The Best Movies Of 2022

HOLLYWOOD, CA — “Avatar: The Way of Water” mesmerized with a visual feast; "The Banshees of Inisherin" charmed with a delightful twist; “Tár” intrigued with a trailblazing conductor; and “Elvis” got us all shook up. As we bid our fond farewells to 2022, we wanted to look back at some of cinema’s outstanding gems that beckoned with a beating heart and spunky soul.

From hilarious comedies to engaging biopics and from exhilarating action adventures to dazzling fantasy movies, here are our favorite films of 2022.

The Best Movies Of 2022

“Avatar: The Way of Water”

Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver; directed by James Cameron

Nearly 13 years since James Cameron took the cinematic sphere by storm in the original classic, the visionary filmmaker, once again, took our breath away in the long-awaited fantasy sequel — a continuing saga set more than a decade after the events of the first film.

Cameron’s latest sci-fi adventure offers a poignant view of the current global refugee crisis through the prism of colonialism and familial misfortunes that is decidedly ensconced within a sprawling epic of war, struggles and tragedies.

Rest assured, the new movie is a blinding visual feast with lush vibrant neon colors so intense that the “Avatar” world feels tactile. And, yes, The storyline in “The Way of Water” is more captivating compared to the original.

Final word:

Magnificent avant-garde special effects. Dazzling motion-capture performances. Engaging story. Graceful balletic movements. And the cinematic genius of James Cameron. All these make “Avatar: The Way of Water” buoy in a sea of resplendence.

“Babylon”

Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Diego Calva; directed by Damien Chazelle

Whereas Damien Chazelle’s Oscar-winning film “La La Land” is an ode to bygone movie musicals, “Babylon” is the auteur’s frenetic, messy homage to the splendor of 1920s Hollywood, the time and place when silent films were transitioning to talking pictures.

It paints a portrait of Hollywood’s silent era in a tale of sheer indulgence and depravity that takes place around the advent of talking pictures as told through the eyes of the ambitious starlet Nellie (Margot Robbie) along with the aging silent film star Jack (Brad Pitt), the aspiring producer Manny (Diego Calva) and the jaded journalist Elinor (Jean Smart).

Final word:

Undeniably daring, “Babylon” will leave audiences teetering between love and hate for its salaciousness and excessiveness. But rest assured, the 188-minute movie is nevertheless a blazing display of Chazelle’s artistic bravura — brazen-yet-alluring; assaultive-yet-arresting. Besides, the performances, music and costumes are never blasé.

“The Banshees of Inisherin”

Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson; Martin McDonagh

A story steeped in cynicism, loneliness and unfeigned Irish sentiments, “The Banshees of Inisherin” is a captivating madcap tale of sheer madness, fueled by a crumbling human friendship between two men against the backdrop of the raging Irish Civil War.

Set on a remote island off the west coast of Ireland in 1923, Martin McDonagh’s dark comedy centers on two lifelong friends, Pádraic (Colin Farrell) and Colm (Brendan Gleeson), who suddenly find themselves in the throes of a friendship meltdown when Colm decides to sever his ties with Pádraic for no reason. What ensues is a myriad of shocking events, rendering their relationship untenable.

Final word:

“The Banshees of Inisherin” is about humanity with a delightful tangle of quirkiness. It is full of heart and soul further elevated by the leads’ outstanding performances, as well as McDonagh’s engaging script and deft direction.

“Elvis”

Tom Hanks, Austin Butler, Olivia DeJonge; directed by Baz Luhrman

Baz Luhrman delivers an electrifying biopic about the man and the myth and the legend. It’s none other than Elvis Presley, the 'King of Rock and Roll.' The 150-minute movie is an eye-popping and intoxicating razzle-dazzle that chronicles Presley’s life from his humble beginnings to his rise to superstardom.

Aaron Butler plays the bigger-than-life title character in a cinematic landscape that spans over 20 years, seen through the prism of Elvis’ manager, the mystifying Col. Tom Parker (Tom Hanks). As such, audiences will see the good, the bad and the ugly of Elvis’ emotional journey, along with his bittersweet relationship with the love of his life, Priscilla Presley (Olivia DeJonge).

Final Word:

A star is born. Butler is so "Elvis" — charismatic and super-talented, especially with his hip-swiveling and leg-shaking movements. Literally, you’ll be all shook up and start singing “Mm-mm, yeah, yeah, yeah” with the star in no time.

“Everything Everywhere All at Once”

Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu; directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert

From Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert — the filmmaking auteur duo who go by the sobriquet Daniels — comes a kung fu flick that transports audiences into a metaphysical action-fantasy extravaganza.

