My Top 10 Movies Of The Year 2022

 10) JACKASS 4.5

Yes Jackass isn't winning any awards but watching movies should be about entertainment and when deciding on my list this was one of the first movies which came to mind as it was the most I laughed all year in the cinema. All of the old gang are back together (bar Bam) plus there's some new blood who throw themseleves into the crazy stunts and mayhem seamlessly. After all these years you'd think the pranks the guys pull would be tiresome but this movie is just such a fun ride from start to finish.

9) SMILE

This movie is probably the most well marketed movie of the year. They put actors in sporting event crowds across the USA in character with that smile freaking everyone out not knowing what the hell was going on. Crazy effective and whipped up a storm for the movie release. 

The movie itself is a cut above most standard horror movies as it doesn't just rely on jump scares for it's big moments but it creates and sense of terror and also awkwardness for the audience as horrific acts are carried out but somebody who is Smiling which is something we are normally used to seeing during happy events. At just under two hours this movie ticks all my boxes for a horror.   

8) NOPE

At time of writing this is the only Jordan Peele movie I have seen. He's been on my radar for a while I just haven't got around to watching anything else as of yet but was excited to see Nope. Being honest I didn't particularly enjoy this movie in the cinema, it took a second watch for me to really get it and appreciate what I was watching. It's a unique kind of western/sci-fi/horror set out in the desert on a ranch so it's ok to be a bit confused plus the lead played by Daniel Kaluuya probably only has a couple of pages of dialogue through the whole movie which again is pretty original. I think this movie has and will split viewers but I urge you to give it a second go as I did and you'll find it to be a very well made, often funny and at times scary movie.  

7) ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

Set at the end of WW1 this is a heartbreaking story of four school friends who enlist in the German army. Fooled by the romantic views of war they are soon deployed to France where the reality of trench warfare sets in. There's a parallel story running which follows the armistice negotiations and gives us a stark reminder of the differences in life between those that are in charge and those that aren't. With some stunning landscapes and a story that will pull on your heart strings this war movie really does bring the horrible harsh reality of warfare to our screens.  

6) RED ROCKET

Red Rocket is a strange movie in a sense where I'm still unsure whether our protagonist is a good guy or not. In fact I'm pretty sure he is isn't. Simon Rex (who I only know from the crappy Scary Movie franchise) plays Mikey 'Saber' Davies, a porn star who's returing to his home town in Texas for reasons that I don't think are ever fully explained. He's skint and has nowhere to stay so hooks up with a old flame and her mum! Add to that a beautiful 17 year old "future porn star", some drug dealing and a fair few sex scenes and you've got a movie where the mundane is entertaining as you're dragged along with Micky Sabers chaotic life.

5) PREY

When I saw there was ANOTHER Predator movie in the pipeline I was uninterested. That was until I saw it was set in 1719 and will involve the Comanche people. The idea that the Predator came to earth all those years and sought it's Prey really interested me and I think that on the whole they've made a really great movie that ticks some cliche boxes but not all. I would of liked to of spent more time with Naru, our hero, before the killing begins to really understand her place in her tribe and maybe some back story  but the movie gets into the action quickly and it's a blood bath from then on. There's a mega cool scene involving a bear and the Predator so look out for that!

4) THE MENU

Ralph Fiennes interests me. I think he's a great actor and he has that unique quality of being a handsome chap but with a look in his eye that isn't completely trust worthy and those talents make his performance in this movie so engaging. Fiennes plays celebity chef Julian Slowik who owns a elite restaurant on a private island and has invited a carefully selected few to sample his new menu. Clearly not all is as it seems and over the next 90 mins or so we are treated to a completely original movie that won't win any awards but will have you on the edge or your seat, wincing, with no idea what is coming next. Art is art and at times it's hard to decipher what is right and what is wrong but Chef Slowik has a way to deal with this..

3) THE BATMAN 

Yes, this movie is too fucking long BUT this is the kind of Batman movie I've been waiting a long time for. The Nolan movies (which are obviously great) never really caught the dark side of Gotham in my eyes. They were all too clean and not dark enough so it's a bold move from Matt Reeves to make this movie. It's not just dark, it's very fucking dark. Robert Pattison as Bruce Wayne is almost gothy, it's graining, it's wet, it's miserable and that is how I percieve Gotham. Reeve's Batman isn't just a superhero here it's a pretty damn good detective too and with a fantastic ensamble cast this movie really has brought to life the cartoony version of Batman that I remember. Chuck in a Nirvana song and what's not to like. 

2) LICORICE PIZZA

So I've googled this a few times and I've seen two different UK release dates one being in 2021 and the other in 2022. I watched for the first time in 2022 so we are going with that.  I'd heard a lot of noise about this movie but it was always one of those that I'd watch another day kinda things. PTA is a director who I haven't really paid much attention to bar the excellent There Will Be Blood but there was enough bout this movie from the trailor to make me take a interest. 

In short the movie is a coming of ages love story for both our protaganists, even though there's a on screen ten year age gap. Gary Valentine is our 15 year old child actor who's still in high school where he meets 25 year old Alana Kane on school photo day. No time is wasted as within the first five minutes of the movie Gary has asked Alana out on a date which is the start of a blossoming friendship. Lots happens with Gary opening a water bed shop and then a arcade whilst Alana tries her hand at acting herself and amongst all of this there's a will they won't they love stroy with both leads dating other people at times. 

This movie isn't action packed, there's no explosions or CGI budy  it's a heart warming story about young love. A gutsy teenager falling for a older girl who in turn isn't sure of where she's heading or who she is and doesn't know how to feel about this young but highly carasmatic teen. It's the 70s, the sun is shining, there's some high profile cameos and it's a movie that if anything will make you smile.

1) BOILING POINT

I've only watched this movie once but I was absolutely blown away by it. This is writing, acting and direction at it's best. 

Andy Jones played by the astounding Stephen Graham is the head chef of his own top London restaurant. Ariving late (which we're told isn't the first time) he finds that the health and safety advisor has downgraded the restaurant from five stars to three. This is the start of what can only be described as a horrific evening for the once esteemed chef. As the night spirals out of control Andy has to deal with work force mutiny, a customer having a nut allergy attack caused by miscomunication, a ex business partner demanding his 200k repayment plus problems with his ex wife. Graham is a expect at making us feel his anxiety without having to say too much and is a very physical actor in that sense.  Shot as a one shot, meaning there's no cuts/change of seen is a fantastic idea as we are with the characters every step of the way which in turn hightens the intensity of the kitchen and customers.

When watching movies I love originality and this movie has that in bundles. It's a fantastic concept that is brilliantly pulled off by the fantastic cast and excellent direction.

Thanks for reading. I'll be doing this again next year plus I'll be doing a little write up of some movies I missed this year. Feel free to check out my letterbox I'm AbBart on there and as always I appreciate any feedback. Thanks