The Top 22 Films of 2022
2022 has come to an end, so of course it’s time to rank the best films 2022 had to offer. Please note that these are films that were released in the U.K. in the calendar year of 2022.
22. Barbarian - Barbarian is one of the most unpredictable horror films in recent memory. At every turn writer/director Zach Cregger takes the film in wildly different directions, morphing the film into a smorgasbord of horror styles and genres. The film packs effective scares and some horrifying imagery, but it is also disarmingly hilarious, with Justin Long’s AJ being a despicable highlight. Cregger’s implementation of humour never detracts from the terror, being used at perfect points to elevate an already disturbing picture. The film’s subversive qualities are indeed risky and may not pay off for some, but what it leaves you with is a wholly entertaining horror flick that will have you guessing at every turn.
21. Glass Onion - Glass Onion is, quite simply, the best comedy of 2022. Rian Johnson’s character writing is effectively silly, with each of the ensemble cast brining their own ridiculous flare to the screen. Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc takes this ridiculousness and dials it up to eleven, with his preposterous accent and manic mannerisms being a highlight of the whole picture. Kate Hudson and Edward Norton are standouts too, with a particular dinner gag and a comment about sweatshops being true laugh out loud moments. Johnson’s film goes along swiftly with an up-tempo pace, aided by its punchy editing and sharp, witty writing. Glass Onion is a blast from start to finish and a sequel that stands toe to toe with its predecessor.
20. Tory & Lokita - A naturalistic story of two immigrants faced with adversity in Belgium, Tory & Lokita is an emotionally engaging drama of love and friendship. The bond between its titular characters is enchanting, one that makes us fear for the unjust conditions the two are put under. From drug dealing to prostitution, Tori & Lokita is an unflinching portrayal of exploited migrants. Writers/directors, Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne, have put together a film with such realistic intensity that you are left white knuckled throughout, in hopes that Tori and Lokita will be safe.
19. Blonde - Undoubtedly the most controversial pick here, Blonde is a dark film, one in which its subject matter will undoubtedly turn people away. However, it is a picture in which the sum is indeed greater than its parts and one that has been misinterpreted upon its release. Through this mirage of truth and fiction, Andrew Dominik has produced a truly expressive piece, one in which feeling overrides fact, as you are left understating the horrors and tragedy that plagued Marilyn’s life. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis also provide a dazzlingly ethereal score that is this year’s best. Through this harrowing watch you cannot help but be moved, saddened and yet amazed at the person behind the icon. A piece that in turn makes the real life Marilyn’s work all the more impressive.
18. Happening - Happening is a powerful, personal feature detailing the cruel nature of pregnancy imposed on a young individual. Anamaria Vartolomei gives a powerhouse performance as Anne, giving the character both a presence of vulnerability and strength. The personal quality of the film is aided by Laurent Tangy’s natural camera work and Géraldine Mangenot’s subtle editing that gives scenes a non-disruptive, intimate quality. Happening also demonstrates a particular feeling of isolation, rooted in a societal taboo that adds another tragic tint to the feature. Happening is undoubtedly a tough watch, but a rewarding and insightful piece, showcasing the importance of choice and its necessity as a human right.
17. Red Rocket - The story of a washed up porn star is a dark comedy that brings with it a complex social commentary of poverty in America and one of the most despicably likeable characters of the year in Mickey Sabre. Director Sean Baker brings his insightful storytelling talents to a film that shows the horrible power that capitalism has to create and destroy. While it is strikingly funny, Baker always manages to keep you keenly aware that the despicable lengths characters will go for money, is all a product of America’s societal failures.
16. The Batman - When looking at, The Batman, as a whole, it is quite staggering that a big Hollywood studio would commit its biggest IP to such a bold vision. Its dedication to telling a crime story of corruption and deconstructing its central figure is truly commendable. Its commitment to its heavy themes, gloomy world and 3-hour runtime may put some people off; but for those that venture into this dreary world, prepare for an impeccably constructed noir thriller. One that proves what blockbuster cinema can achieve under someone with the vision and passion to make it come true. We finally have a Batman film that lives up to The Dark Knight and proves Batman’s status as the king of comic book movies.
15. Decision to Leave – Decision to Leave is a dreamy neo-noir that is masterfully directed by Park Chan-Wook. It is both modern, yet classical in nature, with its greatest ode being to Alfred Hitchcock’s, Vertigo, in which obsession too plays a key role. While this is Wook’s most sensitive film to date, he still manages to inject some of his dark, uncanny humour into this delicate and dark romance. Indeed, Decision to Leave showcases a director at the height of his craft, while also being one of the year’s most oddly romantic films. It is a peculiar puzzle box of a film, but when unravelled is both devastating and touching.
