[Editorial] Top 15 Movies Of 2024

 I've been holding out on posting this because I was waiting on two movies that I was not able to watch, The Brutalist - which I was going to ignore if it still didn't come out on streaming because I didn't think it would make my Top 10 (and boy, how wrong was I), and The Complete Unknown - which I really wanted to watch.

But The Brutalist was released about two weeks ago, and to my very pleasant surprise, The Complete Unknown is currently playing in the cinema in East Malaysia but with very limited show times. So, I will brave the last show tonight and I can post this up tomorrow.

Also, I tried to do a Top 10; but I just couldn't. It's going to be another Top 15 this year.

15) My Old Ass (8.5/10)

This was one of those quiet little movies that had a heart of gold. I thought the little twist that went against conventional time-traveling, advice-giving trope at the end was a nice touch.

14) The Greatest Night In Pop (8.5/10)

This documentary intrigued me to no end. To be able to see "the making of" for such an iconic song, bringing in the amount of superstars of its time into a single recording studio, was so interesting. To be able to see these great singers when they were at their prime, and especially to be able to see the legendary Michael Jackson in unseen footage was definitely a tear-jerking treat.

13) Inside Out 2 (8.5/10)

I was sceptical that this sequel would capture the magic of the first movie, but I was so wrong. It was better! And in a way, I understood my own teenage emotions more now; and I wished I had seen this movie when I was younger.

12) How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (8.5/10)

I was expecting an emotional punch at the end for such a movie, but I wasn't expecting how hard that punch was going to be. Even when the credits was rolling and the lights came on, I was still visibly sobbing. I still don't understand how this did not make the nomination list for Best International Film at the Academy Awards.

11) Nosferatu (8.5/10)

This kind of horror comes once in a decade, if not more. It's only from a very specific director to create such a specific film. And this had almost zero jump scares (I'm not sure if there's this one that should be considered a jump scare), and yet it was still a terrifying experience because of how it was shot.

10) Wicked (8.5/10)

I was not expecting to like this movie as much as I did, but there was that special kind of magic from the two leads, plus brilliant singing, that by the time the movie ended; has shot it to the stratosphere. That updated rendition of "Gravity" for the climax was brilliant.

9) Flow (8.5/10)

This movie was a special kind of something. It has defied what we are familiar with movie-making and animation and colours, and showed us that something new is still possible in this world. These non-talking animals were so adept in capturing our hearts.

8) Dune: Part Two (8.5/10)

I didn't enjoy Dune as much as its sequel, so I would put this one a few notches higher than the original. I thought everything in this movie was elevated from the first one, from the CGI to the fight sequences. Plus the addition of Austin Butler as the main antagonist added the extra seasoning.

7) Sing Sing (9/10)

I thought this was an extraordinary film, considering most of the supporting cast members weren't professional actors. That's a great compliment to the director Greg Kwedar. But also, this movie, shot like a documentary, had a very interesting topic that we just don't get to experience much.

6) September 5 (9/10)

I watched this like as if I was watching the event happening in real time because everything about it felt so real. And it was a retelling of an historical event that was just so impossible that it's as if it was fictional.

5) Exhuma (9/10)

This was one of the more memorable horror movies of recent years. I remember sitting in the dark cinema, every 20 minutes or so, asking myself, how was this movie so good. Not so much of a fan of the third act, but still, I loved the way this story unfolded.

4) Woman Of The Hour (9/10)

I loved everything about this movie. It was a different type of a horror movie, especially if you are a woman. It's also very educational for men as we get to learn how women have been treated by men and the terror they felt in such instances. And even when this was based on real events, to witness that ending unfolded was unbelievable.

3) The Brutalist (9/10)

This was a director's movie, and Brady Corbet held nothing back. Again, just the way this story was told was such awe-inspiring; even at almost 3.5 hours long you just don't feel it. I was so engrossed with the story of the character, and the pacing was so consistent that I couldn't look away even for a second.

2) Conclave (9/10)

This movie was a showcase of acting powerhouses, and most probably a career best from Ralph Fiennes. I was just amazed at how the simple act of voting for a new Pope had such drama and intrigue that commanded my attention to such a degree.

1) Anora (9.5/10)

To me, this was the clear winner of the year. It felt like "the little movie that could". With no major, recognizable stars, but it had heart, and it had entertainment value, and most of all, it had the surprised me at just how good something as small as this could be. My favourite actress of the year is in this one, and I do hope she wins.