With most COVID restrictions lifted or eased in 2022, cinema visits have been back on the menu, though streaming has remained very popular. As such, there has been a wealth of new films for buffs to enjoy. Personally, I think it’s been an extremely strong year, particularly if you dig below the surface of the mainstream fare.
As the dust has now settled on 2022, the Blueprint: Review team, as per usual, has collated their individual lists of favourite films released in the year.
The boutique Blu-ray/UHD labels have been spoiling us rotten this year too, with numerous high-profile releases to excite the collectors among us. As such, I and several other writers have added our lists of favourite first-time watches and physical releases for you to read.
If you’re interested in what I saw in 2022 and beyond, I try to keep tabs of everything I watch, new or otherwise, at Letterboxd. It’s a cool site if you’re not aware of it, offering a social network for film geeks and a place to track the films you’ve seen or want to see.
Below are the top 10’s and other lists of the year from a handful of our contributors. As always, let us know your thoughts in the comments section and feel free to include your own lists.
I’ve included links to reviews when available.
David Brook
Top 10 New Releases (going by widespread UK release dates with a couple of sneaky early festival screenings in there)
10. Moonage Daydream – This stunningly presented doc does a wonderful job of getting across what made David Bowie special. Eschewing the usual talking heads arse-kissing you get from most celebrity profiles, it lets the artist tell his own story, whilst retaining his enigmatic aura.
9. Everything Everywhere All At Once – The Daniels’ film came on a wave of hype but lived up to expectations, delivering an emotionally affecting, mind-boggling and refreshingly unique experience. It does feel a bit overloaded at times but it was such a pleasure to watch I had to have it on my list.
8. The Quiet Girl – This intimate drama about a neglected young girl experiencing love through the care of relative strangers is a subtle, touching and beautiful film that isn’t getting nearly enough attention.
7. Avatar: The Way of Water – Yes, you could argue this is just more of the same and the story is pretty generic at its heart but, you know what, as a cinematic experience this was unparalleled this year, in my opinion. I imagine a home viewing would knock the film down several notches, but on IMAX 3D I was blown away by how stunningly realised and immersive Cameron’s world was.
6. Playground – Another title that I sadly have heard very little about on the awards circuit or end-of-year lists is Laura Wandel’s Playground. Taking an intense, up-close-and-personal child’s-eye-view of life at school, it turns playground scuffles and bullying into the traumatic incidents they can truly be for the young people at their centre. Catch it on MUBI as soon as you can.
5. Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy – Drive My Car enjoyed widespread acclaim last year but when Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s other 2021 film, Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy got a wider release in 2022 it sadly arrived with little fanfare. Another one you can catch on MUBI in the UK, it’s a superb anthology film that tells a trio of beautifully realised, minimalist personal dramas.
4. RRR – You could easily pick fault in S.S. Rajamouli’s ludicrously over-the-top melodramatic action movie. The ‘British’ supporting cast are laughable, little respect for basic physics is shown in the set-pieces and it verges on xenophobia in places with its depiction of the Brits, for instance, but who cares when a film is this much fun. I had a big smile on my face throughout this 3-hour epic and it made me desperate to watch more wild Indian spectacles like this.
3. Close – This is not actually out until March in the UK, but I managed to catch it at a festival and had to have it on my list. This story of young friendship and guilt is low-key but devastatingly powerful. Like Playground, the young person’s perspective is incredibly effective.
2. Aftersun – This was another much-praised title that thankfully lived up to the hype. It’s a quietly powerful film that balances various themes, including coming-of-age drama, estranged father-daughter relationships, memory and loss. What pushed this film so high in my list was how long it lingered with me afterwards. I couldn’t stop thinking about it and the ideas explored in the film blossomed over time. It deserves every award going this year.
1. The Blue Caftan – My number one pick, however, is another film that hasn’t had a widespread release yet in the UK but has played a few festivals over here. With The Blue Caftan, Maryam Touzani has crafted an achingly tender ode to love in various forms. In the opening sequences, I felt I knew where it would go but Touzani avoids the melodramatic traps I expected from a story of hidden desire in a restrictive environment. The subtle approach still resulted in turning me into a gibbering wreck by the end though, and not necessarily out of sadness. Let’s hope the film gets the attention it deserves once it starts to hit cinemas this year.
