Movies Seen, Movies To See
Lists of the top movies so far and the top movies on the way.
I’ve mentioned this once before, but a few of us had a movie night a while back that centered on a ridiculous double feature of Nosferatu and New York Minute. The jump from a 1922 black-and-white creature feature to a (not not racist) Mary-Kate and Ashley New York romp feels like a perfect encapsulation of what the art form can give us.
We’re about halfway through the year—I’m not excited about that news but it’s the truth—so it feels like a good time to take stock of the movies and whatnot. There’s thankfully no new New York Minute coming unless Pedro Almodóvar is quietly working on a follow-up, but we do have a new Nosferatu on the way. It’s a Robert Eggers picture which means it’ll be gorgeous, historically accurate and weird as hell.
No spoilers but it’s up there for me on my top-five list of things to still see in 2024. I also added in my list of the top five movies I’ve seen so far this year, because we love a list, don’t we, folks? Let’s begin with what we’ve already checked out in theaters.
Also, why has “top five” become such a mainstay and crutch? I guess it makes sense, but it feels like six or seven would be just as good. We’re going to stick with five to keep things simple. These are things we should all think about though; keep this in the back of your mind.
5. STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces
I have been obsessed with Steve Martin for the majority of my life. I remember listening to his old CDs in the back of a van while heading to Cooperstown on a sleepaway camp field trip. The man is a living legend and is rightfully treated as such in this remarkable two-part documentary on Apple TV+. The first half is a retelling of his rise to stardom, which starts out slow and steady and then begins moving at a breakneck pace just like his fame. The second half is a more meandering look at his life post-stand-up and his desire to make something of his life. It’s beautiful.
4. Challengers
The most memeable movie of the year, the theater experience doesn’t get much better than watching tennis on a big screen with a bellowing score seemingly attacking you. There are so many twists, turns and serves, all under Luca Guadagnino’s tremendous directing. The more I think about this one, the more fun it becomes. It’s not perfect, but it features Zendaya dancing to Nelly’s “Hot in Herre,” which is why cameras were invented.
3. Dune: Part Two
A blockbuster movie worth the gravitas, D2NE is a spectacle made for IMAX that is worth the hubbub. It’s just a who’s who of actors having the time of their lives with a resonant story at the center of it all. Not really sure what else I can say. Denis Villeneuve knows what he’s doing. We’re all the better for it.
2. La Chimera
Two Josh O’Connor movies in the top five so far. Hell of a start from him. Although I was pretty mixed on Alice Rohrwacher’s Happy as Lazarro, I was smitten with La Chimera, an emotional treasure hunt of a movie. It’s meandering and offbeat and just a great time. I enjoy accents and I enjoy movies about love that are good.
1. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
I’m done discussing the box-office woes of Furiosa. Whatever. You guys missed out. This epic prequel starring Anya Taylor-Joy and a career-best Chris Hemsworth is the most fun I’ve had in theaters so far this year and is worth the nearly ten years it took to follow up Fury Road. Just a ridiculous ride that builds and builds and looks better than basically anything else on the big screen.
Okay, now we have the movies that I most want to see over the rest of the calendar year. I’m not really sure why I’m explaining this to you. It’s a very simple concept.
5. We Live in Time
Romance from the director of Brooklyn starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh. Yes, please.
4. Longlegs
Serial killer horror movie with some of the best teaser trailers in recent history.
3. Blitz
Historical WWII epic from Steve McQueen with Saoirse Ronan at the center.
2. Kinds of Kindness
I’m seeing this next week. I cannot wait.
1. Nosferatu
We did this one already. It’s coming out on Christmas. Perfect for the whole family.