Films to Watch in the Year 2024 (Reviews)
Only for Movies Released in the Cinema or Blu-Ray/DVD and Streaming in 2024.
Well a new year is upon us, and since we haven’t totally succumbed to our self-destructive ways regarding war, drugs or the ever present dangers of IA, I thought I’d go ahead and start working on my list of movies to watch and review in 2024. So without further ado, let’s get started.
As is now common practice I’ll be adding titles and reviews to this list all throughout the year.
Hope you enjoy.
Well a new year is upon us, and since we haven’t totally succumbed to our self-destructive ways regarding war, drugs or the ever present dangers of IA, I thought I’d go ahead and start working on my list of movies to watch and review in 2024. So without further ado, let’s get started.
As is now common practice I’ll be adding titles and reviews to this list all throughout the year.
Hope you enjoy.
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- DirectorGeorge MillerStarsAnya Taylor-JoyChris HemsworthTom BurkeThe origin story of renegade warrior Furiosa before her encounter and teamup with Mad Max.9/10
While “Fury Road” was a stone cold classic, driven by straight up propulsion mayhem, Miller has quite wisely chosen to shift course with this prequel, still offering up several brilliant set-pieces of heart pounding action while also adding character development and plenty of world-building to his brutal and amazing dystopian universe.
I’m an absolute sucker for Anya Taylor-Joy, and therefore, wasn’t bothered in the slightest when news broke that she had taken over the titular role.
She does a remarkable job with the material, selling her emotions largely through facial expressions and those wonderful fawn-like eyes.
Also noteworthy is Chris Hemsworth as the swaggering war-lord Dementus, an highly charismatic villain, who shares sizzling chemistry with his co-star in the films beautifully crafted, western-like climax.
I, personally couldn’t be happier with how this movie turned out and as a die-hard fan of the franchise (especially “Fury Road) that’s saying something!
Hail George Miller.
May he ride for as long as his mortality allows.
Then ride forever on the warpath of Valhalla. - DirectorTodd PhillipsStarsZazie BeetzJoaquin PhoenixLady GagaSequel to the film "Joker" from 2019.
- DirectorAdam WingardStarsRebecca HallBrian Tyree HenryDan StevensTwo ancient titans, Godzilla and Kong, clash in an epic battle as humans unravel their intertwined origins and connection to Skull Island's mysteries.7/10
Everyone should know the drill by now, regarding this particular Monsterverse.
The basic rule seems to dictate, that you simply have to accept the trade off of having to sit through an substantial amount of toe-curlingly awful expositional dialogue, delivered by bland stock characters in order to get to the good stuff; the monster mashups.
And while the movie might also be overdoing it in the schmaltzy melodramatic department, the Titans, fortunately more than hold up their end of the bargain.
The gigantic beasts are nicely fleshed out as characters. The effects work is topnotch and the fight scenes are both epic in scope and beautifully choreographed.
So, if you were a fan of any of the previous entries, you’ll probably have a good time with this, if not, this latest chapter will do nothing to change your mind. - DirectorJonathan GlazerStarsChristian FriedelSandra HüllerJohann KarthausAuschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden beside the camp.10/10
In the Third Reich evil lost its distinctive characteristic by which most people had until then recognized it. The Nazis redefined it as a civil norm.- Hannah Arendt. “Banality of Evil”
I won’t bother with my usual style of writing, simply because I’m at a loss for words. I’ll simply add this; this work represents the highest pantheon of originality and craftsmanship in regards to the art form that is filmmaking. It is a masterpiece, through and through and a viewing experience I suspect I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. - DirectorYorgos LanthimosStarsEmma StoneMark RuffaloWillem DafoeAn account of the fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter.8/10
Another magnificent piece of filmmaking from auteur extraordinaire Yorgos Lanthimos, offers a regular smorgasbord of brilliant offbeat storytelling, performances to die for and a production team at the peak of its power to tie it all together, crafting a truly memorable and unique cinematic feast.
Special mention must also be bestowed upon the absolutely awe inspiring work of lead actress Emma Stone, who gifts the audience with one of the most distinguished performances I’ve ever had the privilege of experiencing.
If I were to nitpick, just a little bit, I would say that the film never really seemed all that challenging, at its core it is a (dare I say, safe) story about a woman’ odyssey, which slowly but surely, leads her onto the road of self discovery for the betterment of herself and her loved ones and as such it may ultimately lack a bit of the necessary ferocity and need for analysis, prevalent in the director’s earlier works.
