January 17, 2023 by Natalie Rock (’23)
As 2023 begins, I sense good cinema in our future, but we shouldn’t be quick to forget all of the art from this past year. With 2022 as an “almost normal” year after the pause COVID put on cinematic creation, writers and directors were more motivated than ever to produce films for the world to enjoy. And they certainly made some memorable movies–these films are just some of what d I believe to be the best movies of 2022.
*Disclaimer: I am NOT a film buff, I simply enjoy a good movie! I know in technical analysis there would be far different criteria for choosing “the best” movies from this year. My standards were as follows: Did I enjoy it? Did I remember it? Would I recommend it to a friend?*
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Directed by Ryan Johnson
I really enjoyed this “sequel” to the original Knives Out mystery. When I first heard about this movie I figured it would be directly related to the first. When I found out it wasn’t, I was slightly hesitant. When I actually saw the movie, I was refreshed. When most screenwriters create movie plots, they write with no certain intention of developing additional films. If companies are given the opportunity to make a sequel, they have to add to a story that was handcrafted to stand on its own. Oftentimes, I feel like sequel storylines seemed forced or unnatural. Characters come out of nowhere because they have to.
I think Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery perfectly addressed this problem–it had the Knives Out feel with a completely new plot. We got to meet new characters while keeping the similar air that critics praised in the first movie. The movies were like distant cousins, instead of two directly related brothers. I have recommended this movie to so many friends, and as I type this up, I’m thinking about re-watching it.
Where The Crawdads Sing
Directed by Olivia Newman
This movie is my most recent watch of the four, and it was quite enjoyable. I’ve heard the book is even better than the movie, so it may be worth having a read as well. Where The Crawdads Sing follows the trial and backstory of Catherine “Kya” Clark, before and after she was accused of murder. The story encompasses so much more than just that, though. Set in the 1950s and 1960s, we see the progression of a young girl who was abandoned by all of her family, and forced to live in the marsh alone. Most complaints about the movie are focused on its failure to encompass every element of the book. And while this is likely true, it is always difficult to encapsulate a 7-hour+ read into a 2-hour movie. I think the movie would definitely be judged differently if it wasn’t an adaptation of a book, and for that reason, I say… give it a watch. Most critics believe the film to be imperfect compared to the book, but still captivating nonetheless. I enjoyed this movie, but am sure I could have been disappointed if I had read the book first.
The Menu
Directed by Mark Mylod
This satire highlighting the ridiculousness of the super-rich and high-end dining was to die for (literally). I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen while watching. It was a positively absurd comedy/thriller. The Menu follows a young couple who visits an exclusive destination restaurant where a lavish tasting menu has been prepared, along with a shocking and devious surprise. This remote island experience costs $1250, per person–only accessible to the 1%. I’m not exactly sure how to describe this baffling thriller to you, except by simply telling you to just see it yourself. This film makes sense by not making sense. Anya Taylor Joy did a phenomenal job, as always, and gave us all a performance to remember. This movie was recommended to me, and I’ve passed on the praise to several of my friends. The Menu adds splashes of horror to culinary comedy and stayed in my mind, even days after I had watched it.
Don’t Worry Darling
Directed by Olivia Wilde
I know this is a controversial opinion, to say the least, but I enjoyed this movie a lot. Even though Harry Styles (allegedly) spit on Chris Pine at the film’s Venice premiere, I was pleasantly surprised by his performance in the actual movie. I was expecting Harry’s acting to be horrible, but I thought he did a good job. Overall, I enjoyed this movie when I saw it in theaters, and when it came to HBO max, I enjoyed it a second time. I appreciated all the small details that took me until my second watch to notice, and I felt like it was a relatively well-thought-out movie with a captivating storyline. I am a big fan of Florence Pugh and believe she did a fantastic job in her dynamic role of Alice Chambers. I recommended this movie to several people who didn’t have the same satisfaction, so maybe it’s just not for everyone… but I would argue that a lot of the drama surrounding it has unfairly overshadowed the movie itself.
And for my worst movie of 2022…After Ever Happy
Directed by Castille Landon
This beautiful tale follows even more of the relationship between Tessa and Harden… just messing with you. In my opinion, this movie should’ve never progressed beyond the Wattpad story the franchise was based on. With a “Tomatometer” of a shocking 0% on Rotten Tomatoes, I’m certainly not alone in being an avid After hater. How could you put this movie out into the world, and feel good about it? How do you go to sleep at night? Thankfully, most of 2022’s films far surpassed this monstrosity’s quality, and film fans have plenty of quality works to get through before they must resort to After Ever Happy.