My Top 10 Films Of 2024

#1 - The Brutalist

Critics Score - 10 of 10

It was back in September when I first heard rumblings about a film called The Brutalist. So when I saw it was picked up by A24 and it would be at the Chicago International Film Festival in Oct., I booked a flight and went to see it. I saw a few films while I was there, but the trip was completely worth it just for this mid 20th century story about an immigrant architect. To say this film about the illusion of the “American Dream” is a marvel is an understatement. It is grandiose and epic filmmaking at its finest in the same vein as Lawrence Of Arabia and There Will Be Blood. Brady Corbet directs the hell out of an all star cast and finds something here that few filmmakers ever hope to achieve, a piece of perfect cinema. This film will take home Oscar gold, Best Picture is still TBD, but the quality of this film cannot be questioned. In virtually every way, the production design, score, sound cinematography, editing, I stand in awe of this film.

#2 - Ghostlight

Critics Score - 9.4 of 10

For me, Ghostlight is the little movie that could for 2024. The odds are stacked against it, this IFC film has floated along mostly under the radar for most general audiences simply because of the studio that released it. No TV commercials, no massive advertising campaigns. It also headlines three lead actors that nobody has ever heard of, a father, mother and daughter who happen to be an actual family of actors in real life. But this was by far the most touching, heartwarming yet simultaneously emotionally devastating film of the year for me. It is so damn good and it’s an absolute crime more people haven’t seen it. Trust me when I say that this movie about the power of theatre and its take on the classic Romeo & Juliet love story will be one of the films you’re not likely to forget anytime soon.

#3 - Dune 2

Critics Score - 9.4 of 10

When I originally wrote my review for Dune 2 I referred to it as a masterpiece, a perfect film. I still have not changed my original review score from the 10 of 10 I gave it. I saw this in IMAX and I remember repeatedly thinking, “This is cinema!”. I’ve watched the film a second time and I stand in awe of Denis Villeneuve’s vision and adaptation of this “unadaptable” material. Despite the fact I see Part 2 as a vast improvement from the first film, mostly from a story and character arc perspective, I’ve found that it just doesn’t mean as much to me on a personal level as some of the other films on my list. But what Denis has accomplished here is staggering, a true testament to what an incredible director he is, on a technical level this film is flawless. For some big screen, sci-fi action and adventure, there’s really no need to look any further than Dune 2.

#4 - The Substance

Critics Score - 9.3 of 10

Writer/director Coralie Fargeat won the screenplay prize for The Substance out of the Cannes Film Festival back in May, which is when this film first popped up onto my radar. When I finally got to witness the insanity that is The Substance in Sept., my mind was absolutely blown by how wild, gruesome and bat shit crazy this film gets. It is not for the faint of heart, if you’re squeamish about blood, needles or just body horror in general, this film will not be up your alley. But if you’re up for it, this was the most fun I had in the cinema all year. It is absolutely hysterical in its presentation of it’s story of an aging actress given a second chance at youth, yet scathing in its rebuke of how women of a certain age are treated by not just themselves, but society in general. Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley help push this film into overdrive and deliver one of the most unforgettable theatre experiences of the decade.

#5 - Nosferatu

Critics Score - 9.2 of 10

Monsters and vampires have captured the imaginations of humans for millennia and have been a part of filmmaking since the early days of cinema. From The Golem and the original Nosferatu, which date back to The Great War times, cellulose nitrate has proved an invaluable tool for bringing these legends to life. Here over 100 years later Robert Eggers has done a retelling of Nosferatu, a demonic vampiric force that calls out to a young woman he has an insatiable craving for. As with all Eggers films, this one is crafted to perfection, the lighting, camera work and use of shadows is otherworldly, along with all the other crafts. I do not exaggerate when I say that this film is genre defining “vampire movie”. Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult and the exceptional transformation of Bill Skarsgård as Count Orlok make this one of the finest films of the year.

#6 - The Girl With The Needle

Critics Score - 9.1 of 10

Each year there are countless films released in other countries that American audiences overlook simply for the fact that the spoken dialogue differs from the English that they’re accustomed to when they watch movies. The Girl With The Needle is loosely based around an actual Danish serial killer that lived in the 1920’s. I will provide the disclaimer that this film contains some of the darkest and most disturbing content I’ve seen all year, audiences with weak constitutions should proceed with caution. But it is in my opinion, the most beautiful looking film of 2024, in a year when so many stunning films took my breath away. But the twists and turns this story took telling us the tale of a young woman struggling to survive in the aftermath of World War 1 wound up being my favorite foreign film of the year.

