WOF: Top Ten Movies of 2022
Gotta be honest, I wasn't that excited about the films that came out this year. My favorite is at the Number One position -- crazy about it -- but everything else was just sort of ... OK. I got overwhelmed trying to catch up with things this last month (Glass Onion, Babylon, EO, etc.) so I may write about them as we move into 2023. I was more impressed by the work of actresses in this year's crop as well. What's on your list of favorites from this year?
1. The Woman King - I can't say enough about this film -- the unique storyline based on a part of African history that we knew little about until now. The towering performance by Viola Davis as a brilliant,battle-worn general of the Kingdom of Dahomey's fierce legion of female warriors, the Agojie, which is nothing short of perfection. Gina Prince Bythewood's surehanded direction, keeping the plot moving at an incredible clip so there are thrilling action scenes, touching and revealing moments between characters, wonderful performances by a slew of actors from Thuso Mbede, Sheila Atim, Lashana Lynch, and John Boyega. Very few dull moments. Despite the knee-jerk griping about who wrote the film (one of them the white actress and producer Maria Bello), that it celebrates slavery (it depicts the historical facts of slavery during the time period but is not exploitative or congratulatory about it), and whether or not every detail is historically accurate (it's a movie, people!), The Woman King delivers on every level: Drama, history, beautiful visuals, a timeless story, and a celebration of the power of Black women that does not exclude or villainize all Black men. [Check out my podcast discussion with journalist Tonya Pendleton about The Woman King HERE.]
2. Inspection - Heart rending true-life tale written and directed by Elegance Bratton of a gay man trying to make something of his life by becoming a Marine. Kudos to actor Jeremy Pope, with support from Gabrielle Union and Bokeem Woodbine.
3. Everything Everywhere All At Once - Enjoyed this fantastically mind-bending film that manages to be about the immigration experience, love, family, multiple universes, action, and the meaning of life. Great job by Michelle Yeoh and support from Ke Huy Quan (Data from The Goonies!) and Stephanie Hsu.
4. Nope - Writer/director Jordan Peele packed a lot of layers into this alien thriller that is more thought provoking than scary. Daniel Kaluuya is low key thoughtful throughout, but playing his sister, Keke Palmer gives an Incredible performance.
5. Wakanda Forever - Just because. I appreciated director Ryan Coogler's work and the cast in the continuation of the story in the absence of T'Challa actor Chadwick Boseman and the appearance of another secret society of underwater beings based on indigenous South American lore. STandouts here are Angela Bassett as Queen Ramonda and Tenoch Huerta as the Talokan leader Namor.
6. The Fabelmans - A Spielberg film is always an event. The story of how the young main character's family fell apart, and the performance by Michele Williams as his mom, is what made it memorable for me. [My attitude toward it has softened since first viewing, but here's my first-reaction review HERE.]
7. The Banshees of Inisherin - Colin Ferrell and Brendan Gleeson do some of their best acting work in this dark comedy (some would call it a tragedy), where the sudden breakdown of a longtime friendship between residents of an Irish island turns into an absurdly bitter and bloody feud.
8. Till - in a full-length film that follows last spring's TV series and documentary, Till recounts the aftermath of the horrific racially motivated 1955 killing of young Emmett Till, focusing on his mother's journey to activism through her determination to get justice for her son. Danielle Deadwyler brings both gravitas and fragility to the role of a woman who ignited the Civil Rights Movement.
9. Honk for Jesus, Save Your Soul - Actress Regina Hall in particular makes this mockumentary about a disgraced pastor and his wife worth watching. This is also the first full-length feature by writer/director Adamma Ebo. With Sterling K. Brown, who gets to stretch his tragicomic acting muscles as well. A painfully funny viewing experience. [For my review, click HERE.]
10. Good Luck to You, Leo Grande - In this mostly two-character dramedy, Emma Thompson plays a middle-aged widow who meets in a hotel room with a sex worker played by Daryl McCormack, so that she can experience sexual satisfaction. Her acting here is a revelation, as her retired schoolteacher character and the young, handsome, accommodating "Leo Grande" work through a Pandora's box of nerves, expectations, stereotypes, sexual hang-ups, misunderstandings, and how to separate the personal from the professional. [Check out my video podcast with WOCA (Women Of a Certain Age) right HERE.]
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