Okay, I’ve seen all the 2022 Best Picture nominees, and here’s my final ranking, along with links to my reviews of each. Of the films nominated, I’m have to say my favorite was Everything Everywhere All at Once. It was so innovative and packed full of great visuals, fun twists, and actively interesting and well-written characters. Michelle Yeoh is a marvel in this role, along with Jamie Lee Curtis and Ke Huy Quan.
Second up for me would be Top Gun: Maverick, if only because it “saved Hollywood.” No, seriously, it’s a throw-back, popcorn-crunching “Summer Movie” like we rarely get any more. I doubt it will win, but it’s got my vote. Maybe I’ll jump up and down on a couch if it wins.
Rounding out the top three for me would be Avatar, for the technical prowess alone. Though, really, it could have been nominated in the Best Animated category as well—after a while, it did feel like you were completely immersed in this make-believe land. And that’s what we want from our movies, right?
Here is how I would rank these ten films:
Tar was a slog to sit through but ultimately thought-provoking. It reminded me somehow of that Japanese car-driving movie from a couple of years back. It was pure torture to sit through but left quite an impression, although the name of the movie escapes me.
Elvis was your standard and awesome Baz Luhrmann color-fest, filled to the brim with so much stuff to see that you kinda get lost along the way and forget that this movie is about one of the most famous celebrities in history. The Fablemans was pure, self-indulgent schmaltz, cute but ultimately pointless. Women Talking was good but too long and too static. Triangle of Sadness was another brash take on Black Lotus but far more gross and willing to hit the viewer over the head with every point it was trying to make. Banshees was the most depressing movie I’ve ever seen, and everyone involved in making and funding this film should rethink their involvement in the “entertainment” industry.
All in, I’d have to say my favorite movie of the year was still The Batman, and thought Nope deserves a spot on this list. The Menu also had good bones but was ultimately disappointing—I kept waiting for them to do something interesting with the premise but it turns out exactly as you would expect.
Don’t forget, if you want a great Oscars Movie Checklist, head on over to the Gold Knight for their awesome downloadable cheat sheet that tells you what you need to watch (and where you can see it) to get ready for the Academy Awards ceremony, held this year on March 12 on ABC.