At the center of the story is Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh), a married middle-aged woman who, in the blink of an eye, is mysteriously propelled into a dizzying world where she jumps from one universe to the next, acquiring special skills and springing to action to stop a formidable force of chaos. Apparently, the fate of an intricate multiverse now rests in Evelyn’s hands.

Final Word:

The tangle of events in "Everything Everywhere All at Once" is amazing. Yeoh dazzles with her wide-ranging acting abilities and magnificent martial arts skills, joined by a stellar trio of supporting cast members — Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu and Jamie Lee Curtis. The Daniels duo have delivered a mind-bending movie extravaganza that is equally exhilarating, moving, hilarious and amazingly absurd.

“The Fabelmans”

Michelle Williams, Gabriel LaBelle, Paul Dano; directed by Steven Spielberg

Based on the life of Steven Spielberg, “The Fabelmans” explores the iconic director’s adolescent years through the eyes of Sammy Fabelman (Gabriel LaBelle), a 16-year-old boy, who discovers the power of the cinematic lens in awakening one’s consciousness. His experience will help shape his future as a budding filmmaker.

For sure, hardcore Spielberg fans will find out how the filmmaker's journey to greatness began.

Final word:

“The Fabelmans” is a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story that captures many of the themes sprinkled throughout Spielberg’s oeuvre. Deeply personal, the legendary filmmaker's story brims with nostalgia, warmth and love. At the core, it paints an arresting naiveté propelled into an artistic world that can be fun, harsh and heartbreaking all at the same time.

“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”

Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Kate Hudson; directed by Rain Johnson

What a feat! Rian Johnson has followed up his 2019 hit “Knives Out” with a second installment — “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”— that is just as captivating, riotous and wildly imaginative as the original.

This time around, our famed eccentric sleuth, detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), happens to be on an exotic island in Greece. Apparently, its owner, tech billionaire Miles Bron, has invited his friends for a lavish annual reunion getaway.

Among his invited guests: His former business partner Andi (Janelle Monae), Connecticut Governor Claire (Kathryn Hahn), ex-model Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson), scientist Lionel (Leslie Odom Jr), social media influencer Duke (Dave Bautista), Birdie’s assistant Peg (Jessica Henwick), and Duke’s girlfriend Whiskey (Madelyn Cline).

Guess what? The tycoon has also planned to stage a murder mystery party. But then, when a dead body suddenly turns up, everyone becomes a suspect — for real, y'all!

Final word:

Like its predecessor, “Glass Onion” is a concoction of intoxicating fun and exhilarating adventure, all while immersing audiences in a thought-provoking, flawlessly constructed whodunnit mystery.

“Tár”

Cate Blanchett, Noémie Merlant, Nina Hoss; directed by Todd Field

Todd Field's latest outing centers on the life of Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett), an American polymath hailed as one of the greatest living composers-conductors in the world. Among her accolades are the coveted four EGOTs (Emmy, Golden Globe, Oscars, Tonys) and the distinction of being the first-ever female music director of a major German orchestra.

Seemingly, Lydia is enjoying a rosy life — but deep inside, she is at a loss, feeling trapped in a milieu where her dreams and realities are slowly morphing into nightmares.

Final word:

Blanchett’s performance is a real tour de force. She owns the movie, embodying the enigmatic Lydia Tár with great emotional depth and incredible screen presence.

“Top Gun: Maverick”

Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller; directed by Joseph Kosinski

Thirty-six years in the making, the much-awaited “Maverick” finally took off, whooshing and roaring with 1980s nostalgia that took the Gen Xers’ breath away as well as diehard Tom Cruise fans.

In the “Top Gun” sequel, the megastar reprises his role as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a top aviator still fearless and defiant after pushing the bounds of gravity — and the chain of command — for more than three decades. However, this time around, he encounters unexpected turbulence as he crosses paths with Rooster (Miles Teller), a young flyboy with a score to settle.

Final word:

“Maverick” soars rapturously to a thrilling hoot, wowing audiences with emotional dazzle, incredible midair sequences, death-defying dogfights — and of course, Tom Cruise’s blinding charisma along with the same unrelenting mojo he possessed in the 1986 “Top Gun.”

“Women Talking”

Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley; directed by Sarah Polley

Sarah Polley’s new film, which is based on Miriam Toew’s bestseller of the same name, follows a group of Mennonite women — who were drugged and raped in their sleep by men — as they discuss their viable options.

Should they run away? Should they stay and fight? Or should they just turn a blind eye and do nothing? Should they even forgive?

By the end, will these emotionally scarred women — Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, Kate Hallett, Sheila McCarthy, Michelle McLeod, Liv McNeil, and Emily Mitchell — finally reach a consensus after spending two days in a claustrophobic hayloft debating whether to fight or flee?

Final word:

Polley has managed to deliver a delicate yet entertaining film that sizzles with excitement and unpredictability. It is a talky film with substance.