Honourable mentions (all still 4.5-star-rated films, in my books) – The Northman, The Innocents, Clara Sola, The Banshees of Inisherin, Turning Red, My Father’s Dragon, Living, Licorice Pizza
Notable films missed or not released in the UK yet – The Fablemans, All Quiet on the Western Front, Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood, The Wonder, Tár
Top 20 Older First Time Watches
* Click on the links to read full reviews when available
20. The Big Racket
19. Dreadnaught
18. Execution in Autumn
17. Extreme Prejudice
16. Midnight Cowboy
15. Tangerine (2015)
14. A Fugitive from the Past
13. I Was Born, But…
12. The Funeral (1984)
11. Sabotage (1936)
10. Shadow of a Doubt
9. The 400 Blows
8. Dragon’s Return
7. Love (Szerelem, 1969)
6. Dead Man
5. Pale Flower
4. Army of Shadows
3. In Cold Blood
2. The Gunfighter
1. Destry Rides Again
Honourable mentions – The Most Dangerous Game (1932), Red Angel, The Devil’s Trap, Petite Maman, Stone Cold, The Harder They Fall (1956), Ghostwatch
Favourite Blu-Rays of the Year
TOP 20 SINGLE TITLE RELEASES:
20. The Swimmer – Indicator
19. In Cold Blood – Criterion
18. Extreme Prejudice – Studiocanal
17. ‘Round Midnight – Criterion
16. Dick Johnson is Dead – Criterion
15. Crazy Thunder Road – Third Window
14. Nightmare Alley – Signal One
13. Boat People – Criterion
12. The Party and the Guests – Second Run
11. Eve’s Bayou – Criterion
10. Ghostwatch – 101 Films
9. To Sleep So as to Dream – Arrow
8. Dead Man – Criterion
7. Skinny Tiger and Fatty Dragon – Eureka
6. Vengeance is Mine, All Others Pay Cash – Arrow
5. Modern Times – Criterion
4. Vampyr – Eureka
3. The Draughtsman’s Contract – BFI
2. Tangerine – Second Sight
1. Police Story 3: Supercop – Eureka
There were loads of great discs put out this year, but Eureka’s release of Supercop made the top as it hit all my sweet spots, with a hugely enjoyable film, stunning transfer and mountains of extras that were fun to work through.
Honourable mentions – Red Angel, Remember the Night – Indicator, Shaolin Plot – Eureka, Love (Szerelem) – Second Run, Larks on a String – Second Run, Yes, Madam! – Eureka, The Phantom of the Monastery – Indicator, The Velvet Underground – Criterion, A Time For Dying – Indicator, Odd Couple – Eureka
TOP 10 MULTI-FILM BOX SETS:
10. The Cat and the Canary/Ghost Breakers – Eureka
9. South & the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration – BFI
8. Desire & All My Good Countrymen – Second Run
7. Son of the White Mare and other early works by Marcell Jankovics – Eureka
6. Rogue Cops and Racketeers – Arrow
5. Angela Mao – Lady Whirlwind & Hapkido – Eureka
4. Warriors Two & The Prodigal Son – Eureka
3. Columbia Noir #5 – Indicator
2. Universal Noir #1 – Indicator
1. The Pemini Organisation 1972-1974 – Indicator
Indicator dominated my list this year and had to go with their Pemini Organisation set, which totally caught me by surprise this year. None of the films were 5-star favourites, but they’re all decent indie efforts that I enjoyed. What I liked most about the set though were the special features. They tell a story in themselves, covering the fascinating history of the little-known Pemini Organisation in great detail. It was a joy to work through all the commentaries, interviews and other tidbits. If you haven’t picked up the set already, don’t hesitate.
