Some Films I Enjoyed in 2022
Hurrah, it’s once again that time of the year when people make lists definitely declaring books, albums and movies the best of the year. Sure, it’s all just a matter of personal opinion, not to be taken too seriously. However, it is a good excuse to think back through all the things you’ve filled your brain with over the last 365 days.
When not worrying about the end of the world, or trying -and failing- to write a novel, I have mostly been reading and watching movies, (127 of them). The first nine months of the year were spent haunting the QFT (PLEASE SUPPORT THE WORLD”S BEST INDEPENDENT CINEMA. BUY A MEMBERSHIP NOW!!!), the last three months I’ve been living in the Cameo, Nancy and loitering on MUBI.
It’s been a pretty decent year for films and I’ve struggled to whittle my list of great watches down to the prerequisite ten. So here are the films I ACTUALLY enjoyed this year, (my criteria for a good movie is as always - it held my attention throughout, stayed in my head afterwards and left me at least slightly changed by the viewing experience), and ten brilliant older films I got to watch for the first time in 2022 and wished I’d watched years ago. There’s a short review beside each one. Hope there’s something here which tickles your fancy. If not, we’ll just agree to differ and stay friends.
FILM OF THE YEAR
Corsage “Please give Vicky Krieps all the awards. This was fantastic, even though I was watching it via French subtitles, I still was completely mesmerised.”
TWENTY FIVE NEW(ISH) RELEASES I REALLY ENJOYED
The Humans - “Stressed to the hilt after watching this. The last fifteen minutes had me in knots. It’s a good show though and the dialogue absolutely nails naturalistic American.”
Parallel Mothers - “Penelope Cruz is just impossible to take your eye off. There’s nothing fancy about this movie. You can see the plots coming from a mile away and it’s quite gentle for an Almodóvar but I could easily have watched another hour.”
The Souvenir Part 2 - “It took me a while to settle back into Joanna Hogg’s ‘Inspector Morse circa 1989’ style of cinematography then about an hour in I was just completely captivated and now I have so many thoughts and a tremendous urge to buy an oversized blazer and acquire wet look hair and honestly, who’d have thought, Richard Ayoade could’ve pulled off that role? A very good use of 90 minutes of my time.”
Ali and Ava - “Just the dose of heart I needed.”
Young Plato - “If you only see one film about Belfast this year make sure it’s this one.”
True Things - “Perfect example of a really pedestrian concept rendered very watchable in the hands of a good screenplay writer, some lovely direction and a couple of fantastic leads. Also, shades of Morvern Callar; always a compliment in my book.”
The Audition - “I loved this. It’s quite intense but really beautifully put together and basically everyone in it is a little unhinged. One of the best things I’ve seen so far this year.”
Compartment No. 6 - “I liked this a lot. The two leads are brilliant. It looks gorgeous and it’s so sparse it really gives the story enough room to breathe. Also so nice to see people on screen with blotchy skin and greasy hair and smudgy make up like you’d actually have if you’d been on a train through Russia for three days.”
Happening - “A tough watch but it manages to do justice to Annie Ernaux’s original book and the lead is magnificent.”
The Eyes of Tammy Faye - “I have been dying to see this for ages and it did not disappoint at all. Loved every second and Jessica Chastain was superb.”
Vortex - “This is a cracking piece of film making. It’s a slow burn plot wise but the acting is incredibly realistic and the cinematography is just immense so I didn’t notice two hours ticking by. It’s also easily the most realistic depiction of dementia I’ve ever seen on screen.”
An Cailín Cluin - “As close to perfect as makes no real difference.”
Bergman Island - “Oh I loved this and I couldn’t even tell you why - something to do with Tim Roth and Swedish islands and films that force you to slow down.”
Hit the Road - “This is just gorgeous. Brilliant cast. Brilliant script. Make sure you don’t miss it at the QFT this week.”
Nope - “It’s a resounding yepp from me. Looks gorgeous. Great score. Loads to think about and plenty of space to decide what you think. Almost no jump scares.”
Queen of Glory - “Ghanaian academic inherits her mother’s Bible Bookstore in the Bronx; there is absolutely nothing I didn’t love about this wee film. Do yourself a favour and see it while it’s on at the QFT.”
Elvis - “Did not love Tom Hanks but was otherwise thoroughly undone by this and Austin Butler’s uncanny resemblance to a young John Travolta.”
See How They Run - “Did I love this? Of course, I did. Every daft second of it.”
The Banshees of Inisherin - “It’s a thumbs up from me.”
Living - “Quietly profound in exactly the way you’d expect from something with Ishiguro’s name on it.”
Aftersun - “Light touch on a heavy subject. This was a really good watch.”
Triangle of Sadness - “Oh my goodness, I thoroughly enjoyed every second of this. It’s absolutely vicious. Though my favourite bit was when the male model tried to work out how to turn the lamps out in his hotel room. So, on point.”
Decision to Leave - “Is this film any good? Probably. I was concentrating so hard on the French subtitles I forgot to enjoy it but I did understand at least 60% of what they were saying and the only part I couldn’t work out of the plot was the last ten minutes so I’ve no idea what happened at the end.”
Les Bonnes Étoiles - “Classy stuff. Really wish I’d been able to see it on the big screen.”
All Quiet on the Western Front - “A stunning and deeply unsettling adaptation, as it absolutely should be.”
Some Old Films I Enjoyed for the First Time in 2022
Dogtooth - “Both brilliant and probably the most disturbing thing I’ll watch all year. Lots to think about here.”
Brighton Rock - “Bit of a twist on the original ending but Richard Attenborough is truly menacing as Pinkie and this is a mean little joy to watch.”
Jules et Jim - “A dose of pure French joy and intensity on a Saturday morning. Very civilised start to the weekend.”
Wise Blood - “On a Flannery trip this weekend. I can’t believe I’ve never seen this before. It’s so strange and good and, apart from being set a bit later, pretty true to the novel.”
Alice in the Cities - “I’ve never seen this Wim Wenders before and I actually think I might like it more than Wings of Desire. It was just so gentle and so utterly, beautiful to look at and it wasn’t trying to be anything.”
Pina - “Utterly mesmerising. Left the QFT and the world felt a wee bit upside down.”
The Harder They Come - “This is great and more than worth watching for the music alone.”
Hiroshima Mon Amour - “How have I got to this point in my life without seeing this? The first ten minutes are some of the best I’ve ever seen on film.”
Another Round - “Entirely worth the watch, just for that Mads Mikkelsen dance routine in the closing scene.”
Lost Highway - “Can’t believe I’ve never actually seen this one. As per normal with DL will now be avoiding red curtains, motel rooms and looking in the mirror in case someone else’s face look back”
And Finally A New Category - Film Which Made Me Cry the Most 2022
It’s a very close thing between Living and Hallelujah, the Leonard Cohen documentary. (Also had a bit of gurn in Elvis, She Said and the Whitney biopic, I Wanna Dance With Somebody). In the end it was that handshake scene in Living where Bill Nighy goes round the council office thanking everyone which utterly broke. Seemingly old white men are what make me weep.
