Best Films of 2022

Blog: Rodger A. Payne's Blog

Abstract

Below, I have posted the annual list produced by Metacritic that reflects an aggregation of about 300 "Top 10" film lists produced by critics this past year. Every year, I note this list to keep track of what I've seen and to provide my own tiered rankings of the films. I will ultimately add some comments especially if I've updated my rankings from my prior post on new films that I managed to see in 2021. Generally, I post this list in February (just to be sure the rankings are final) and I'll have typically seen about half of them -- thanks partly to a concerted effort in the new year to see them. I'm behind schedule this year, as discussed below. FILMS MENTIONED ON MOST CRITIC TOP 10 LISTS - 2022Movie and Metascore# 1st Place# 2nd Place# OtherPoints181 Everything Everywhere All at Once441978248287 The Banshees of Inisherin1827100.5208.5392 Tar241790196495 Aftersun211574.5167.5577 Nope81286.5134.5678 Top Gun: Maverick12973127784 The Fabelmans13470117884 Decision to Leave8468.5100.5983 RRR8455.587.51085 EO4738.564.51190 All the Beauty and the Bloodshed2447.561.51281 Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery2443.557.51367 Crimes of the Future7624571479 Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio3142531579 Women Talking3631521672 The Batman2237.547.51764 Elvis0439471891 Saint Omer5227461974 Bones and All4519.541.52091 No Bears3324392180 Marcel the Shell With Shoes On2130.538.52286 Happening2226362378 After Yang2224.534.52483 Turning Red0130322580 The Eternal Daughter1224.531.581 Benediction1224.531.52790 Hit the Road3119.530.52863 Triangle of Sadness2024302960 Babylon2218.528.53077 The Woman King122128Because we include some foreign publications, it is possible for a few titles to repeat from last year's list due to differences in USA and overseas release dates.I have seen a few of these films to-date, but have plenty to go (22 of 30 listed). As I watch them, I'll highlight changes. Tier 1 These are top-notch Oscar-worthy films.The Banshees of Inishiren TárTriangle of SadnessThe FabelmansGlass Onion: A Knives Out MysteryElvisHit the RoadThe newcomer here is Spielberg's autobiographical film, The Fabelmans. It is excellent and I highly recommend it. The acting is first-rate. Cate Blanchett is fabulous in Tár and the film is worth your time. Tier 2 These are very good films, but with some flaws. Some of them likely will have received Oscar nominations. AftersunBabylonNopeThe Woman KingMarcel the Shell With Shoes OnThis tier is surprisingly empty. I suspect that many of the remaining movies will fit in here, but I have no idea yet. Update: Babylon is an over-the-top, overlong, zany, surreal, and thoroughly watchable spectacle. Yet, I did not regret the 3 hour investment of time and mentally compared it to Pulp Fiction on several occasions. The Woman King is a very different kind film, obviously, but I liked it and would recommend it. Tier 3 These are good films, but with more flaws.The BatmanTop Gun: MaverickEverything Everywhere All at OnceI'm sticking to my opinion from December that none of these movies can be described as "very good," let alone great. I realize that there could be some Academy Award winners involved in the film-making, but that doesn't mean that I have to like the movies. They are well made and include some good performances.I typically don't need lower tiers for this list because it is allegedly comprised of the very best movies of the year -- at least according to film critics. Here's the alphabetical list of the 22 films that I have not yet seen:After YangAll the Beauty and the BloodshedBenedictionBones and AllCrimes of the FutureDecision to LeaveEOThe Eternal DaughterGuillermo del Toro's Pinocchio HappeningNo BearsRRRSaint OmerTurning RedWomen Talking
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