My Top Ten Films (As Of 2022)

Learn the cinematic interests of one half of the LyskawaLog founders

In an effort to get to know the people behind the articles of the LyskawaLog, my brother and I thought it would be a fun idea to put out a couple of lists detailing our favorite media. It is definitely possible you will be seeing an article about any or all of these films in the future, but for now, I’d like to share my top ten favorite films as of 2022.

Little Miss Sunshine

It is rare to find a family road trip movie with more heart, drama , and comedy than Valerie Faris and Johnathan Dayton’s Little Miss Sunshine. Following the Hoover family, one that seems like each member is a distant stranger from the others, traveling to California so the youngest of the crew, Olive, can compete in the Little Miss Sunshine beauty contest. What makes this film so special for me is the screenplay, as it has some of the best dialogue I have heard in any film. The characters are all completely unique, making for consistently entertaining conflict. They are all very well developed with complete personalities, flaws, desires, etc. This depth makes the trip a joy to follow, but the film also knows when to tug on the heartstrings. Putting such lively characters in outrageous situations makes for a story that is both comical and tragic. It’s a quirky film that I love for its simple plot and complex characters that always entertains, teaching the audience the value of family and that beauty pageants royally suck.

Minding the Gap

Directed by Bing Liu and starring his long time friends Keire Johnson and Zack Mulligun, Minding the Gap is a documentary that plays with the form of the medium itself by including the director as his own subject. Moments where Liu interviews his mom with a separate camera facing him tracks the development of the director along with those of his skateboarding buddies. Despite this break in documentary form, the film manages to feel grounded and intimate, largely due to its presentation. The characters grow up in the movie, and with tragic backstories of their own, it is mesmerizing to witness how their pasts impacts their futures. Pair this depth with the inclusion of videos Liu has taken of the gang throughout their entire lives, and the viewer becomes emotionally tied to these people, not characters. Being one of the only documentaries that has made me sobbed by the end, I cannot recommend this film enough for its beautiful exploration of real people, the exploration of heavy themes like abuse and racial inequalities, grounded filmmaking that heightens the emotional connection, and the opportunity to watch three children mature into adults.

Memories of Murder

While Bong Joon-Ho’s Parasite may be his magnum opus, Memories of Murder is easily my favorite of his filmography. The presentation in cinematography, editing, and color grading is as effective as it is in Parasite. What makes me prefer this film’s style however is the plot that it supports. Like other films on this list, the characters amplify the film ten fold, with each of the main trio having opposing philosophies that are constantly at odds making for fantastic drama. Dragging these unique personalities through an unflinchingly raw, despairing, and energetic plot makes for a fantastically grim detective tale. However, it never manages to lose its comedic factor that makes Joon-Ho’s films so unique. What I love most about this film though is that through the strong development of nuanced characters, a thrilling plot, and numerous set ups and symbols that are so detailed it makes me wonder how long it took Joon-Ho to write the screenplay, results a masterclass in thematic development. Every aspect of the film revolves around a central theme, which makes for a film that feels like a complete package. Gripping, moody, comical; Memories of Murder is my favorite detective story that has it all.

Brief Encounter

It is difficult to put into words as to why I enjoy this film so much. It has more of a personal rather than an analytical argument as to why it’s on this list. Maybe it’s the cinematography with its sharp shadows and dispiriting framing. It could be the heartbreaking voice over from our lead Laura Jesson. Or possibly it’s the tale that weaves two romancers together through short lived encounters that make ones heart dance, only to be sidelined when a cute date is followed by the understanding that they can never be together. The desire to live a life of passion in the face of existential dread is portrayed with such emotion that I couldn’t help but cheer in the high moments of the relationship and cry at the events I wish never came. I simply felt connected to this film, and sometimes that’s all it takes to be a favorite.

