Movies 2024

Another year for lots of great movies and I'm still a proud AMC A-Lister. Roughly 200 movies watched (including short films, comedy specials, etc.) with roughly 60 in theaters. My attention span continues to slip so I continue to enjoy sitting in a theater with few distractions. My Movie Club crew assists me in revisiting older movies that are new to me (Chinatown, On the Waterfront, An American in Paris). Anyhow, lots of solid movies this year.

A few themes from the year:

• Original vs. existing IP
• The box office was ruled by existing IP (Inside Out 2, Deadpool & Wolverine) though my favorites were ruled by original IP. 
• Old white men directors doing whatever the hell they want.
• Francis Ford Coppola making the mess that is Megalopolis. I was able to attend a screening with a live AMC employee interacting with the movie, as Coppola intended.
• Ridley Scott making Gladiator II, complete with battle scenes featuring baboons and sharks.
• Clint Eastwood making a 1990's John Grisham-esque courtroom thriller which was actually pretty fun to watch.
• Musicals popping up all over the place.
• Expected: Wicked (great!) and Mean Girls (not bad).
• Unexpected: Emilia Perez (what?), Joker: Folie a Deux (what??), The End (okay I haven't seen this one).

Below are 20 of my favorites released in 2024 (or, released widely, in 2024). Then a bunch of Honorable Mentions and Highly Anticipated.

20. Strange Darling
This horror thriller had me on my toes. Very twisty. Very gritty.

19. Robot Dreams 

A unique heartfelt oddball animated dream. And what else could one want in this day and age?

18. Will & Harper

A queer Will Ferrell documentary was not on my 2024 bingo card. But this doc is just a lovely. A road trip buddy comedy doc of Will and his old SNL pal Harper, recently out as a trans women, road trip across the country, chatting about life and now that Harper is out. 101 when it comes to trans issues but the close relational nature of the movie is sincere and a touching entry point for folks with any level of queer education.

17. Kneecap

What a fun movie. Two teenage Irish boys and their high school teacher form a rap group and are punks but also have something to say about language and colonialism. But again, a fun movie.

16. Thelma

June Squib is a national treasure. Here she plays an action movie protagonist, seeking justice after getting scammed by a phone con-man. Hilarious and so well done.

15. I Saw the TV Glow

I 100% did not understand this movie until after listening to a podcast / reading an article or two afterwards. And then it all came together. But this queer fantastical (light) horror movie gets all the points for being thoughtful and unique and having a killer soundtrack. (Negative points for being a little too dense for this bonehead.)

14. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

It's no Fury Road but it still kicks ass. George Miller continues to craft epic dustland steampunk (?) action flicks that are a delight for the senses and have a sturdy enough story to hold up. Solid contributions from Taylor-Joy and Hemsworth.

13. Sing Sing

I wept multiple times when seeing this in theater. It's just lovely. Based on a true story of a theater crew within a prison. Many of the movie actors are graduates from the actual prison theater program. Colman Domingo crushes it per usual though all of the performances are fantastic.

12. Inside Out 2

The other movie where I shed a tear (the moment anxiety is both frozen and whirling around). Inside Out is an all-time fave and while this may not match the original, I thought it a solid follow-up. An expanded cast of emotions, solid jokes, an emotionally honest entry to the saga.

11. Flow

A cat and a rag-tag crew of misfit animals in a post-apocalyptic water world. No dialogue. I was enraptured the entire time.

10. Dune: Part Two
Denis Villeneuve is a master of world building. Timothée and Zendaya and Florence and Austin are all great. 

9. The Substance

So much style. Demi and Margaret were flawless. And it's nice to see a movie unique and weird.

8. Conclave

Who knew the selection of the pope could provide such a riveting mystery thriller? I was engaged front to back. Well acted and shot.

7. Didi 

We love a coming-of-age story and Dìdi did just that, following Chris, a Taiwanese-American eighth grader. Set in 2008 so it gets all the nostalgia points. And the supporting cast were real three dimensional people as well.

