Top 10 Films of 2024

10. Nickel Boys

While the Film's unique visual style doesn't always hit perfectly, RaMell Ross's vision still cannot be denied with the film's emotional weight still hitting hard when it needs to.

9. Conclave

Conclave may not be a masterful film, but it is solid and entertaining. The performances, writing, directing, etc all work exceptionally well to create a film that resonates with both cinephiles and average audiences.

8. I'm Still Here

Led by a powerful performance by Fernanda Torres, I'm Still Here is a riveting true story of a family struggling to survive during Brazil's military dictatorship during the early 70s.

7. A Real Pain

Jessie Eisenberg directs, writes, and stares alongside a brilliant Kieran Culkin in this wonderfully charming comedy/drama road movie. A Real Pain is a real pleasure.

6. Babygirl

An Erotic thriller that oozes style, Babygirl works thanks to another great performance from Nicole Kidman, and solid storytelling that doesn't get lost in all the nudity and sexual tension.

5. Challengers

Now we get to the really good ones. Starting strong with Challengers, possibly the "Cool" movie of the year, and one of the best sports films I've seen in a long time. This is thanks to the chemistry between the three leads and Reznor and Ross again bringing their A-game with a kinetic score.

4. Anora

Sean Baker continues to prove himself as one of the true auteurs among American filmmakers with Anora. It's a joyous watch filled with elements of great comedy, but much like his previous work, there exists a very human and emotional core at the center of it all.

3. Dune Part 2

Denis Villeneuve's adaption of the second half of Frank Herbert's iconic Sci-Fi Novel completes what was already a remarkable achievement. Part 2 does everything Part 1 did and then some, and seeing it in Imax is one of the most riveting experiences you can get at the movies.

2. The Substance

Director/Writer Coralie Fargeat has created the most screwed-up movie of the year, and I mean that in the best way possible. Fargeat leaves everything but the kitchen sink to get under the audience's skin, and Demi Moore has possibly never been better than she is here. The Substance is a Modern Horror Masterpiece that makes me want to erase my memory and experience for the first time again.

1. The Brutalist

Brady Corbet's 3-in-a-half-hour epic of an immigrant's struggle to find the "American Dream" feels like a film that shouldn't exist, that it should be from another time, yet it does, and I'm beyond grateful for it. From the jaw-dropping opening sequence, Daniel Blumberg's incredible score, the insane scope Corbet captures with a limited budget, and the amazing performances from across the board. The Brutalist is breathtaking cinema that has stayed with me in a way few films have in recent memory.