Old Boy

I don’t need to speak anymore about the abundance of action movies nowadays. In a cinematic landscape dominated by cgi explosions and mass market blockbusters, watching Old Boy was not only refreshing, but for me, breathed a new life into the genre. The film begins with a simple scenario of mystery and intrigue, and when that initially contained situation expands into a network of clues that caps off with one of the greatest plot twists put to film, an indescribably engaging experience is born. This spectacular plot is heightened by the films unique approach to cinematography and direction. Unafraid to dabble in fourth wall breaking effects and dream sequences, the film is as unique as it is violent, and oh boy, is it violent. I’m not one that likes gore for gore’s sake, but when action is depicted this creatively with perfect execution, I cannot help but be impressed. Essentially, Old Boy redefined the action thriller for me, and shows what makes the genre such a joy to watch.

Her

A melancholic love letter to the feeling itself, Her is a movie I can watch endlessly and cry to every time. I find myself thinking of the relationship between the leads Theodore Twombly (a human) and Samantha (an A.I) quite often for how real it feels. In fact, I think that is what’s most impressive about this film, the sense of reality. Despite being set in the not so distant future, Her feels like an exploration of modern love while also raising questions of what it means to be human. It is simultaneously grounded in its characters and heady in its themes, all united by a beautiful soundtrack and an aesthetic that creates a depressing and beautiful future I have no problem exploring time and time again.

Still Walking

A slow, sombre, capturing of personal family issues, Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Still Walking is the film I go to when I want to see a mastery of subtlety. The camera hardly moves, characters speak in passive aggressive puzzles for the other members to dissect, dialogue is often replaced by silence for greater effect; this film presents life as it is. The restraint in direction is a display of mastery, with every shot, movement, and word given increased significance due to its simple yet effective capturing of everyday life. The dynamics feel substantial; each character filled with a complex web of bitterness towards and desperation for the others. The cinematography is simple and beautifully minimalist, which makes a perfect space for the complications of the characters to steal center stage, resulting in an emotionally draining narrative that brings me tears on every rewatch.

Synechdoche, New York

Charlie Kaufman’s Synechdoche, New York left me in an existential trance for days after watching. When reading other reviews for this movie, it’s notable that hardly any primarily focus on the cinematography, story structure, or any typical means of critiquing a movie. Rather, the draw of this film is the emotion it generates and the themes it expertly explores in a surreal manner. Lead by Phillip Seymour Haufman as much as the mind bending reality written by Kaufman, Synechdoche, New York is the scariest film I have ever seen for its haunting exploration of an inevitable end. The impact the film has on the viewer when the credits rolls is unlike anything I have experienced with a movie. It made me feel hollow, and even though that sounds horrible (it may be a little bit), I cannot recommend this film enough simply for the way it makes you feel and think.

All That Jazz

When I saw All That Jazz for the first time I was mesmerized. The film is truly a one of a kind experience in every way. The songs and performances are impressive in both their scale and narrative significance. Every production was designed with such detail that I was impressed throughout the entire runtime by visuals alone, but it’s the purpose these songs play in terms of the story that kept me hooked. All That Jazz is what I would call a perfect character study; a detailed exploration of a man obsessed with his craft and ruining his life. I have trouble describing how great this movie is because of how different it is. Everything in the movie is something you have never seen before, and if you have, it wasn’t done with such perfection. It’s thrilling, entertaining, dramatic, emotional, and an experience that belongs only to itself.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

I don’t have the vocabulary to describe how close to perfection I think this movie is. No words can accurately explain the innovation of the animation with its dazzling comic book appearance. No dialogue can give service to the expertly constructed story that makes you fall in love with every second the film is playing. No expression can depict the absolute joy I feel when Miles customizes his suit and swings into action. I felt like a proud dad in that moment. I am not lying when I say this is genuinely one of the most well crafted stories I have ever experienced, and if that wasn’t good enough, it is told with some of the greatest animation of all time. I may sound hyperbolic, and maybe I’m a bit bias because Spider-Man is my favorite hero, but Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse is masterful in everything its trying to do. I believe this perfection comes from the unification of the film, as every aspect of the movie from cinematography to soundtrack revolves around a certain creative vision. It carries more depth and resonance than every comic book movie combined, a single frame gives me goosebumps and brings tears to my eyes. I’m not joking. All of these feelings and visuals are then heightened by one of the most fun and impressive soundtracks for a film that, again, perfectly matches the story. I can only try to describe my love for this movie in a full article, but for now all I can say is that Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse is my favorite movie and one of the greatest films I have ever seen.