Movies Round Up 2022

After 2 years and change I watched a movie in a theater. 'The Worst Person In The World, March 2022. If nothing else, just that makes this annual post more special than its predecessors. We went back to that cavernous, dark room with strangers and sat through a few hours or shared air to breathe and moments to remember. 2022, let no one tell you that you were not special.

Managed to watch 100+ movies (103 to be precise) once again, so there's that for a start. Some age old mistakes were amended, such as finally  watching (and loving) the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Some new mistakes were made, such as openly sharing my lack of enthusiasm for RRR, and getting trolled on Twitter. Wait till the end of this post to see what masochism looks like. Another highlight was watching several (~15) movies with my 7 year old movie buff. We caught up on the Ice Age series and more and it's fascinating to see not only how much more they enjoy by completely suspending disbelief, but also how much more they observe. Unfortunately, for now you're left with me and my cynical observations, yet again.

Now to the annual post. This is the 14th year of this tradition, and as always here's a recap of the prior years.

2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Let's move on to the usual metrics we review before we get to the piece you're waiting to read and disagree vehemently with me on - the actual year end wrap up.

Here is the Summary Table (in its 16th year) of movies released in the same year (2022 for this post) that I watched.

Year     # Seen    Hindi:English:Others   Top Rating  Avg. Rating

2007     32               22:10:0                           9.0             5.78

2008     30               23:7:0                             8.5             6.35

2009     24               18:6:0                             9.0             6.85

2010     25               16:9:0                             8.5             6.62

2011     22               15:6:1                             8.5             6.77

2012     28               12:11:5                           9.0             7.33

2013     28               14:14:0                           9.0             7.12

2014     16               10:6:0                             9.0             6.16 

2015     26               20:6:0                             9.0             6.55

2016     30               17:13:0                           9.5             6.98

2017     31               17:13:1                           9.0             7.03

2018     87               23:59:5                           9.0             7.29

2019     86               12:65: 9                          10.0           7.45

2020     38               16:20:2                           9.0             7.40

2021     53               15:34:4                           9.0             7.20

2022     67               21:38:8                           9.0             7.30

The split of the movies by source (not just movies released in 2022) was as follows. Those are 14 small movies for a man in a theater, but a giant relief for mankind.

Source	Count
Netflix	20
Theatre	14
HBO Max	13
Amazon Video	13
Hulu	12
Disney+	11
Showtime	4
Hoichoi	4
Zee5	3
Peacock	3
Starz	2
Apple TV+	2
Voot	1
Hoopla	1
Grand Total	103

And now for the annual ratings. A slight-major change being introduced from this year. Like in the past, we will have the Top 5 for Hindi movies released in the year. However, earlier we used to  also look at Top 5 "Non-Hindi". As over the years I have watched almost 2X as many English movies as Hindi, I am introducing a dedicated Top 5 English movies section, and a separate Top 3 "Non Hindi/English" section. Also, no documentaries are included as they were moved to the "Books, Shows, Podcasts" blog post from last year.

Gentle reminder these are based on just the 67 movies I watched in 2022 that released in 2022. Also, my blog my rules but our discussions. Here we go. All images courtesy of Wikipedia. 

Non-Hindi/English Movies

3. Aparajito (Language: Bengali, Director: Anik Dutta)

A Bengali movie about Satyajit Ray making Pather Panchali is something that stacks most odds against you even before you begin. You're straddling blasphemous territory and you just can't come out unscathed. However, to the immense luck and greater credit of Anik Dutta, Jeetu Kamal and a stellar team, they pulled off this miracle. Didn't know Ray could be made more endearing to Bengalis, but you will want to watch his movies again, with even more admiration, after watching this.

2. X=Prem (Language: Bengali, Director: Srijit Mukherjee)

Srijit Mukherjee has been a bit of a one-man show in Bengali cinema for a few years, focusing on quality and quantity and mostly managing to pull both off. Here he tackles romance, replete with Kolkata college canteens and college prem, memory loss, and some clever plot points to tell an old tale in a very attractive new bottle. Also some of the songs like Bhalobashar Morshum becoming earworms for many.

1. A Hero (Language: Persian, Director: Asghar Farhadi)

Did he? Didn't he? Is truth black and white after all, or just another shade of grey? Simply brilliant movie making that keeps you at  the edge of your living room couch till the end, and even after the end credits role you don't know what exactly you were hoping for and if you're satisfied. 

