#8: Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1
I expected that there would be a movie explaining my utter hatred of A.I. in the near future. I'm surprised it was this soon, though. Real talk, though: MI7 feels like one of those movies that would be a tough act to follow no matter what. Between the stacked summer of 2023, we got Elemental, Spider-Verse, Indiana Jones, and Barbie, plus this movie is Part 1 with Fallout as the sequel.
I think Dead Reckoning's financial success was an uphill battle.It still bites the movie underperformed, though it doesn't take away from this being one of the year's best action movies. Dead Reckoning still manages to vastly increase the stakes again with the entity's inclusion, shifting from the height of human destruction to inhumanity.
Combined with the government's ever-shifting allegiances through eyes like Kittrdige and Jasper Briggs, the tension still feels strong. Tom Cruise and the gang still deliver, but the newer elements, specifically Hayley Atwell's Grace, bring new life into the brand. Throughout the film, she's a great wild card, yet she feels like she's always been there. Also, as always, the various stunt work and action scenes are stellar.
The car chase around Rome, the disorientingly claustrophobic fight scene in Venice, the iconic motorcycle jump, and the final train escape were phenomenal. Even without going into the behind-the-scenes, you can tell how intricate and flexible the team was to make everything pop.
Between this movie and another entry, which will come later, I could practically hear the directors begging for the Oscars and Hollywood to acknowledge stuntmen better. Still, for all my praises, I think a movie with this many moving pieces that are outwardly marketed as part 1 of 2 does lead to unanswered questions and a vagueness that I hope gets answered in the next entry.
#7: The Killers of the Flower Moon
Seeing this movie in theaters is precisely why I wish more original movies were released streaming in theaters. I think there can be a happy balance streaming can have in aiding underrated movies, but the reverse can also happen. Killers of the Flower Moon is one such example.
Given this is an adaptation of a book and also Martin Scorcese's roots, it would've been hella easy to fuck this up. But from critical responses and the foreword for the film, it's clear we're being shown the story of the Osagie murders by those who were victimized most.
A change I can't help but appreciate all the more as an African American myself. History so often favors the victors; through it, we don't often grapple with the problems of the oppressed. Especially when said victors are white men up against Indigenous people.
Killers of the Flower Moon showcases the brutality involved with Manifest Destiny in great, haunting detail, and I don't think we could've asked for a better passenger alongside the ride than Lily Gladstone. Their charisma amongst a sea of big-name actors is so magnetic that if they didn't get the Oscar Nomination, I would've stormed Hollywood myself.
Their interactions with Dicaprio as Mollie and Ernest, respectively, were both fun at first but also damning as time went on. In general, Killers has a rather sour and melancholy tone, portraying the Oklahoma countryside with some showmanship and pizzazz before stripping everything back piece by piece.
Covering every scene from this 3-hour movie would be exhausting, so instead, I want to focus on the end. Having the latter half of the Osage Murders be chronicled near the end by Socrsece himself as a '60s radio show is the most creative way I've seen a film do an outro. Not only because it so often shows the realities of Native American mistreatment throughout the years, but it also shows the importance of conveying such stories.
#6: John Wick 4
With many upper echelons on the list, I've been rewatching many clips and reviews. But none have come nearly as close as John Wick. Even with the franchise quickly approaching a decade, its scale, style, and action still inspire and elevate its contemporaries. Over the years, I've seen multiple people call the John Wick movies modern-day mythology, but it's never felt more accurate than this feature
.The expert cinematography, elaborate sets like the Osaka Continental, Homell, and Holle, and the lighting show how "big" everything feels now. Yet all these aspects pale compared to my favorite aspect of the film. Each movie excels in one aspect against the others.
One still has the best story, two sets up most of the worldbuilding, and three arguably has the greatest action sequences of the entire franchise. 4's specialty, though, is mostly featuring its cast. John remains stoically compelling as always, but Mr. Nobody and Caine are fellow adversaries, goaded by the ever-watchful eyes of the High Table represented by the Marquis.
While Viggo is still my favorite villain, the Marquis remains one of the most despicable to date through Bill Skargard's performance. Despite having so many moving pieces and being three hours long, JW4 always felt exciting. This is because of the consistent additions of emotional repression, comedy, and action.
John Wick has always had a high bar for action, and somehow, 4 manages to raise aspects of the previous movies to their highest possible level. By the time we reached Paris, God couldn't have pulled me from that theater. The final duel, the showdown on the stairs, the Arc de Triomphe, and the dragon's breath sequence would've been the best scenes in any movie, but having them all at once was fun as hell.
