Issue 31: Favorite Films of 2024
Currently on my favorite films of the year.
This year, I watched a total of 115 films, 67 of which were 2024 releases. These are the 10 that stood out the most to me. While my personal preferences heavily influenced this list, I also made an effort to highlight some overlooked gems that deserve more attention. It’s worth noting that a few highly anticipated 2024 releases, like The Brutalist and Nickel Boys, haven’t been widely released yet. Once I have the chance to see them, this list might be updated.
10) The Remarkable Life of Ibelin
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin documents the story of Mats Steen, a Norwegian gamer who died of a degenerative muscular disease at the age of 25. It uniquely blends World of Warcraft video game footage with real-life conversations, creating a moving tribute to the impact Mats had on others. It’s funny, emotional, and proof of how friendship, community, and love can exist in a digital world. (Streaming on Netflix)
9) Conclave
Conclave is a nuanced political thriller set within the Vatican, where 118 Cardinals grapple with power struggles following the Pope’s death. The film balances high tension with slow deliberation through a smart script and a sharp ensemble cast. Its cinematography is stunning and contrasts old-fashioned rituals with modern-day habits. Even without a deep knowledge of Catholicism, Conclave offers an engaging glimpse behind the Vatican’s closed doors with quiet scenes and a loud message. (Streaming on Peacock)
8) No Other Land
No Other Land is an unsettling documentary about the destruction experienced by a group of Palestinian villages at the hands of the Israeli military. Led by a Palestinian-Israeli collective of directors over five years, they film and protest the demolitions of homes and schools and the resulting displacement of their inhabitants, which were carried out to make way for Israeli military training ground. No Other Land displays the resilience of those displaced and serves as an urgent call to action to instigate change. (Seeking distribution)
7) Dune: Part Two
Dune: Part Two was hands down my favorite blockbuster of the year, offering a visually stunning and immersive experience. Even though I’m not familiar with the source material, the film is an ambitious achievement of sci-fi adaptation. The world-building is expansive, creating a vast and detailed universe. It’s such a cinematic masterpiece that, much like Star Wars and The Matrix, is bound to inspire future generations of filmmakers to come. (Streaming on Max)
6) Ghostlight
Ghostlight follows a construction worker who unexpectedly joins a community theater production of Romeo & Juliet. The play’s tragedies mirror the protagonist’s journey, blurring the lines between life and art in profound ways. With a real-life family as the film’s lead characters, the cast delivers relatable performances that enhance the film’s small-town charm. Ultimately, Ghostlight is a warm, tender reminder of how art reflects our lives and has the power to be a light during the darkest times. (Streaming on AMC+)
5) Dìdi
Dìdi is about an impressionable Taiwanese American teen struggling to navigate adolescence in 2008. He copes by finding solace in pop-punk music, skateboarding, and making videos. The film resonated with me, as its themes mirrored my own middle school experience in rural Pennsylvania. Dìdi beautifully captures the complexities of growing up and is a reminder to embrace who you truly are and appreciate those who accept you, even if they don’t fully understand you. (Streaming on Peacock)
4) My Old Ass
My Old Ass questions youth, mortality, and identity through the eyes of 18-year-old Elliott who meets her older self. Rather than being campy or high-concept sci-fi, the film is a grounded exploration of who we think we are vs. who we might become. It’s a genuine, funny, and refreshing coming-of-age dramedy that challenges us to ask not “What’s next?” but “What now?” (Streaming on Prime Video)
3) A Real Pain
A Real Pain centers on two estranged cousins reuniting in an airport, bound for Poland on a Holocaust-themed tour. Eisenberg and Culkin’s performances are grounded and charming, providing an intimate look into relationships with strangers, family, ourselves, and the past. It’s a heartfelt and humorous reflection on the complexities that bind us, showing that you should support those you love, even if they are a real pain in the ass. (For rent on Apple, streaming January 16 on Hulu)
2) Civil War
Civil War follows a group of journalists navigating the front lines of a speculative second civil war. On the surface, it’s a road trip film about a ragtag group traveling from place to place documenting the chaos. Beneath the surface, however, it becomes a brutal and visceral examination of war’s consequences, our growing desensitization to violence, and the ethical complexities of modern media. It’s a bold, unflinching look at the cost of violence, told through the lens of those closest to it. (Streaming on Max)
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1) Sing Sing
In 2017, I chose to redefine myself as an artist which sparked a personal journey of discovery, healing, and expression, and it’s this transformative power of art that is at the heart of the upcoming film Sing Sing. Based on the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts program at Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison, Sing Sing follows a wrongfully imprisoned man who finds purpose through theater. With a cast primarily made up of formerly incarcerated actors, Sing Sing beautifully showcases the resilience of the human spirit and underlines the simple truth that art is empowering, healing, and important. (Coming soon to Apple)
📣 Honorable Mentions
Here are a few films that didn’t quite make my top 10 but still deserve a shoutout for their unique vision or message: The Last Stop in Yuma County, I Saw the TV Glow, It’s What’s Inside, and Join or Die.
Thank you for reading, for following along, and for your trust. I hope I’ve introduced you to something new, inspiring, or resonant this year.
— Justin