I was able to see 37 first run films this year and herewith I present the list of my 10 favorite films from that list – in order of favoriteness.

Barbie. It has been a long time since I had this much fun at a film! I went for the fun, and stayed for the searing though remarkably hilarious social commentary. And please, people, don’t take your “Oscar Nomination Hate” out on Ryan Gosling. Along with Margot Robbie he was superb in this role. If Axe Body Spray were a person, it would be Gosling as Ken. Shout out to Simu Liu for his outstanding kenergy. I see you, man, and I applaud your 100% commitment to every scene!

The Holdovers. An acerbic and touching look at three people who have been individually marooned in their own lives, who are forced together by accident and who – through the mystery of human resilience – find a glimmer of meaning, personal insight and understanding. Also it is funny and Paul Giamatti and Da’vine Joy Randolph shine in their roles. 

Anatomy of a Fall. The mechanics of the film seem obvious – a legal procedural around a whodunit, but you suddenly find yourself mired in second guessing yourself, the facts presented, and the motivations and actions of everyone. Sandra Huller is absolutely wondrous in this performance, as are her two co-leads. Well, three co-leads if you count the dog who turns in an outstanding performance as well. Along the way, we learn you can do anything you want in a French courtroom, people!

American Fiction. You can watch this as a straight-up fun ride about a principled writer who cynically decides to submit a work of blacksploitation drivel to his publisher – and succeeds in an unnerving fashion. Or you can take it as a sobering indictment of us white people who dominate and manipulate cultural outlets for personal gain and other unsettling reasons. Or you can see it as a family drama. Cause it is all three and the glue holding it together is Jeffery Wright’s superb and restrained performance.

Godzilla Minus One. This version effectively amplifies the central metaphor of the Godzilla story to interrogate the American firebombing of Tokyo, the use of atomic weapons to destroy Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Imperialism of the Japanese and American governments,  the fact that nuclear families can sometimes be actually – uh – nuclear, and that – sometimes  - ‘we the people’ must take matters into our hands. Plus. Really excellent monster with very effective “death ray” capabilities.  Bonus for you “war bird nerds” – you get to see a couple of very interesting aircraft including the audaciously designed Kyūshū J7W Shinden fighter that was prototyped but never deployed. In the words of Ken: “So cool.”

All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt. A very, very quiet film with absolutely ravishing visuals. The story follows a young woman through several seasons of life – juxtaposing the internal and external chaos of her life against the quietude and solace of nature. A painterly, poetic film which may leave you scratching your head if you prefer a narrative-driven experience. 

John Wick 4. The customary wall-to-wall mayhem is revved up to new levels of baroque extravagance. And Donny Yen (arguably the best male martial artist actor working today) is just so darned much fun hamming it up alongside our beloved Keanu Reeves. I was pleased that the movie was approximately as loud as an airport runway because that covered my frequent guffawing and chuckling.

The Color Purple. A whirlwind of color, movement, song, and emotion. Everything a musical should be and more. I laughed, I cried, I emoted on demand. An excellent transfer of a complex, beautiful, and beloved book to the screen and musical format.

Poor Things. Well. I can honestly say that I have never seen anything like that before. And I am pretty sure I never want to see anything like that again. I marveled at so many of the elements of the film including design, costumes, screenplay, and performance that I could not look away even as I found it repulsive. PSA and Special Note For Those of You Who Have Not Followed the Chatter on This Film: Of the 141 minute run time, I would guess that at least 60 minutes is devoted to graphic, unerotic and unfun sex between the female main character and a series of grotesque men. I tell you this because it may not be your thing – as it is not mine, either! There are various interpretations of the utility and meaning regarding the director’s choice on this. I’m just a girl who likes the movies pointing out the facts.

