Top 10 Films of 2024
The Crimson’s Arts Board presents its film favorites of 2024, from “Dune: Part Two” to “We Live in Time.”
10. ‘We Live in Time’ (dir. John Crowley)
“This is me before ‘We Live in Time,’” many moviegoers filmed on TikTok, hoping to finish out the trend with, “This is me after ‘We Live in Time.’” However, many people were crying too hard by the end of the film to say anything coherent. Production company A24 even provided tissues at some theaters for fans on opening weekend. In the classic tear-jerker set in contemporary Britain, director John Crowley crafts a narrative following Almut (Florence Pugh) and Tobias (Andrew Garfield) from their chance meeting to Almut’s terminal illness only a few years later. The star-studded pair delivers moving performances — especially Pugh as her character struggles to balance her life as a professional chef, a competitor, a wife, and a mother with terminal illness. The non-linear timeline follows the couple throughout their relationship, demonstrating the fleeting nature of time and highlighting their pivotal moments. Together, Pugh and Garfield explore what it means to share a finite amount of time together. As Garfield’s character says in a moment of emotion, “I’m guilty of looking ahead instead of right in front of me, at you.” —Hannah M. Wilkoff
We reviewed “We Live in Time” and gave it 3 stars.
9. ‘Anora’ (dir. Sean Baker)
Brash, funny, and polarizing, “Anora” the film has a lot in common with Anora the character. Mikey Madison delivers a star-making performance as a sex worker who becomes a sort of contemporary Cinderella when she marries the son of a Russian oligarch (Mark Eidelstein). Rather than present a straightforward romcom, director Sean Baker confounds this setup with a second act full of laugh-out-loud hijinks as well as moments of profound loneliness. Watching Ani shed her defenses and then emerge more jaded than before should feel depressing, but Baker makes the journey not just funny, but deeply moving. Even with a runtime of over two hours, the film leaves more implied than stated. This window into the lives of Ani and the strange band of peers formed by the end of the film makes for one of the most interesting and empathetic movies of the year — certainly worthy of the Palme d’Or. —Ria S. Cuéllar-Koh
We reviewed “Anora” and gave it 4.5 stars.
8. ‘Taylor Tomlinson: Have It All’ (dir. Kristian Mercado)
“I have to be honest, my career is going very well right now,” Taylor Tomlinson says at the beginning of “Have It All,” and it’s hard to disagree with her. Tomlinson’s already-fervent audience reached new highs as she became the host of the late-night comedy panel show “After Midnight” this year, but it is the return to her bread and butter — stand-up comedy — where she truly shines. In her third Netflix Originals special, Tomlinson tackles mental health, romantic struggles, and career ambitions with her trademark self-deprecating humor, all while making sharp observations about whether the modern woman can truly have it all. Her conclusion? “I guess you can have it all. But there’s none left because God gave it all to Hugh [Jackman].” —Angelina X. Ng
7. ‘Conclave’ (dir. Edward Berger)
Who thought that a movie about choosing the next pope would inspire so many TikToks? Despite the absurdity, “Conclave” has inspired no shortage of videos editing the characters to songs like “Diva” by Beyoncé or “Von Dutch” by Charli XCX. What initially seemed to be a standard prestige drama about a fictional election to determine a new pope has inspired a surprising social media craze. This seeming incongruity of the film’s marketing with its cultural reaction captures what makes “Conclave” so special: the combination of serious cinema with the best of a pulpy soap opera. The resulting twists and turns as petty cardinals campaign for the clergy’s highest seat make for some of the most captivating movie moments of the year. A powerhouse cast including Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and Isabella Rossellini bring gravitas to their roles and perfectly capture the self-importance and inspiration present inside the Vatican. Amidst all the intrigue and suspicion, “Conclave” still finds room for humor. The ridiculousness of watching a robed Sergio Castellitto hit his vape in a moment of panic can surely convert any skeptic. —Ria S. Cuéllar-Koh
6. ‘I Saw the TV Glow’ (dir. Jane Schoenbrun)
What if there was a girl inside you, struggling to get out? Jane Schoenbrun’s horror film “I Saw the TV Glow” asks this question both figuratively and literally. The film follows ’90s teens Owen (Justice Smith) and Maddy (Brigette Lundy-Paine) as they bond over their shared obsession with the TV show “The Pink Opaque” — until Maddy suddenly disappears, and Owen begins to suspect that the TV show might not be entirely a fantasy. The film blurs the lines between fiction and reality, an aesthetically beautiful fever dream that escalates through a twisty, surreal plot to arrive at a truly sickening conclusion. All at once a trans allegory, a nostalgic trip to the analog era, and a love letter to our favorite media, “I Saw the TV Glow” is a mesmerizing yet chilling film that’s hard to forget. —Samantha H. Chung
5. ‘The Substance’ (dir. Coralie Fargeat)
Demi Moore. Margaret Qualley. Dennis Quaid. Add in a poignant narrative about unreasonable beauty standards, the objectification of women, and a dash of Cronenberg-style horror. Mix that all together and you have: “The Substance.”
