Best Movies Of 2022 According To The New York Times...Really? - December 28, 2022

Hi All,

As we close out 2022, most of us are bombarded by numerous Best of lists and I couldn't help but smile when I read this one from the New York Times. Now I'm sure some of you have much more sophisticated tastes in movies than mine, but I'm willing to bet a couple of dollars the majority of those receiving this newsletter have never heard of most of these picks, much less seen them. Don't get me wrong, I like a good art-house film occasionally and have watched my fair share over the years, especially when I lived in Denver. However, on this list of ten, there is only one title I recognize.

Now I am by no means suggesting the venerable New York Times is out of touch. Only that there are other films that might appeal to a much wider demographic.

Therefore, I thought it appropriate to offer an alternative list; something that might resonate more with those of us who live outside of Greenwich Village or downtown Hollywood. So, in this, my first (and probably last) annual list of best movies, please have a look at my picks. I need to qualify this by saying I don't think it was a particularly great year for movies and coming up with ten wasn't as easy as I'd hoped. As a result, a couple of these were actually released at the end of 2021 but I'm including them because I thought they were deserving:

#10. The Northman

An epic revenge thriller that explores how far a Viking prince will go to seek justice for his murdered father... A unique saga including some great performances and taps into something truly primal, complete with a fantastic ending. Not for the squeamish.

#9. Prey

This one really caught me off guard. Another in the "Predator" franchise that's been losing steam for decades, my expectations were so low I had to be convinced to give it a try. On its surface, the story appears to be a young adult adventure designed for a teenage demographic. But it doesn't take long to realize this is an unflinching look at a real warrior princess who is all-in as she battles a seemingly insurmountable foe intent on killing her and her tribe. Some great action sequences and a very entertaining take on the struggle against aliens who regularly visit Earth to hunt humans for sport.

#8. Don't Look Up

This movie wasn't well-received by the critics for a lot of reasons but the general public consensus was much more positive. Clearly intended as a parody of those who won't acknowledge the threat of climate change, it somehow managed to skewer both sides of the debate, therefore alienating much of the demographic it was targeting. Its star-studded cast chews up the script, complete with numerous improvisations, and the performances are often hilarious. Regardless of the politics, for me it was great entertainment with a sharp comic edge that may have overshadowed the intended message.

#7. Everything Everywhere All At Once

Masterfully written, wildly entertaining, and totally bananas, Michelle Yeoh once again demonstrates her amazing acting range. This time the lady who so convincingly kicked butt in the classic "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" plays a time-traveling laundromat manager in a multiverse of madness. The movie alternates between English and Chinese (with subtitles) but stay with it and you'll soon become oblivious to the disruptions.

#6. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

Nothing like the Pinocchio you've seen before and made even more unique by gorgeous stop-motion animation, this darker version is truer to the source material. Gepetto is a drunk, Candlewick is the son of a fascist, Pinoke sees the land of the dead. A visual feast with a timely existential message about appreciating the people we care about while we're all here.

#5. The Banshees Of Inisherin

Great acting and beautifully filmed, this might be one of the most depressing movies you'll ever watch. But, in my humble opinion, this is what great film-making looks like and completely transports its viewers to a unique place while exploring insightful aspects of the human experience. Brenden Gleeson and Colin Farrell both put on an acting clinic that elevates this film to something I consider real art. (Warning - some of you will probably really hate this one.)

#4. The Batman

Just when you think this franchise might finally run out of gas, director Matt Reeves and crew figured out a way to breathe new life into my all-time favorite comic book character. All the actors are top-notch, but without Robert Pattinson's ability to slip effortlessly into the main character, none of it would work. The result is a movie that feels fresh and original. Set against the backdrop of a truly dystopian Gotham, complete with Nirvana's "Something" played throughout, the audience gets a real sense that Batman has never been more needed and relevant.

#3. Dune

Okay, technically this came out at the end of 2021, but I'm including it anyway because it was that good. I've written in my blog before about the history of this complex book and David Lynch's original attempt to capture the story in a movie. But this time director Denis Villeneuve knocked it out of the park, wisely choosing to break this epic story into two movies. Technically Sci-Fi, the story about the fall of the House of Atreides and its revenge transcends the genre and holds its own with many of the best movies ever made. Destined to become a classic.

#2. Top Gun Maverick

Trying to create a sequel to a classic movie from decades ago is always a risky endeavor. The original Top Gun has become such an iconic film that the most anyone could have hoped for was a passable homage to its predecessor. But wow! Once again we're reminded never to underestimate the street-savvy Tom Cruise who is one of only a handful of stars who've maintained their A-list status and remained relevant for his whole adult life. The movie mines the best of the old material and hits the emotional buttons with the precision of stinger missile. I thought this was greatly entertaining and the fighter jet sequences are about as realistic as they can get. Although most of the original cast is MIA, the scene with an ailing Val Kilmer is particularly well done. A great popcorn movie and a reminder of what good stories told through film can achieve.

#1. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Okay, yes this came out quite a while ago. But I just couldn't come up with a #1 from this year so went with a movie I think is so much better than anything made in the last few years that I couldn't resist. Quentin Tarantino's homage to the late-60s Hollywood era is mesmerizing in the way it captures both that time in America as well as the movies and television shows many of us grew up with. The whole thing is a luxuriously built time machine, full of subtle elements and deeply chiseled characters that only a genius in love with that world could create. From the constant jabbering of the car radio commercials and jingles, to the fictional fight between Bruce Lee and Brad Pitt's Hollywood stuntman, Tarantino breathes new life into a gone world.

And, his alternate history of how the Charles Manson murderers of Sharon Tate should have been handled was trademark Tarantino violence, executed (no pun intended) in a way only he can pull off.

So please let me know what movies you'd put on the list, particularly your favorite from 2022.

All the best as we move into 2023. I hope it's a great year for all!.....VB