With that said though, it’s still a hell of a ride, packed to the gills with glorious surrealism, hybrid animals and deliriously ruckus sex.
If that sounds like your kind of jam… dig right in. - DirectorRenny HarlinStarsMadelaine PetschRyan BownMatus LajcakAfter their car breaks down in an eerie small town, a young couple is forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motive.5/10
Full disclosure; I regard “The Strangers” as one of the greatest horror movies ever made, due to its deceptive simplicity and unbridled nihilism.
Why anyone would basically remake it shot-for-shot, as an establishing entry in a new trilogy, while also removing any and all elements that made the original so memorable, is beyond my reach of comprehension.
If you’d never seen the initial installment, than sure, this is essentially a perfectly watchable fright film. But for the initiated, the baffled response towards its existence should be a resounding “why the hell was this even made” - DirectorTi WestStarsMia GothElizabeth DebickiMoses SumneyIn 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx finally gets her big break. But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.
- DirectorJeff NicholsStarsJodie ComerAustin ButlerTom HardyAfter a chance encounter, headstrong Kathy is drawn to Benny, member of Midwestern motorcycle club the Vandals. As the club transforms into a dangerous underworld of violence, Benny must choose between Kathy and his loyalty to the club.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsJoaquin PhoenixVanessa KirbyTahar RahimAn epic that details the chequered rise and fall of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine.6/10
Historical inaccuracies aside, you can’t deny that Ridley Scott has an impeccable eye when it comes to staging epic cinematic action scenes.
Unfortunately though, this biopic ultimately feels severely compromised by the decision to spend so much of its, already substantial runtime on depicting the relationship between Napoleon and his one true love Josephine at the cost of examining his brilliant strategic mind and military prowess, never mind his ruthless aggression and seemingly indifference towards the massive loss of human lives under his leadership.
We learn next to nothing about the hows and whys in regards to the mindset and mental capacity that made it possible for him to conquer the world.
Maybe this will change when/if Scott’ promised four hour cut sees the light of day.
But for now it’s frustrating portrait (with flashes of brilliance) of a truly iconic historical figure, that mostly omits exploring the biggest marks he left on our collective history. - DirectorVeerle BaetensStarsCharlotte De BruyneSebastien DewaeleSpencer BogaertMany years after a sweltering summer that spun out of control, Eva returns to the village she grew up in with an ice block in the back of her car. In the dead of winter, she confronts herself with her past and faces up to her tormentors.
- DirectorDamien LeoneStarsDavid Howard ThorntonLauren LaVeraDaniel RoebuckArt the Clown is set to unleash chaos on the unsuspecting residents of Miles County as they peacefully drift off to sleep on Christmas Eve.
- DirectorKelly MarcelStarsTom HardyJuno TempleAlanna UbachEddie and Venom are on the run. Hunted by both of their worlds and with the net closing in, the duo are forced into a devastating decision that will bring the curtains down on Venom and Eddie's last dance.
- DirectorRobert EggersStarsAaron Taylor-JohnsonBill SkarsgårdLily-Rose DeppA gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake.
- DirectorDoug RoosStarsTakashi IrieYukina TakaseYurika NatsumeA multitude of guests visit the same cheap Tokyo airbnb at different times, unaware of the gruesome creature waiting for them.
- DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsTimothée ChalametZendayaRebecca FergusonPaul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family.7/10
As a complete neophyte in regards to the Dune mythology I ultimately found the initial chapter to be quite splendid on a visual level but utterly boring as a device for storytelling (it felt like endless table setting without a proper meal at the end)
Luckily for me, it seems that’s in the past and we’re now getting to the nitty gritty of the narrative.
Granted, if you’ve seen any mega-blockbuster à la “Star Wars” or Lord of the Rings” you know the basic construct of this kind of fare - all prophesies, chosen ones, warring factions, ultimate power corrupts and magical MacGuffin’s - is basic Greek mythology and the reason that these particular plot devices keep being cornerstones in fiction, then, now and in the future… they work.
