This year has flown by! So much so that we can’t even begin to recount all the new and old amazing films we saw this year but we’ve decided to give it a go as we approach the new year. Chris and I (Odhrán) have both picked four movies each for this year’s list of films we think you should watch. They haven’t all come out this year either so there are plenty of old goodies in there too.
Top Gun: Maverick
Pick by Chris Clawson
I have never been more surprised by a film than Top Gun: Maverick. It was a film that I had zero interest in as I’ve never been a huge fan of Tom Cruise though I have often heard praise for his work and dedication to the art of filmmaking. I just never bought into the hype. Equally, I was not at all interested in the original film and have still yet to see it. Despite this, Maverick ended up being one of the most moving, thrilling, and wonderful summer blockbusters of all time, from the wonderful performances across the board to the way the film welcomes both fans of the original and newcomers with open arms, the film tells a wonderful story about family ties and regret. Not to mention some of the most incredible stunt work ever put to film and a Lady Gaga song that is sure to get Oscar buzz. Top Gun Maverick is my favourite film of 2022.
The Banshees of Inisherin
Picked by Odhrán Johnson
Martin McDonagh has already proven himself as a uniquely talented writer and director from previous projects like In Bruges and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Despite this, The Banshees of Inisherin displayed McDonagh’s lesser-talked-about talent of getting the most out of actors. Having previously worked with both Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson on In Bruges, Banshees sees the titular Irish pairing dominating the screen for the nearly two-hour film. The range of emotions and themes displayed both verbally and physically is immense and utterly enthralling. The Gleeson-Farrell duo dynamic in the film is something I hope we see a lot more of in the years to come. A special shoutout to Barry Keoghan as well. His portrayal of Dominic Kearney is one of the most lovable, ridiculous, and unfortunately, tragic portrayals of any character Keoghan has put on screen yet.
Dead Man’s Shoes
Picked by Chris Clawson
Dead Man’s Shoes is a film from a different era in British cinema, yet it resonates as strongly today as it must have during its initial release. Shane Meadows and Paddy Considine have come together to craft one of the most disturbing and moving revenge flicks of all time. Considine is like a slasher villain in his unstoppable violent rage, going up against despicable yet pitiful villains who are in way over their heads. The film commands your attention every second it is on and makes you question your desire to see the vicious revenge being carried out. The film rockets towards a deeply moving and powerful conclusion that had me on the verge of tears at the tragedy of its characters, if you have any interest in British cinema or the revenge genre this is an all-time classic, check it out.
We also did an episode on this film check it out here to see our thoughts.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Picked by Odhrán Johnson
I was actually shocked to remember that this film came out this year. It was all anyone was talking about when it was initially released and rightly so. Now though, the conversation surrounding it seems quiet. It’s a real shame too because I think it might just have been the most unique film I’ve seen in well over a decade. It somehow has already set the bar way too high for any other multiverse-focused film. I refuse to believe any film of the like can simply compare to Everything Everywhere All at Once. Both Michelle Yeoh and Stephanie Hsu are absolutely phenomenal throughout and Ke Huy Quan portrays some of probably the best onscreen acting range in the film. Hell, this film puts more life and effort into a gag about rocks having a conversation about being rocks than most of the movies I saw this year did with their actual plots. If you haven’t watched this. PLEASE DO! (I’m looking at you, Chris…)
Pig
Picked by Chris Clawson
My most recent watch for this year, Pig is yet another indie film from Nicolas Cage that once again proves that despite his public perception he is a capital A actor who commits 110% to every role. This film sees a wonderful return to form for Cage in a deeply moving and powerful performance like the excellent Joe from 2013, which dispels the notion that Cage has lost his skill. Pig is a slow-paced thriller that tells a harrowing but powerful story of love, grief and how people cope with loss. It’s filled with excellent monologues and wonderful dialogue-heavy scenes that explore its characters in depth. If you’re a fan of dramas or worry that Cage has fallen off, you owe it to yourself to check this one out just bring a loved one or a nice blanket to cry on.
Petite Maman
Picked by Odhrán Johnson
I had the pleasure of attending a live talk given by Mark Kermode in Belfast this year. After the talk he presented the film Petite Maman, claiming it to be his favourite film this year. I can see why. Petite Maman is as much family drama as it is a sci-fi fantasy. It almost feels like a Black Mirror episode if everything didn’t go wrong at the end. Instead, we get an emotional story about the loss of a mother and grandmother and the emotions that almost everyone has gotten from the passing of a close relative at one point or another. One thing to note is that you could have a completely different viewing experience depending on your age, whether you have children or even dependent on whether you knew your parents. There are so many different ways of interpreting the characters’ emotions that combine together to form a story that had me in tears at the end of its runtime.
T2 Trainspotting
Picked by Chris Clawson
Whilst Top Gun is my favourite film of the year, this is undoubtedly my favourite film covered on our podcast thus far. T2 perfectly hammers out all of my issues with the first film and even elevates it into an epic 2-part drama. Every actor from the 1996 film returns bringing with them years of experience and growth as actors leading to excellent performances in a narrative that whilst repeating some similar beats of the first film builds on every character and completes all their arcs in satisfying ways. Danny Boyle’s talent as a director and storyteller is beautifully on display here with a story that multiple times choked me up whilst also making me smile from ear to ear thanks to an excellent soundtrack and some wonderful moments of humour (No more Catholics scene is a highlight).
It shows just how fantastic this film is that in an episode where I gave it a perfect score Odhrán with little knowledge of the previous film still greatly enjoyed it. You can check out that podcast episode here.
Unbreakable
Picked by Odhrán Johnson
Not quite Kimmy Scmidt but still Unbreakable (not sorry). It took me way too long to watch this film and again I’ve bastardized the watching order of another series this time opting to watch the first instalment in a series last. Unbreakable is a breath of fresh air in the current day Marvel/DC pipeline of superhero drivel. Because of its relative niche subject matter at the time, Unbreakable has to adhere to more grounded film expectations in the early 2000s while combining more adult themes that aren’t constantly subjected to needless humour to justify “getting the whole family together to watch.” This is by far the best film I’ve seen Bruce Willis in to date and Samuel L. Jackson is such an enticing character as Elijah Price.
You can check out more of our thoughts on Unbreakable here.
There you have it! There were a load of great movies that didn’t make the list either because we just couldn’t fit them in, maybe we didn’t have enough to say about them or we simply didn’t get to see them yet. Maybe they’ll be there next year though!
What do you think of our choices though? We’ve left comments open on this post for you to chat away but you can also interact with us over on Twitter. Equally, you can also reach out to either Chris or myself on our personal Twitter accounts if you’d like to chat more!
That’s it from us for now. We may have one or two more episodes out before the end of the year but if not have a great festive holiday!
Movie Madness 