I’d like to add that I’m only one man, so can’t watch every disc or boxset released each year. Notable sets I’d like to mention that look amazing and I own but haven’t got around to watching yet are Second Run’s ‘The War Trilogy: Three Films by Andrzej Wajda’ and Arrow’s spectacular Shawscope Vol. 2, which I imagine would have topped the list, if I’d have had the time to work through it. Third Window’s ‘Nobuhiko Obayashi’s 80s Kadokawa Years’ set looks fantastic too, but I haven’t had the money to pick it up yet and didn’t have the time to review screeners.
Honourable mention – Deathstalker 1 & 2 – 101 Films
Jason Cluitt
10. Mad God
9. Barbarian
8. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
7. RRR
6. The Batman
5. Glass Onion
4. Everything Everywhere All at Once
3. Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers
2. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
1. The Banshees of Inisherin
Andy Goulding
Honourable Mentions
Last Film Show, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, The Phantom of the Open, This Much I Know to Be True, Boiling Point, The Wonder, Hit the Road, My Father’s Dragon, Rosaline, Ali & Ava, Red Rocket, Mass, Is That Black Enough for You?!?
Runners Up
Films that just missed out on my Top 10 of the year
All Quiet on the Western Front – terrific new version of the classic anti-war narrative, finally putting the story of German soldiers in the hands of a German director. Grim but deeply involving.
RRR – epic Indian action/drama told with incredible forward drive, welcome humour and superb set-pieces. Despite being politically muddy and unsubtle and featuring some Razzie-worthy performances by the Brits in the cast, it’s otherwise perfect popcorn fodder.
Fast & Feel Love – highly unusual Thai comedy/drama that couches a story about the difficult shift from 20s to 30s for immature males in a niche Sports film narrative about cup-stacking championships. Overreaches with a few meta moments, otherwise great.
A Hero – another taut, morally ambiguous examination of a protagonist caught in an escalating dilemma from the great director Asghar Farhadi. Not quite the equal of its more nuanced predecessors A Separation and The Past, but few films are.
Fire of Love – unusual documentary about scientist couple Katia and Maurice Krafft who died capturing some of the most amazing footage of volcanoes ever documented. Miranda July’s oddly twee narration can be a little distracting but the film finds its own quirky rhythm and the footage shot by the Krafft’s is incredible.
The House – blackly comic stop-motion animation anthology about the inhabitants of a house across three different time periods. Fantastic animation and some memorably creepy moments, as well as a great turn from Jarvis Cocker as an anthropomorphic rat who is seemingly stalking his dentist, but this one is slightly let down by a weak final chapter.
Claydream – documentary about Claymation pioneer Will Vinton. Though it is perhaps a tad niche, lovers of classic animation like myself will likely eat this up. Lots of clips of Vinton’s exquisite work coupled with fascinating details of the troubled history of his studio.
The Worst Person in the World – ambitious and unconventional drama with comedic inflections that has somehow been mischaracterised in many places as a Rom-Com. Involving and touching on some pertinent contemporary issues, this one just missed out due to a few too many melodramatic plot strands in its final act.
Wild Men – absurd, funny but also quietly moving exploration of wounded masculinity and the male midlife crisis, this Danish black comedy touches on some well-worn themes but uses them to build a modest, gripping crime story that seems to draw on some of the best smaller American Indie films of the 90s for inspiration.
Great Freedom – sensitive, deeply moving prison drama about a gay man’s repeated imprisonment in the years following World War II. Inherently critical of a shameful homophobic history without resorting to overt speechifying, Great Freedom is quiet, tender and to the point.
Top 10 Films of the Year
10. Moonage Daydream – David Bowie’s career is a topic that has been so thoroughly dissected, especially since his untimely death, that I tend to approach documentaries about him with the wearied expectations of seeing the same stories, clips and songs picked over yet again. But Brett Morgen’s Moonage Daydream finds a new angle in a manner worthy of its chameleonic subject, presenting spellbinding montages featuring footage both familiar and rare, as well as tangentially related, to create an impressionistic overview in which the audience is encouraged to find their own Bowie, rather than have a predetermined viewpoint handed to them by talking head interviewees. Lengthy, hypnotic and fascinating, Moonage Daydream is the Bowie film its subject deserves.