So while this arguably bigger and better sequel, do suffer from some pacing issues, the movie still offers up plenty of epic sci-fi spectacles to enjoy, even for us novices. - DirectorAlex GarlandStarsKirsten DunstWagner MouraCailee SpaenyA journey across a dystopian future America, following a team of military-embedded journalists as they race against time to reach DC before rebel factions descend upon the White House.9/10
An absolutely mesmerizing cinematic experience offers utter grit and heart pounding intensity.
Apolitical and all the better for it, the film plays out as an homage to journalistic integrity and objective (to the people on the front lines, putting their lives on the line to bring us the unvarnished truth) by way of a haunting, no holds barred, road-movie.
Every single aspect of the production represents a triumph. The cast is universally great, the dialogue spot on and the cinematography, editing and sound design out of this world.
Seriously the sound design is a work of art and necessitates that you make this a cinematic experience.
There’s a minute amount of forced elements in the film s climax that prohibits it from reaching the elusive 10 rating but make no mistake about it, this is cinematic art of the highest order and one of the year’s best films. - DirectorFede AlvarezStarsCailee SpaenyIsabela MercedArchie RenauxWhile scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.
- DirectorWes BallStarsOwen TeagueFreya AllanKevin DurandMany years after the reign of Caesar, a young ape goes on a journey that will lead him to question everything he's been taught about the past and make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.
- DirectorMark MolloyStarsEddie MurphyJudge ReinholdJoseph Gordon-LevittAxel Foley returns to Beverly Hills after his daughter's life is threatened for a family reunion that includes old pals John Taggart and Billy Rosewood to uncover a conspiracy.
- DirectorMarisa CrespoMoisés RomeraStarsPilar AlmeríaÁlvaro BáguenaVictor Rodriguez EnguídanosAitana returns home for Christmas, the first time after three years, to find that her parents have replaced her with an unknown woman who is being treated like their daughter. She discovers a disturbing and bloody truth.
- DirectorCaye CasasStarsDavid ParejaEstefanía de los SantosJosep Maria RieraJesus and Maria are a couple going through a difficult time in their relationship. Nevertheless, they have just become parents. To shape their new life, they decide to buy a new coffee table. A decision that will change their existence.7/10
Farcical yet pitch-black comedy about a rocky family unit and the atrociously looking coffee table that will forever change it.
The film will be divisive due to its utterly tragic raison d'être and even I’ll admit I had some issues with its wild tonal shifts (the humor is very broad) and a few unnecessarily drawn out scenes of dialogue.
But I also admire the absolute audacity of going for broke in its effort to make its audience throughly uncomfortable, even if it doesn’t succeed completely, given the aforementioned issues.
Still, its undoubtedly an original and quite clever movie about the personal power struggles amongst couples which can seriously corrode relationships and is worth a watch, if you got the stomach for it. - DirectorSébastien DrouinStarsAllen LeechNina BergmanYan TualA driver saves a waitress from her ex. He continues driving but crashes during a blizzard. Now injured and trapped in a ravine, he spots a beast stalking him. With dwindling time he must find a way to survive the cold and the predator.6/10
Decent chamber piece has a lot going for it, despite the rather seesawed nature of the dialogue and a late addition of a character that feels more than a little shoehorned in.
But I did enjoy it and if you have a fondness for contained, snowbound low-budget horror, you might too. - DirectorXavier LegrandStarsMarc-André GrondinYves JacquesLaetitia Isambert-DenisFollows a newly-announced artistic director of a famous fashion house, who after getting his expectations high, starts experiencing chest pain and discovers that he may have inherited much worse than his estranged father's weak heart.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsDenzel WashingtonPedro PascalConnie NielsenFollows Lucius, the son of Maximus's love Lucilla, after Maximus's death.
- DirectorRose GlassStarsAnna BaryshnikovKristen StewartDave FrancoGym manager Lou falls for Jackie, a bodybuilder who is passing through town en route to a competition in Las Vegas.5/10
I really loved director Rose Glass’ “Saint Maud” so it gives me absolutely no pleasure to report, that I found her sophomore feature to be an utter mess.
The narrative feels choppy, incomplete and lacking in structure, it never truly seems to find its rhythm or momentum, while the characters are at best one dimensional caricatures, seemingly operating without purpose, drive and nuance.
You do still get to see some great actors ply their trade and the film is competently executed, but the screenplay just isn’t up to snuff, which grievously hampers the viewing experience.
If you want a lesbian crime thriller, go rewatch “Bound” instead.