6. Babygirl

Nicole is so good. The journey she goes on in this movie. The music. The hott people. 

5. Wicked
Outside of the year of heavy marketing and non-stop product placements, I came into this movie cold. Hadn't listened to the soundtrack, hadn't seen the production. It was so much fun! For 2.5 hours! Wonderfully acted/sung, choreographed, and the production sets just fantastic. Lived up to the hype for me.

4. My Old Ass
The sweet indie movie we needed this year. The science-fiction component - 18 year old Elliott meets her 39 year old self - is a central part of the movie but there's no time wasted on the mechanics of the time travel. It's queer, it's family, it's sad love story. Yes to all of these things.

3. A Real Pain

A near perfect travel-buddy movie. Kieran and Jesse play cousins going on a Holocaust movie across Poland in memory of their recently deceased grandmother. They are fully realized characters. The dialogue is perfect. It feels honest. I enjoyed it so much. And it was a tight 90. 

2. Challengers

Three hotties in a tennis love triangle. The shots of sweaty legs. The pulsing music. The tennis ball POV. This is cinema. 

1. Anora

Mikey is a revelation. This movie had me enthralled the entire long-ass runtime. A dancer/sex worker marries a Russian oligarch on a whim and they have the time of their lives and things go poorly but not in a deeply dark way. I loved it. I was completely in this world start to finish.

Honorable Mention (Listed Alphabetically)

• The American Society of Magical Negroes 

• Babes 

• Beetlejuice Beetlejuice 

• Blink Twice 

• Blitz

• La Chimera

• Civil War

• A Complete Unknown

• Daughters 

• The Devil’s Climb 

• The Fall Guy

• Ghostlight 

• Gladiator II

• His Three Daughters

• Kinds of Kindness

• Longlegs  

• Love Lies Bleeding

• Madame Web

• Mean Girls (2024)

• Monkey Man

• National Anthem

• Origin 

• Prom Dates

• Players 

• Problemista 

• Queer

• A Quiet Place: Day One

• Small Things Like These

• Trap

• Tuesday 

• Twisters

• The Wild Robot

• Woman of the Hour

• Y2K

Highly Anticipated (Listed Alphabetically)

• All We Imagine As Light
• The Apprentice
• The Brutalist
• Dahomey
• A Different Man
• The Fire Inside
• Nickel Boys
• In Between Temples
• The Seed of the Sacred Fig
• September 5

Television 2024

We're in the television glut era. There's too much to watch and I'm dreadfully behind. While the number of mid shows has increased, the upper echelon remains strong. My mental capacity to watch hour long dramas continues to wane so there's lot of comedy/dramadies. There's no Apple TV+ shows on my list because that's the streamer up next on my watch-list. As usual, my mix includes both returner shows and new ones. My top 15 plus Honorable Mentions and Highly Anticipated lists.

15. The Traitors (season 2, Peacock)

The breakout show is back for a season two. They've upleveled some of the game mechanics. Alan Cumming's capes, hats, canes, and kilts are firing on all cylinders. One day I'll break into the UK, Australia, and other international editions.

14. Only Murder in the Building (season 4, Hulu)

The jokes are still hitting. The supporting cast is somehow more a-list than previous seasons. The murder mystery had one too many red herrings getting too convoluted. But The core trio and supporting cast delivery makes this show worth its time.

13. The Bear (season 3, FX/Hulu)

Jeremy and Ayo. Chicago vibes. The soundtrack. Not the knock-out season the sophomore year gave us but still heads and shoulders above many others. Can't wait for more. 

12. Girls5eva (season 3, Netflix)

I'll follow the Tina Fey television universe wherever it goes. Thankful Girls5eva was picked up by Netflix (then promptly dropped). I'll take whatever I can of the pop girlies. 

11. Black Doves (season 1, Netflix)

It's a bloody assassin Christmas show starring Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw! What's not to love?

