music is great by composer Michael Giacchino. It has a vibe of Se7en and Zodiac, both from David Fincher, with a modern-day flair. Robert Pattinson gives one of the best performances of his career as this darkly torn crime fighter. The rest of the cast, including Colin Farrell, Zoe Kravitz, John Turturro, Geoffrey Wright, and Paul Dano, are all fantastic. This film is great on all levels.
1: Everything Everywhere All At Once
This is the real multiverse film we needed this year. The Daniels — Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert — have given the world the best movie thus far this year. It had such a crazy wild vision that it’s hard to describe. The performance by Michelle Yeoh is the best of an actress so far this year. The rest of the cast is also fantastic, including Jamie Lee Curtis, Stephanie Hsu, and Ke Huy Quan. This film is an ode to family in all its crazy wild purifications. Our family is our family, whether we want them to be or not. The multiverse action is off the charts as well. Hopefully, this amazing film will stand the test of time, and I’ll be talking about it come 2023 for a bunch of Academy Awards nominations
Dan Skip Allen
Sean Boelman Founder/EIC disappointment media.com
From the Fourth Row! 