#7 - Babygirl

Critics Score - 9.1 of 10

Surprise surprise, 2024 brought with it the sexist Christmas movie I never knew I needed. Nicole Kidman was my favorite female performance of the year accompanied by the amazing Harris Dickinson. The chemistry these two capture onscreen threatened to set the theatre ablaze. I asked an theatre attendant to have a fire extinguisher ready at about the halfway point. Seriously though, think if 50 Shades Of Grey had been an A24 film, they’d hired good actors and made an actual good movie out of those books. Babygirl mis what you’d get. Because of my specific experiences that mirror the main protagonists’, with sexual repression shaping her characters sexual needs and interests, I can identify with this film more than many others. But needless to say, there’s more going on with this movie than just a simple piece of filmmaking designed to be arousing. A George Michael needle drop towards the end of the second act was my favorite scene from any film and catapulted Babygirl into my Top 10 films of 2024.

#8 - Heretic

Critics Score - 9.0 of 10

Horror films rarely make my favorite of the year. In fact, I’m 2023 there weren’t any in my top 10, yet this year almost half my list could arguably fall into that category! I have to concede that Heretic, along with Babygirl, may not be objectively among the “best films of 2024”, but for me, they hold special significance. The story of Heretic revolves around 2 young Mormon girls who encounter the creepy homeowner Mr. Reed during their evangelizing work. Mr. Reed is played by Hugh Grant who is putting on the performance of his career. The events portrayed and the themes the film touches upon including faith, the “one true religion” as well as the dissenting of religious doctrine, I found utterly fascinating because of my own experiences with missionary work and being raised in a religious cult. While the finale left a bit to be desired, I still found this scripts twists and turns sucked me into this thrilling and highly entertaining game of cat and mouse.

#9 - Strange Darling

Critics Score - 8.9 of 10

One of the most criminally underseen films of the year popped into theatres briefly back in late summer. Strange Darling is a dark and twisted psychological thriller that tells the tale of a serial killer and their prey and it has more twists and turns to it than any other film I’ve seen all year. The fascinating screenplay by JT Mollner has the film broken up into six chapters and an epilogue, but we watch them play out out of order. So much thought went into this script and its unique structure that it simply hasn’t left my mind since I watched it over six months ago. This two hander plays out between the amazing two leads, Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. Both deliver remarkable performances but Fitzgerald is truly a force to be reckoned with. It cannot be undersold, this is hands down one of the great films of 2024 and it’s well worth your time to catch up with this darling of a film.

#10 - Hit Man

Critics Score - 8.9 of 10

My favorite pure comedy of the year came from the mind of the man, the myth, the legend, Mr. Richard Linklater. He brings us this hilarious tale of a small town school teacher played by Glen Powell, who begins to moonlight as a hit man for the local police department in order to apprehend people looking to off somebody. As soon as the film gets a few laughs out of an idea,

it cleverly turns and heads in a new direction and keeps it up until eventually Powell meets the sexy Adria Arjona and the film morphs into a sexy little romcom. With all the darker, moody and disturbing films that were among my favorites this year, Hit Man was a refreshing surprise of humor and fun that kept surprising me at every turn. It should come as no shock though, Linklater is a top tier writer and director and his latest film is as solid of a crowd pleaser as they come.

Honorable Mentions -

#11 - Wallace & Grommit: Vengeance Most Fowl

Critics Score - 8.9 of 10

The latest film from Aardman Animation delivered my favorite animated movie of 2024, it’s currently streaming on Netflix. Another outing for this claymation duo of man and pooch and their silly shenanigans was one of the highlights of the year that was as clever as it was hysterical. A big thumbs up from myself and my boys.

#12 - Anora

Critics Score - 8.8 of 10

Sean Baker gave us the winner of the Palme d’Or out of Cannes last year with Anora, played by the incredible Mikey Madison, is a sex worker that gets involved with an incredibly wealthy Russian family after marrying their teenage son. Anora is not only very funny but delivers one knockout of an ending that leaves you absolutely breathless.

#13 - His Three Daughters

Critics Score - 8.8 of 10

Yet another low key Netflix title that dropped without much fanfare but was simply one of the years best movies. A trio of actresses deliver some of the years best work as they play a dying man’s daughters that have become estranged from each other, yet find some connection in their fathers final hours. An emotional rollercoaster, this film packs a punch so make sure to bring some tissues.

#14 - Femme

Critics Score - 8.8 of 10

The lack of discussion about this excellent film is an absolute crime. One of the best films of 2024 that nobody is talking about, Femme tells us the story of a cross dressing gay man who gets assaulted, but then finds more than he bargains for when he goes looking for vengeance. Put this one on the watchlist.