As I reflect on the past year in film, I remain convinced of the medium's importance to society. Indeed, from awe-inspiring fantasy worlds, to gripping papal elections, the filmmakers both enlightened and entertained us. If 2024 was any indication, contemporary cinema is in good hands. With my list of the Top 10 Films of the Year, I offer my prime examples to support this belief.
Honorable Mentions: Who Do I Belong To, Babygirl
10. Dune: Part Two(directed by Denis Villeneuve)"Picking up right where he left off in "Dune", this is a sequel whose artistry and themes are as impressive as its escapist thrills."
9. The Brutalist(directed by Brady Corbet)"Corbet's depiction of Lazlo's troubled immigrant journey evokes classic, sweeping storytelling that feels old-fashioned in the best way."
8. Memoir of a Snail(directed by Adam Elliot)"Decidedly morbid and mature in its themes (alcoholism, religious extremism, endless death), it punches you straight in the gut and never lets up."
7. The Wild Robot(directed by Chis Sanders)"A real triumph of the animated artform."
6. I Saw the TV Glow(directed by Jane Schoenbrun)"A film that I won't be forgetting any time soon."
5. The Seed of the Sacred Fig(directed by Mohammad Rasoulof)"As the film crescendos towards its powerful conclusion (capped by sobering real life protest footage), "The Seed of the Sacred Fig" rings true as a searing indictment of Iranian society and a cautionary tale of the dangers of rising right-wing fervor worldwide."
4. Will & Harper(directed by Josh Greenbaum)
"An informative exploration of the challenges and contentment of the trans experience. "
3. Conclave(directed by Edward Berger)"With its juicy script, "Conclave" didn't need to go above and beyond to serve up such stunning cinematic craft, but I'm so glad it did."
2. Hard Truths(directed by Mike Leigh)
"Marianne Jean-Baptiste is pitch-perfect as the cantankerous Caribbean-British woman you can't help but love. "
1. No Other Land(directed by Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Rachel Szor & Hamdan Ballal)"In its sincere commitment to putting a human face to the well-known genocidal statistics, I can think of no film from 2024 as urgent, important and soul-stirring."