9. The Good Boss – Nominated for a record-breaking twenty Goya awards (the Spanish equivalent of the Oscars) and winning six, including Best Picture, Fernando León de Aranoa’s The Good Boss is a scathing black comedy about corporate ethics in which a terrific Javier Bardem plays the sleazy but charismatic owner of an industrial scales factory who’s obsession with winning a coveted business excellence award leads him to meddle in his employees’ lives to an unprecedented level. The film is consistently funny but also goes to some very dark places, resulting in a relishable satire that doesn’t pull its punches but never forgets to bring the laughs either.
8. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio – When critic Mark Kermode asked Guillermo del Toro what his new version of Pinocchio was about he replied “death” and he wasn’t kidding. This beautifully designed and stop-motion animated retelling of Carlos Collodi’s classic tale of the wooden boy who comes to life is dense with themes of loss and grief, even as it finds plenty of room for humour and adventure. del Toro’s might be the big banner name above the title but animation lovers like myself will probably be even more excited to see that the film was co-directed by former Will Vinton collaborator Mark Gustafson and co-written by Over the Garden Wall creator Patrick McHale. With glorious animation, unobtrusive song snatches, lively humour and a dark underbelly which sees the film tackle themes of fascism, it’s fair to say that Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio put Disney’s own 2022 update of the story emphatically in the shade.
7. Brian and Charles – Adapted from his own previous short film of the same name, Jim Archer’s charming debut feature Brian and Charles tells the story of an inventor who has unexpected success when he decides to build a robot companion. But as the robot quickly develops and becomes more advanced, it also enters a rebellious stage and longs to explore the wider world. Written by its stars David Earl and Chris Hayward, Brian and Charles draws on the improvisatory, melancholy-tinged style of comedy that became popular in the 00s but with a warm heart and a family friendly approach that could easily see this little gem become a firm favourite for the 4pm on BBC2 Christmas schedules.
6. Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street – Sesame Street is a show that stands apart from any other achievement in TV history as a remarkable, unique and miraculously perfect piece of work. I consider it not only the greatest children’s TV show of all time but very probably the greatest TV show of any kind. The problem with any documentary tackling such an important show that has been running for decades is length. There’s simply too much to pack into a reasonable runtime and I’ve always thought a 10 hour mini-series would be needed to properly do the series justice. Street Gang gets round this issue by wisely picking a specific angle and sticking with it. The key is in its subtitle How We Got to Sesame Street. The film focuses largely on the early years of the show, its development, establishment as a cultural phenomenon, and the people who were instrumental in laying that groundwork. Neither the child in me nor the adult I’ve become could give this any fewer than 5 stars.
5. My Old School – One of the most enjoyable viewing experiences I had this year, Jono McLeod’s documentary My Old School combines talking head interviews with animated reconstructions and a unique lip-synced performance by Alan Cumming to tell the fascinating story of Brandon Lee, a popular pupil at a Scottish secondary school who had a surprising secret. It’s best to go into the film knowing very little but My Old School evokes a nostalgic feel for school days and the friends you had at the time by interviewing a group of now-adult classmates about their experiences with Brandon. Interviewing old friends in small groups naturally reignites the original camaraderie in a way that is bound to bring back personal memories of similar bygone friendships. For those, like myself, who were at secondary school in the 90s, there’s an extra level of nostalgia, with clips from popular TV shows like The Big Breakfast, snatches of hits songs and an animation style that is clearly based on the classic MTV show Daria. Although the film’s secrets add an extra level of excitement, there’s enough here to make subsequent watches just as entertaining.
4. The Quiet Girl – A remarkable debut from Colm Bairéad, The Quiet Girl is based on the novella Foster by Claire Keegan and tells the story of a shy young girl from a neglectful household who suddenly experiences a loving home when she is sent away for the summer to live with distant relatives. Beautifully shot, sensitively written and played with elegant restraint by a cast headed up by the superb Catherine Clinch, I’m not ashamed to say that The Quiet Girl reduced me to tears. Not a small, easily-wiped-away speck of sentiment but proper crying where you shake and make noises. I did this for about 5 minutes after the credits rolled. Then I thought about the ending later on and did it again. Devastatingly moving filmmaking.
