20. The Banshees of Inisherin (Dir. Martin McDonagh)
In what might be his best film of his already illustrious career Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin is a dark comedy about a man (Brendan Gleeson) abruptly ending a friendship (Colin Farrell). On the surface a seemingly simple story, McDonagh crafts a nuanced story about legacy, human connection, and the purpose of life. Portraying the island of Inisherin at times of great beauty and at times a great prison, The Banshees of Inisherin .
19. The Boy and the Heron (Dir. Hayao Miyazaki)
Legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki created one of his most complex and deeply personal films in his (maybe) swan song, The Boy and the Heron. Following a structure so similar to his other films, a young boy, Mahito, while struggling to settle into his new home after being forced to move due to WWII, goes into a fantasy world of beauty and horror. Like so many of Miyazaki’s best the movie equally exhilarates, humors, and makes you cry. At its center, The Boy and the Heron is an artist coming to terms with the end of his career—a celebration of all his work, filled to the brim with references to his prior work, but also a reflection on the choices and sacrifices he has made to achieve his art. All brought together with gorgeous hand-drawn animation and a Joe Hisaishi score that rivals his best.
18. The Brutalist (Dir. Brady Corbet)
Brady Corbet’s three-and-a-half-hour epic about a Jewish brutalist architect who fled to the United States after WWII is equal parts overwhelming and exhilarating. A true American epic, every detail is crafted with precision. Corbet takes his audience through a decade-long story where he builds up and tears down the American dream. Adrien Brody brilliantly plays the lead character, Laszlo Toth, a man who endures pain and suffering from others, his country, and his own obsession to create art. Surrounding Brody is a brilliant supporting cast, with standouts Guy Pearce and Felicity Jones, and an all-time great score from Daniel Blumberg that evokes the grandeur of classic cinema.
17. Anatomy of a Fall (Dir. Justine Triet)
Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall, a film about the investigation and trial of a woman (Sandra Hüller) suspected of pushing her husband to his death from a roof, is a riveting courtroom drama. Triet’s storytelling immerses the audience in the moral ambiguity of the case, challenging them to confront their assumptions and biases. Hüller delivers a brilliant performance as a woman whose every action can be interpreted as either innocent or guilty. Each choice she makes forces the audience to reconsider what they thought they knew. In the end, while the truth remains unkown, you’ll be eager to watch it again to uncover what you might have missed.
16. Everything Everywhere All at Once (Dir. Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert)
The indie that could, Everything Everywhere All at Once found boundless success in both the box office and awards back in 2022. What might have been lost in all that success is just how creative and imaginative the film is. The Daniels tell the story of an immigrant laundromat owner forced to traverse the multiverse. What makes the film so special is their imaginations never falter. At its core, it’s a story about the beauty of life, a somewhat cheesy message, but the Daniels craft a beautiful and endlessly entertaining film around it. By the end of the film, it delivers an emotional gut punch.
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