Top 10 & Bottom 5 of 2024
- Justacinephile
- Jan 5, 2025
- 3 min read
justacinephile – Alexander Wiley – 5 January 2025
These are my favorite ten films of 2024 because of a wide range of reasons including acting, specific scenes, storytelling throughout the film, special/visual effects, crazy stunts, the meaning behind a scene, brilliant style, and creative direction.
(Links are for the YouTube trailer)
10. Bad Boys: Ride or Die (USA) Dir: Adil El Arbi. It’s predictable and loud, but the chemistry and comedy connection between Martin Lawrence and Will Smith is incredible.
9. MaXXXine (USA) Dir: Ti West. The finale to the X series is big, strange, and oozes sweet ‘70s style. Mia Goth is a force to reckon with and captivates the audience.
8. South Korea’s Adoption Reckoning (South Korea) Dir: Michael Kirk. It’s sad, honest, and brings the issues with South Korea’s adoption process to the forefront. The journalism is thoughtful and self-aware in this immersive documentary.
7. Inside Out 2 (USA) Dir: Kelsey Mann. A fantastic sequel to the 2015 film. It is a heartfelt tribute and careful exploration of becoming a teenager. This film is special for me because it’s one of the first I saw with my daughter in theaters.
6. Challengers (USA) Dir: Luca Guadagnino. I know, I know, I love tennis. This film dares to be different and delves into the mental doubts and hardships of the pro circuit. The combined performances by Faist, O’Connor, and Zendaya are fine just like a crisp sunny day on the tennis court.
5. Late Night with the Devil (USA) Dir: Cameron Caines. The audience is on the edge of their seat because people adore a spectacle, especially a dangerous one. At the center is David Dastmalchian and he gives a showcase performance in this horror thriller about a late-night show gone wrong.
4. Alien: Romulus (USA) Dir: Fede Alvarez. Practical effects/creatures, physical sets, and miniatures heighten this installment of the Alien franchise. The performance by newcomer, Cailee Spaeny, is promising and convincing; I’m happy to know the Facehuggers are here to stay.
3. Dune: Part Two (USA) Dir: Denis Villeneuve. I’m not sure if I’m more impressed with the cinematography or the costumes/makeup in this science fiction epic. Chalamet, Zendaya, Butler, Ferguson, and Skarsgard disappear into their roles and Villeneuve continues crafting an energetic and thrilling adventure film.
2. Nosferatu (USA/UK): Dir Robert Eggers. Love is in the air! I was creeped out by this horror gothic epic. The performances of Lily-Rose Depp and Bill Skarsgard are some of the best I’ve seen in the horror genre. The scene in the apartment where Depp showcases multiple personalities is still haunting.
1. Flow (Latvia) Dir: Gints Zilbalodis. Delightful, serene, and gorgeously animated – these are some of the many adjectives to describe this surprise hit film. Who would’ve known a film without any audible dialogue rose to the top of the year? Its central protagonist is a cat who befriends various species of animals to survive a flood; it’s one of the most beautiful films about friendship I’ve seen in a long while.
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Bottom 5 Films of 2024
Don’t waste your time with these monstrosities.
5. Tik Tok Star Murders (USA) Dir: Lusid Media. Is this film’s purpose to celebrate the perpetrator? If so, I’m out.
4. Abigail (USA) Dir: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin. This is not good storytelling.
3. The Killer (USA) Dir: John Woo. Woo should’ve left the original alone.
2. The Beekeeper (USA) Dir: Daid Ayer. I used to like Ayer’s work.
1. Beautiful Wedding (USA) Dir: Roger Kumble. Entire movie is cringe.
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Films That Stood Out (released before 2007)
Films released before 2007 I had not seen before; they were thought provoking, classics, entertaining or just piqued my interest. They are in descending order of when I saw them in 2024.
The Duellists (1977) Dir: Ridley Scott
Waterloo (1970) Dir: Sergey Bondarchuk
Phantom of the Opera (1943) Dir: Authur Lubin
Tru Confessions (2002) Dir: Paul Hoen
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) Dir: Richard Fleischer
Galaxy Quest (1999) Dir: Dean Parisot
The Stunt Man (1980) Dir: Richard Rush
Moby Dick (1956) Dir: John Huston
Buffalo ’66 (1998) Dir: Vincent Gallo
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