Cinemas will also be in crisis, but beyond all, one thing is certain: whether it is to see them at the cinema or in streaming, good films are never lacking.
If already last year we chose to accompany you with our monthly guide (read here our choices for the best films of 2021), this year we have decided to work on this guide constantly, offering you an always updated list of everything that really deserves to be seen. Without further ado, here are the best films to see in 2022 .
1. Matrix Resurrections
This wacky 2022 began with Keanu Reeves returning to the Matrix and wondering about his life and nature itself: is it reality or fantasy? It is perhaps the same question that we have asked ourselves more than once recently, even we are somehow trapped in bizarre loops, but at least in this Matrix Resurrections there is also so much healthy action that it allows us to distract ourselves from reality. And plunge back into that universe that, in 1999, changed the way of making cinema forever. Directed by Lana Wachowski alone, this fourth installment is both a sequel and a reboot, but also a critique of this growing trend of making sequels and reboots. A courageous and divisive film, which deserves to be seen and analyzed at length, exactly as it was for the previous chapters.
2. A hero
Iranian Asghar Fahradi, already two times Oscar winner, is one of the major contemporary authors and this new film of his, which marks his return to his homeland after the European parentheses, is yet another demonstration of this. A hero starts from an apparently simple story, that of a man who finds a bag full of now and chooses to return it instead of keeping the loot for himself, but soon reveals an increasingly complex plot full of ideas and moral dilemmas which becomes a very lucid reflection on today’s world. To the almost perfect script is added a great interpretation of the protagonist Amir Jadidi and an inspired direction with moments of real poetry.
3. 4 halves
Does a soul mate really exist? To definitively answer this question try this new ambitious all-Italian movie from Netflix, 4 half. Played by young Italian actors of great talent such as Ilenia Pastorelli, Matteo Martari, Matilde Gioli and Giuseppe Maggio, and directed by Alessio Maria Federici, this original romantic comedy was one of the most viewed films of the beginning of the year on the streaming platform par excellence, thanks to the positive word of mouth from many users and a lot of curiosity aroused above all by the enigmatic ending.
4. The King’s Man
Third chapter of the action saga taken from the comics “The Secret Service” by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons, this The King’s Man – The Origins is in effect a prequel set during the First World War. And, as you can guess from the title, it tells us about the birth of the intelligence agency that we have come to love but also about an incredible adventure that unites history (such as the Russian Revolution and the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand who gave the away to the Great War) and fantasy (see the character of the “mystic” Rasputin). In the cast Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans and Matthew Goode, but also pay attention to some really tasty cameos.
5. The bar of high hopes
Based on the novel of the same name by JR Moehringer, The Tender Bar is the new film directed by George Clooney, starring Tye Sheridan, Ben Affleck, Lily Rabe and Christopher Lloyd. The story is the autobiographical one of the young JR who dreams of becoming a lawyer but in the meantime has to deal with a complicated situation at home. His point of reference will be his uncle Charlie, who owns a bar.
6. Latin America
Third work by the brothers Fabio and Damiano D’Innocenzo, after the award-winning La terra dell’abbanzo and Favolacce, this Latin America divided audiences and critics at the last Venice Film Festival due to its highly authorial and cryptic nature. The absolute protagonist of the film is Elio Germano, who plays a provincial dentist whose seemingly perfect life is turned upside down by a horrific discovery in the basement of his villa. We could define it as a psychological thriller, but it is above all a great example of auteur cinema that shuns immediacy and the banal but asks viewers to question themselves about what they have just seen. And on themselves.
7. Everything went well
Presented last summer at the Cannes Film Festival, this Everything went well is the new film from French director and screenwriter François Ozon. Based on an autobiographical novel by Emmanuèle Bernheim, the story centers on a woman who finds herself in the difficult situation of having to fulfill the last will of her father who was paralyzed after a stroke and help him die. Leading the cast is an extraordinary André Dussollier and a Sophie Marceau better than ever.
