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love-little-lotte · 1 year

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Films and Books That Made 2022 Worth Living

Happy New Year's Eve! Last year, I did a Twitter thread about films, books, and TV shows that I loved in 2021. While I'm still very much active on Twitter these days, the new features are annoying me (especially that cursed "views"), so I'm not tweeting as much as I used to.

As such, I decided to post my favorite films and books on Tumblr instead. I realized I hadn't watched a lot of TV shows this year (or I hadn't watched enough shows that I like to be considered a "favorite"), so this year, I'm only posting films and books.

These films and books were not necessarily released in 2022, but 2022 is the first time I've ever watched or read them. Also, it's worth noting that there are so many 2022 films I haven't watched yet, including Women Talking, The Eternal Daughter, and more. It's either I cannot find a copy online or it didn't show in my local theatres. Maybe I can watch them next year and include them in the list then!

Now that's out of the way, let's get started! Here are 10 films and books that I loved in 2022:

FILMS

Hello, Dolly! (1969) — I've loved the stage musical for so long, especially the revival with Bette Midler, but I haven't watched the movie version of it. This film is one of the best musical adaptations I've ever seen, and it's so brilliant from start to finish. Barbra Streisand is a star, and I fell in love with all the characters, dances, and songs. It's been months since I've seen this, but I still memorize the entire "Put on Your Sunday Clothes" and "It Only Takes A Moment" sequences.

West Side Story (2021) — Another musical film made it to my top 10 list. I loved the first movie adaptation, but it had glaring issues that Steven Spielberg corrected for the most part. Everything about this movie is simply wonderful, and I rewatched this movie more than I care to admit. I love Rachel Zegler, Mike Faist, and Ariana DeBose, but it's a shame the leading man is a disgusting pig, though.

Mary and Max (2009) — I was expecting a fun, carefree animated film prior to watching this, but it broke my heart in the process. The film spoke so much about loneliness, mental health, and friendship through such tender and careful lenses. Philip Seymour Hoffman also gave a terrific performance voicing Max.

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) — I'm not a big fan of science fiction fantasy movies, but this one got me. Maybe because it's Michelle Yeoh's stunning performance, or the generational trauma theme. I love how this film captured a mother-and-daughter relationship uniquely and creatively. I still couldn't get through the ending without getting tears in my eyes.

Tár (2022) — I thought Women Talking would be my favorite film of the year, but I haven't watched that yet, so for now, it's this one. I love films that feature an anti-hero because it makes it easier to feel grounded in reality. It is captivating from end to finish, and I can't help but be immersed in Lydia's obsession with greatness. Cate Blanchett is a goddess.

Pride (2014) — One of the best feel-good movies I've ever seen. There are movies based on real events that get you questioning whether they're just bullshitting you, and while I did question this movie as well, it still succeeded in telling its message: the importance of unity. What more can I ask for? Also, this is going to be adapted into a musical soon, and I cannot wait!

Dancer in the Dark (2000) — This is another musical movie on this list, but it couldn't be different than the previous two. As expected from Lars von Trier, this movie is dark and twisted. The final scene took me so much by surprise that I sat there in my seat with my mouth hanging open as the credits rolled. This may seem like a "manipulative" film, but the character of Selma, superbly portrayed by Björk, saved the film for me.

Drive My Car (2021) — The first movie I've seen of the year. I wanted to start 2022 with a good one, and this one didn't fail. It's intimate and profound in a very subdued way. Although this was almost three hours long, it honestly never felt draggy. I hung on to every scene as if my life depended on it. Regret is one way to express grief, and this movie depicted it perfectly.

The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) — Another surprise of the year. I didn't expect to like this movie that much, but here we are. I should've known not to doubt Martin McDonagh, especially as a huge In Bruges fan. This film is so well-written with wonderful characters - even the animals are great! Colin Farell's Pádraic and Jenny is my favorite duo of the year.

C'mon C'mon (2021) — As for my second favorite duo of the year, it's Joaquin Phoenix and Woody Norman as uncle and nephew in this touching movie. This film made me laugh and cry and genuinely captured the complexity of family relationships. This is a very heartwarming, compelling, and human film, and I love everything about it.

BOOKS

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee — I read this early this year, but I knew then that nothing could ever top it. It's a beautifully-written novel featuring a large set of characters with different personalities, stories, and backgrounds. This novel is also a great learning experience on Korean-Japanese culture, politics, and history. It's a completely immersive story, and it felt like I was transported back to that time. I also highly recommend the Apple TV+ adaptation of this!

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman — I've only read two novels from Backman, and yet, I can confidently say that he's my current favorite author. While some people may find his writing too quirky and over-the-top, I find the sweetness and wit just the right amount. It's the perfect read when you feel dejected and overwhelmed by the negativity of this world. The simple human interactions in this novel absolutely make you feel hopeful and loved.

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara — Okay, now this one... I was so scared to read this because I heard countless reviews that say this is a harrowing read. And they were right. This is a terrifying book that almost gave me a panic attack. Many people have depicted this book as "misery porn," and while the thought did cross my mind, I don't think it glamorizes misery. Instead, it sheds light on the long-term effects of trauma, showing how people handle trauma and how, sometimes, there's no light at the end of the tunnel.

Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney — This feels timely. In this book, the main protagonist walks the streets of New York on the last day of 1984 while also reminiscing about days gone by. Lillian Boxfish is an astounding protagonist; she's witty and relatable, and I want to be like her someday (hopefully, minus the bad parts). It's mostly told in flashbacks, so we also got a glimpse of New York in the 20s and 50s, which is pretty interesting to me!

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett — The story had a very Cinderella-like spin, complete with a dead father, an evil stepmother, and two (though they are neither mean nor ugly) stepsisters. This novel especially enraptured me through its supporting character Maeve. I didn't care much about the protagonist, but his sister was the one that made me love this book so much. I see myself in her, but also the person I want to be.

The Sandman by Neil Gaiman — If I made a top 10 favorite TV show list, the Netflix adaptation of Gaiman's popular comic book series would be number one. The show is incredible, and now I'm making my way into the Sandman universe one graphic novel at a time. I just finished A Game of You a few weeks ago, so I'm pretty excited to read more. I love how Gaiman builds the Dreaming universe and shows the power of dreams and imagination.

The Woman at 1,000 Degrees by Hallgrímur Helgason — It took me so long to finish this one because it's super complex, especially since I am unfamiliar with Iceland's history, but it's still terrific. The quirkiness in the story and characters reminds me of Backman novels, but this one is much darker and heavier and written in a very ironic tone. I can't wait to read this again!

Tuesday Nights in 1980 by Molly Prentiss — If I'm given the choice to write a book, I just hope it's going to be something like this one. Some may call this novel slow and pretentious, but the writing is so good that I forget I'm actually reading it. The novel is able to bring me to New York and meet all these characters. It's very far from perfect, but it's one that I couldn't stop reading.

Every Note Played by Lisa Genova — I'm used to reading sad stuff, but I didn't expect this one to completely break my heart. The main character of this book follows a concert pianist who suffers from ALS. Based on that, I think you know how heavy this is going to be. One thing that struck a chord with me in this novel is how it's okay not to tie loose ends with other people, and some things are better left unsaid.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry — It's ironic that the title had "book" on it, but it's the only one in Kindle format in the collage. Hmm, maybe I should buy a physical copy of this book. After all, Henry is my new Sophie Kinsella. I'm a huge fan of Kinsella when I was in high school, and I never thought I could feel giddy with romance novels again, but Henry was able to bring back that feeling. That's how good she is as well as this novel.

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And so there you have it: the top 10 films and books that made 2022 worth living. As someone who always uses media to distract myself from reality, I'm looking forward to more media consumption next year!

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rookie-critic · 1 year

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Rookie-Critic's Top 20 Films of 2021: #1 - C'mon C'mon (dir. Mike Mills)

My #1 pick from last year's movies is one that has gotten almost no awards attention whatsoever. Why that is, I can't say, because, to me, it is easily the greatest film that came out last year. What can I say about this film that can even come close to doing it the justice it deserves? Well, I'll just start by saying that Woody Norman is one to keep an eye out for. This kid gives more depth and realness to his character than almost every single adult actor on the rest of this list combined, and him and Joaquin Phoenix are a perfect pair. Actually, no, I take that back, they are the best imperfect pair imaginable. This movie tackles so many things: what it means to be a parent, what it means to be a friend, what it means to be a partner, what it means to be a sibling, and so many more topics that I'd be here all day if I tried to list them all, and the thing is, it gives each and every one of its many interpersonal relationships and meanings attention and care, allowing the film to come into its full potential.

One of the most important things this movie does is something most media would never dream of: it views its child character through the same lens as it views its adult ones. Norman's Jesse is one mature kid. No, he doesn't talk like a grown-up or act like a grown-up or smoke or any of the normal hallmarks of a "mature kid in movies." He can't handle his emotions, he gets too rowdy, he makes mistakes, but that's the beauty of it. Mike Mills and C'mon C'mon dare to present an adult/child relationship where the adult gives the child the benefit of the doubt. Phoenix's Johnny is honest with Jesse, and talks to him like he would any other person. He allows Jesse to vent his frustrations and flies in the face of traditional parenting, and Jesse comes out better for it (not to give too much away). Instead of the burden being put on the child to change for the betterment of the adult, the burden is put on the adult to teach and to teach not with fear and punishment, but with compassion and understanding that the kid is just that, a kid. Jesse also has parents who suffer from mental illness, and there are sequences that have nothing to do with either of the 2 main characters that are some of the most beautiful pieces of storytelling I've seen in a long time. This movie is a pretty standard 1 hour and 49 minutes, for the last half of that runtime, I was an emotional wreck. Not only is this my favorite film from last year, but it has climbed its way up in my heart to also become one of my favorite films of all time. Please, if you get nothing else out of all my Top 20, watch this. Watch this incredible piece of film making.

Score: 10/10 (Although a perfect score still isn't good enough for this masterpiece)

Currently available for streaming on Paramount+ & Showtime.

#Top 20 Films of 2021 #C'mon C'mon #Mike Mills #Joaquin Phoenix #Woody Norman #Gaby Hoffmann #film review #movie review #2021 films

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