10. Heartstopper (season 3, Netflix)

I started to feel the a very special episode nature this season a little more but my heart did still bubble over with warmth while watching.

9. A Man on the Inside (season 1, Netflix)

Another Michael Schur (The Good Place, Parks & Rec) joint. Ted Danson's character goes undercover in this goofy and heartfelt comedy that wrestles with aging and family and is just so sweet.

8. The Sex Lives of College Girls (season 3, Max)

Sharp writing, jokes jokes jokes, solid delivery by the central cast. I could hang out with these girls indefinitely. Hoping they go to grad school or change majors enough to be super-seniors.

7. Somebody Somewhere (season 3, Max)

Lived in characters. Rough around the edges. Queer folks doing the found family thing in small town Kansas. Brad's (Tim Bagley) reflections on his ex-wife at the Thanksgiving table just got me. So sad this is the final season. Hoping the crew reunites in a little while. 

6. What We Do in the Shadows (season 6, FX/Hulu)

This show never wavered and this final season had some absolute banger episodes. Comedy at its best with such an odd-ball sensibility. 

5. English Teacher (season 1, FX/Hulu)

Very of the times show and very funny. Brian Jordan Alvarez plays a high school English teacher in Austin, Texas. The identity politics play central stage, occasionally in an on-the-nose way but also flipped and reversed on the regular. 

4. Nobody Wants This (season 1, Netflix)

Adam Brody and Kristen Bell in a rom-com series that lightly but honestly deals with religion and the pursuit of being better. Yes, please. 

3. Abbot Elementary (seasons 3 & 4, ABC/Hulu)

The Abbot crew hasn't missed yet. The ensemble cast continues to give the laughs and we've gotten some very fun cameos as well. More more more. 

2. Mr. & Mrs. Smith (season 1, Prime Video)

I don't think anyone was clamoring for a Mr. & Mrs. Smith reboot. Maya and Donald carry this show. Really strong leads. The locations for the shoots, the outfits, the overall cool of this show. Strong. 

 

1. Hacks (season 3, Max)

Hacks has been killing it from the start. Now in season 3, they've established the characters and environment enough that they're just luxuriating in their top tier status. Deborah and Ava are fully realized with layered inner lives and continued whip-smart dialogue between the two. There were a handful of times of watching that I've thought to myself: wow, this is great television. Can't wait for more.

Honorable Mention (Listed Alphabetical)

• Agatha All Along (season 1, Disney+)
• Bob's Burgers (season 15, Fox/Hulu)
• Claim to Fame (season 3, ABC/Hulu)
• Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show (season 1, Max)
• One Day (limited series, Netflix)
• The Perfect Couple (limited series, Netflix)
• Rupaul's Drag Race (season 16, Paramount+)
• Rupaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 9, Paramount+)
• X-Mean '97 (season 1, Disney+)
• Welcome to Wrexham (season 3, FX/Hulu)

Highly Anticipated (Listed Alphabetical)

• Baby Reindeer (limited series, Netflix)
• Dark Matter (season 1, Apple TV+)
• The Diplomat (season 2, Netflix)
• Disclaimer (limited series, Apple TV+)
• Heartbreak High (season 2, Netflix)
• Industry (season 2, HBO/Max)
• Laid (season 1, Peacock)
• Loot (season 2, Apple TV+)
• The Madness (season 1, Netflix)
• Palm Royale (season 1, Apple TV+)
• Queer Eye (season 9, Netflix)
• Ripley (limited series, Netflix)
• Sort Of (season 3, Max)
• True Detective: Night Country (season 4, HBO/Max)
• We Are Lady Parts (season 2, Peacock)

Music 2024

 

While the pop girlies have been leveling up the last few years, this year, they really dominated the cultural conversation. "Brat summer" became so ubiquitous that Kamala HQ took it on with their late summer branding. "Do you think they're going to play Hot to Go!?" was asked at funerals, classical concerts, and middle school plays for Tick-Toks. Espresso could not be avoided. And of course the Taylor & Beyoncé spring releases with the eras tour continuing its dominance and Beyoncé giving a Super Bowl level half-time performance on Christmas day on Netflix. 

