Now that we’ve gotten the worst out of our way, let’s look back positively on the year’s very best examples of cinematic entertainment! But first, here’s a brief look at the films which just missed the cut, but are still worth mentioning anyway:

• The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

• Official Competition

• The Woman King

• Prey

• She Said

• The Outfit

• X

• The Quiet Girl

• Nanny

• Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers

• The Sea Beast

• Watcher

• Turning Red

• Kimi

• Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

And let’s begin with…

15 – BONES AND ALL

Timothée Chalamet’s reunion with director Luca Guadagnino, who filmed the actor’s big breakout role in Call Me By Your Name, was a much bloodier affair (and with far fewer soiled peaches) but also a surprisingly sweet and romantic coming-of-age story that captured the hearts of those with the strongest stomachs.

Chalamet and co-star Taylor Russell, breaking out here in the same way that Chalamet previously did under Guadagnino’s direction, played two young cannibals finding themselves, and each other, in the great American wilderness of the 1980s. With a thumping soundtrack accompanying them (from an atmospheric score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, to songs that include an unusual use of KISS’s “Lick It Up”), and a delightfully creepy Mark Rylance following them, this was a couple who felt authentic, developed, and most importantly interesting – y’know, amidst all the scoffing of flesh and bones – and carried their gentle, bittersweet tale all the way to a shocking finale.

As long as you can handle some of the pretty gnarly gore, you too will be in for a loving youthful adventure across Americana…

Bones and All is currently showing in cinemas nationwide.

14 – THE MENU

One of the many recurring themes throughout 2022 was how much the wealthier citizens of society are all around terrible people – the most notable examples being Triangle of Sadness, The Feast, and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery – but director Mark Mylod’s darkly funny and consistently entertaining satire was one of the more brutal, and strangely effective, stabs at the rich.

As a group of wealthy socialites head to the private island restaurant of sinister chef Ralph Fiennes – who brings to life an intimidating mix of Gordon Ramsay and the Jigsaw killer – their taste buds aren’t the only things getting a traumatic workout, but the beauty of the writing on display here is how not many of these rich folk seem to make much of an effort to escape their hellish evening. The underlying commentary on the entitlement and privilege of people willing to pay top-dollar for breadless bread plates and other ridiculous menu items, as well as their contribution to the loss of passion for one’s culinary craft, is beyond savage, and served up with great helpings of hilarious dialogue that further drive the filling point home beautifully.

Plus, it gains extra points for having one of the best-looking cheeseburgers in modern film history…

The Menu is currently showing in cinemas nationwide, and will be streaming exclusively on Disney+ from Wednesday 4th January 2023.

13 – AFTERSUN

It might take more than one viewing to fully appreciate Charlotte Wells’ masterful filmmaking debut, but even if your initial thoughts might feel less inclined towards it the first time round, there’s plenty of raw brilliance to behold once you start to think about what it’s trying to do.

Narratively, the story of a father and his young daughter – both played wonderfully by Paul Mescal and newcomer Frankie Corio respectively – going on holiday together in Turkey is a largely uneventful affair, but the beauty and heartbreak all come from what is not said or shown. In numerous scenes of quiet anguish, we get so much of their inner turmoil just from long, concentrated shots of them from a distance or from unique angles (one of the most striking scenes in the entire movie is shown through the reflection of a television screen), which is enough to piece together what might be happening to them when the cameras aren’t on them, and leave a much more devastating picture than what we’re visually getting. Once it all starts coming together, this is a deeply emotional experience that’s truly unique in its presentation and its form, setting Wells up as a serious filmmaker to watch in the future.

Again, though, you might want to watch it at least a couple of times to be on the same wavelength – it might be difficult to comprehend the first time, but trust me when I say that a second viewing is worth it…

Aftersun is currently showing in cinemas nationwide. It will be available to stream exclusively on MUBI next year.

12 – LIVING

Remaking a film by the legendary Akira Kurosawa requires a hefty pair of balls, but director Oliver Hermanus and screenwriter Kazuo Ishiguro have heftiness to spare as they revitalise the Japanese auteur’s Ikiru without sacrificing the original’s power, while also creating a beautifully composed British feature that stands firmly on its own.

In a career-best performance, Bill Nighy commands the screen as a dying civil servant who sets out to leave a lasting legacy before he passes, and his ultimately inspiring tale manages to generate tears aplenty as the actor gently makes you feel so much for his character’s life-assuring journey every step of the way. Whether he’s silently contemplating his fate in a darkened living room, or spending time with Aimee Lou Wood as his lively young co-worker, Nighy is on tremendous form at all times, and with both Hermanus’ loving direction as well as Ishiguro’s swift and considerate writing on his side, the actor shines like he never has before.

Hopefully, his fantastic nature will translate into heavy attention this upcoming awards season, and even if he can only manage a nomination, it’ll be well deserved for such a brilliant performance…

Living is currently showing in cinemas nationwide.

11 – EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

I’m already certain that I’m going to get a lot of hate for putting one of the year’s most beloved films just outside of my top 10 – but I’m not too worried, because co-director Daniel Kwan has my back, as you can see by clicking here – but while for me it just sits on the skirting, it’s still a great film to watch and talk about no matter where on this list it ends up.

Taking the film world by storm with their kinetic and action-packed adventure across the multiverse, directors Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (known collectively as “Daniels”) brought some of their most inventive and out-there ideas to a sci-fi action movie that feels like watching something like The Matrix for the first time. It ended up being a massive crowd-pleaser, with some fun action, even funnier reveals (Raccacoonie, anyone?), and just the most insane amount of energy that brought out some career-high turns from lead actor Michelle Yeoh and, in one of the year’s most delightful comeback stories, former Goonie Ke Huy Quan. Most of all, amidst the multiverse madness, it had an incredibly endearing emotional core that ultimately celebrated the goodness in people, and the importance of family bonds no matter how dysfunctional they may be. There really is a little something for everyone here, whether it’s hot-dog hands or fanny-pack kung fu, or rocks having meaningful conversations (and even trophies shaped like butt-plugs), and should certainly be on your to-watch list if you haven’t experienced it already.

Once again, I send my apologies to anyone who’s offended by this film not ranking higher on this list, but at least take comfort in the fact that it’s even here at all…

Everything Everywhere All At Once is now available to rent/buy on most digital platforms, and is streaming exclusively on Prime Video.

Click here for numbers 10-6 on the list!