14. Boiling Point - Filmed entirely in one shot, Boiling Point is a relentlessly entertaining flick that captures the stress and animosity of the hospitality industry. This is all heightened by the exceptional performances from Stephen Graham and co-star, Vinette Robinson, in particularly. The use of the one-shot technique that, although may appear gimmicky, actually becomes an effective tool in making us feel we are being exhaustedly rushed around this hectic restaraunt. Yet, within all the frantic goings on, Boiling Point still manages to take time to highlight each character’s own personal issues through brief but effective vignettes.
13. Living - Director, Oliver Hermanus, and writer, Kazuo Ishiguro, made the bold decision to remake one of cinema’s all-time classics, Ikiru. However, their efforts have paid off as, Living, is a beautifully constructed adaptation that acts as an excellent companion to its original counterpart. While the structure and scenarios are consistent with the original film, Hermanus and crew have made this story feel fresh enough to stand on its own. From the gorgeous visuals, tender score and transporting the film to a new English setting, it never feels as though Hermanus’ take is redundant. Bill Nighy gives the performance of his career as Mr Williams, a man so lost as how to even exist. There is a real soul to this film, one which captures the wonder in life’s little victories and the importance of human connection. Thematically and cinematically, Hermanus has constructed a picture with timeless quality.
12. The Quiet Girl - Colm Bairéad’s tale of a withdrawn girl taken from her family home is one filled with quiet complexity. With little dialogue, Bairéad manages to highlight the emotional ties we can create, even in silence. Through the eyes of child innocence the complexities of loss and abandonment are explored through fresh, uncynical eyes. The rural Irish setting provides for a beautiful backdrop that reflects the story’s calm approach. Yet, there is also an inevitability to the story that brings with it a sense of dread in knowing this place of tranquility will be ripped from both Cáit and the audience.
11. The Northman - Based on the folk fable that inspired Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Robert Eggers has adapted an age-old fable with a vision that is as timeless as the tale itself. Beautiful and brutal to behold, Amelth’s tale is one that blends the mythic with an authentic story of male delusion and toxic masculinity, as well as questioning if there can be a life beyond the purpose we have contrived in our own mind. Every frame is so keenly constructed, immersing the viewer within this harrowing, yet mystifying Norse world. Skarsgård as Amleth is no hero, he is rage incarnate, only driven for a taste of revenge that too makes us as driven to see how this quest will conclude. The Northman is a tremendous odyssey, one drenched in violence, hate and anger, that solidifies Eggers’ talents as a filmmaking visionary.
10. Everything Everywhere All At Once - With Everything Everywhere All At Once, the Daniels have created a feature that exudes cinema. From spectacle, action, comedy and tender emotion, Everything Everywhere All at Once leaves you almost overwhelmed by the time the credits roll. It swells with a near overload of the senses, but one that never feels messy, always keeping focus on the importance of story, character and its multitude of themes. Michelle Yeoh is a leading lady like no other, bringing heart and heft in every scene. This is without question one of the most explosively inventive and enjoyable films of the year -Everything Everywhere All At Once is truly something to behold.
9. The Banshees of Inisherin - The Banshees of Inisherin –Martin McDonagh has crafted a darkly funny picture that brings with it weighty existential questions as to the meaning of life and legacy. The Banshees of Inisherin also hosts a sleugh of terrific performances; However, it is Brendan Gleeson whose dry, ruthless persona, which at first proves humorous; soon reveals is a man in deep depression. While the folk tale atmosphere may allude to something more mystical, what you have here is an honest depiction of a man struggling with his mental health and how he should be remembered. The Banshees of Inisherin may leave you melancholic once it is over, but it is a film that will keep you ruminating long after the credits roll.
8. Great Freedom - Set in post-war Germany, Great Freedom follows Hans as he is repeatedly incarcerated under paragraph 175, which criminalises homosexuality. Great Freedom is one of the most inspiring films of the year, with Hans (Franz Rogowski) being the embodiment of perseverance and hope. This a film that highlights the vulnerability of the human soul, yet, never displaying it as a weakness. Sebastian Meise’s direction manages to make this one location constantly interesting along with Crystal Fournier’s varied cinematography. Great Freedom may be a weighty story, but one that demonstrates the necessity of human compassion and its unwavering power.