Killers of the Flower Moon. There is a lot to admire in this film. Mainly Lilly Gladstone. When Ms. Gladstone was not on the screen, I confess that my mind wandered and I took in the excellent set design and marveled at the fact that the town clearly had a multitude of topnotch laundry and hairstyling services as everyone looked bandbox fresh in every scene – even if they had just had the stuffing knocked out of them or they were poisoned or in a drunken stupor or what have you.

Bonus: In these dark and difficult days for humanity I believe it is time, as Boone said (or was it Otter?) for a really stupid and futile gesture. And that gesture is a movie called Theatre Camp, which made me laugh out loud rather a lot. Oh, and Renfield. Delightfully, over the top, ridiculously stupid vampire movie with Nick Cage and Nicholas Holt providing the kenergy.

And everything else I saw in no particular order and I liked many of these quite a lot: Guardians of the Galaxy 3; Air; Blackberry; Beau is Afraid; Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning; Miracle Club; Mami Wata; Oppenheimer; Eileen; Rye Lane; Pigeon Tunnel; Ernest and Celestine the Trip to Gibberteria; Spiderman Spiderverse; Asteroid City; Equalizer 3; Three Women; Y2K; Natalia; Fallen Leaves; Fremont; Boy and the Heron; Wonka; Dream Scenario; Past Lives; Blue Caftan.

See you at the movies, people!

Top Ten – 2022

Banshees of Inisherin. Many people (maybe most?) will not like this film. Admittedly, it is a little hard to get past the central weird feature. I, however, thought it absolutely pitch perfect and every choice made by the director and the actors cemented it as a literally perfect film. If you wonder how those tales of crazy, pointless blood feuds can be handed down generation upon generation building into legend, then watch this film to see the genesis of one such battle. Clever, bitter, brutal, hilarious and beautifully filmed. Thank you Martin McDonagh and all involved. My favorite film of the year by far.

Elvis. This film has everything (almost literally). I will not hear a word against it. Baz Luhrman continues to top even his most over-the-top efforts. And Austin Butler!!!!!!! You, sir, are amazing.

Top Gun Maverick. Predictable, even idiotic. But the action sequences are a thrill, as is Cruise’s winking performance. A great, fun, Saturday afternoon matinee sort of film. 

RRR. Good heavens, this film throws everything at us and then some. Shot in the most amazing, lurid way possible and including some of the most outrageous action scenes I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen a lot, people, from Kung Fu to the Burt Reynolds oeuvre to professional wrestling) – this was just a ton of fun. The music, the colors, the over-the-top acting, the dancing, the bromance, the ridiculous plot twists, and those mustache-twirling Brits. Takes the revenge fantasy genre to a whole new level. Loved.

Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. To be honest this is probably a 2 star film (out of 4) but I just enjoyed this so much! It is one I have continued to think about (and chuckle over) lo these many months since I saw it. Go with low expectations and enjoy.

Everything Everywhere all at Once. A big loud, colorful, incomprehensible spectacle. In other words – right up my alley! I don’t like multiverse stories, and I don’t devote too many cycles to trying to figure out where I am in the plot sequence within the genre. Consequently, I am unable to tell you what happens, exactly, in the film. But it was a fun ride. Michelle Yeoh can do no wrong in my book. 

The Menu. What do you get if you combine a pretentious cooking show with that 80s film classic Motel Hell? You get this film!  I loved this so much – but it is not for the delicate or sensitive. At least three times I think I said to myself (Out loud! In the theatre!) “They did not just do that.” The dessert course was…… just delicious. 

Nope. Lots of weird twists in this one. Not so much plot twists – the plot is standard issue horror film – as a twist in the way some standard horror film tropes are mixed and matched from the catalog of possibilities (and from the horror hits of yore). 

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. A sweet little trifle of a film. Lesley Manville is so good and so charming in this role. Also. Couture dresses. More please!

Marcel the Shell. Honestly, I thought it would have been just fine as a 30 minute short. But I don’t begrudge the full film treatment. The world needs more gentleness, and this film provides it.

