It’s Oscar season! 2024 was a huge year for movies, even following the massive success of 2023’s hits like Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Spider Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Looking at this past year as a whole, there were many great films in each genre, and I’m here to suggest some of my favorites across all of the nomination categories!
Dune Part II
Director: Denis Villaneuve
Denis Villaneuve’s Dune set a brand new benchmark for how to make a science fiction blockbuster back in 2021, and it made me incredibly excited to see what he had in store for Part II. Seeing Part II in IMAX was one of the most memorable theater experiences I have ever had. It surpassed all of my already sky high expectations. The biggest compliment I can give Part II is how well it balances so many elements at once. The complaint most people had with Part I was the lack of action, but any concerns are obliterated with Part II’s focus on its action set pieces and visceral hand to hand combat. Part I’s insistence on world building and establishing arcs for its characters come full circle in Part II, as the audience is guided throughout Paul Atreid’s’ rise to power throughout both films. Just as in Part I, Timothee Chalamet is firing on all cylinders in his portrayal of Paul, as he becomes transformative in the 3rd act. Paul becoming the Lisan al Gaib is the climax of Herbert’s novel, and it feels even more eventful because of how Villeneuve expertly illustrates the power that Paul gains throughout both films. Zendaya’s performance as the Fremen Chani is the heart of this film, as her and Paul’s relationship is tested to its limits as his quest for power becomes too great. While Chalamet and Zendaya shine, Austin Butler as the Harkonnen Feyd-Rautha is unrecognizable, and he might be my favorite villain that I have seen in quite some time. If the slower pace of Part I threw you off, I hope you give Part II a chance and see how special this franchise can be.
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
The Brutalist’s mere $10 million budget didn’t stop director Brady Corbet from creating a massive three and a half hour epic that brilliantly shows the immigrant experience of post WWII America. The Brutalist follows Laszlo, played by Adrien Brody, and his journey to America after being liberated from a concentration camp. Laszlo was an esteemed brutalist architect in Hungary prior to the war, and he finds himself lost in New York scrambling to find a new life. After meeting a wealthy businessman Harrison Van Buren, Laszlo forms a close bond and eventually agrees to build a new recreation center for Mr. Van Buren in dedication to his late mother. While this may seem like a fairly straightforward premise, The Brutalist’s daunting runtime plays this story out with intense beauty, tragedy, and care. As Laszlo starts to work more closely with Mr. Van Buren, Corbet illustrates how he exploits Laszlo’s desperation, as he cannot afford to make any mistakes or sacrifices in this job. The film truly shows the hardships that immigrants face in a new world trying to achieve the American Dream. Without spoiling, the Van Buren family evolves into a malicious force from the start, and seeing their abuse of power is nothing short of heartbreaking. A three and a half hour runtime is eye watering, but I never felt it dragged, as it is brilliantly paced and edited. Adrien Brody is phenomenal as Laszlo, but my favorite performance has to be Guy Pearce as Mr. Van Buren. He had me on edge the entire film, and I could never predict what his mood was going to be in the next scene. By the time the credits roll, you will have forgotten that almost four hours flew by.
Sing Sing
Director: Greg Kwedar
Sing Sing is not only my favorite film on this list, but it’s also the most human. The film is largely based on true events, as it takes place in the Sing Sing correctional facility located in New York. In the prison there is an RTA program, Rehabilitation Through the Arts, which allows prisoners to escape the hardships of incarceration through theater. Sing Sing highlights how beautiful art can be to help heal people. Besides the lead Colmon Domingo and a few others, every actor on display in Sing Sing was a former alum of the RTA program at the prison, and they are portraying themselves. Domingo’s performance as G, a man falsely convicted of murder, is so grounded and human. Throughout the course of the film, you see his passion for this group flourish, illustrating that this newfound family is the one thing driving him forward in hopes of leaving Sing Sing. Domingo not only shines, but lifts up all of the other actors in the film. Because they were all alumni of the RTA program, all of the supporting cast feels like they are not even acting, but rather reliving their past incarceration. This is especially present in Clarence Maclin, the main supporting role. His relationship with Domingo’s G evolves from hostile to brotherly as G involves Clarence into the group, as he finds a realm to escape his grief. Through the various rehearsal scenes, whether they are on stage or during character exercises, you never once see these people as prisoners. In my short time in Drama Club, I’ve come to realize how theater can bring people together in a way that no other form of art can, and Sing Sing illustrates that perfectly.
