The 2022 Lists Edition
These are some of my favorite things.
Few things in life bring about more pleasure in their drafting and more pain in the publishing than “best of” lists. Props to all of you who can do it without the latter.
These are my favorite movies, records, and books that I consumed this year that were also made available this year. For the record, I do think there is room between the ideas of “best” and “favorite”, and these are my favorite, specifically.
Let’s list.
My favorite movies of the year, in alphabetical order. Ranking them would be a different, harder exercise.
Kogonada, ‘After Yang’
Slow, quiet, gorgeous soft-sci-fi, with wonderful actors and sounds. Soul comfort food. Kogonada is my king.
Martin McDonagh, ‘The Banshees of Inishirin’
It’s not a mistake that this list starts with two Colin Farrell movies, or with two idea movies that are mostly people sitting in rooms talking. This movie is deeply funny, until you laugh long enough to realize how sad that last line of dialogue was for another character. Sharp, cutting, bold, and probably the best bar conversation starter of the year.
Zach Cregger, ‘Barbarian’
Speaking of conversation starters: BARBARIAN is the surprise of the year, easily. A cheap horror movie from a newer director known for making comedies, this was the most gripping theater experience I had. I mean I was grabbing the seat in front of me, or sinking deep into my own seat until I nearly fell to the floor.
The Daniels, ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’
Similar to BARBARIAN, EEAAO is the A24 hit of the year: another cheaper production from a couple guys who just love what they do, and do it well. Packed with ideas, nearly all of them fresh and fun and good. Michelle Yeoh and Stephanie Hsu and Ke Huy Quan and all amazing.
Steven Spielberg, ‘The Fablemans’
Our best living director made a movie he’s been thinking about for over fifty years. It’s got some of his best image making, some of his funniest scenes, and some of his most moving ideas. It’s not his best work to date, but it’s a wonderful lifelong showcase of a master.
Sara Dosa, Fire of Love
A small story about the biggest ideas that made me feel small. The best looking and best sounding movie of the year?
Jordan Peele, ‘Nope’
The most impactful and lasting movie I saw this year. NOPE is the fourth time that Jordan Peele has latched onto an idea of modern living, and blown it out into a thrilling work of storytelling. Incredible image-making, lasting ideas. You need to see everything Peele makes in the biggest format possible, because he’s the most exciting American filmmaker we have.
Céline Sciamma, ‘Petit Maman’
How does the filmmaker who graced us with PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE follow up a masterpiece in the throws of a pandemic? She makes a warm, loving fairytale about a daughter and a mother and a grandmother, adventuring in the woods together. The shortest and most loving and lovely movie on this list.
Todd Field, ‘Tár’
Probably the best drama of the year outright. Wrenching, detailed, smart, and acid-tipped. Elite craftsmanship for such a talky movie. Cate Blanchett must give the performance of the year here.
Joseph Kosinski, ‘Top Gun: Maverick’
Movies didn’t come back this year, they were ripped out of the abyss by Tom Cruise and Joseph Kosinski, and it’s to them I pray. Amen.
My favorite albums of the year, in alphabetical order. I’m not a talented enough music-understander to put any other order on them.
Alvvays, ‘Blue Rev’
A big step-up in depth and breadth of sound, this record is landing on me much like last year’s Snail Mail release: I love the changes this group has made, but I hate that they’ve changed from their last record, which I thought was perfect. Now I listen to that second Snail record more than the first, so, ‘Blue Rev’ is coming for the throne.
Big Thief, ‘Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You’
This came out in the first weeks of January, and its hold on me has never lightened. It’s Big Thief’s magnum opus. I don’t necessarily love their previous records, but the scope of production and songwriting and instrumentation here is so overwhelming and excellent. Several of the many songs on here have lived in my head for an entire year, drenching my mind in strings and percussions and hushed sing-song lyrics.
The Beths, ‘Expert in a Dying Field’
Australian Indie rock/pop group that just has the production and songwriting and energy that I am looking for in my life. There’s a warmth to their sound, even in their coldest songs. I love the texture of Elizabeth Stokes’ lead vocals, and the inclusion of the other three voices in the group in frequent harmony.