Film I Hated the Most: Glass Onion. Only the magnificent Edward Norton rises from this unscathed. A terrible, predictable, waste-of-effort film. Upon being introduced to the main characters, I rather hoped the majority of them would be killed in the first hour. Sadly, the math just didn’t work out on that. Everyone involved should be sent to an actual remote Island for 6 months to ponder their transgressions. 4 stars on those clothes, though.

Additional films that I saw this year: 

Triangle of Sadness. Kinda bad but redeemed by second act.

Bullet Train. Terrible. Did this even have a script?

Northman. Knock it off, Eggers – now you’re just being weird.

Woman King. I love these power women, but there sure is a lot of scowling.

Fabelmans. Painful. Like being strapped to a Barcalounger and forced to watch a boring Uncle’s vacation slide show.

Downton Abbey. Dull, but nice clothes.

The Forgiven. Grim, but Ralph Fiennes is always worth watching.

Thirteen Lives. Fine, but the documentary version titled Rescue is far better.

Amsterdam. Mediocre, but affable.

A Man Called Otto. I actually liked this very much – but pack a lot of Kleenex!

Neptune Frost. Like being in a crazy, funhouse, Afro-futurist freakout art installation. Loved.

Hockeyland. Everyone should see this documentary!

Avatar. The only way to see this is on the biggest screen possible. Pointless on any screen that would fit in a house. The story is a cross between Dances With Wolves and Whale Rider. (And I don’t mean that in a good way). but those visuals are just astonishing. Also, I liked it when the whale-thing closelined the bad guy. That was cool.

Tar. Did not like. Pretentious, very weak script. I mean, they start the film claiming someone in her 50s (??) could have been mentored by Leonard Bernstein. It went downhill from there, for me.

On my list, but not yet seen: White Noise, Eternal Daughter, Babylon, Pale Blue Eye, Women Talking, the Whale

Films from 2022 that I think most people would like: Elvis, Mrs. Harris, Top Gun, A Man Called Otto,

*This is an entirely personal and idiosyncratic list. I am not declaring things to be “the best” – or predicting award winners. It’s just a list of films I saw over the year, highlighting the ones I liked. Generally speaking, a film excites me when I believe that every element (acting, script, music, sound, editing, cinematography, location) contributes significantly to the overall film and that (while the subject may be grim) you can detect an underlying joy in the making.

People! I hear there is some film award circus coming up soon, so I thought I should push out my annual list of Barb’s top movies of the year!

1. Macbeth. I saw this three times in one week. Absolutely astonishing. Every scene is perfectly staged and crafted. Every scene subtle and nuanced, then later bathed in gore because – you know – Macbeth! However, I warn you that you can barely understand the dialogue and I do not think we can overlook that as a shortcoming in a “Talkie.” Nevertheless, my favorite film of the year. 
2. Mad Max: Fury Road. Like getting carpet-bombed with mayhem, this film is a weird mix of monster truck rally and runway fashion show. But, wow, those stunts (which are real, by the way). As with Macbeth (see above) I believe this is a film that will be studied and talked about for many years to come.
3. Inside Out. This is the film of 2015 that any and everyone will enjoy. It’s not perfect (there was this weird inconsistency in style that was distracting to me), but a terrific script cleverly performed.
4. The Big Short. This movie is porn for accountants, but surprisingly gripping – even moving. I don’t think this film will “wear” very well, but it captures perfectly the big financial meltdown and aftermath.
5. Tie for fifth place to The Danish Girl and Carol. Two spectacularly beautiful films with amazing lead performances. I admired both films very much, though the word “fun” does not enter in to the analysis.
6. Ex Machina. If you like your films stylish, your sci-fi arid, your robots like Barbie dolls, and your protagonists crazy as all get-out, well this is the film for you! 
7. The Gift. This film was a complete and total surprise to me in many ways. An unsettling thriller with a truly creepy villain and plot twist.
8. Far From the Madding Crowd.  I cannot resist any treatment of Hardy and this is a good one. The leads are strong in this beautifully filmed, terrific and romantic story.
9. Also of note for the year: Trumbo, Brooklyn, The End of the Tour, and Suffragette. All four films had very strong leads, but they are straight-up narratives which are not often my favorite style. Special note: John Goodman deserves an Oscar for his 5-10 minutes in Trumbo.
10. Guilty pleasure film of the year: What We Do in the Shadows. This film is a cross between The Odd Couple and Nosferatu with maybe a dash of Plan Nine From Outer Space thrown in. I thought it was hilarious. Thank you, Jemaine Clement
11. Worst film of the year. Oh, so many contenders!  Was it Vacation, which earned negative zero stars from me? No. We need not further punish those involved – they must live with themselves every day. I doubt Chevy Chase has left his house since the premier.  Or, maybe it was Terminator Genisys during which I fell asleep for an extended period although it was as loud as runway three at O’Hare. No, no, ladies and gentlemen of the academy, the worst film of the year for me was Crimson Peak. Checking my notes from that evening, I see I used the word “terrible” four times in the review – once in all caps. The thing that pushes it into absolute worst category is that a reputable director (Guillermo del Toro) spent an insane amount of money and worked with top notch stars on – this ridiculous, inane mess.