English Movies

5. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Director: Rian Johnson)

What? A guilty pleasure can't make Top of the Year lists? Who makes these rules? As I mentioned, my post, my rules. absolutely hit the spot during that missing week between Christmas and New Year. Never taking themselves seriously but not dumbing things down for us, the audience either. Benoit Blanc is one to watch out for, the only detective from our times who may leave a legacy behind. 

4. Good Luck To You, Leo Grande (Director: Sophie Hyde)

If you haven't heard of this one, don't be hard on yourself. One of those, what's the cliche, ah, hidden gems. If older people, especially women having their wishes and desires makes you uncomfortable, this movie is just for you. Emma Thompson has a blast scandalizing the prudes and Daryl McCormack is strangely dreamy throughout. Will be on the lookout for anything he does in the coming years.  

3. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (Director: Tom Gormican)

A movie about Nick Cage, with Nick Cage playing Nick Cage in a movie about Nick Cage. What's not to love? The self referential jokes come in thick and fast. But this is not one of the so-good-it's-bad movies, simply a very enjoyable one. It's genuinely funny, uses the comic-book style license to go crazy to good use. The jokes land, the references land, sometimes even if you haven't seen any NC movies (I have not seen a lot myself). Plus gorgeous Mediterranean European backdrops and some car chase.

 

2. Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood (Director: Richard Linklater)

 I wasn't in the Houston area, or even US, when we sent those initial men to the moon. Actually I wasn't even close to being born. And this animated masterpiece from Netflix manages to get us in those neighborhoods around NASA where every family has someone or the other in some way, shape or form being involved with the history being created. This however looks at the ones who are even one step further removed, the kids, spouses, teachers etc of the neighborhood, leading a regular life  but knowing that something big is going on. Great animation to go with the tender storytelling.

1. The Fallout (Director: Megan Park)

I have scoffed at Trigger Warnings many a times, but watching this movie days after the latest school shooting in America helped me realize how good film making unfortunately does require those much more than bad ones (those do for different reasons). A poignant portrayal of how our regular life turns upside down, not just for the victims and their families, but even the survivors of these grisly incidents. How regular, mundane life in mundane places become unrecognizable. The contrast of the boring and the horror of the unpardonable hits home hard in this Megan Park creation. Life moves on, sure, but there are many ways in which it can move on and not all are remotely similar. 

Hindi Movies

5. Darlings (Director: Jasmeet K. Reen)

To paraphrase the great all-rounder, DJ Bravo, Alia is a champion, Shefali is a champion, Vijay is a champion. Darker than the average dark comedy made in India in recent times, this borders on the farcical and heart wrenching, sometimes at the same time. The kind of movie where even as the "What?" becomes crazier by the minute, the "How?" is what keeps you in.

4. Badhaai Do (Director: Harshvardhan Kulklarni)

Ayushman Khurrana Rajkumar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar teach us and our Indian families societal lessons, as they have been for almost a decade now, but wrapped in that familiar sugar coating. While the message may get a bit heavy handed at times, the able performers and the cast manage to take us for the ride without giving up halfway. You (mostly) know and are rooting for the end, but the meandering ways by which we reach there was tactfully handled.

3. Kantara (Director: Rishab Shetty)

I am aware placing this through and through Kannada movie in my Hindi Top 5 is asking for trouble. However I used a simple rule of thumb for this, the language I watched a movie in is the language I slotted it under. Also, if you don't agree, remember, my post, my rules! This isn't even normally a genre (village-period-gore) I am naturally inclined towards. But the makers and actors deliver a story and performances that keep you waiting for the next act and the climax. 

2. Kaun Pravin Tambe (Director: Jayprad Desai)

So, just to reiterate, these ratings are directional preferences, and not like the elements of the periodic table that cannot be moved from their place by any force of nature. All this because this was almost the movie of the year for me till the other one came out towards the end of the year. And KPT is a masterclass. A story that's hardly believable but fully true and also a gentleman who is almost hardly believable in his simplicity and warmth, even outside of the absurd tale. Wonderfully portrayed by Shreyas Talpade, Pravin Tambe gets the recognition he richly deserves and we get one of the best sports movies in recent years.

