my top five films of 2024 (so far!)
i have officially watched over 100 movies this year! so, obviously, i’ve seen a handful of films that have been released since January 1st. as a film student (i haven’t officially declared a major yet) and professional critic (i’m a Letterboxd user), i feel as if it is my duty to report on my top five movies of the year so far. all of these are considered 2024 releases based on US theatrical release dates because, unfortunately, i was not at Cannes this year. but who knows what 2025 will hold?
(if you were wondering, my 100th watch was a rewatch of Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums because i felt sentimental on a certain friday morning. and then my 101st watch was Superbad… so clearly, classics all around!)
5. Problemista (Julio Torres)
“You won't get anything in life if you're hoping for answers from an entity.”
i went into this film knowing it had a funky vibe—that’s it. it exceeded my expectations, both in terms of “funkiness” and in how much i enjoyed it! a directorial debut from Julio Torres, who also wrote and starred in it, this movie is brilliantly comedic and surreal. it captures the cold, bureaucratic nature of immigration processes while creating an elusive, otherworldly vibe through its vivid images and score. i’m always a bit troubled by seriocomedies because, usually, i feel like they always lean towards either being a total drama or a total comedy. Torres totally broke my expectations, reminding me of Everything Everywhere All At Once—both made me laugh, both made me cry, both transcended space and time… what more can you ask for?
4. Perfect Days (Wim Wenders)
“Next time is next time. Now is now.”
i know a lot of people didn’t enjoy this movie because they felt it was “without a plot” or “a boring story,” but i found its simplistic narrative to be one of its most favorable factors as a film. watching protagonist Hirayama find beauty in life’s most plain pleasures was so tender for me, as even though i strive to be utterly grateful for all i have, i tend to be a bit pessimistic. i mean, honestly, most young adults these days could learn a lot from Hirayama. he just wants to listen to his music, read his books, do his job, eat his food, et cetera. essentially, he seeks to bring joy to both himself and those around him. while he might not be doing anything that’s the textbook definition of “groundbreaking,” he is happy, and that’s more than what most people these days can say about themselves.
3. Challengers (Luca Guadagnino)
“It's like we were in love. Or like we didn't exist. We went somewhere really beautiful together.”
you knew it was coming. Luca Guadagnino’s newest film has everyone on a chokehold, making Josh O’Connor everyone’s favorite new Brit, starting the Mike Faist renaissance (Morris Delancey, you will always be famous), and reminding everyone that Zendaya is one of the coolest actresses, like, ever. when i found out that this movie was written by Justin Kuritzkes, AKA Potion Seller guy slash Celine Song’s husband, i knew i’d be in for a wild ride. i mean, the symbolism was crazy, the score and overall music choices (it was so loud) were brilliant, and the pacing ricocheted more than the tennis ball in the final scene. i left this movie feeling like i could have run a marathon, and that’s coming from someone with a heart condition. it was fun, it was messy, and i had a great time! no qualms!
2. Dune: Part Two (Denis Villeneuve)
“This could be the moment you've been praying for, all your life.”
to say that this movie was jarring is an understatement. this sequel to Dune is not just an insane achievement in science fiction filmmaking (yay, Denis Villeneuve), but also an absolute masterpiece! every actor delivers a stunning performance, though i have to give props to Chalamet for pulling off filming for both Paul Atreides and Willy Wonka back-to-back. the cinematography is stunning, the narrative is riveting, and the score—well, as a music nerd, the score is just brilliant. despite its lengthy runtime, this movie proved to be very watchable, and it was a theater experience that i’ll truly cherish! i love love loved this movie to bits, and after writing this, i think i want to rewatch it. #iloveyoupaul #ineedtofinishthebookseries
1. Monkey Man (Dev Patel)
“The pain will leave you once it’s finished teaching you.”
no, not Asian John Wick—MONKEY MAN! this movie absolutely knocked my socks off. i am a huge Dev Patel fan. like, huge. this was EVERYTHING i wanted AND MORE. while i always love a good action film, this movie made me laugh, cry, gasp, wince (a lot)… enter many, many more verbs here. the fact that this was not just a directorial debut on Patel’s part, but he also starred in it and wrote its screenplay? it’s Dev’s world, and we are all just living in it! i’ve read a good bit about all of the trials and tribulations that the cast and crew faced while attempting to make this film, and wow, am i so incredibly glad that despite all of their hardships, a masterpiece was able to emerge. while i know the Oscars might not adore action films, there are too many moments of brilliance in this to be a sleeper come awards season (cue me crossing my fingers). GO SEE THIS MOVIE!!! it is so awesome.
so those are my top five so far! i don’t think that they’re controversial or anything, but i like sharing my opinions. :) and to celebrate the rest of 2024’s wonderful upcoming film lineup, here are five of my most anticipated films that will release later this year:
anora
nosferatu
beetlejuice beetlejuice
kinds of kindness
deadpool & wolverine
of course there are more, but alas, i can’t give away my entire Letterboxd watchlist. catch you later! <3
