The conclusion of my 25 best new to me watches of 2024 …
5.The Handmaiden (2016)- This is some straight up pervert stuff here. I went into this knowing almost nothing and I think that’s the way to do it. It’s a perverted con artist film. That’s all there is to know and then just sit back and enjoy the disgusting ride. Standouts: The writing team of Park Chan-wook and Chung Seo-kyung were cooking here. Great twists and turns, truly several things that left my mouth agape.
4. American Fiction (2023)- I was surprised with how smart and funny this was. When I heard the premise, a Black author jokingly writes the worst possible novel he can imagine pandering to every terrible Black stereotype that white audiences might have only for it to become a literary sensation, I thought this would come off outdated and very aughts. But no, Cord Jefferson has written something that still feels relevant. And Jeffrey Wright is so funny in this, just the perfect role for him. Standouts: First time writer-director Cord Jefferson has some great lines:
- Let me say first, Carl, that I'm honored you'd choose me out of all the black writers you could go to out of fear of being called racist.
- Nobody in Hollywood reads. They get their assistants to read things and then summarize them. The whole town runs on book reports.
- I'll eat that ****ing sweater vest of yours, Phillip. Get the **** outta here!
3. Anatomy of a Fall (2023)- So the premise is pretty simple, a husband falls to his death. Was it an accident or did his wife push him? What follows is not simple at all. Their blind son is the only witness and he’s lost his dad. What matters more now, telling the truth or saving his last living parent-even if she is guilty? The French court system is bananas. It’s like an open forum where anyone can just go on a rant or start questioning the accused. There is a dog giving the best animal acting performance I’ve ever seen. Incredible knitwear. We’ve even got 50 Cent on steel drums. Standouts: The lead actress, Sandra Huller is excellent but she’s kind of upstaged by some of the finest child and animal acting I’ve seen. The movie is long and it’s dialogue heavy (mostly in English despite it being a European production) but the performances are so good that I never felt any urge to look at my phone or found my mind drifting.
2. Dune 2 (2024)- This gets an experiential bump for me- seeing it at the Super EMax, opening night, packed crowd. Though even with my at home rewatch, I felt very impressed. It’s definitely a technical marvel, easily the best looking and sounding movie I’ve seen this year. I think everyone knows what this is and has their opinions already. So I’ll just say I was on the side that thought this thing was a ton of fun and totally immersive. Standout: Everything that went into making the best scene of my movie year, Paul riding the sandworm. The effects, performances, music, sound design, everything. It felt transcendent in a way that movies every once in a blue moon can feel.
1. The Zone of Interest (2023)- A sharp departure from Dune 2. This is not a fun watch. It’s mesmerizing though. A study of the mundanity of evil. The rot at the core of polite society. It’s a Holocaust film without the Holocaust. I don’t think anyone ever wondered, what was the homelife like for the commandant of Aushcwitz? This movie answers that question anyway and it’s deeply haunting in just how idyllic it is and the few moments when reality bleeds into their serenity, it makes your stomach turn. Standouts: Jonathan Glazer. He’s made this so under control, so refined and precise.In doing so he’s examining evil in a way that I can’t really think of an analog to. This is truly a 1 of 1 film. It’s not a fun movie to watch. It’s rewatchability is quite low. However, it’s a movie I think people everywhere need to see.
