After two years of disruption, cinema returned to a sense of normality with a cavalcade of new releases to entice audiences in. And so Daily Info’s resident movie fan sifts through the 126 (and counting) films released that he’s seen.
But as is the case one can’t see every film released in a year. And some of the big films sadly missed by this critic were: Avatar: The Way of Water, Three Thousand Years of Longing, Living, Aftersun, Happening, Bones and All, Triangle of Sadness.
Top 5 straight to streaming
We’ve long passed the days when straight to streaming meant films studios would be embarrassed to release in cinemas. Now some of the year’s best end up getting, at best, modest cinema runs before finding their audience on streaming. And so we’ve picked our five favourite that missed out Oxford cinemas on their way to movie glory.
5. Turning Red
The third Pixar film to go straight to Disney Plus, it feels particularly bizarre for Turning Red to skip the big screen. Resplendent animation combines with oodles of warmth and personality for the studio’s best work since Inside Out. From a hilarious and touching narrative through to a properly endearing representation of the plight of teen girls, Turning Red feels like it has been pulled from Pixar’s golden age and proves that animation titans can still offer something fresh for audiences.
4. Hellbender
The Addams Family (not that one) are a familial collective on the indie US horror scene that makes exceptional works in the genre. And Hellbender is their best yet, an invigorating tale of a mother and daughter grappling with their secret lives as witches. Relaxed humour, a toe-tapping punk score and fascinating Occult folklore mesh to create one of the most interesting horror watches in years.
3. The Leech
A seasonal watch following a priest who makes the mistake of taking in a stranger over the holidays, The Leech is a delightfully nasty affair, a black-hearted tale that shares DNA with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Planes, Trains and Automobiles. It’s a small, intimate work, one that feels wonderfully relevant and contains one of the darkest acts of the year. It’s safe to say I adored this one.
2. Prey
35 years after the original and arriving in a franchise that has become creaky and stale, Prey is nothing short of a miracle. Junking much of the mythology that has built up and finding an interesting way to return to the original’s core, Prey absolutely should have been given a theatrical release. But legal wranglings saw it go straight to Disney Plus and has meant this viewer has seen it multiple times. Plus Amber Midthunder gives one of the year’s best performances in the lead role.
1. Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio
2022 has been a remarkable year for Del Toro, with the release of both Nightmare Alley and his Cabinet of Curiosites. But it is all capped by his take on Pinocchio (co-directed with Mark Gustafson), a dazzling work of stop-motion that manages to be one of the most profoundly moving viewing experiences of the year. What is a achieved here is remarkable in a famously tricky medium, for what proves to be the auteurs finest work since Pan’s Labyrinth.
Top 10 cinema releases
But even with these gems going to streaming platforms, there were still a wealth of delights to attract you to multiplexes and picture houses. And here are the ten best of the year:
10. The Bob’s Burgers Movie
The long running animated sitcom seamlessly transferred to the cinema, with an adventure that took advantage of a bigger platform. For newcomers, The Bob's Burgers Movie is a sweet summer-set musical and a charming introduction to the characters. And for us seasoned fans, this is a work packed with delights that reward our fandom, whilst standing alone from the rest of the show.
9. Brian and Charles
Another comedy that charmed, Brian and Charles is a lo-fi delight, playing out like a cross between What We Do in the Shadows and Big Hero 6. Jim Archer’s sweet-natured tale of a loner literally building a friend out of parts from his house, the rough-edges of Brian and Charles are also part of its charms. And Charles Petrescu is one of the great characters of 2022.
8. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Movie
2022 was marked by a boom of murder mysteries, but it was the return of the Benoit Blanc that was the peak of all this. Daniel Craig’s detective is such a fun presence that by the end of Glass Onion, as with Knives Out, you’ll be eager for his return to solve a murder amongst a roster of horrid characters (the cast here is stacked with talent).
7. Top Gun: Maverick
Top Gun: Maverick has no right to be as good as it is, transforming a legacy sequel to a creaky 80s action movie into a profound tribute to the act of making cinema itself. From a propulsive opener to a finale that lives up to the action beats promised by the film’s narrative, Maverick is a bit of a cinematic miracle. Even if you aren’t a fan of Top Gun (and this writer isn’t) there is much here to move, elate and thrill in equal measures.
6. The Banshees of Inershin
Reuniting Martin McDonagh with the two leads from his most successful work previously (In Bruges), has led to a heartbreakingly beautiful work. The tale of a friendship ripping apart, The Banshees of Inershin is powered by a quartet of terrific performances (and expect Colin Farrell to be a strong contender for Best Actor at next year’s Oscars) and profound sadness that makes it a wrenchingly impactful watch.
5. Nope
Never bet against Jordan Peele. One of the great directors of his generation turned his eye to the alien movie, with the results being his most spectacular work to date. A sprawling and rather messy first half gives way to a second that’s a thrilling, terrifying rollercoaster ride. There are so many compelling ideas in Nope that even the notes that don’t land feel a part of the wider tapestry.
4. Benedetta
Paul Verhoeven’s charming, vulgar return to form proved the seasoned director could still be one of the most exciting auteurs working right now. A work that’s equal parts profound and erotic, with a pair of great performances from Virginie Efira and Daphne Patakia, Benedetta mixes high and low art to land as a masterpiece.
3. The Batman
Did we need another Batman? The jury’s out. But Matt Reeves’ Robert Pattinson-starring version was a rain drenched take that reinvigorates the character. Cribbing from David Fincher’s back catalogue, the film is a thrillingly dark journey through a new Gotham with some familiar villains given new takes (Paul Dano’s Riddler leaves a particularly strong presence). In a year that felt rather weak for new superhero fare, The Batman proved a terrific bright spot.
2. The Worst Person in the World
Chronicling the life of a young woman over four years, Joachim Trier’s new work is perhaps the directors best, full of small details that gives it a universal quality that speaks to all of the audience. Plus there’s at least one star making turn in the piece (although arguably three) with Renate Reinsve’s titular Worst Person in the World one of the year’s best performances. There’s only one film that moved me more than this one...
1. Everything Everywhere All at Once
Which, of course, is my favourite film of the year. The multiverse has become a firm part of cinema’s lexicon of late, but only one film has explored it to the full potential. And what a film Everything Everywhere All at Once. Heartwrenching moments sit alongside some of the very best lowbrow jokes for a work that comes out of nowhere and may well change your view of what cinema can and should be. Plus it has the greatest Ratatouille joke there will ever be.