There were a number of wonderful — and surprising — releases for 2024.
While many awards contenders come out around Christmas and haven’t even been viewed by me yet, I have a number of gems I want to pass off to you.
Happy streaming this season, folks. Enjoy yourselves and hopefully you love some of these picks.
Wicked
I went into Wicked knowing none of the songs nor the characters – I shrugged and figured I’d go see “that Wizard Of Oz spinoff” because of my affection for that classic film.
What I got astounded me. From beautiful musical sequences to dazzling visuals and Oscar-worthy performances, Wicked is a delight from start-to-finish.
It somehow managed to feel short and sweet at a robust two-and-a-half hours, and I still felt like I could spend more time in the theatre – Despite my bladder.
Cynthia Erivo is stunning and Ariana Grande is surprisingly a scene-stealer. Jonathan Bailey is a swoon-worthy addition and Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh add some gravitas to the proceedings.
John M. Chu – director of my 2021 favourite In The Heights – creates a film that will only leave you clamouring for more.
The Substance
This is a film that feels made for star Demi Moore and it’s her best performance in at least a decade.
A body-horror spectacle of Cronenberg proportions, writer-director Coralie Fargeat’s unforgettable endeavour manages to be both visually bonkers and thematically tragic at the same time.
Oscar-winner Elisabeth’s shining star no longer burns bright, and she feels useless as she ages. Left behind by Tinseltown, she begins taking a substance that promises a reinvigorated life. It creates a younger, better version of her, but the substance comes with strict rules that come with horrid consequences when ignored.
Demi Moore is incredible and Margaret Qualley matches her. They make an incredible pairing, and Dennis Quaid is absolutely despicable in a role that turns his Hollywood nice-guy image on its head.
Darkly funny and rich with actual substance in its screenplay, this isn’t just an exercise in blood and guts. You’re going to care for these characters and be invested in their future.
A Different Man
This is one of the most strange, darkly funny films of the year. Leave it to A24 Studios to knock it out of the park again.
It follows unsuccessful actor Edward, a disfigured man who longs for a life free from the medical ailments that cause lesions and bumps on his face. But after he undergoes a new medical procedure so he can have a “normal” appearance and life, the role of a lifetime comes up on Broadway his old self would have been perfect for.
He desperately tries to tap into the otherness he felt his whole life to get the part, but soon finds the things he removed from his life that isolated him are now the things that could have won him the role – And happiness as a result.
Actors Sebastian Stand – who was also great in The Apprentice this year – and Adam Pearson are both wonderful here. Renate Reinsve also has an interesting role.
Writer-director Aaron Schimberg creates a film fraught with themes of jealousy, loving who you are, and a careful-what-you-wish-for mentality. It’s a stunner of a film made on a modest budget, and will haunt you in its final frame.
Emilia Perez
There’s a lot to say about Jacques Audiard’s Spanish film, but you can never say he didn’t take a big swing.
Emilia Perez might be the most inventive film of the year, as it deftly mashes genres – crime thriller, drama, comedy and even musical – together to create a defiant, beautiful feature.
When a crime boss in Mexico wants to undergo a gender reassignment surgery, they recruit lawyer Rita to fake their death and get them the medical care they need to live authentically. The rest of the story follows the two women and another two as they live their lives in Mexico.
Zoe Saldana, Karla Sofia Gascon, and Selena Gomez are all so fantastic, and I expect Saldana to get an Oscar during the ceremony.
It’s bombastic, rich with character development and a knockout, ambitious endeavour.
Anora
This is one of the most emotionally-complex films of the year. I alternated between laugh-out-loud moments and tears streaming down my face, and that’s the mark of a fantastic effort.
Director Sean Baker – known for Red Rocket and The Florida Project – has long been a favourite director of mine, but he knocks it out of the park here.
Anora is an exotic dancer in Brooklyn who links up with a young Russian man at the club. He’s the son of an oligarch and everything comes easy to him. He dotes on Anora and breaks through her hard exterior, and the two begin a romance.
But their idyllic lifestyle may come to an end when his parents find out about their son’s new partner and head to New York from Russia to stop the entanglement. Caught between her feelings for the man and the promise of money from the family to leave him, Anora must search her soul.
Mikey Madison gives the performance of her young career, and she’s as funny and hardened as she can be heartbreaking. Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan and Mark Eydelshteynn all give interesting turns.
But Yuriy Borisov may become a breakout star from this one as well.
Sing Sing
I am terrified this summer 2024 release may be lost in awards season due to recency bias.
With a stacked slate of end-of-year releases, I hope Academy Awards voters don’t forget about Colman Domingo, supporting star Clarence Maclin and this beautiful prison drama.
It follows a man in prison for a crime he is steadfast he didn’t commit, and the life he has built while incarcerated. He’s found purpose in acting in the theatre program inside and tries to help others through the power of stage.