8. A Winning Family – King Richard
An intense biopic that tells the life and choices of Richard Williams, father of the very young Venus and Serena, future stars of world tennis. Beyond the incredible true story, the beating heart of the film is the incredible interpretation of Will Smith, already awarded the Golden Globe for this role and who is now betting everything on the Oscar for Best Actor.
9. Scream
It is only called Scream, exactly like Wes Craven’s cult film of 1996, but it is in effect a new sequel and therefore the fifth chapter of one of the most popular horror sagas of recent decades. In fact, the historical protagonists such as Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Courteney Cox are back, to which are added many new faces such as Melissa Barrera, Dylan Minnette, Jenna Ortega, Jack Quaid, Kyle Gallner and many others. Who will be the new shocking killer? We know it but obviously we don’t tell you! Indeed we advise you not to spoil anything and enjoy this new film full of surprises to the fullest!
10. Macbeth
Does it still make sense to bring back to the cinema – or, as in this case, to the screens of Apple TV + – one of William Shakespeare’s best-known tragedies? The answer is certainly positive when it comes to the new work of Joel Coen, a hugely talented director (for the first time alone and without the help of his brother Ethan) who was able to put together a truly impressive cast. All shot in a splendid and very elegant black and white, thanks to the immense skill of Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand, this The Tragedy of Macbeth is among the best visions of this beginning of the year.
11. The Fair of Illusions – Nightmare Alley
Based on the noir novel by William Lindsay Gresham, already brought to the screen in 1947 with the homonymous film by Edmund Goulding, this The Fair of Illusions represents the return to the cinema of the Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro after the Oscars won for The Shape of Water . The plot stars Stan Carlisle, an ambitious and manipulative carousel who meets Dr. Lilith Ritter, a psychiatrist even more dangerous than him, in the 1940s. But in reality it is a film that seems to speak to us viewers today and tell us a way made up of illusions and deceit, vanity and lies. To the splendid and elegant direction of DelToro is added a prestigious cast led by Bradley Cooper and Cate Blanchett but who can also count on many famous names and faces such as Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, Richard Jenkins, Rooney Mara,
12. Tammy Faye’s eyes
The stories of the television preachers Tammy Faye Bakker and Jim Bakker who in the early 1970s founded the most important American religious television network, with millions of loyal and devoted viewers, and then were overwhelmed by financial and sexual scandals. The eyes of Tammy Faye is a rather classic biopic in the structure that owes a lot of its success not only to the incredible true story to which it refers but also to the skill of the protagonist Jessica Chastain, aided by a prosthetic make-up that makes it almost unrecognizable. Both Chastain and the makeup artists have been nominated for an Oscar.
13. Marry Me
If you are fond of romantic comedies, this Marry Me – Marry Me could positively surprise you. Jennifer Lopez also plays a hugely successful pop star nearing her wedding in the movie, but once she finds out she’s been cheated on she decides to impulsively marry a random guy from her audience at her concert. The lucky one is played by Owen Wilson, an ordinary and quiet math teacher, and it is from this strange couple that an extraordinary synergy is born that transforms the film into one of the most enjoyable romcoms in a long time.
14. Murder on the Nile
The incredible and unexpected success of the previous chapter has not been repeated, but in any case the thriller directed and starring Kenneth Branagh and once again inspired by a novel by Agatha Christie will not disappoint fans of the genre. Detective Hercule Poirot this time is investigating during a romantic honeymoon, on a cruise to Egypt and once again the cast is exceptional: Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Annette Bening, Emma Mackey, Rose Leslie, Tom Bateman and many others.
15. Ennio
Let’s move on to a real masterpiece, a documentary that has been conquering audiences and critics from all over the world since the last Venice Film Festival. With Ennio the director Giuseppe Tornatore talks about one of the greatest composers of the last century, that Ennio Morricone whom the whole world knows and has learned to love thanks to his works for cinema. But in these two and a half hours there is really everything: cinema, pop music, an extraordinary interview with the composer shortly before his death, interventions by friends and colleagues. But above all there is an infinite love for art, which excites and moves on several occasions and which, once finished, makes you want to see it all over again.