1. Monica, O My Darling (Director: Vasan Bala)

Thrill hai, drama hai, twist hai, story hai, humor hai, what else can we ask for? While Vasan's previous movies - especially the short story in Ray and Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota showed us strong glimpses of his unique creative style, he is fully in his elements here in MoM with roles tailor made for Rajkumar Rao, Huma Qureshi and a hilarious Radhika Apte. Another made for OTT dark comedy in the Top 5 and we may have a trend, right? The twists come fast enough to bamboozle you but not confuse you and get you out of the mood for the story. Congrats to this Movie of the Year.

Here's the final list of ALL movies watched in 2022 (in alphabetical order within groups. Movies listed above removed to avoid duplicates)

Grade: Must Watch

Jaws

Licorice Pizza

Parallel Mothers

Promising Young Woman

The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

The Worst Person in the World

Grade: Recommended

Being The Ricardos

Bodies, Bodies, Bodies

Byomkesh Hatyamancha

Drive My Car

Dobaara

Eeb Allay Ooo

Elf

Elvis

Hustle

Ice Age

Kantara

Rise

The Batman

The Lost Daughter

Tick, Tick... Boom!

Top Gun Maverick

Turning Red

Grade: Read Summaries/Use Discretion

83

7 Days

A Christmas Story Christmas

After Yang

Annette

Avatar: The Way of Water

Belashuru

Belfast

Brahmastra

Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui

Chup

Costa Brava, Lebanon

Death on the Nile

Deep Water

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Don't Worry Darling

Dune

Emergency

Father of the Bride

Flee

Gangubhai Kathiawadi

Gehraiyaan

Hit The Road

Honk For Jesus

Ice Age: Adventures of Buck Wild

Ice Age: Continental Drift

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Ice Age: The Meltdown

I'm Your Man

Jalsa

Kimi

Laal Singh Chaddha

Loop Lapeta

Luck

Minions: The Rise of Gru

Mr. Malcolm's List

Nightmare Alley

Nope

Operation Mincemeat

PS1

Qala

Rocketry: The Nambi Effect

Ron's Gone Wrong

Sharmaji Namkeen

Spencer

Spider-Man: No Way Home

Sundown

The Beta Test

The Eyes of Tammy Faye

The Kashmir Files

The Land

The Nest

The Northman

The Outfit

Thor: Love and Thunder

Three Thousand Years Of Longing

Vikram

West Side Story

Grade: Please Avoid

India Sweet & Spices

Jugjugg Jeeyo

Kakababur Pratyaborton

Lightyear

Pushpa: The Rise

RRR

Movies Round Up 2021

If 2020 was the Godfather of Annus horribilis, 2021 was the Oscar winning sequel. Hats off, boss. The bar was low, and you made it seem anything but. However, on a more optimistic note, unlike the past two years, this year's round up post comes before the end of the year, even if you're in Kiribati islands. So, there's that.

Movie wise, unfortunately I am yet to see the inside of a movie theater for 22 months and don't see that changing anytime soon. Though once again, thanks to some solid work by the streaming platforms for keeping us entertained, engaged, and sometimes depressed (looking at you Sardar Udham, what a gut wrenching beauty). Bollywood, for the most part continued to lag in quality and give up all the gains of the 2010s, hoping the pandemic is the reason and we will be back to happier days. Hollywood and many parts of world cinema though had a solid year, with some blockbusters making a comeback and more importantly just lots of good cinema. 

Now to the annual post. This is the 13th year of this tradition, and as always here's a recap of the prior years:

2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.

Also, from this year I have split the documentaries entirely into a separate annual post, with books and shows, you can find more about that here. 

As this is as much of a movie round up tradition as a personal geeking out event on personal movie stats, let's get to the sections you have indulged me in for all the years.

Here is the Summary Table (in its 15th year) of movies released in the same year (2021 for this post) that I watched.

Year     # Seen    Hindi:English:Others   Top Rating  Avg. Rating

2007     32               22:10:0                           9.0             5.78

2008     30               23:7:0                             8.5             6.35

2009     24               18:6:0                             9.0             6.85

2010     25               16:9:0                             8.5             6.62

2011     22               15:6:1                             8.5             6.77

2012     28               12:11:5                           9.0             7.33

2013     28               14:14:0                           9.0             7.12

2014     16               10:6:0                             9.0             6.16 

2015     26               20:6:0                             9.0             6.55

2016     30               17:13:0                           9.5             6.98

2017     31               17:13:1                           9.0             7.03

2018     87               23:59:5                           9.0             7.29

2019     86               12:65: 9                          10.0           7.45

2020     38               16:20:2                           9.0             7.40

2021     53               15:34:4                           9.0             7.20

The split of the movies by source (not just 2021 movies) was as follows.

