It wouldn’t be a stretch to call 2024 the year of sequels. We got a lot of them. From a new Bad Boys adventure, to Inside Out 2, all the way to a sequel of Gladiator. It would be easy to say Hollywood didn’t put much originality into the year’s releases, but there were some great adaptations, hidden gems and wonderful surprises – even in the sequels.
2024 won’t go down as a stellar year for movies, but there are certainly some solid must-sees. Without further ado, here are my five favorite films I reviewed in 2024.
Wicked
© 2024 Universal Pictures
Wicked: Part 1
I’m not generally a fan of musicals, so it’s a tall order for me to put one on a top-favorites list, let alone a top five. But this movie was captivating, stylish and fun to watch. As far as musicals go, this was a good mix of storytelling and solid musical numbers.
I enjoyed the backstory of how the two witches became enemies. The performances from Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Galinda really helped bring this film, and the music, to life. The cinematography was wonderful, even if it relied heavily on CGI in places. I found it to be a great time at the movies.
Here’s my review: ‘Wicked: Part 1” is a Cinematic Enchantment of the Broadway Hit
The Substance
© 2024 MUBI / Working Title Films
The Substance
This was a pretty divisive film, one that filmgoers seemed to either love or hate. It’s easy to see why there isn’t a lot of middle ground here – it’s visceral, shocking and goes off the rails on more than one occasion. I understand the divisiveness – it starts off with Elisabeth (Demi Moore) facing an unfair end to her career and continues a descent into complete madness that leads to a very bloody, over-the-top conclusion. You’ll wonder, “What the heck did I just watch?”
The Substance is completely bonkers, and what I find so captivating about it is the way the filmmakers managed to make all of these crazy elements work so well. Moore’s acting is fantastic, and ironically, should spark a career resurgence.
See the review here: ‘The Substance’ is an Unflinching Look at Beauty and Fame
Saturday Night
© 2024 Columbia Pictures
Saturday Night
Saturday Night Live has created careers for many iconic actors and actresses, comedians and performers. This film gives us a glimpse into the minutes before the first episode was to air – an unprecedented live variety show. SNL was supposed to fail.
What struck me most about the film was its razor focus on Lorne Michaels (Gabriel LaBelle) and his determination to keep the show on schedule, despite the mad demands and antics of the cast and crew. When he learns the studio is rooting for his failure, he bravely presses forward. Had this show not aired, we may have never heard of so many of today’s on-screen performers.
Here’s my review: ‘Saturday Night’ Gives Us a Glimpse of 90 Chaotic Minutes Before SNL’s First Broadcast
Furiosa
© 2024 Warner Bros. Pictures
Furiosa
‘Furiosa’ is an action film extravaganza – thunderous and explosive. It’s a prequel to the Mad Max series, and in many ways, surpasses other films in the series. Director George Miller gives us what I found to be the best action film of the year.
From start to finish, the story is captivating, the action is fantastic and the 2.5-hour runtime flies by. Anya Taylor-Joy shows us she’s a burgeoning action star as Furiosa, the title character. It’s a savage film in a brutal setting with characters determined to survive in the wasteland.
You can read my review of it here: ‘Furiosa’ is a Delightfully Savage Wasteland Epic
Cuckoo
© 2024 NEON
Cuckoo
This movie is completely nuts, and I loved it. It’s captivating, intriguing and confusing. It’s a suspenseful horror film that relies on good storytelling over gory violence. That’s not to say the film isn’t violent or gory – it certainly is – but it’s matched with a well-written script and solid performances.
There’s a lot more going on beneath the surface of the film – enough to where you’ll want to see it again, but not so hidden you’re left scratching your head as it concludes. The film has fantastic cinematography that takes advantage of well-timed practical effects to enhance suspense.
Here’s my review: ‘Cuckoo’ is an Off-the-Rails Thriller
Now please excuse me while I pick my seats for the first films of 2025. It looks like there might be a lot to look forward to this year.
