Sifter

Sifter


2022 Favorite Films & Streaming

December 28, 2022

Here’s a list of favorite films and series from 2022:


Guest Reviewer NATHAN LIVELY


  1. Everything Everywhere All At Once
  2. The Banshees of Inisherin
  3. Nope
  4. X
  5. Barbarian
  6. The Northman
  7. Top Gun: Maverick
  8. Bodies Bodies Bodies
  9. The Batman
  10. Jackass Forever
    Honorable Mentions

    Prey

    Violent Night

JERRY’S MOVIES


DOMESTIC (in no particular order)


Confess, Fletch John Hamm as an investigative journalist on a murder case is wonderfully amusing with his sly delivery and off-kilter reactions. The funniest movie of 2022. 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) Showtime link


 Elvis Austin Butler creates is charismatic as The King in this flashy, fascinating package. 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5)


Vengeance B. J. Novak wrote/directed/stars as a New York podcaster who travels to Texas and gets involved in a murder mystery that turns into a truly engaging comedy. 4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5)


TÁR Playing an orchestra conductor, Cate Blanchett shines with steely pressure and weighty authority in this intellectual yet passionate deep dive into a complex and compelling individual. 4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5)


The Fabelmans Steven Spielberg semi-autobiographical story is a completely captivating example of heartfelt storytelling. 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5)


Bones and All Timothée Chalamet and Taylor Russell meet and bond over their shared love of devouring human flesh, which evolves into a sweetly touching romance. 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5)


Banshees Of Inisherin Writer/director Martin McDonagh pairs Colin Farrell & Brendan Gleeson as best friends who have a falling out, but his deceptively simple writing and the lovely performances merge into a quietly quirky & utterly amiable relationship story. 4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5)


Triangle of Sadness Writer/director Ruben Östlund sets most of the action on a luxury yacht with a bunch of insufferably rich passengers, but things go in unexpected directions with fascinating results. 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5)


The Northman Robert Eggers’ unique vision of a Viking prince in a dark, dramatic adventure with hallucinatory visuals and violent outbursts that’s always bleakly fascinating and sometimes more. 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5)


Babylon This is Damien Chazelle’s love letter to Hollywood’s Golden Era with a side of decadence. 4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5) Movieland link


The Adam Project Ryan Reynolds has met his match, literally, in young actor Walker Scobell, who plays his 12-year-old self in this amusing sci-fi adventure. 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) Netflix link


 FOREIGN


 Athena After the release of a video showing police killing a young Algerian boy, the neighborhood erupts in an angry protest, but . It’s the impressive skills of director Romain Gavras that gives the film its bravura to create a stirring story with ominous consequences. 4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5) Netflix link


 Riders of Justice What starts as a revenge story featuring Mads Mikkelsen, it’s unique for its engaging characters and surprising plotting. 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) Hulu link


Flee This doc is animated to protect the identity of the lead character who was gay man in a Muslim country. His narrative is fascinating and his resilience is incredible. 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) Hulu link


GUILTY PLEASURES


RRR (Rise Roar Revolt) This was an enormous hit in India and the action scenes and EFX easily rival any from Hollywood. There are moments of beautiful visual imagery and enjoyable songs to keep it continually entertains in a big way. 5 out of 5 stars (5 / 5) Netflix link


Carter Joo Won plays a man who wakes up to himself in a conflict between North & South Korea as a zombie-adjacent virus spreads, shot as if it was one take with dizzying drone camerawork. The spectacular staging is over-the-top, visceral and sometimes spectacular. 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) Netflix link


Ambulance Jake Gyllenhaal plays a gruff, seasoned bank robber who hijacks the titular vehicle when the heist goes bad. Michael Bay has directed one long chase with impressive stunts and dozens of cars crashing with fast, fluid camerawork for an over-the-top wild ride. 4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5)


JERRY’S STREAMING (starts with four 5-star picks then the rest in random order)


 The Tourist Jamie Dornan ends up with amnesia while driving thru the backcountry of Australia. This has echoes of the Coen Brothers, namely Fargo: It’s stylishly shot without being arty, the tension ebbs and flows, the violence is solidly staged and there are eccentric characters. 5 out of 5 stars (5 / 5) HBOMax link 


The Offer Miles Teller heads the cast as the producer of The Godfather. This series explores the challenges with fascinating insight, while boasting an impressive cast of spot-on performances. 5 out of 5 stars (5 / 5) Paramount Plus link