Queue the electronic score.
Premiering at the 77th Annual Cannes Film Festival in France in May of this year, Coralie Fargeat’s film garnered the longest standing ovation at the international film festival. Although it is unlikely for it to be nominated for much at the Oscars this coming year due to its body horror elements, it should be. Since its release in theaters, it has completely taken over social media due to its relatability. Going to the theater to watch this film is an experience unlike any other. It is no surprise that it is divisive for audiences, but it is captivating, it is irresistible, and there is for sure no other film like it right now. —J.J. Moore
We reviewed “The Substance” and gave it 4.5 stars.
4. ‘Challengers’ (dir. Luca Guadagnino)
While “tennis” and “erotic drama” may not seem to have a lot in common, Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers” proves that they never should have been apart. Justin Kuritzkes’s script follows a love triangle spanning thirteen years that comes to a head in an epic match of athleticism and emotional torment. The premise alone excites, but “Challengers” is one of the most stylish films of the year — and that doesn’t just refer to Loewe Creative Director Jonathan Anderson’s costumes. From the heart-pounding techno score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to the sleek yet arresting cinematography by Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, everything about “Challengers” feels expertly yet effortlessly crafted. This description also fits the fabulous performances by Zendaya, Josh O’ Connor, and Mike Faist. The chemistry between the trio feels as electric as the actual tennis matches, which are crackling with energy. As their relationships volley on and off the court, the tension builds without ever veering into explicit territory. Like the performances and technical craft, the eroticism of “Challengers” does not overcompensate, and it’s sexier that way. Reznor shared with Variety that Guadagnino recruited him and Ross to score “Challengers” through an email that simply read, “Do you want to be on my next film? It’s going to be super sexy.” Guadagnino was right. —Ria S. Cuéllar-Koh
We reviewed “Challengers” and gave it 3 stars.
3. ‘Inside Out 2’ (dir. Kelsey Mann)
A sequel to the 2015 film “Inside Out,” “Inside Out 2” follows the mind of Riley Anderson (Kensington Tallman), a rising high schooler from Minnesota, as she enters puberty, leading to the development of new emotions beyond Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Tony Hale), and Disgust (Liza Lapira). In the real world, Riley navigates the challenges of ice hockey camp and friendship drama. Meanwhile, inside her mind, five new emotions — Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Envy (Ayo Edebiri), Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser), Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos), and Nostalgia (June Squibb) — clash with the old emotions for control over Riley. The struggles Riley deals with while walking a delicate line between impressing current members of her school’s ice hockey team, the Firehawks, and maintaining her childhood friendships reminds audiences of times in which they, too, grappled with the pressures of fitting in, staying true to themselves, and handling the complexities of growing up. “Inside Out 2” is a heartwarming animated coming-of-age film that will resonate with everyone, no matter what stage of life one is in. —Allison S. Park
We interviewed Riley’s voice actor, Kensington Tallman, here.
2. ‘Wicked’ (dir. Jon M. Chu)
“Wicked” has taken the world by storm and, like a phoenix, risen singlehandedly from the ashes of a slew of movie musical flops to prove that movie musicals — or their confusifying yet fashion-forward press tours, at least — have a place in the culture. Exuberant in its musical numbers and luxurious in its visual worldbuilding, “Wicked” adapts the 2003 musical of the same name about the friendship between green-skinned Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) — the future Wicked Witch of the West — and popular Glinda (Ariana Grande) — the future Glinda the Good. The film’s immersive sets dazzle from Shiz University to the Emerald City while its performances spin a nuanced emotional core for the central female friendship. While Erivo reinvigorates Elphaba with her bright voice and moving depth, Grande’s comedic chops shine as she slides gracefully down the pop-to-Broadway pipeline (although admittedly, she started out as a theater kid). “Wicked” is a sprawling feat of devotion to the stage musical, one whose every detail brims with the same earnest passion of the fans who have been waiting for this for decades. —Isabelle A. Lu
We reviewed “Wicked” and gave it 4 stars.
1. ‘Dune: Part Two’ (dir. Denis Villeneuve)
Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two” — the conclusion to the sprawling sci-fi epic that began in 2021 — is nothing short of a masterpiece. The film follows Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he navigates the hostile desert planet Arrakis and the Fremen who inhabit it, while playing the game of interstellar politics to secure control of the planet’s precious spice and amassing a legion of followers ready to go to war in his name — for better or for worse. Performances from the star-studded cast of Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, and Rebecca Ferguson are backed by a suitably grand soundtrack from Hans Zimmer to craft a narrative about revolution, greed, and the destructive allure of power. Meanwhile, the film’s sprawling settings, cinematography, and sound design combine to create a fully immersive visual and sonic experience. Together with its first installment, “Dune” is a monument in sci-fi cinema that will go down in history as a defining classic of the genre. —Samantha H. Chung