Source	Number
Netflix	16
Amazon Video	10
HBO Max	9
Disney+	8
Hulu	5
Showtime	4
Others	4
Starz	3
Hoichoi	1
Grand Total	60

And now for the annual rankings. 

As always, Top 5 Hindi and Non-Hindi movies of the year (released in 2021). All images are courtesy of Wikipedia. And these are based on just 53 movies I happened to watch this year, take it with dollops of salt, send your agreements and vitriol, and keep enjoying the magic of the movies.

Non-Hindi Movies

5. Borunbabur Bondhur (Language: Bengali, Director: Anik Dutta)

Acknowledging the confusion of whether this can be considered a 2021 movie, and moving on. My blog, my rules, especially as it can be argued this is a 2019, 2020, and 2021 movie. Based on a short story by Ramapada Chowdhury, this last hurrah by the Late Soumitra Chatterjee is a slow burn as they say nowadays. But with a fair amount of intrigue, involving a character no less than the President of India. It's about the ageing patriarch of a joint family and his waning influence of the next generations. Petty family politics, and then the twist. And the twist. Thanks for the parting gift Soumitra Sir.

4. Coda (Language: English, Director: Sian Heder)

Streaming on Apple TV+ in the US, this coming of age story surrounds a teenager who is the child of deaf adults (CODA). Indian viewers will find some similarities with SLB's Khamoshi, but it's mostly at a surface level. 19 year old Emilia Jones delivers a performance that will make a lot of filmmakers take notice and that can only be good news for her, and us. But will be amiss of me to not acknowledge the all round solid performances, and how this movie retains his comedic nature, without giving in to melodrama which was an easy option. It does tug at those heartstrings for sure, but not always in the ways you will predict.

3. King Richard (Language: English, Director: Reinaldo Marcus Green)

A movie about the greatest tennis sisters in history but actually about their dad. Well, that's the first surprise for all of us. But then it works hard, from title onwards, to make sure they don't bait and switch us. Yes, this is about Richard Williams, and this is about Will Smith, and this is bloody good. I am sure cinematic liberties have been taken, and I am fine as long as the family doesn't say this is a hogwash - which they haven't, and we see the inside view of the life of someone who had the inside view of making and raising two geniuses. Difficult to take your eyes off the family and especially Richard, even when he's being his obnoxious best, or maybe especially when he's being so. Inspiring, motivating, and just overall feel like cheering for these people. We will likely also be cheering for some of them during the awards season.

2. The Humans (Language: English, Director: Stephen Karam)

"Stephen - we know you're a playright, but that doesn't mean you should make a movie without knowing how to hold a camera!" It's OK if you had this thought. Most of us did. And the camera was in very able hands in this one, even though we were seeing the backs of characters, through walls of rooms engaging in mundane thanksgiving dinner table conversations. The taut screenplay, sharp humor, and the eerie atmosphere in a lower middle class NYC apartment building is just on point. This is a movie about the characters and the dialogues/conversations. And we feel the cringe when that person says that thing. And we want to jump in and break the tension when a loose cannon has been let out. The ending catches us by surprise, but by then you're already not wanting the movie to end.

1. Judas and the Black Messiah (Language: English, Director: Shaka King)

I actually wasn't even hooked on to what turned out to be my favourite movie of the year during the first ten minutes of viewing. I remember turning it off and then when I realized it was going away from HBO Max in a few days, giving it a second shot. Daniel and Lakeith deliver powerhouse performances, both in their own style and whether you know enough about the Black Panther Party's history, or not (like me) you will feel deeply about them and all the other characters and want that thing to work out. This is a funny one, as due to the pandemic, in spite of the 2021 launch, it was already nominated for a bunch of 2021 Awards, and ended up winning a bunch too, very deservingly. 

Hindi Movies

5. Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar (Director: Dibakar Banerjee)

It's not what you think this is about. And then it's again got a few surprises for you. Unlike most Bollywood movies, and especially mainstream ones it doesn't hold back punches. I am going to confess, with the leading couple being who they were my hopes were low, then my interest was piqued by the storyline, and finally when it streamed, turned out to be one of the most pleasant surprises of the year. It's a tough watch in parts if you're going with standard Bollywood as your benchmark.

