Sierra's Best Movies of 2024
I Intentionally did not put this on my list, due to conflict of interest, but Sing Sing is one of the greatest movies of this year and frankly, in many years. Please seek it out in theaters January 17!
Have Not Seen But Might Crack The List: The Brutalist, A Real Pain, Thelma, La Chimera, Hard Truths, Good One, My First Film, Queer
Honorable Mentions: Nickel Boys (WOW!!!!!!! Unfortunately it doesn’t always work imo, but honestly who cares. GO RAMELL! So exciting and wild to see true innovation and originality still happening), Monkey Man, The First Omen, Spermworld, Challengers, Babygirl
10. Luther: Never Too Much
A lot of this movie being on this list has to do with the mindset I was in when I saw it. I had been working like a dog at Sundance, going on 9 days of being there, and had yet to see a single movie. The morning of my flight my coworker and I checked the Press & Industry Screenings to see what was available and it was this or something else. We decided to see this because a friend had liked it.
I could not tell you anything about Luther Vandross. I did not grow up listening to him and I have only consciously heard (and loved) “Never Too Much” a couple of years ago. Luther was a wonderful man who was treated like absolute garbage by the media, his fans, and even those who “cared” about him. He was a generational talent and a trail blazer. Learning about his brief time on this Earth was nothing short of inspiring. I wish we could have loved him more while he was here. Another WILD ending to a movie.
Spoiler!
It literally ends after watching his funeral and you’re left sobbing and stunned as the credits roll.
Streaming on Hulu
9. Love Lies Bleeding
Shock of the century! I didn’t realize until I was about 5 minutes in that I didn’t even know the plot of this movie. Worked heavily in my favor. My Letterboxd review includes these words “Yippie! Yummy!” and truly that still remains relevant. Great body horror in this and a fun fantastical element that actually did work for me. Another original banger.
Streaming on HBO MAX
8. The Fall Guy
MMFA! Make Movies Fun Again! I had SO much fun! I love Ryan Gosling! I love stuntmen! I love to laugh! I love great action! I love going to the movies! I love good chemistry!
Streaming on Amazon Prime
7. Janet Planet
I do not know WHY I was under the impression I would hate this. Again! Lowered my expectations in a way that worked out so well for me! God I want to live in this movie forever. Slow, beautiful, messy, transformational. Zoe Ziegler gives what is EASILY my favorite performance of the entire year. I am so thankful for her honesty; I genuinely cannot tell if that is Annie Baker’s writing and direction or that is who Zoe is as a child. Likely a combo I’m sure. One of my favorite memories in my entire life is how much square dancing I did as a child, I’m tearing up just thinking about it. Another beautiful ending. My heart was so full after watching this.
Streaming on HBO MAX
6. The Substance
The Way People Talk (tm) about this movie is soooo annoying. The body horror and gruesome fun was a blast. This made me feel similar things that Barbie made me feel (complimentary). Movies like The Substance are NOT for a lot of you and you frankly need to shut up. There was a lot of laughter in my movie theater at a part where I felt my throat closing up and my heart in my chest choking back tears- I think that says enough.
Streaming on Amazon Prime
5. I Saw The TV Glow
I sadly was not a fan of Jane Schoenbrun’s first feature We're All Going To The World's Fair so I think that ultimately helped middle my expectations. It’s slightly-too-long runtime works against it but if you strap in to see this thing to the end you’ll come across a one in a million example of a film that absolutely sticks the landing with a perfect ending. Magical, heartbreaking, eye opening, and captivating!
Streaming on HBO MAX
4. Memoir Of A Snail
Absolutely loved loved loved, could have easily been higher if not for the feeder subplot that left me feeling icky. I found myself laughing and smiling nonstop and then totally sobbing by the end. I also have no concept of what Sarah Snook's real voice is I guess.
Avail to buy/rent on VOD.
3. It's What's Inside
You know what, HELL YEA! I feel similarly about this as I do Fall Guy, let's have fun! Original horror movie, fun, twisty, and sexy. Made me crave so badly to be IN THE MOVIE I WANT TO DO ALL OF THAT SO BAD! Love it! A Midnight movie at Sundance (with a budget of approximately $2.5 mil) sold to a massive streamer for $17 million, and for once I’m not mad.
Streaming on Netflix
2. Conclave
I made a rare earnest post on Letterboxd after watching this movie and I’m just going to copy and paste that here:
The memes and discourse around Conclave describing it as petty men who love gossip and vape in the Vatican do such a disservice to the film.
It’s a film that beautifully depicts doubt, self-righteousness, faith, morality, and hope for the world within the midst of so much darkness and hatred. Among so many other things. It moved me to tears more than once! Doubting Thomas’s beginning homily was poignant and felt revolutionary. There are many other quiet moments and interactions between Cardinals that also felt powerful to me. I can see it only deepening in meaning and relevancy upon additional viewings. And the whole film looks simply BEAUTIFUL (even on my laptop screen cuddled in bed... that’s how you know it’s good).
Streaming on Peacock
1. Wicked
There is nothing I can say that hasn’t been said before. Be a hater all you want but this movie transformed me and moved me deeper than I ever thought possible. Watching this movie next to my best friend was so powerful. I’ve NEVER felt this way watching a movie. I felt elation and pure childlike joy and wonder. I choked back guttural cries and gasps for air between tears. I held her hand and snapped my neck to see if she too was crying. I love Wicked, I always have and always will. Part 2 will actually destroy me and I cannot wait! Praise God for Jonathan Bailey. The only reason this isn’t a five star perfect movie is because they cut my favorite line: “What’s the most swankified place in town?”
Avail to rent/buy on VOD
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