Beyonce, ‘RENAISSANCE’
I’m going to tell on myself a bit here: this is more of a “I really appreciate what’s going on here” pick, more than a “this is extremely my shit” pick. Bey has never missed, and has always challenged, and this one is really challenging. It’s not without sugary pop and dance goodness, but the complexity of the production is something I can’t NOT investigate while listening, which takes a little more energy from me than I’d like. But in two years, this thing is going to be a smooth and masterful listen for me. I can’t wait.
Dry Cleaning, ‘Stumpwork’
The latest addition to this list, I was introduced to Dry Cleaning two days ago, and I’m infatuated. Over the top of the post-punk, noisy instrumentation is the almost gimmicky, sing-song poetry of Florence Shaw. I say gimmicky with a lot of intention, but it’s a trick that doesn’t get tiresome. If anything, it helps me lean into the music, and provides a unique depth and levity, and dare I say a comedy? This group is doing something I haven’t heard before, and they do it well.
This also wins the award for “2022 vinyl cover I absolutely NEED to have displayed on my shelf”. Congratulations.
Horsegirl, ‘Versions of Modern Performance’
A really young band out of Chicago that shows that they’ve really paid attention to and studied their inspirations, of which there are many obvious ones. There’s nothing here that really grabs me by the neck, but it’s a pleasant, droning bath of hazy goodness. The kids are alright.
Rosalia, ‘MOTOMAMI’
Just the most fun thing front-to-back that I’ve returned to this year. So many sounds, so many choices, so many additions to my “DANCE” playlist. This has the goods.
Wet Leg, ‘WET LEG’
Definitely the record of the year for my household. Great energy, fun and funny, you can throw this on almost any time of day, any day of the week, and you're vibing.
Favorite Books of the Year
I read more books this year than I have since they were publishing original-series Harry Potter novels. It still wasn’t that many, but there were some great ones published this year.
Isaac Butler, ‘The Method: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act’
Butler takes you from the 1800's Russian theater and Checkov, to today’s movie stars. A wonderful history of movies and actors and storytelling and performance.
Chris Herring, ‘Blood in the Garden: The Flagrant History of the 1990s New York Knicks’
My favorite basketball writer tells the story of one of the most eclectic and interesting teams and spaces in basketball history. It was as good as I thought it would be.
Hua Hsu, ‘Stay True: A Memoir’
I stumbled onto the writing of Hua Hsu in a New Yorker a couple years ago, writing about some music topic I wasn’t knowledgeable about, and I loved how I felt when I finished it: smarter, entertained, fulfilled. I’ve kept up with his work, when I can find it, and I learned about this book maybe a year before its release. I checked for news about it weekly. I hadn’t been that excited about a non-fiction book in a long time. I pre-ordered it, signed-up for pre-release details, listened to every podcast hit Hsu did, and got to see him in-person at the Portland Book Festival. I consumed everything I could, including the book itself, and all of it gave me those same feelings that his article did. I’d recommend this book, about friendship, art, finding your place, loss, music, and so much more, to anyone.
Chuck Klosterman, ‘The Nineties’
A culture writer talking about my formative decade. Easy choice. The audio book was a lot of fun.
Dana Stevens, ‘Camera Man: Buster Keaton, the Dawn of Cinema, and the Invention of the Twentieth Century’
A biography that takes a specific and broad route to tell the story of motion pictures alongside one man who was vital to them.
A strange year, upon reflection, filled with highs and lows, as always. Reading is in again, the state of the movie industry continues to be volatile, the television format continues to mostly disinterest me (‘ANDOR’ is Good), and music continues to be expansive, inclusive, timely, and probably my biggest crutch.
I would love to here what made your favorites list this year. Respond to this email, comment in this thread, shoot me a text. I’ve heard good things about a Harry and Mehan docuseries, potty training books, ‘Black Country, New Roads’, and an uncountable amount of TikToks. What else you got?
TTFN,
B