I am writing this pre-Oscars so I have no idea who won although my money would NOT be on Top Gun: Maverick. I, like most Americans, did not see almost any of the films nominated. The Wall Street Journal shared a survey done last month showing how Americans rated the films. I’m with the majority.
Much of my movie watching in 2022–and this is the norm since streaming took over the world–were of films released in earlier years. Here is my list of the best films I watched last year. Have you seen any of them? What were your favorite films you watched?
Road to Perdition
The Edge of Tomorrow
Easy A
You People
Ford vs. Ferrari
Your Name
If Beale Street Could Talk
Impenitent social media enthusiast. Relational trend spotter. Enjoys both carpe diem and the fish of the day.
Many years ago I lived near Beverly Hills/Westwood and saw everything that came out as soon as possible after its premier. These days, I hate going to the cinema: loud, noisy audiences having a three course meal causing smell and irritation and 30 minutes of utterly mind-numbing adverts. No thanks. There is not one of the Oscar nominated films this year I wanted to see except for Living because Bill Nighy is one of the most underestimated actors alive. I will wait for it to turn up for free on TV one day. I honestly can’t think of many films that lived up to expectations in the last 25 years. I pay very close attention to reviews for guidance but nothing much has interested me and so many reviews are tepid and unenthusiastic. As for the whole Oscars Night crap – it’s beyond ridiculous these days with women parading in outfits I would not be seen dead in, inane commentary and assaults on stage not to mention the politicisation of it all. I must be getting old – I just wish it would all fade into its own A-hole – it’s well past its sell-by date.
The graphic that you shared is really interesting and truly seems to reflect my own, personal experience. My husband and I did watch “Everything Everywhere All At Once” and were utterly confused. I enjoyed “Top Gun”, “Avatar” and “Elvis” in the theater when they were out, but can’t say that I would call any one of them Oscar-worthy. Personally, I think it’s time to retire the whole concept of the Oscars. Too much content, too fractured of a viewing audience, and kinda boring. I can’t remember the last time I actually watched it.
As far as movies go, I’m on a kick right now to really watch romance/romantic movies that have been highly suggested – and this inspired by Dabney’s last movie post. I’ve watched some of the older ones – “It Happened One Night” and “Casablanca” – to see if they hold up to the fuss. In this case, no to the first one and a definite yes to the second.
Edge of Tomorrow is a great movie, one of the few that I limit my rewatches of so I don’t ruin it for myself.
The Outfit was the best movie I watched for the first time last year.
Mr. Malcolm’s List was the best romance movie of the year for me.
Top Secret from the early 80s was the gem that I had somehow overlooked my entire life only to discover last year.
Thank you for reminding me about The Outfit. It sounds like something I’d love.
I love “your name”! just like “a silent voice” and “from up on poppy hill”
I didn’t think I’d like silent voice since it’s the story of an ex-bully who falls in love with the girl he harassed, but the plot is simply well done, the boy annoyed her as children, then she changes schools and they don’t see each other until high school, meanwhile he becomes bullied to where he turns from an arrogant kid to a depressed teenager with a desire to kill himself when they meet again.
But my favorite anime movie has been “Josee the tigger and the Fish”.
Obviously I’ve loved live action movies but I’m very attached to anime as I like the way it portrays romance and it was my first approach to the genre in my teens before romance novels came anime and manga.
I adore YOUR NAME. My son insisted I watch that, and I actually found myself in tears, it was so moving. FORD VS. FERRARI was terrific, and EDGE OF TOMORROW was also good, maybe just a notch below, IMHO. I haven’t seen EASY A in years, but it didn’t stick with me, so I guess that says something.
In terms of the Oscars, I have always watched them, and I did tune in last night, although I was doing other stuff while it was on. I saw four of the films— THE FABELMANS (sweet, nostalgic, funny and wonderful to see how the young Stephen Spielberg’s interest in filmmaking evolved), THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN (a very dark comedy with amazing performances and gorgeous scenery,) ELVIS (Austin Butler is incredible and the costumes, sets, music, etc. were all terrific. Tom Hanks as the Colonel was the only negative), and TOP GUN: MAVERICK (probably my least favorite, but it does everything a big action movie should and more.). They all were enjoyable and certainly worth streaming if they are on a service your already have.
I really like Edge of Tomorrow, and I thought Easy A was funny and super sweet. Road to Perdition is intense. The story is beautifully told, but the tale is, in many ways, just awful.
I’ve been on a Chinese/Korean Drama kick, and those are more mini-seres than movies. I haven’t seen anything that was nominated.
I had seen Easy A when it came out and was thrilled, this year, to see how well it held up!