Best of 2022 — Movies and TV

Here are my top picks from our year of viewing. We watched  over 130 movies last year.  Our television viewing was not as extensive but we discovered some that were pure gold.

As always, the movies may be old, but my viewing was brand new in 2022. In no particular order.

I began my "Best of" lists way back in 2008. To see them, check the label cloud in the sidebar under "Best of ..."

2022 BEST MOVIES

Minnal Murali (Superhero)

We were interested to watch this as Indian films don't have superhero movies the way that we do. It was an origin story with both the hero and villain getting hit by lightning at the same time and developing super powers gradually. These parallel tracks were really interesting and villain's journey was as interesting as the hero's. In many ways, we could empathize with some of his grievances. I loved the little nephew who knew all about American superheroes (they're what makes America great) and glories as each new power is discovered.

The Best Years of Our Lives

We watched this as part of our occasional William Wyler series. It focuses on the aftermath in three American military men's lives after the war is over and they return home. Over 70 years later, some of the story lines may seem conventional at first, but we soon saw the relevance to modern life. For one thing it kept coming up in conversation around the house which is one of the surest sign of a movie that speaks to the universal condition.

(My review here.)

RRR

This was surprisingly well-loved in America as we saw review after review praising it. RRR is the director's dream about two revolutionaries who never met but might have been besties if they had. It has great choreography for singing and action, exciting dances, and a lot of heart. It delivers an over-the-top bromance the likes of which would be hard to top. It also embodies personal sacrifice and love of country, naturally, since these are celebrated revolutionaries who fought for India's independence.

(My review here.)

A Taxi Driver

In 1980, a foreign journalist hires a down-on-his-luck taxi driver to take him to Gwangju, South Korea. They soon arrive to find a city under siege by student protesters and the military. The taxi driver, Mr. Kim, is the perfect character through whose eyes we should view the military lockdown of Gwangju. We'd never heard of this event and were gripped by the movie.

(My review here.)

Dune

Let's face it, if someone says " Denis Villeneuve directs" then I'm saying "which theater do I go to?" I love his style. You've doubtless heard all the naysayers and champions of the movie so I won't go into that. I myself was nervous about him directing such a difficult story to transition from a novel to film but came very happy. It was simply amazing.

The Outfit

A gripping and masterful thriller in which an expert tailor (Mark Rylance) must outwit a dangerous group of mobsters in order to survive a fateful night.

This little film is like a puzzle in a box. Every time you think you know how the pieces fit, another twist comes up to throw the viewer (and our master tailor) for a loop.

(My review here.)   

 

The Big Country

Another in our series watching William Wyler's movies chronologically. Gregory Peck's character was refreshingly different from the usual powerful Western hero. He had such self-confidence that he could turn down a fight in front of a crowd and not care what they thought of him. Charlton Heston was surprisingly low-key and subtle a lot of the time (good directing William Wyler!). I loved the themes and all the actors, especially Chuck Connors as the slimy bad guy and Burl Ives as the father bad guy who knew how to act honorable even if he didn't do it sll the time.

 The Admiral: Raging Currents

Based on a true story, this is the astonishing tale of a legendary battle against overwhelming odds: the embattled Koreans with 12 ships against the invading Japanese navy with 300 ships. And also of the extraordinarily talented Admiral Yi  Sun-sin who masterminded a victory. 

We'd never heard of this admiral or battle because it is from halfway around the world and long ago. It's always nice to find another fascinating story from history while you're watching a great movie.

(My review here.)

U Turn

This thriller is perfect for the wind up to Halloween. One of the most shocking things about it is something that Western audiences will find inexplicable — to have the divider between opposite sides of a highway made simply of large bricks which anyone can move so they can do a U-turn anywhere they feel like it. This blew our minds.

A young reporter, Rachana, is investigating the number of U-turns. Her theory is that this leads to a lot of accidents and deaths. She's right, but not in the way that she originally thinks.

(My review here.)

 

 

 

2022 BEST TV

The Brokenwood Mysteries

Set in the quiet New Zealand town of Brokenwood, this is a cozy mystery show that manages to avoid being too cozy. Following the three homicide detectives from case to case, it is more of a Midsomer Murders than a Murder She Wrote.

It's got a good amount of humor but always keeps the focus on solving the mysteries. The "kiwi" element is strong because the show was made for New Zealand audiences and that makes it just exotic enough. The murders always pull the detectives into a bit of local culture that is fun to see also, like the local Shakespearean troop or tours for the Lord of the Ringz filming locations. (That "z" in Ringz is important.) sometimes they just go for something everyone understands like playing Clue.

(My review here.)

Extraordinary Attorney Woo

This was my favorite show of the year and one that never failed to leave me in a good mood all the rest of the day. I say that up front because the description can't convey the charm, humor, and optimism of the show. Woo Young-woo is a female rookie attorney with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who is hired by a major law firm in Seoul. A legal drama at its heart, each episode features an interesting  case that has to be won. If, like me, this description leaves you cold, just try it. It truly is an extraordinary show.

(My review here.) 

Crash Landing on You

A sudden storm leads to a successful South Korean businesswoman and heiress crashing her paraglider in the North Korean portion of the DMZ. She meets an army captain in the Korean People's Army who decides he will help her hide. How will she get back to her own life and escape prison in North Korea? Over time, they fall in love, despite the divide and dispute between their respective countries.

I came for the accurate depiction of North Korean life. I stayed for the charming actors, the romance and the drama itself. Granted, the drama can be pretty sparse in some episodes when the romance is front and center, but there are some genuinely bad guys and interesting dramatic tension.

(My review here.)