The Best Movies of 2022 So Far

THE BATMAN

There’s no question that this is the best Batman flick since The Dark Knight. Robert Pattinson is perfection as the young Caped Crusader, all dark, moody, and tied-up in torment. Scarred from the inside out and fueled by fear and anger, this Batman is in search of his purpose in co-writer/director Matt Reeves‘ extraordinary comic book epic that’s brilliantly masked as a gritty crime thriller. Batman is more of a hard-hitting detective than the superhero we’ve seen in movies before, and it’s a thrilling sight. Right when we think we’ve seen it all from such iconic characters, Reeves gives fans something unprecedented and unbelievably exciting. The almost three hour runtime flies by because you’re categorically captivated by what has been assembled onscreen. First-rate performances, astonishing imagery, Michael Giacchino‘s spectacular score – this Dark Knight newbie is a true triumph.

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

Exploding with extraordinary creativity and style, this is an innovative, incomparable Daniels film that’s equally absurd and awe-inspiring. At the core of this lovely genre-bending, funny, and mind-blowing journey through a multiverse is true emotional depth. It’s a spectacular salute to the human condition. And there are so many great performances, but it doesn’t get any better than Michelle Yeoh. Trust me, nothing will prepare you for this outstanding original creation that only the madcap minds behind Swiss Army Man could bring into existence. Movie lovers are assuredly all the better for it.

APOLLO 10 1/2: A SPACE AGE CHILDHOOD

Bursting with a stellar sense of wonder and nostalgia, this animated coming-of-age tale magically transports us back to a more innocent time where kids could be kids. It’s the summer of 1969, and in the suburbs of Houston is a boy who dreams of going to space as his excitement builds for the Apollo 11 moon landing. At the same time, with an abundance of warmth and charm, we float through a picturesque portrait of the times he’s living in. Returning to his unique style of rotoscope animation, writer/director Richard Linklater gets purely personal while mixing the historical with the fantastical. The remarkable detailing of his own cherished memories during such a celebrated chapter of America will have you missing, remembering, and appreciating your own childhood and the lasting impression it leaves as adulthood takes over.

THE NORTHMAN

There’s hell-raising of epic proportions in this blood-soaked tale of Viking vengeance that’s entrenched in unearthly Norse mythology. It’s magical, barbaric, and tremendously transportive as we watch a young Prince morph into a butchering beast with only three things on his mind: avenge his father (Ethan Hawke), save his mother (Nicole Kidman), and kill Fjölnir (Claes Bang). Co-starring Willem Dafoe, Björk, and Anya Taylor-Joy, there’s not a single performance that’s not captivating. Nevertheless, Alexander Skarsgård is on a whole other level in his portrayal of Amleth. His physicality alone is astonishing. He’s unleashed like never before, embodying a character whose heart is full of hate.

The frontline worldbuilding is breathtaking with the cinematography and score being all but consuming. And while it’s certainly true this is director Robert Eggers most accessible film to date – his utterly unique and ingenious vision hasn’t gone anywhere. He takes us on an extraordinary exploration in not being able to escape one’s fate that’s volcanic and unforgiving; yet, still finds a way to be altogether morally ambiguous and undeniably spiritual.

TOP GUN: MAVERICK

Our need for speed is insanely indulged with the calm, cool, and incomparable Tom Cruise as our captain. This illustrious legacy sequel flies laps around the cherished original, soaring to astonishing new heights that’ll leave you breathless. Nostalgia serves as an irresistible wingman, but director Joseph Kosinski and crew aim for something more substantial, and they pull it off masterfully. The aerial action is the showstopper, though Cruise isn’t one to be outdone. Rocking the old jacket and shades – he’s in top form on land and in the sky. Exhilarating, emotional, and entertaining to the max – it’s a thrill ride that’s rarely experienced on this level at the movies. A spectacular summer blockbuster for the ages.

HOLD YOUR FIRE

Fear, racism police violence, and the meaning of masculinity are enwrapped within this excellent, efficient and effective doc about the longest hostage siege in NYPD history – all the while becoming the origin of what we now recognize as hostage negotiation thanks to an insightful police psychologist. Writer/director Stefan Forbes does a sensational job remaining impartial, approaching this forgotten historical moment in 1972 Brooklyn from every side so we can decide for ourselves what went down inside those 47+ hours.

And Forbes’ focus isn’t solely on the cops and robbers, but on the hostages and their families as well who suffered because of a bad decision made by four young black Muslim men. It’s an intensely complicated situation that’s richly layered, raising issues that currently divide our country. The compelling footage, sounds, and conflicting perspectives from those who were there considerably create a truly fascinating and affecting watch that no one should miss out on.

THE INNOCENTS

Writer/director Eskil Vogt’s haunting art-house fable about a group of kids who discover they have telekinetic powers is rigidly told from their perspective, providing a distinctive, magnetic experience that seeps into the skin. They naively play with these new abilities at first, but something darker and more disturbing and dangerous slowly creeps out. Through it all, Vogt persists in keeping his story in the real world with an exceptionally eerie and consuming atmosphere. With phenomenal young performances at the helm – it’s a chilling look at precious childhood innocence and the desperately delicate balance transpiring at a very young age between good and evil.

CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH

An eminently charming, funny, and honest coming-of-age story about the passages we go through in life and the search for love never going according to plan. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Shithouse, but writer-director-star Cooper Raiff has upped his game immensely with his sophomore feature, and his chemistry with the phenomenal Dakota Johnson is electric. Also, in her acting debut, Vanessa Burghardt is a revelation. In every scene, the film irrefutably shows how deeply Raiff cares for his well-disposed characters. And in doing so, we so easily relate to them on a more personal level, cuddling their kindness while forgiving their faults. With unexpected yet irresistible optimism and empathy, this sweet little gem will capture your whole heart.

But That’s Not All…

• Elvis
• RRR
• Navalny
• The Phantom of the Open
• On the Count of Three
• The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
• Marcel the Shell With Shoes On
• Lightyear
• Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
• Ambulance
• The Black Phone
• The Outfit

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Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association and the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.

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