As a film critic who has been attending screenings and red carpets for over two decades, I must say that 2024 has been quite the rollercoaster ride! On one hand, we have had some truly remarkable films that have left me utterly spellbound (like “Wicked” and “A Complete Unknown”). But on the other hand, there have been a few duds that I simply couldn’t help but shake my head at (looking at you, “Venom: The Last Dance”!).
If you’re similar to me, you might often find yourself pondering, “What should we watch tonight or over the weekend?” With an abundance of content across top streaming platforms, we can explore genres like dramas, comedies, thrillers, historical epics, series, and movies. However, with new content being added every week, it’s easy to miss out on shows marked as “Want To Watch,” only to realize they’ve already aired.
In light of this, I wanted to focus on the 2024 films that deserve our attention, aiming to reintroduce five under-the-radar hits and save you from wasting time on those I thought were flops. With unexpectedly more gems discovered among the 75 films I’ve watched this year, I’m skipping over obvious sequels like Dune: Part 2 and Inside Out 2. If you enjoyed previous movies in those series, feel free to catch up on the sequels. However, here are five fantastic movies that may have slipped your notice, and I believe they’re worth revisiting.
Civil War
I’m not concerned with anyone’s politics. On a purely technical level, ALex Garland’s Civil War deserves to be seen for the way that the director stages large-scale combat sequences on American soil – something we don’t get to see very often (if ever) on the big screen. The final act of Civil War might as well be called Call of Duty: The Movie, as Garland puts us in the POV of soldiers and journalists storming a devastated and war-torn Washington, DC to reach their ultimate goal. I also appreciated all that the movie said about the importance of capturing history in the moment, and I thought both Cailee Spaeny and Kirsten Dunst were spectacular.
Alien: Romulus
2021 has proven to be an exceptional year for Spaeny, who delivered a remarkable performance as a novice war photographer during the Civil War, and subsequently skyrocketed into fame as a blue-collar character participating in a heist in the recent Alien sequel. It’s no easy feat to embody a strong female character in an Alien film without drawing comparisons to Sigourney Weaver. However, Spaeny managed to create her unique identity in a smart action movie that features some breathtaking action sequences – quite an accomplishment for a franchise as long-standing as this one.
Strange Darling
Discovering as little as possible about “Strange Darling” before watching it will enhance your viewing experience. It’s like a serial killer tale, but seen through Quentin Tarantino’s unique perspective. Once you press play on the movie, buckle up for an unpredictable ride. Director JT Mollner goes to great lengths to keep viewers guessing as the story unfolds in an unexpected way. Performance by Willa Fitzgerald is noteworthy and deserves recognition at award shows – if they were more open to honoring genre films, rather than just when it suits their preferences or narrative. The main appeal of “Strange Darling” lies in the challenge of predicting where the story is heading, which makes the journey all the more enjoyable.
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
If you read me at all, you know I love superhero movies. I also grew up on Christopher Reeve’s Superman, and I stand by the fact that Reeve embodied the persona of Superman better than any actor since has occupied a comic role. Hugh Jackman as Wolverine comes close. But when you watch this staggering documentary about the strength of Reeve’s spirit, you will better understand that he IS Superman, as well as a super man. This documentary follows Reeve’s journey in the wake of a devastating horse-riding accident that left him paralyzed. But it’s infused with hope, with heart, with humor, and with love. It’s an inspiration jolt, and a love letter to the power of endurance. You will believe a man can live.
Woman of the Hour
I absolutely adore Anna Kendrick, and I’m always impressed when she steps away from popular movies like “Trolls” or “Pitch Perfect” to delve into more dramatic roles in films such as “Alice, Darling”, “The Accountant”, “The Last Five Years”, and so on. The intriguing aspect of this movie is its plot, which is based on a true story about a serial killer who appeared on the game show “The Dating Game” while terrorizing the Western states. Within this setting, Kendrick – making her directorial debut – uncovers fertile ground to explore issues like gender politics, the superficial nature of the entertainment world, and how killers can evade detection in society. This film is definitely worth watching.
As a gamer who values quality entertainment, I’ve managed to compile a list of five films I truly believe are worth your time. Steer clear of the subpar movies that litter the landscape – trust me, they’re not worth your while. Compiling this list was a challenge due to my usual avoidance of mediocre cinema, but here are five films from this year that initially seemed promising, and I strongly advise you to avoid making the same mistake I almost did.
Madame Web
This film showcases Sony’s apparent confusion regarding its Spider-Man universe, mainly due to the questionable necessity of this movie. Set as a prequel, it portrays Peter Parker as a baby character, which is relatively unknown and even puzzling for actress Dakota Johnson, who played the part. Moreover, there’s scarcely any heroic deeds displayed within the film, with only brief glimpses of potential superheroes at the end. All in all, it’s a chaotic production.
IF
This one hurts, because I like John Krasinski (who directed the film), and Ryan Reynolds tends to be funny and charming, even in fantastical drivel. But this story about Imaginary Friends who have been forgotten by their grown ups seems flawed in its concept, and nothing attempted by Krasinski or his main actress, Cailey Fleming, can help capture the awe and wonderment that is supposed to be in the script. IF ultimately felt manipulative to me, failing to earn any of the sentiment it thought it was peddling. I thought this was a flop.
The Crow
It wasn’t necessary for us to witness another version of “The Crow”. Watching Rupert Sanders attempt to reinterpret this material served as a reminder that “The Crow” is an artifact from a particular era, characterized by gothic motifs and techno-metal music that appealed to a generation of Hot Topic enthusiasts. However, the main issue with this rendition of “The Crow” lies in the lackluster chemistry between the lead pair, Bill Skarsgard and FKA Twigs. Their romantic connection and his thirst for revenge, which drives the narrative, never feel authentic, making it difficult for us to invest emotionally. For years, Hollywood has been trying to bring a fresh take on “The Crow” to the big screen. Perhaps they should have let this story remain untouched.
Horizon: An America Saga – Part One
Another one that completely bums me out. Believe it or not, film critics go into almost every movie hoping to love what we see. We don’t do this to seek out duds. And if you tell me that Kevin Costner is self-financing a new Western because he believes in the story, I’m going to get excited! Sadly, Horizon feels like the first 100 pages of a much longer novel, and so the entire film just sets up stories that don’t pay off – at least, not in this film. Costner has gone on to say that he envisions four Horizon movies, but he won’t get to make any more of them unless he makes them entertaining. And this one is not.
Venom: The Last Dance
Moving back to the Sony-based Spider-Man universe, let’s discuss the Venom franchise. While Tom Hardy delivers an entertaining performance in these films, and the visual effects for the symbiote have indeed improved since the initial release, the narrative hasn’t progressed significantly across the trilogy, leaving me with little recall of the plot. The inconsistency in storytelling is quite puzzling, especially considering that Spider-Man was never properly integrated into these films. This seems like a strange move towards fans, and perhaps not the most effective strategy.
There are several weeks left in the year 2024, during which films such as “Wicked”, “A Complete Unknown”, and “The Brutalist” will compete to secure a place on various top-list rankings. Whether they’ll make it to the best or worst lists remains to be seen; we’ll find out soon enough.
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2024-11-08 22:37