It was a great year for movies, actually! 

Greetings, movie fans and welcome to the 2017 edition of “Barb Allen Goes to the Movies So You Don’t Have To.” This has been a busy year for me, so this list is not so much the “top ten” (as I did not see some of the big releases for the year) but rather a list of the 11 films I saw that I really enjoyed. Plus the one I hated the most.

La La Land. This frothy confection of a film delivered a surprisingly poignant denouement. From start to finish, I found myself smiling. The clickbait version might be: Ken & Barbie stumble in to a Chekov short story, and you won’t believe what happens next!

Paterson. I’ll say it right now, people. I love Jim Jarmusch. Love. This film is so quiet, it is almost static, but there is a lot going on under the surface if you can be patient. Jarmusch uses some familiar tricks in telling the story. If you loved Stranger than Paradise, Down by Law or Mystery Train then you will like this. 

Hunt for the Wilder People. Brought to you by the team that brought us “What We Do in the Shadows,” this hilarious film introduces a couple of brilliant and memorable characters. It is a film for anyone who has ever felt different or unwanted – you know, pretty much anyone. 

Hell or High Water. Jeff Bridges. West Texas. A brilliant script. What more do you want, people? I found this a gripping drama, and one that kept me guessing.

Only Yesterday. An anime film from 1991, released in the United State in 2016. It is unusual in that it is a drama, and a deep one at that. A must for fans of Japanese anime.

Moonlight. I found this extremely difficult to watch – at times almost unbearably painful. I know many who found the ending transcendent, and while I did not have that experience, I did greatly admire the brave performances of all the characters. There were several exquisitely filmed scenes. This is perhaps the film of 2016 that will be studied for years to come.

Fences. Who does not like Denzel Washington? Now that you have identified yourself, please get off my FaceBook page! This imperfect translation of a stage piece to the screen (it is just hard to film a natural scene transition when the stage direction is for live actors on a – you know – stage), it was like watching (sometimes) a live jazz performance. And Viola Davis? You will not see a more explosive 5 minutes of acting this year. 

Arrival. Not going to lie. At the end of this film, I rolled out of my ridiculously comfortable Cineplex lounge chair, brushed the spilled popcorn off my hoodie, looked at my friends Jim & Deb and said: “What the hell was that all about?” I still have no idea. The logic of the central plot twist absolutely escaped me. Nevertheless, that was one badass space ship. So, there is that. 

IpMan 3. Donnie Yen! Kung Fu in an elevator! ‘Nuff said!

Dr. Strange. Tilda Swinton, Benedict Cumberbatch and a whole lot of special effects. Thank you for a great Saturday afternoon!.