7. After Yang - Kogonada follows up his peaceful and poignant 2017 feature, Columbus, with this meditative sci-fi film about the entwined nature of memory, the self and how mourning can reshape our feelings towards those we lost. Kogonada and cinematographer Benjamin Loeb have crafted a still feature akin to Columbus, one that evokes a similar contemplative quality, but simultaneously has its own elegant style. Colin Farrel gives a restrained performance, but one that is deeply in touch with humanity and delivers on the profundity of Jake’s discoveries. Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja, gives the film a humorous edge with adorable childish glee and Aska Matsumiya provides a tranquil, tender score to the picture, one that complements Kogonada’s direction. After Yang is a delicate journey that questions and connects us to the human and is, undoubtedly, the most peaceful film of 2022.
6. Nope - Jordan Peele’s third film is his most ambitious and, perhaps, his best film yet. Nope’s layered deconstruction of grief and the lust for spectacle is, indeed, spectacular, while it also boasts two of the most endearing characters of the year in OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and Emerald (Keke Palmer). Nope undeniably cinematic, not just in scope, but in its inspirations too. It feels like a classic Spielberg blockbuster (aided by some John Williams like compositions), as well as a grand western with unique sci-fi horror influences. Nope is a strange genre mix, but an exceptionally successful one at that. Peele’s ability to combine a multitude of ideas, with grand set-pieces and insightful character moments is further proof that he is one of the most interesting talents in the industry today.
5. Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio – Guillermo Del Toro’s conclusion to his loosely connected death trilogy, may be his finest work yet. Co-directed by Mark Gustafson, the two have managed to create an instant family classic that manages to capture an intrinsic fable like quality which is both fun and deeply mature. The story is as thematically beautiful as the stop-motion animation, as every character design is bursting with distinctive detail. The film’s insight into mortality and existence is both simplistic, yet deeply affective. Move aside Disney, for this is the Pinocchio adaptation for the ages.
4. Mass - Four characters. One room. This is all that Mass utilises and yet it is one of the most enthralling cinematic experiences of the year. Through sharp, engaging dialogue and perfect performances from the entire cast that capture the full array of human emotion- it is a film that never lets you go. It is a film that calls to attention so many societal complexities and the dangers of generalisation; how labelling things as black and white or with one-word definitions leads to dangerous and misguided ideas of the world around us. While the subject matter may appear bleak and unapproachable, it is a film that shows us the process of pain, but is ultimately about forgives and even the hope that can be found in each other.
3. The Worst Person in the World – Joachim Trier’s story of Julie’s quarter-life crisis packs it all. Set across twelve chapters, Trier captures the vast qualities of human existence. Ranging from quirky comedy to hefty tragedy, Trier manages to keep his film tonally consistent, as well as boldly creative. It is quite staggering how grand and yet completely focussed Trier’s film is. His character writing is second to none, with Julie being both an inherently flawed yet entirely relatable individual, whose journey of lust and love lead to an incredibly moving finale. In many ways, The Worst Person in the World, proves the versatility of cinema and in doing so highlights the mercuriality of life itself.
2. Top Gun: Maverick: Nope may have deconstructed the problems with spectacle, but Top Gun: Maverick proves how spectacle is done right. This is a blockbuster from days passed, something long missed, yet simultaneously pioneering on a cinematic front. This not just the best blockbuster of the year, this is the best blockbuster in many years, one that demonstrates the power of the big screen. Is it cheesy? Yes. Predictable? Perhaps. But somehow, none of it seems to matter, this is a film in which the sum is greater than its parts. It works on a visceral and emotional level, with a tight, impactful story that reaches an astounding crescendo. Leave your cynicism at the door and embrace the cheese, for it cannot be denied that Top Gun: Maverick is an astonishing cinematic achievement.
1. After Sun – Charlotte Wells’ directorial debut is nothing short of astonishing. From its opening, Well’s creates an air of both tenderness and mystery around the film. There is a duality that is present here, an idea that is cleverly shown in the cinematography, as the camera is positioned to depict two different realities, either through door frames or reflections. This duality is most accentuated by the wonderful Paul Mescal, whose naturalistic performance brings realism and nuance to this story of a man’s struggling mental state. Corio is also staggeringly excellent here, with the two stars coming together to provide a richly authentic father and daughter dynamic. The performances, along with Well’s script and brilliant direction, all weave together with such subtlety, that when the final act comes you are hit with a wave of emotional profundity that very few films can achieve. While this is a film about duality, secrets and reflection, it flows like a dream and one that will remain with you for days, or even months after. After Sun is Unwanted Opinions best film of 2022.