A24 has developed a reputation for consistently exceptional independent films, and the solid early reviews for Marcel the Shell with Shoes On suggest that its winning streak will continue when the movie releases this week. The studio is in the middle of another great year, headlined by the highest-grossing movie in the history of the company, which is Everything, Everywhere, All at Once.
After almost a decade of producing thought-provoking films across all genres, A24 has set a high bar of quality for itself. The studio released a slate of 14 films in the last year that didn't misfire. Even the movies considered their worst are worth checking out, while its best have counted among the very best of recent cinema.
The Sky is Everywhere
The Sky is Everywhere is a coming-of-age romance focusing on the main character, Lennie, dealing with the grief of losing her sister. It is considered a fine film but lacks the eye-catching unique qualities that characterize so many of the studio's other productions.
With that being said, it's still an easy movie to recommend for fans of the YA genre. It's always interesting when film adaptations of popular books receive significant contributions from the author, and Jandy Nelson provides a solid script based on her young adult novel.
Men
Men is a folk horror directed by Alex Garland, about a widow who spends a holiday in an increasingly unsettling village. Unfortunately with this movie, Garland has headed in the wrong direction with his directorial work.
The movie does not reach the heights of Ex Machina or Annihilation, as most agree the movie suffers from a severe lack of subtlety surrounding the film's obvious metaphors. Despite its flaws, Men has strong performances by Jessie Buckley and Rory Kinnear and some well-executed horror sequences that help the film stand out.
The Humans
A painfully honest portrayal of Thanksgiving Dinner, The Humans explores the fraught tension and underlying darkness that often come with ritualistic family gatherings. Moments of authentic comedy alleviate the heavy atmosphere, ensuring that the film is depressing but still enjoyable.
The Humans has a great cast of performers capable of comedy and drama alike, and each member of the ensemble gets a chance to shine as Thanksgiving night wears along. Richard Jenkins delivers one of the best movie performances of his career as the family patriarch, communicating complex emotions in every scene.
The Souvenir Part II
A24 is not known for producing sequels, making this follow-up the 2019's The Souvenir a fun anomaly for the studio. Part II follows the aftermath of the first movie, with protagonist Julie dealing with complicated feelings as well as a journey of self-discovery.
Returning writer/director Joanna Hogg ensures that Part II is of the same high quality as the first film, if not quite as emotionally rich or memorable. As a result, both Souvenir films act as a brilliant showcase for ascending young actor Honor Swinton Bryne, the daughter of legendary thespian Tilda Swinton.
Red Rocket
For the last two decades, Simon Rex has been best known for producing comedic rap albums under the stage name Dirt Nasty. He proves that he is an artist to be taken seriously with his terrific performance in Red Rocket, where he plays a porn star looking to reverse his bad fortune.
Red Rocket's biggest strength is its unbridled authenticity. Director Sean Baker's follow-up to The Florida Project has all the lower-class gritty realism fans have come to expect from his work, creating a raw yet engrossing movie.
After Yang
A must-watch for fans of thought-provoking science-fiction, After Yang tells the story of a family trying to repair their malfunctioning robot daughter. The movie, made by South Korean filmmaker Kogonada, is a slow burn but comes to some startling revelations about love, loss, and human nature.
With so many new movies releasing every year, it's rare for a film to feel as wholly unique as After Yang. Kogonada is better known for making video essays about movies but it is fair to say that his next fictional movie will be highly anticipated.
Val
For someone known for his work in front of the camera, Val Kilmer has spent a surprising amount of his life behind one. Val is a documentary that condenses over 800 hours of footage Kilmer has shot throughout his life, creating a compelling narrative about the Hollywood star.
This is a unique and fascinating movie and has the potential to be a trailblazing movie in the future. With cameras being easily accessible to almost everyone from the moment they are born, this could mean that there will be many more films like Val in years to come.
Zola
A film adaptation of the viral Twitter thread "Y'all wanna hear a story..." from 2015, Zola is a wild, unforgettable film. Basing an entire script on tweets might seem like a far-fetched concept, but this story of a stripping job gone wrong is equal parts funny and terrifying.
The filmmaking, overall, is creative and extravagant, while also portraying a gritty tale of women in the sex industry. Lead actresses Taylour Paige and Riley Keough give great performances here, grounding the film in realism despite the consistently bizarre events taking place onscreen.
X
It has been many years since the slasher film was in vogue, but X harkens back to the golden age of the genre with a pulse-pounding scream fest for the ages. Director Ti West directly homages the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre film in X with horror movie tropes, and sights and sounds that reference the 1974 classic.
Rapper Kid Cudi is known to occasionally lend his talents to the silver screen, and his memorable role in X helps the film stand out amongst the recent glut of horror releases.
C'Mon C'Mon
It's fair to say at this point that when Joaquin Pheonix appears in a movie, good performances are sure to follow. In fact, it would be noteworthy if he ever gave a bad performance, and this certainly does not happen in C'Mon C'Mon, where he develops exceptional chemistry with young actor Woody Norman.
This is a quiet, reflective film that has a lot to say about children and their thoughts about the future they will inherit. Even those with a heart of stone will be charmed by the close relationship that develops between uncle and nephew throughout the film.
The Tragedy of Macbeth
A faithful adaptation of the classic Shakespeare play, The Tragedy of Macbeth rides high on the shoulders of its impressive cast headlined by Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand.
The revered Coen brothers are known for collaborating with each other on all their films, but The Tragedy of Macbeth is written and directed only by Joel. He manages just fine without his brother, creating a great piece of Shakespearean art. Shakspeare never sounds better than when they're delivered by top-notch actors like this, with some best-delivered quotes in this adaptation. The greatest performance of the film though is by Kathryn Hunter, who delivers a haunting performance as the witches.
Lamb
One of the most singular movies in recent memory, Lamb tells the story of a family who raises a human/sheep hybrid as their own daughter. The cross-species monstrosity is surprisingly endearing, and over the course of the film, the viewer comes to care for young Ada just as her parents do.
The first two acts of Lamb are great, but they're just set up for the wave of complex emotions in the film's finale. Noomi Rapace gives a great performance, making sure the viewer acutely feels each of those nuanced sentiments.
The Green Knight
The story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight has been told many times, but never with this level of top-notch production value and expert deconstruction of the story's themes. This revisionist take on Camalot lore ponders the morality of the conflicted Sir Gawain, a character that is historically portrayed as a cheesy childlike hero.
The Green Knight gives viewers a lot to think about, but it's also a drop-dead gorgeous film. The world of Medieval Europe is a sight to behold, supplemented with subtle, realistic computer effects. All of it makes for one of the best films ever to feature King Arthur.
Everything Everywhere All At Once
So far the undisputed indie darling of 2022, Everything Everywhere All At Once is considered an absolute triumph. Comic book properties have thoroughly over-exposed the idea of multiverse storytelling, but this film breathes new life into the concept with a unique, riveting tale of self-discovery.
Perhaps the most incredible aspect of Everything Everywhere All At Once is how it expertly blends genres like science fiction, comedy, martial arts, and more. Michelle Yeoh anchors the film with a strong performance that will hopefully result in an overdue acting nomination come awards season.