Worst Film of the Year: Hologram for the King. This was absolutely terrible. Was the script destroyed prior to filming and a hurried replacement written by actual monkeys? Were parts of it filmed separately, on separate continents years apart and then the whole thing spliced back together? Is Tom Hanks completely broke? (Confidential to Tom Hanks: Tom, you don’t have to do this kind of work. We can start a “Go Fund Me” account for you. Think about it, man.). As my good friend Chris Kaler said after the movie: “Maybe if Tom Hanks wasn’t in it…… no one would have ever seen it.”

1. Grand Budapest Hotel

This film won’t necessarily have broad appeal, but I thought every part of the experience served to further the story and the atmosphere. From the adaptation of the script to the colors in the film to the costumes and settings, it was all assembled like a marvelous and clever puzzle. Bravo, everyon

2. Ida

Films don’t come much darker than this, but this intrigued and surprised me. Complex, haunting, spare

3. Whiplash

This is a barn-burner of a film and JJ Simmons deserves every bit of credit for chewing up every, single scene.

4. The Tale of Princess Kaguya

Is it possible for an animated feature to delight and amaze with storytelling craft, while also conveying deep wisdom about what it means to live and die? Why yes, it is possible. And this film proves it.

5. The Babadook 

A clever, startling horror film in the classic tradition. 

6. Birdman

Wonderful ensemble performance by the best cast of the year. Not gonna lie – I thought it was 30 minutes too long and could have used more aggressive editing. But a terrific film nonetheless and I hope one that marks the return of Keaton to more regular cinematic appearances

7. Calvary

If you are looking for a fun afternoon at the movie house, then by all means pass this by! Dark, brooding, and basically hopeless. Worth the trip just to see Brendan Gleeson’s performance, but you might want to queue up something lighthearted on NEtFlix for when you get back home from this one.

8. Locke

OK, the entire film takes place inside a car with just one actor. And that one actor is amazing! Suspenseful, interesting, captivating and technically impressive.

9. Guardians of the Galaxy

Yes, it is stupid and loud (it was the explodiest movie of 2014!!) but I loved it so much I saw it three times.

I really, really, really wanted to like – or at least appreciate –  Boyhood. But I did not. 

Being the ten films that I most enjoyed, listed in no particular order.

Dune. Beautiful cinematography, solid (if complicated) story line, engaging characters, some great thrills. We can quibble on the details, but I found it wildly entertaining, and it really pulled me in to the story. Looking forward to the next installment, for sure!

King Richard. Will Smith disappears into the role of Serena & Venus Williams’ father. A great story told and acted with verve. This is a real crowd pleaser.

Macbeth. Truly a staggering accomplishment. If you are not familiar with the original text, you may find yourself a bit lost. Cohen’s choices seem to advance the entire story in a mesmerizing fashion. You can almost reach out and feel the dread!

Nightmare Alley. Well, this is the most stylish set design of the year, for sure. A beautiful film to watch, and while the story is a bit uneven, there are enough riveting performances in close-up to keep you entertained. I mean, when Cate Blanchett’s head is about 8 feet tall in closeup, you really do have to pay attention!

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Simu Liu getting his kung-fu on, and the results are a ton of fun. And, bonus, the story is actually really good!

Old Henry. Stumbled across this one and so glad I did. An old-fashioned western with a great twist. And I mean a really great twist. I was grinning ear to ear at the reveal. Bravo, there, people. Terrific acting and a spare aesthetic. 

Summer of Soul. Ridiculously entertaining. Quest Love successfully mined a trove of vintage film to craft the narrative here, and you really do feel like you are experiencing some of the power of being there. Great story. Great performances. This one lingered in my mind and kept my steps light for days.

The Rescue. Thousands of people converge in Thailand as a group of 13 boys are trapped in a cave after a sudden and catastrophic storm. This documentary tells of the absolute selflessness of those who planned and carried out a daring and astonishing rescue. It is heart stopping. An edge of the seat experience with a huge emotional payoff.