I fell victim to the charm of many of the aforementioned "pop girly" artists in addition to a few others. And, a few other miscellaneous artists snuck into my top ten. Some old favorites - Vampire Weekend, Kendrick Lamar, a new local favorite - Indy band Wishy, and newbie rap phenom Doechii. 

Live, I have two highlights: 

1. Vampire Weekend performed at the Everwise Amphitheater with a massive setlist, sounded great, tons of banter, took requests for cover songs, and totally redeemed my perception of their live shows (from a couple shows 10+ years ago). 

2. Hurray for the Riff Raff performed at the Hi-Fi in Fountain Square. They blew the roof off at this small venue. Expert lyricist while also rocking out. I'm new to this band but I'll be listening more closey moving forward.

Okay, my top ten albums along with subsequent Honorable Mentions.

And a playlist of 100 songs with fave tracks.

10. Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us

The boys are back. The album calls back to their early albums while maintaining their evolved production and creativity. Their live shows can't be missed as they're fully comfortable. Track Mary Boone is a masterpiece of sound.

9. Doechii - Alligator Bites Never Heal

Doechii is dominating the rap scene. Her album slaps. Incredible flow and a fresh voice. Check her performances on Colbert and Tiny Desk and with Issa.

8. Wishy - Triple Seven

Hometown (Indy) heroes. Gauzy garage band goodness. Triple Seven is their LP debut and it's great. Looking forward to seeing more of them. 

7. Sabrina Carpenter - Short n' Sweet

Pure pop. Naughty with a wink. The sharpest writing and delivery. 

6. Kendrick Lamar - GNX

Relaxed and cool. Without the grandiose nature of Mr. Morale, GNX is Kendrick at ease, doing what he does best. Can't wait to see his Super Bowl performance and live next summer. Also, of course, the diss battle with Drake gave us euphoria and Not Like Us. 

5. Remi Wolf - Big Ideas

Remi's always been cool. Here she's fully come into her own, feeling confident and collected. She's kept her sense of edge while creating a sound that's full and realized. 

4. Clairo - Charm

Ideal Sunday morning album. Laid back and warm. Love the movement from bedroom pop to 1970s pop. Keep them coming, Clairo!

3. Gracie Abrams - The Secret of Us

Apparently gets some slack but she knows how to write a pop song.

2. Beyoncé - Cowboy Carter

Queen Bey goes country(ish). In anticipation of this one, I wasn't sure what would result. She doesn't miss. Collaborations ranging from country royalty to up-and-comers. 

1. Charli XCX - Brat

Brat discourse dominated the cultural conversation this year, a result of good marketing. Good thing the base product holds up. Charli has been at it for a minute and she's firing on all cylinders here. Pop bangers, club hits, while also maintaining a level of authenticity and vulnerability. Then, she released the expanded version. Then, she released an a-list collab remix album that maintains the Brat heart while creating something entirely new. 

Honorable Mention (listed alphabetically)

• Omar Apollo - God Said No
• Billie Eilish - HIT ME HARD AND SOFT 
• Bon Iver - SABLE,
• Everyone's Getting Involved: A Tribute to Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense
• Rui Gabriel - Compassion
• Hovvdy - self-titled
• Hurray for the Riff Raff - The Past is Still Alive
• I Saw the TV Glow soundtrack
• Jamie XX - In Waves
• Dua Lipa - Radical Optimism
• Kacey Musgraves - Deeper Well
• Porches - Joker
• Maggie Rogers - Don't Forget Me
• Taylor Swift - The Tortured Poets Department
• SZA - SOS Deluxe: LANA
• Toro y Moi - Hole Earth
• Transa (compilation album)