I had the pleasure of watching many films this year, some older that I watched for the first time (‘To Wong Foo, Thanks for everything, Julie Newmar’, ‘The Wizard of Oz’, ‘Biologie!’), but in this post I will talk about my most favourite original 2024 watches; something I plan to do a bit more often than until now, which was never.
There are some honourable mentions next to this list, such as ‘Kinds of Kindness’, ‘Arcadia’, ‘Memories of a Burning Body’, but here I will talk about the films that stuck with me more, the ones for which I keep talking about, and the ones I will most certainly recommend to anyone unfoturnate person who has not seen them yet.
So, let’s get to it:
Wicked:
I will not say anything that has not been said. The songs are amazing, the voices are amazing, the choreography mind-blowing. They worked so hard on this film, and it paid off. It is a feast for the eyes and ears. The chemistry between the protagonists will win anyone over, even the people who ‘don’t really like musicals’ (a sentence I hear a lot, and without any sufficient and real justification other than ‘I don’t know musicals and they seem light so I won’t bother)’. I did ot feel the duration of the film at all; however, I will say that we could use one or two more scenes to explore Glinda’s and Elphaba’s relationship a bit deeper, just something to show even more clearly that they are sides of the same coin, they are a perfect match in friends. Needless to say, I cannot wait for part 2 next year.
The Outrun:
This film is too much. It really is too much. But these are the experiences and the thoughts inside an addict’s brain, the film makes that very clear. The scenery is amazing; the director wanted us to fall in love with the place and she succeeded. When you watch this film, you will wish you could be where the protagonist is at all times. In my opinion there were a bit more scenes of nature than needed, but this goes for the film itself for several plotlines.
The beginning is a bit confusing, maybe the director took a bit longer than she should to introduce us to the character’s experiences, but when she took off, she really took off. There are specific scenes that will make you shiver, lines of dialogue that will answer the questions you never asked; it is a truly realistic representation of someone trying to do their best, while the others around them are also trying their own way and fighting their own battles. Overall, it is a film filled with hope, without sugar coating any situation or reality.
The Substance:
The story of how I actually watched this film is as interesting and disturbing as the film itself. Usually when directors try multiple references in a film it does not work out, it seems tacky and cheap. Fargeat has done something magnificent: she incorporates all of the references in the film in a way that not only honours them, but also makes them her own. My first thought of this was ‘Death Becomes Her’, one film I absolutely adore due to the absurdism and the aesthetics of it; I have been watching it since I was a kid and it always delights me to be reminded of it. Of course, it is not possible to not comment on the Kubrick references; the hallway, the music in the end as in ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’, the long pauses that were used in a similar way. What really got me is the fact that Demi’s character was making every single choice to prove to herself that she was worth nothing. It is not only that society disregards her, but also that because of this she hates herself. She does not allow herself to start over, go out with a man, or find any kind of balance in this situation she put herself through. This is a key in analysing the situation, realising and acknowledging that society, the way it is now, is forcing women in unbelievable standards, and women have so much bought into that concept that we do not allow ourselves even the ‘loopholes’ we are offered.
A Different Man:
This film blew my mind. It. Blew. My. Mind.
The story tends to be simple but effective. The moral of the story is told not really subtly, but it does not matter to the viewer. What I mostly remember is the mishaps with the typewriter, always being given as a gift to anyone that compliments it, that is a small hint of the whole message of the film. The acting was amazing, the surrealism enough to keep you on your toes without shattering the real world apart. About the ending 30 minutes, they were faster and a bit more in the sphere of the action genre, let’s say, but that only made the last sentence and last shot of the film more effective. While it could screw up the rhythm of the film, it only made it stronger. I will always suggest everyone to go watch that film.
Crossing:
This film is amazingly made. The feelings flow from it. The images of Istanbul are so vivid and compelling, they make anyone want to visit. It is a city that is true, that is complicated and full of souls searching for themselves. Speaking from a sound perspective, the sounds of the city are what help making it so alive. While there is no original music (which is ironic considering I watched this film with the composers to talk about music) the songs used and the way they are used helps bring the magic and feelings alive. The setup of every character is so consistent, that the are no moments where the viewer is ‘out’ of it. The ending is touching and proves there is a chance the human race and society can move forward, accepting the things we do not know and scare us.
There are still many films to be seen, most importantly ‘Bird’, ‘Nosferatu’, ‘Emilia Perez’, but since the year in ending, and we are entering a new circle of films to come, enjoy this list and watch more films!
Happy 2025 to everyone!
Leave a Reply