Movies of 2024 (part 1)

Greetings folks,

I typically pick TV shows over movies, but recently, I have been enjoying watching movies more and more. To understand the small, significant decisions made to bring the story to life on the big screen. It is a different experience and I’m glad I am beginning to engage with movies other than the blockbusters.

Here are some of my latest finds…

IT FOLLOWS // This is a very simple horror movie concept, but it does the (often overlooked) basics extremely well. Therefore it stands out amid the (too-common) mediocre horror movies.

THE FAREWELL // An emotional family-based story that I adored. It was an intimate story that captured grand emotions. I liked the attention to detail to build such an impactful story, not just for talking about mortality, but the personal lives of the family as well.

AFTERSUN // I’d heard so much about this film and I can honestly say it deserves the talk. Essentially, it’s an extended version of the music video “Inevitable” by Orla Gartland which I adored, but naturally, the movie explores more. The hidden emotions are alive on the screen, capturing complicated realities through the lens of a small girl. This is one of those films that achieves something rare.

TO DIE FOR // “To Die For” walked, so “Gone Girl” could run. It is slightly flawed, but a fascinating watch all the same.

NIMONA // A perfect animated movie. The adventure, the humour, the style, the morals. Easily one of the best-animated movies from recent years. Watch it ASAP.

MINARI // A24 does family movies like no one else. Minari talks about the American dream through the eyes of a Korean American family. The film focuses on the slice-of-life feeling that makes a story real. It effectively highlighted emotions from all members to create a journey that was more than just success and struggle, but what it means to be a family.

WICKED LITTLE LETTERS // I love that this is based on a true story and the movie did a great job building up a small-scale, local plot for a film format. It had humour, charm, intrigue and a feminist message. It would have a place on my list for the final scene alone!

POOR LITTLE THINGS // I appreciate the themes of this movie and Lanthimos’s ability to create distinct imagery and feelings. Even if his style isn’t for me, I am glad I watched it.

A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT // I love the style of this movie. It is a quiet black-and-white film about the bond between a vampire and a mortal. It has a distinct feel and subtle message, making it a wonderfully distinct watching experience.

🖤 I watched 5 vampire movies and I can honestly say they were all different

NINA FOREVER // A surprise watch but one I enjoyed. Whilst it is flawed, this subtle horror film successfully discusses how it feels to date someone whose past partner died. The movie’s style, humour and gore make it more than a serious relationship dissection, but a memorable watch in its own right.

PERSEPOLIS // An autobiographical story of a girl growing up in Iran. This story balances how it felt to live through such a dangerous time and be a young girl. As it is the author’s story, you truly get the personal details, making it more than just historically important, but an accessible story about growing up worth everyone’s time.

CHALLENGERS // I was surprised by how low stakes the plot was as it was a much more intimate story than I imagined. However, it is a credit to the film-making how it could invoke tense feelings from these scenes because of the various emotions painstakingly built up over the movie. The attention to detail made the story much more compelling than a simple competition, it was layered enough to get everyone talking about it. This movie challenged love triangles and it did it with style if nothing else.

THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD // This movie felt like a response to rom-coms (honestly, she’s a better character than most rom-com leads). I love how it expressed realism in finding yourself and how pursuing romantic relationships can be a selfish journey. Once again, this intimacy provided a moving story.

THE FALL // I speak more about this in my upcoming “movie nights” post, but this is a great movie to watch if you are a fan of dissecting fantasy stories. In particular how they reflect real life or provide escapism. How the story is told reveals so much about the character and the story itself. Brilliant use of film-making and Lee Pace.

CITY OF GOD // This will also feature in my upcoming “movie nights” post. This true story captures so much about the community, from the connections and joy to the hardships and pain. The narrator’s personal touches remind us how history isn’t made up of events, but people. It is why stories are so important.

THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF LONGING // The story of three wishes from a djinn (or genie) has been told many times over the years. Most of the ones I’ve experienced have either been short stories or comedies, therefore it was refreshing to experience this story with a grander feel. Both in terms of emotions and expanse. I was glad to see it, even just for a one-time watch.

If you’ve seen these movies, please tell me your thoughts.