3. The Banshees of Inisherin – I imagine you’ve heard people going on about how great Martin McDonagh’s latest film is but they ain’t wrong. It took me mere minutes to start falling in love with The Banshees of Inisherin, so ravishingly shot and brilliantly written is it. This tale of a friendship cut short by one man’s unmutual decision, the film examines issues of intimacy, self-esteem, mortality, convenience, mental illness, unrequited love and our duty to each other vs. our right to personal space. These themes and more are present, yet not once does the film seem overstuffed or like it is breaking from its natural step in order to overtly address them. It’s a perfect little morality tale in which the actual moral lesson is deliberately blurry and ambiguous. It is also a film filled with superb performances. Brendan Gleeson is brooding and imposing, Barry Keoghan is heartbreaking and hilarious, Colin Farrell is gloriously shaken and desperate. But it is Kerry Condon, poised and perfect, who steals the film for me and is also my pick for best performance of the year. A must see, clearly destined to become a classic.
2. Aftersun – I was so sure I was going to love Aftersun that I delayed finalising my list until I could make sure I’d seen it. I’m glad I did because Aftersun has more than earned its numerous Best of the Year titles with a stylistically beautiful, emotionally moving but narratively subtle approach that makes it instantly stand out. Director Charlotte Wells called this examination of a father/daughter relationship “emotionally autobiographical” and you can feel that raw energy even as the film takes its time in unspooling its mesmerisingly naturalistic slice of life portrayal of a summer holiday in Turkey in the 90s. The angle from which Wells comes at the story and the methods she employs to do so feel unique and fresh. While a lesser director would’ve smothered the film in manipulative voiceover narration, Wells is careful to show rather than tell, even when it comes to how we should feel. This has resulted in a work that seems to affect different viewers in different ways, but somehow with the same level of complete immersion and emotional involvement. A masterpiece.
1. Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood – Apollo 10 1/2 is Richard Linklater‘s third animated film, once again using a style similar to rotoscoping to convert live action footage into animation. In keeping with the film’s sunny, nostalgic tone, the visuals here are bright and striking. The episodic narrative is basically a series of anecdotes and remembrances from a 1960s childhood (and narrated by Jack Black) but it taps into a universality that is bound to trigger a sense of nostalgia even in those like myself who were born much later. Linklater chronicles favourite films, albums, TV shows and board games of the era, the sort of small details generally left out of nostalgia pieces or only referenced in passing. In doing so he captures a real essence of the experience of childhood so often missing from more superficial period pieces. Though Apollo 10 1/2’s easy-going charm, supplemented with an unusual, fanciful sci-fi angle, may make it seem a trivial choice for film of the year to most, it absolutely struck a chord with me. I loved it the first time round and placed it lower in my top 10 but a last minute rewatch has seen it rise to the number one spot. It’s a warm, evocative, funny film that I’ll return to again and again.
Best First Time Watches in 2022
20. Elevator to the Gallows (1958)
19. East of Eden (1955)
18. The Secret in Their Eyes (2009)
17. The Driver (1978)
16. Body and Soul (1947)
15. On-Gaku: Our Sound (2019)
14. Save the Tiger (1973)
13. The Big Clock (1948)
12. Volver (2006)
11. The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
10. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945)
9. Shoeshine (1946)
8. Desperate (1947)
7. Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (1970)
6. Raw Deal (1948)
5. King Rocker (2020)
4. Reign of Terror (1949)
3. The Desperate Hours (1955)
2. The Big Country (1958)
1. To Each His Own (1946)
George Pursall
It always feels nigh on impossible to choose a top ten best new watches/releases of the year. With boutique labels continuing to turn out a steam of quality releases, cinema finally starting to get back up to speed after the pandemic (plus myself having a huge pile of unwatched films from previous years to wade through) I certainly wasn’t starved of choice. In no particular order then, here are my top ten new releases and first watches from 2022.