Power of the Dog. Jane Campion may well be director of the year. Nothing escapes her notice in this tightly constructed and filmed tale. Lush cinematography and a rather cramped story of people crushed under the weight of their frailties and the monumental indifference of the landscape. 

Drive My Car. A rich, complex story told in a quiet and contemplative manner. The film requires that you slow down to the director’s pace (which is not for everyone!). It has some weirdness to it, for sure, but captures something profound about the human experience. I found it quite touching. This is a film that requires patience.

I also saw these films in 2021: The Lost Leonardo; Don’t Look Up; No Time to Die; Belfast; C’mon C’mon; The Green Knight; The French Dispatch; West Side Story; In the Heights; Pig; Black Widow; Flee; The Velvet Queen; A Quiet Place II; Jungle Cruise.; The Last Duel.

Also. I watched the first 15 minutes of Tick Tick Boom, which I really hated, but I am told that I need to go back and give it a chance. We shall see! I would offer my scathing review of that 15 minutes, but I shall reserve my ire for a review of the entire film.

Being a complete and unexpurgated list of my ten favorite films released in 2020. In order of, um,  favoriteness. A favorite film is one where (in my opinion) all the elements (story, script, music, sound, cinematography, acting) line up to best serve the story at hand. Your list will be different, of course. And that’s one of the reasons we love watching and talking about movies!

The Father. A riveting, excoriating, breath-taking experience. Anthony Hopkins in a performance for the ages and arguably the best of his career. The script, directing, acting, design – all perfect from my view. And a very clever way of revealing the truth of what is going on. Also, that apartment definitely deserves an Oscar for “Best Apartment in a Feature Film.”

The Sound of Metal. A truly beautiful film, powerfully acted, immersive in surprising ways, and utterly compassionate. I think this is a film that anyone will enjoy (both cineaste and the casual film-goer). 

Collective. A documentary about the aftermath of a deadly nightclub fire in Bucharest. Riveting, upsetting, and powerful. 

Judas and the Black Messiah. Such an intense film about a fascinating, disturbing chapter in our American history. 1968 in Chicago and the emerging (and wholly impressive) power of the Black Panthers. 

Emma. A cotton candy confection – sometimes making no sense whatsoever – and I found it thoroughly delightful.

My Octopus Teacher. Are you sad and sick of human frailty? This documentary is your antitode. Octopi are the kittens of the sea! You’ll be smitten – and amazed by these fellow creatures.

Promising Young Woman. A bookend to Emma – another film in a carefully constructed cotton candy palette. But this time it is all in service to a strong-willed, intelligent young woman bent on wreaking havoc. And boy, does she ever! The penultimate scene kinda fails a bit – but I forgive them!

Minari. Another deeply compassionate film among the several on offer this year (Nomadland, The Father, Sound of Metal). While there is compassion, it is devoid of sentimentality and seems authentic in a way that I found engaging. 

Wolf Walkers. The third in the series of films from Tomm Moore – a trio he calls “The Irish Trilogy.” This studio produces incredible, brilliant animation and the story is a charmer. Girl Power!

Black is King. Beyonce! Additional good looking humans! Couture costumes! Fast cuts and amazing music! I just enjoyed the heck out of this and could not resist jumping up to dance (sorry – try to get that image out of your head!).

Now, you might be wondering why I don’t have, say, Nomadland on this list. Well. Sigh. That film. I love Frances McDormand, and some of the cinemetography was memorable. But the script was confusing (to me). And, really. It seemed to me they hired about 5 professional actors for the production. I thought they could have used more.

Additional films released in 2020 that I saw: Nomadland; News of the World; The Dig; The Personal History of David Copperfield; Dick Johnson is Dead; Mank; Trial of Chicago 7; Kajillionaire; Da Five Bloods; First Cow; Crip Camp; Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom; Finding Ying Ying; One Night in Miami; The Booksellers.