best of 2022: movies

Finally, it's time for my favorite movies of 2022!  A few notes first:

- Not all of these these were first released in 2022, but that's when I first saw them.

- These are in random order, though I made note of my absolute favorite.

- If I watch something between now and the end of the year that belongs on this list, I'll update accordingly.

- UPDATE 12/23:  I replaced Nomadland with Glass Onion.

- As always, your mileage may vary.

1. Everything Everywhere All at Once:  A woman (Michelle Yeoh) unwittingly gets involved in interdimensional shenanigans in this visually unique and very strange movie.  

2. Glass Onion:  A tech billionaire invites a group of friends to stay on his private Greek island, but when someone is killed, famous detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig, having a blast) investigates.  Very clever and a lot of fun!  My second favorite movie of 2022.

3. The Gray Man:  A CIA agent (Ryan Gosling) tries to stay one step ahead of an ex-CIA agent (Chris Evans, playing against type) who wants a valuable piece of intel.  Super exciting and a lot of fun.

4. The Black Phone:  When Finney is abducted by a masked serial killer (Ethan Hawke) and thrown into a basement, he gets help from an unusual source.  Great sense of time and place, and an excellent performance by Mason Thames as Finney.

5. Turning Red:  Mei finds adolescence to be a real beast...literally, as she turns into a red panda when her emotions run high.  Another funny and touching hit from Pixar.

6. Don't Look Up:  Two scientists (Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence) desperately try to warn the world about an impending meteor strike in this slyly funny and trenchant movie.  My favorite movie of 2022!

7. War Dogs:  Two old friends (Jonah Hill and Miles Teller) become arms dealers and land a lucrative contract with the U.S. Army.  Needless to say, they hit a few snags along the way.  This intriguing and often funny movie is based on a true story.

8. Jackass Forever:  More delightfully crude, hysterically funny, and dangerous antics from the Jackass crew.

9. Uncut Gems:  Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler, who's exceptional) is a jeweller who keeps digging himself into a deeper hole in this unrelentingly tense flick.

10. Barbarian:  A woman shows up to her AirBnB, only to find that it's been double booked.  I'll leave it at that, because the less you know about this movie going in, the better.  I was tense the whole time and never knew quite where it was heading, which is always fun.  A great time!

SEEN IN THEATERS:  With Miss Rona AND RSV floating around?  No thanks!

MADE ME CRY (OR AT LEAST TEAR UP):  Pig; Little Monsters; Turning Red; Don't Look Up; Hunt for the Wilderpeople; Spider-Man: No Way Home; Roadrunner; Violet Evergarden; Everything Everywhere All at Once; Lightyear; Top Gun: Maverick; Luckiest Girl Alive; Barbarian; Nomadland; DC League of Super-Pets