FILM 2024 ROUND-UP - Favourites

FILM 2024 ROUND-UP: Favourites 

I started this year as I ended last year: I saw ‘Godzilla Minus One’ at the cinema so solidify my opinion of its greatness. I even found it more and profoundly moving this time, not having to be on my guard (typically, you must make a lot of allowances for a kaiju film).

The following are the releases I have found myself being surprised by, talking about and recommending the most. (And I'll be writing more on what I watched soon, of course.)

FAVOURITES OF 2024

Zone of Interest

Dune: part 2

Red Rooms

Anora

I Saw the TV Glow

In a Violent Nature

Strange Darling

Smile 2

Heretic

Kill

&

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

 

‘Zone of Interest’ – there have been arguments that any narrative form is insufficient if not insulting to such a topic; I can’t say I necessarily agree, but Jonathan Glazer mounts a mighty argument with this collage/museum installation that proves as devastating as it is superficially abstract. 

‘Dune: part 2’ – which I watched in a perpetual state of awe.

‘Red Rooms’ – which felt like burrowing deep into the wrong side of modern possibilities.

‘Anora’ – we spend time with the slightly annoying Anora and the appealing goofiness of Ivan – and then it kicks in.

‘I Saw the TV Glow’ – for the vibe and the unexpected emotional punch.

‘In a Violent Nature’ – what a difference just placing the camera and pacing alternatively makes to a slasher; amusingly both deconstructing and delivering the goods.

‘Strange Darling’ – a rollercoaster genre fun ride that justifies its non-chronological conceit with its revelations and great dialogue sequences.

‘Smile 2’ – a total surprise at how good it was at playing with genre – both the mainstream jumpscares and the reality failing horror – and delivering something unexpectedly heartfelt. Horror, don’t forget, is also tragedy, and the worst is the inevitable and inescapable.

‘Heretic’ – a surprising talky funride where the journey is probably more satisfying than the destination, but excelled at the horror of mansplaining. 

‘Kill’ – sometimes the stripped-down aesthetic appeals to me (‘Invader’ was another) and this very Hindi train-bound actioner delivered all its brutality whilst humanising its bad guys and dehumanising its hero, all with Bollywood sentiment distracting. 

 

‘Furiosa: A Mad MaxSaga’ – breathless despite being the opposite of its predecessor; expansive, pretty, excellently plotted and yet pulpy. 

 

Moments of 2024

The main moments I remember hitting me on all cylinders

 

‘The Iron Fist’ – Zac Efron

‘Heretic’ – Hugh Grant

‘Red Rooms’ - Juliette Gariépy

‘Smile 2’ – Naomi Scott

‘Dune: part two’ – worm riding

‘Poor Things’ – Bella and Duncan dance

‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ – the War Rig assault

‘I Saw the TV Glow’ – Sloppy Jane performs “Claw Machine”

‘The Demon Disorder’ – out the armpit

‘Mads’ – credits

‘Smile 2’ – nightmare dance troupe

‘Red Rooms’ – courtroom cosplay

‘Anora’ – the Armenians come to get Ivan

‘The Substance’ – The Hollywood star

‘In a Violent Nature’ – clifftop kill

'The Beast' - flood in the toy shop