4. Atrangi Re (Director: Anand L Rai)

A last minute entry, coming in as a Christmas release, Anand L Rai and Dhanush delivers again. Yes, there's enough resemblances with their prior partnership, Ranjhaana, but kudos to them for trying something different. Yes, a serious topic was handled in that mixed bag way that they tend to be in these mainstream but different movies, but takes something to put this amount of money into such a bet. Also, it looks and sounds splendid, with ARR showing some of his charm after a while. The ending was exactly what I was hoping and not at the same time, but it's OK. 

3. Ajeeb Daastaans - Geeli Puchhi (Director: Neeraj Ghaywan)

A good anthology of three above average short stories, and one outstanding one. Coming from Neeraj Ghaywan, director of Masaan (winner of Best movie of 2015, in this blog) not surprised that he used Konkona and Aditi Rao Hydari in ways they haven't been utilized in a while. Taking on multiple complex issues - caste, sexual identity, feminism - Neeraj manages to serve the knockout punch, and many punches prior to that. Even if you don't watch the rest of the movies, which I think you should, don't miss these 45 minutes. Perhaps the best of Bollywood in 2021.

2. Pagglait (Director: Umesh Bist)

A dark comedy with no A-list superstars, with no theater release. Was easy for this to sink without a trace, but it did quite the opposite. With sharp story telling, introducing quirky but relatable characters for today's generation, and some core Bollywood plot pillars it won us over. Sanya Malhotra has quickly built a repertoire of interesting and different movies - Secret Superstar, Badhai Ho, Ludo among others and she carries this on her character's widowed shoulders with ease and grace. There levity when things get too tense, and everyone is happier for it. Was good to see Ashutosh Rana after a while, and he did his best in a toned down role of a grieving father.

1. Ram Prasad Ki Tehrvi (Director: Seema Pahwa)

They say steer clear of using the word "underrated" when talking about a movie because how does it matter how others rate something when you're reviewing it. This one should be an exception. Hardly a peep about this outside of the "artsy" circles and that's likely a criminal offense. The brilliant Seema Pahwa's directorial debut depicts multiple generations of a middle class family arriving at the parents' house after the death of the father (Naseeruddin Shah). The nuances captured through the scenes, lines, props, and emotions are straight out of moments we have all witnessed first hand in our middle class Indian lives. You sort of know everyone's agenda, but not quite sure if everyone is as scheming or naive as they seem or if there's more to it. And please watch the movie to find out.

NOTE: There's an obvious omission in my list - yes, I am talking about Sardar Udham (I haven't seen 83 as that has had only a theatrical release). I have had the privilege of viewing Sardar Udham, and it's quite something else. The only reason I couldn't exactly put it in my Top 5 or any list for that matter is because I didn't enjoy watching the movie. Yes, of course I loved the movie, but watching it wasn't an experience I want to go through again. I just have this idiosyncratic filter, that I shouldn't just love a movie, but like it too, to recommend. And that kind of graphic gore and violence just doesn't feel right to me. Hats off to Shoojit Sircar, Vicky Kaushal and the rest of the team for delivering a message that was waiting to be delivered for a century, in a way that will echo for a while.

Final list of ALL movies watched in 2020 (including documentaries, in alphabetical order within groups)

Grade: Must Watch

Drishyam 2

Encanto

ET Extra Terrestrial

Kajillionaire

Little Things

Luca

Minari

Oslo

Sound of Metal

The Father

The Kid Detective

Together

Zack Snyder's Justice League

Zola

Grade: Recommended

8-Bit Christmas

Black Widow

Cruella

Drunk Bus

Home Sweet Home Alone

I Care a lot

In The Heights

Jungle Cruise

No Sudden Move

No Time To Die

Rashmi Rocket

Run

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Shershaah

Sir

Sophie Jones

Thalaivii

The Climb

The Courier

The Guilty

The Hand of God

The Last Letter From Your Lover

Young And Beautiful

Grade: Read Summaries/Use Discretion

Ammonite

Ankahi Kahaniyan

Bell Bottom

Dhamaka

Mixtape

Passing

Sherni

Sooryavanshi

The Dig

The Power of the Dog

Grade: Please Avoid

Bob Biswas

Plan B