Holiday (Anti-Worlds) – Anti-worlds seems to be continually placed in the shade by some of the better known boutique labels. Focusing on more experimental and challenging contemporary world cinema, they do release some gems, however. One of which is Holiday (released on Blu Ray back in 2020). A bleak and unflinching look at the life Danish drug lord’s girlfriend, this is very much a marmite film that will hard for many to stomach. For those who like a lethal does of nihilism with their dramas, however, be sure to check this out.
The Proposition 4K (BFI) – Nick Cave and John Hillcoat’s sombre and unflinchingly violent Antipodean Western got the 4K treatment from the BFI this year. A stunning 4K picture along with a wealth of extras and deluxe packaging made this superlative treatment of a modern classic an essential purchase.
The Appointment (BFI) – Haunting those who caught this on TV back in the Eighties, it was a pleasure to see The Appointment arrive on Blu Ray via the BFI. While the story might have some rough edges, the ending will take your breath away. This is a long lost supernatural gem finally getting some of the limelight it has long deserved.
Tumbadd (Amazon Prime) – RRR might have stolen all the headlines this year, but for me the Bollywood film that blew my socks off in 2022 was this little seen folk horror tale lurking in the depths of Amazon Prime. A dark, folkloric fable that managed to combine proper terror with a tragic human drama, watch this ASAP before it gets sucked into Amazon Prime’s algorithm and disappears forever.
Bull (Second Sight) – Second Sight continue to release one stunning film package per month and, for me at least, Bull was their crowning glory of 2022. Drive, The Guest and The Witch might be more impressive technical releases but none had the gut punch impact of Bull, with a never more terrifying Neil Maskell at its dark, criminally focused heart. Destined to be a cult classic, I can’t wait to see what writer/director Paul Andrew Williams does next.
Moonage Daydream (Cinema) – A visual feast of a documentary about David Bowie, this has got to be one of the most brilliantly edited films of recent years. Hardcore fans won’t discover anything new and any newcomers hoping for a linear narrative exploring Bowie’s career might leave disappointed. Go in with an open mind, however, and you’ll find a dazzling exploration of Bowie’s art and philosophy narrated by the man himself. TO BE PLAYED AT MAXIMUM VOLUME.
All Quiet on the Western Front (Netflix) – You can’t move for the amount of WW2 films cluttering up cinema history, yet WW1 rarely gets depicted on the big screen – and when it does, those films rarely capture both the true horror and senselessness of the conflict. 2022’s new adaption of All Quiet on the Western Front goes some way to correcting this wrong, presenting an epic and truly devastating look at the war that would go on to haunt the 20th century.
The Banshees of Inisherin (Cinema/Disney Plus) – Martin McDonagh’s melancholy comedy drama about a disintegrating friendship features one of the simplest yet cruelest acts I have ever seen in a film. With the ever brilliant Brendan Gleeson and a career best turn from Colin Farrell, this might make you cry more than laugh but it is, without a doubt, unmissable.
Robin Hood Prince of Thieves 4K (Arrow) – A purely selfish, nostalgic choice this, but when one of the films of my childhood gets released in a deluxe 4K restoration by Arrow, it is going in my top ten releases, no questions asked. Stunning picture quality, fantastic packaging and artwork along with bountiful extras meant that this Xmas gift ensured that Christmas certainly was not cancelled.
Nil by Mouth (BFI) – Sneaking in right at the end of the year, this release of Gary Oldman’s sole directorial effort by the BFI might very well be the best home video release of 2022. A gut wrenching and uncompromising look at British working class life, this surely would have made John Cassavetes proud (and maybe even slightly jealous). Featuring breathtaking performances from Ray Winstone and Kathy Burke, this new Blu Ray release of Nil by Mouth proves once more that Gary Oldman might very well be as stunning a director as he is an actor.