Pistol Director Danny Boyle is in top form as he examines the rise and fall of the The Sex Pistols in 70s London. The excitement of the period and the band infuses every episode with unruly, unabashed punk pleasure. 5 out of 5 stars (5 / 5) Hulu link


Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical Emma Thompson steals the show as the Head Mistress, but the catchy songs, clever choreo and inventive staging make this dark fun for the whole family. 5 out of 5 stars (5 / 5)


As We See It This show involves three 20-somethings on the spectrum who share an LA apartment, BUT all 3 of the actors also identify as autistic. The performances of this trio are not only genuine, but vulnerable and truly affecting. A heartfelt drama. 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) Amazon Prime Video link


Reservation Dogs It takes place on a Native American reservation in Oklahoma and follows Indigenous teens thru their daily lives. The quirky approach to storytelling and characterization infuses this show with flights of fantasy and wacky personalities. 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) Hulu link


Abbott Elementary Quinta Brunson created this mockumentary staged in an underfunded Philadelphia elementary school that follows a group of teachers and the hilariously clueless principal. The characters all have endearing, amusing traits, while their interactions provide much of the comedy. 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) Hulu link or ABC link


The Andy Warhol Diaries This is an imminently fascinating and sometimes heartfelt look at Warhol’s various iterations of an artist and the decadent world he inhabited. 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) Netflix link


Julia The series revolves around the creation of Julia Childs’ famous TV show and Sarah Lancashire has succeeded beautifully in creating the famed chef as a sweet, charming, peculiar and delightful character. 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) HBOMax link


Killing It Craig Robinson heads the cast of this unique comedy as he enters a contest to kill pythons for cash in Florida. Robinson’s hapless delivery and the spiraling situations provide some absurdly outrageous situations and plenty of genuinely funny moments sweetened with a touch of heart. 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) Peacock link


The Rehearsal Deadpan comic Natha Fielder helps people prepare for major moments in their lives by staging elaborate rehearsals for the event. This is an absurd version of reality show that explores human nature in unusual ways that’s surprising, endlessly fascinating and truly unique. 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) HBOMax link


Black Bird Dennis Lehane created this series with Taron Edgerton as an incarcerated drug dealer who’s only hope for release is to pry information from a suspected serial killer (Paul Walter Hauser, whose creepy killer makes the show). The writing, direction and performances combine to create a truly compelling and sometimes creepy exploration. 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) AppleTV link


This Fool Chris Estrada based this series on his life with his intergenerational Mexican American family. The show is at times clever, touching and genuinely amusing, while capturing a slice of life that’s unique yet universal. 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) Hulu link


Bad Sisters Sharon Horgan plays one of 5 close-knit sisters in Dublin. One of their husbands (Claes Bang, who’s deliciously despicable) is so mean and hateful that they ALL have reasons to set about trying to kill him. This is a cleverly-written murder mystery with the audience pulling for the criminals. 4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5) AppleTV+ link


Five Days at Memorial This series focuses on the catastrophic situations that took place at one New Orleans hospital after the flooding from Hurricane Katrina. Vera Farmiga and Cherry Jones head a cast that’s loaded with powerful performances, while the writing and direction create situations that are simply devastating to watch. 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) Apple TV+ link


Sprung Garret Dillahunt is in prison for a 30-year-old cannabis charge. When Covid hits, they let non-violent offenders out and he ends up at the home of his cellmate’s mom (Plimpton who’s delightfully raunchy). The characters are eccentric, while Garcia’s writing and direction add plenty of zany elements. 4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5) Look for local actor Bridget Gethins as the noisy neighbor (and listen to my podcast with her). Freeve link


My Favorite Shapes Julio Torres is a Salvadorian writer/comic/actor who sits at a desk with a conveyor belt that brings him various objects for comment. Torres has a clever and genuinely unique approach. 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) HBOMax link


Inside Man Stanley Tucci plays a convicted killer who also helps solve murders from his cell. Across the pond, a vicar (David Tennant) has an early encounter with a troubled parishioner. Once things start to roll, it’s a fascinating exploration of 2 very different sets of characters and the bad things we’re all capable of doing. 4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5) Netflix link


Welcome to Chippendales Kumail Nanjiani is compelling an Indian American who established the famed club with male strippers. There’s also a shady side peering around the edges and Nanjiani’s deep performance makes that clear from the start. 4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5) Hulu link