The Oscars are tonight, and there will be several films nominated that none of us have ever heard of, and most of us will never watch.
I typically try to watch all “Best Picture” nominees. I’ve seen several of them for this year. The main one I want to see that I haven’t is “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
Since it’s Oscars night, I decided to share my Top 10 movies from 2022.
- “Barbarian:” I can say too much about this film without giving away some surprises, but know that there are plenty of surprises. I’d classify it as a horror film. It’s starts off with an AirBnB mixup and gets way crazier from there.
- “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent:” Nic Cage plays Nic Cage. Do I need to say anything else? Pedro Pascal, best know from “The Mandalorian” and “The Last of Us,” is the other star of the action/comedy. I could watch this over and over. It’s simply a fun movie.
- “Banshees of Inisherin:” I really hope this film wins “Best Picture.” It’s a quirky comedy about two friends, possibly former friends, who live on a small, Irish island, which is full of other colorful characters.
- “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery:” Tech billionaire Miles Bron invites his friends for a getaway on his private Greek island. When someone turns up dead, Detective Benoit Blanc is put on the case. Director Rian Johnson has quickly become one of my favorite filmmakers.
- “X”/“Pearl:” Ok. Technically these are two films, but it’s a horror film and a prequel that both came out in the same year and were basically filmed at the same time. If you’re a horror fan, watch them both. “X” is the better of the two in my opinion, but they both tell great stories and are extremely well made with some great acting jobs for this genre.
- “Bullet Train:” Ladybug, played by Brad Pitt, is an unlucky assassin who’s determined to do his job peacefully after one too many gigs has gone off the rails. Fate, however, may have other plans as his latest mission puts him on a collision course with lethal adversaries from around the globe — all with connected yet conflicting objectives — on the world’s fastest train. This is another really fun action movie with a surprisingly good story and acting jobs.
- “The Menu:” A young couple travels to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises. Again, I can’t say much without giving away the surprises. Go into it knowing that it’s a bit of a slow start, but it’s worth it once it gets into the meat of “The Menu.”
- “Father Stu:” God needed a fighter, and He found one. Father Stu is based on the true-life story of boxer-turned-priest, Father Stuart Long, whose journey from self-destruction to redemption inspired countless people along the way. Mark Wahlberg and Mel Gibson star in the film, which has a big heart.
- “White Noise:” At once hilarious and horrifying, lyrical and absurd, ordinary and apocalyptic, “White Noise” dramatizes a contemporary American family’s attempts to deal with the mundane conflicts of everyday life while grappling with the universal mysteries of love, death, and the possibility of happiness in an uncertain world. I felt like I watched four different films in one, but I liked them all. Adam Driver stars. If you like quirky, you’ll love it.
- “Elvis:” Picking out No. 10 was difficult for me. I thought about “The Batman” or the Christmas film “Spirited,” staring Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds, but I ended up settling on the biopic about “The King of Rock and Roll.” The film was really well done. The acting was great. The visuals were even better. Whether you are an Elvis fan or not, check out “Elvis.”
There you have it. That’s my Top 10 favorites from 2022. My taste in movies do not line up with everyone’s so I’m sure you may love some of these and may hate them. Many people are probably wondering why the new “Top Gun” movie didn’t make the list. I didn’t like it. I didn’t get the hype around it. Be sure in the comments section to let us know what some of your favorites are from 2022. I’ll add them to my list of things to watch if I haven’t seen them already.