Paired up with one of my favorite soundtracks of the year with bangers like I Would Die For You by In this Moment, Eye for an Eye by Rina Sawayama, and Le Castle Vania by Blood Code were all great bangers that took elements from the earlier movies. While not a perfect affair (seriously, John should've been dead ten times over), I'm more than satisfied if this is at least the end of John's story.
The man went out on his terms, reminding everyone he was a loving husband. And while I would be OK with learning more about the life of the Baba Yaga, it's optional. Instead, I'd focus on what other stories this franchise can cook up, like Ballerina or the Continental. Regardless, this world of Wick has been incredibly satisfying to see unfold.
#5: Barbie
In this modern age of streaming, ads and social media are playing a bigger part in marketing than ever before. I think the barrier of entry for what is a "cult classic' ' will be much more complex over time, especially with media companies willing to milk damn near any creative outlet or prompt to be hip with the kids.
That all being said ... I will miss the Barbie hype, man. Between the tear-inducing trailer, various song teasers, and the Barbi hype, I quickly turned around any doubts about Barbie. About the time I entered the theater, I had practically begged everyone to see it with me, to no avail. They were forcing me to sit in the theaters in my pink polo for one of the best times I've had in theaters.
Given Mattel's branding and advertising, I was worried this film would be a two-hour toy advertisement. Instead, I got a painfully self-aware and wildly creative comedy movie. Admiration and heavy jabs highlight Barbie's impact as a brand and symbol over the years.
Combine that with a star-studded cast giving their most uncanny performances ever. Margot Robbie stole the show with her hidden soul and great comedic timing. America Ferra deserved her flowers and Oscar nomination. Issa Rae, Ariana Greenblatt, Micheal Cera, and Will Ferrel manage to deliver great supporting casts.
And while I do completely understand why people are frustrated with this, Ryan Gosling still steals the show as Ken. Between him and Margot Robbie, I was laughing every other minute. The other half was me bobbing to the soundtrack. I'm just Ken's apparent favorite, but Pink, What I'm Made For, and Barbie World do wonders to give me another one of my favorite soundtracks.
Yet, for my praises, Barbie also genuinely delivers the heartwarming scenes of the year. In a year when I had to say goodbye to family members and friendships, I think I needed a reminder—a moment when I remembered why I'm glad to be alive, that there's still always more to write. It makes me hope that one day, I'll make something that will uplift me and make someone else feel human, too.
#4: Nimona
In a time when animated projects have been supremely gutted to save money, it's gratifying to see a movie like Nimona exist and turn out so well. There are plenty of films in this year I never wanted to end this year, but Nimona is damn near the top of the list. Much like Dreamworks initially started with movies like Shrek, Nimona feels like a family film with enough alternative edge to speak to an older audience.
Given both the original comic art and the troubled hodgepodge between Blue Sky, Disney, and Annapurna, this film looks really great. Our titular characters' shapeshifting feels uncanny yet plenty diverse and used to significant dramatic effect later on.
Amidst the vast city and its mix of medieval and future technology, I think thematically, it sells well because this movie is ... gay as hell. In a sea of "Disney's first gay characters," it's refreshing for a movie to be so upfront about its queerness and have it tie into the narrative unapologetically.
Nimona was born different, and her relationship with Guinevere was innocent until the latter got taught to hate them amidst misunderstandings, eventually creating a society willing to destroy itself over one thing different from the norm.
With that knowledge given later in the film, it's no wonder their relationship with Ballister is so much fun. They're an equally funny unlikely duo at first, but once they start vibing, they become one of my favorite dynamics on the list. They help to not only get a good view of this world but also lead to just plenty of funny ass moments on screen.
It doesn't hurt having Chole Grace Montez and Riz Ahmed (by the way, I love that they changed his skin tone to reflect the actor somewhat). Their performances elevate an already great film, and by the time the iconic "I see you" scene came around, I was practically near sobbing. It didn't help either seeing Nimona's last transformation be a phoenix reborn out of the love and care she was provided.
It is fitting that a movie about finding pride in your existence seemingly had so much fun resonating with so many people. Beyond being one of Disney's continual thorns in the side, I hope Nimona is also recognized as an animated marvel that gets referenced for years to come. More than almost any other film on this list, it deserved it.