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 / 5) Showtime link

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

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

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