Andrew Beaken
10. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
9. Crimes of the Future
8. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
7. Deadstream
6. Nope
5. Barbarian
4. See How They Run
3. X
2. The Batman
1. Prey
Jon Meakin
The Souvenir Part II – Joanna Hogg’s Souvenir was already an incredible achievement. Part II is sublime. Calls back to Fellini but namechecking anyone else merely undermines that this unique cinematic voice is all Hogg.
The Worst Person in the World – A fabulous, hilarious romantic comedy, that pushes and pulls at the edges of the genre.
Get Carter 4K (BFI) – The boutique Blu-Ray release of the year, courtesy of the BFI. The usual suspects such as Criterion and Arrow made some excellent packages, but BFI smashed it with this one. A superb transfer and a beautifully curated set of extras that not only explore the making of Get Carter but also its position in British society. Essential.
Brian and Charles – A perfectly British slice of utter nonsense. Hilarious and heartwarming in equal measure.
Casque D’or 4K (Studiocanal) – The 4K polish of the year. It’s healthy to be cynical when a relatively recent and decent Blu-ray is quickly superceded by yet another expensive re-release, but StudioCanal were right to push their luck with a positively gleaming Casque d’Or.
The War Trilogy (Second Run) – This boxset is a gem for film fans. Excellent Blu-ray transfers of an important and influential trilogy from a filmmaker who isn’t discussed enough.
Clerks III – Surprise of the year? Never bet against an underdog. It’s a hard heart that wouldn’t find something to love in Kevin Smith’s scrappy, melancholic yet undimmed enthusiasm. And the Blu-ray is packed to the gills.
Group Consensus
(Calculated by placement, so 10 points for 1st, 9 for 2nd etc. and 5 points for an unranked entry)
9 – Everything Everywhere All At Once/The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent/Brian and Charles – joint 9th with 9 points
5 – The Quiet Girl/The Blue Caftan/Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood/Prey – joint 5th with 10 points
4 – RRR – 11 points
3 – The Batman – 14 points
2 – Aftersun – 18 points
1 – The Banshees of Inisherin – 23 points
There was quite a spread of votes this year, which, in my opinion, is the sign of a strong year. The Banshees of Inisherin won the majority this year though and I’m happy with that. It didn’t quite crack my top 10 but I still thought it was an excellent film. Here’s hoping it has some success at this year’s Oscars too.
…and as a special bonus consensus list, I thought I’d compile our top 10 favourite boutique Blu-ray labels, taking into account placement in various top disc release lists among our writers:
(Calculated by placement, so 20 points for 1st, 19 for 2nd etc. and 10 for an unranked entry)
10 – Anti-Worlds – 10 points
9 – 101 Films – 11 points
8 – Studiocanal – 13 points
7 – Second Sight – 29 points
6 – Second Run – 32 points
5 – Arrow – 52 points
JOINT 3rd – Indicator/Criterion – 58 points
2 – BFI – 70 points
1 – Eureka – 109 points
It’s an unfair list in many senses, as different labels release different volumes of discs (Second Sight and Second Run are two of the best labels out there but they only release roughly 1 disc a month, whereas Arrow release 4 or 5). We’re also limited by which labels supply a steady flow of discs for us to rate (88 Films, for instance, being notably absent despite having some great looking releases this year). I’m also sad to see Third Window miss out on a placement, but this is largely down to me having passed up on reviewing some of their titles due to being overwhelmed with discs this year. However, I’m pleased to see Eureka walk away with the award, as they’ve released a wealth of fantastic discs this year. Not only have they kept the martial arts movie fan in me very happy, they’ve also brought out remastered gems such as Son of the White Mare and Vampyr.
I’m hoping Radiance Films and Fun City Editions will get a look in next year’s poll as their lineups look fantastic, with some interesting, largely hard-to-find titles getting the boutique label treatment in 2023. Keep an eye out for reviews over the coming months.
So that’s it for another year. Keep visiting the site for our thoughts on the latest home entertainment releases (and the rare cinematic releases that we get around to). Let us know your thoughts about the best and worst of the year below or on social media.
Happy New Year!