When another angry-but-talented prisoner comes on the scene, he proves a worthy adversary and stage partner.
Domingo seems sure to get an Oscar nomination and Paul Raci is great in a smaller role. But Clarence Maclin gives a turn that needs to be seen to be believed.
This is one of the most emotionally resonant, astounding films of the year, and one you need to seek out.
Dune: Part Two
Never in my wildest dreams did I think this second part would manage to be even better than the first Dune film.
Director Denis Villeneuve has crafted a movie that manages to be grand in scale but also big on emotion.
It picks up where the first left off with even more emotion, gravitas, and some fantastic additions.
The performances from Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, and Dave Bautista are fantastic. New additions Christopher Walken, Florence Pugh and fantastic villain Austin Butler only add to the proceedings.
This is a movie you simply can’t miss, and was one of the best in-theatre movies of the year.
Longlegs
This is – by far – one of the most intense, terrifying films to come out in the last few years.
Writer-director Osgood Perkins makes a film reminiscent of Silence Of The Lambs that is destined to become a genre classic.
FBI agent Lee Harker is in hot pursuit of a serial killer dubbed Longlegs, but realizes the killings attributed to him may be closely connected with the occult as well.
Maika Monroe stars and there are great turns from Blair Underwood and Alicia Witt. But it’s Nicolas Cage – in a memorable role – who really makes the picture his own. He haunts every frame he’s in.
I absolutely loved this movie and it’s a slam-dunk for genre fans.
Blink Twice
This film is best enjoyed if you go in without knowing a thing. Don’t watch the trailer and don’t read reviews (except mine!).
It follows disgraced tech billionaire Slater King, who’s dogged by misconduct rumours. A changed man, King invites waitress Friday and her friend to join him and his friends on a vacation to his private island. But when they arrive, strange happenings leave Friday questioning her choice.
Co-writer and director Zoe Kravitz cast then-boyfriend Channing Tatum as the charming lead, and he dominates the role. He’s joined by a game Naomi Ackie, Ali Shawcat, Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Haley Joel Osment, Adria Arjona, and standout Levon Hawke (son of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke).
It’s a great thriller that packs a thematic punch, and I was shocked by how much I loved it.
Gladiator II
It may not be as good as its classic predecessor, but Gladiator II will undoubtedly leave you fully entertained.
The story beats are familiar – a warrior named Lucius is forced into slavery when emperors leading Rome take over his home. He takes his fight to the Colosseum and becomes a master fighter as he tries to gain his freedom.
Director Ridley Scott may not be making the most critically-loved films of his career right now, but he’s having more fun than ever. I personally love his commitment to making his films with a zany, over-zealous sensibility missing from blockbusters these days.
The cast is stellar – including lead Paul Mescal and a scene-stealing Denzel Washington (hotly-tipped for an Oscar nom). Watch for a standout from Stranger Things alum Joseph Quinn and other strong turns from Pedro Pascal, Fred Heschinger and original Gladiator star Connie Nielsen.
It’s never going to go down as a classic, but Gladiator II is one heck of a grand spectacle.
Honourable Mentions:
- Alien: Romulus
- The BikeRiders
- Blitz
- Carry-On
- Challengers
- Civil War
- Deadpool Vs Wolverine
- The First Omen
- Furiosa
- Heretic
- Hit Man
- The Idea Of You
- I Saw The TV Glow
- Inside Out 2
- Juror #2
- Knox Goes Away
- Love Lies Bleeding
- Marmalade
- MaXXXine
- Monkey Man
- My Old Ass
- The Piano Lesson
- Road House
- Saturday Night
- Thelma
Prominent Movies I Haven't Seen Yet This Year:
- A Complete Unknown
- A Real Pain
- Arcadian
- Babygirl
- Better Man
- The Brutalist
- Conclave
- Cuckoo
- Didi
- His Three Daughters
- Kinds of Kindness
- The Last Showgirl
- Maria
- Moana 2
- Nickel Boys
- Nightbitch
- Nosferatu
- Oddity
- Problemista
- The Return
- September 5
- The Six Triple Eight
- Small Things Like These
- Terrifier 3
- Transformers One,
- The Wild Robot
- Woman Of The Hour
About The Author:
Jordan Parker is a freelance journalist and runs entertainment firm Parker PR. A huge lover and supporter of the local arts scene, he’s an avid filmgoer and lover of all genres.
A 2SLGBTQIA+ professional, he also works doing Events & Fundraising for the AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia and has a passion for giving a platform to queer events and artists.
His writing often skews toward local businesses, productions, events, and covering arts & entertainment. He’s also an avid sports fan and spends every May getting let down by the Maple Leafs in the first round of the playoffs.
Jordan believes in an open-door policy and welcomes story pitches and questions from readers.
Email: [email protected]