16. Uncharted
Inspired by the famous saga of video games for Playstation, this Uncharted has as its protagonist the young adventurer Nathan Drake and his mentor Victor Sullivan, both looking for a mysterious treasure hidden even by Ferdinand Magellan many centuries earlier. Lots of action around the world, lots of fun, all in the balance between Indiana Jones and Lara Croft: will it be just the first chapter of a new successful saga? For now it is still too early to tell, but certainly the two protagonists Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg together work quite well and the public would seem to have liked.
17. Belfast
Kenneth Branagh again, this time only behind the camera for his most autobiographical film and perhaps also his most beautiful ever. Nominated for 7 Academy Awards – including Best Picture, Direction and Screenplay – Belfast chronicles the director’s childhood in Northern Ireland during the 1969 riots. Shot in elegant black and white, the entire film is seen and told through the eyes of a 9-year-old child, halfway between dreamlike and realistic. Together with the extraordinary and very young protagonist Jude Hill a perfect cast: Caitríona Balfe and Jamie Dornan as their parents, Judi Dench and Ciarán Hinds (both candidates from the Academy) as their grandparents.
18. The Batman
Is it possible that there is still something new to say about the overused Batman character? Director Matt Reeves shows us yes, it’s possible; at least if you choose the path of the David Fincher thriller and abandon the superheroristic epic of Zack Snyder or the pop fun of Marvel. Robert Pattinson’s Batman is a real detective, called to investigate the murders perpetrated by the insane Riddler (an extraordinary Paul Dano), aided only by Detective Gordon (Jeffrey wright) and the mysterious and fascinating Selina (Zoe Kravtiz). The film was a smash hit at the box office and at this point paves the way for a new saga / trilogy.
19. Red Rocket
Mikey Saber, a disgraced pornstar, leaves Los Angeles and returns home to his ex-wife in Texas, promising to change his life. However, he meets Strawberry, a very young cashier of a sweet shop where she immediately sees great potential for a return as a winner in the world of porn. Needless to say, this is where the troubles will begin… Director Sean Baker, cult author of US indie cinema, gives us a funny and original comedy that at the same time criticizes society and the American dream. Honorable mention for the two protagonists: the exceptional Simon Rex who alone holds a large part of the film and the newcomer Suzanna Son, an irresistible mix of sweetness and sensuality.
20. Cyrano
Directed by the English Jow Wirght (Atonement, Anna Karenina) this Cyrano is the film adaptation of the musical of the same name by Erica Schmidt, itself based on the famous comedy Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand. This time the title Cyrano does not have a very long nose but is affected by dwarfism: to interpret him is the excellent Peter Dinklage, at one of the most exciting performances of his career. In addition to the beautiful songs (by The National) and choreography, and the convincing interpretations, the film deserves to be seen also for the splendid sets and costumes. In addition to the fact that it was shot completely in Italy, more precisely in Noto, in Sicily, and on the slopes of Etna.
21. Red
Mei Lee is a studious and obedient 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian who, every day after school, helps her mother Ming organize tourists’ visits to the family temple. Perpetually torn between being a model daughter and a normal teenager, one morning Mei finds herself struggling with a shocking discovery: following a strong repressed emotion, in fact, the girl turns into a giant red panda. A cumbersome and conspicuous inconvenience caused by an ancient curse that begins to manifest itself whenever her joy or upset gets the better of her. Red, Pixar’s 25th animated feature film, is a coming-of-age story focused on the physical and psychological transformations of the adolescent period, capable of normalizing, through the use of humor,
22. Flee
Flee is a more unique than rare case, a film that received from the Academy with 3 Oscar nominations, in three very different categories: best animated film, best documentary and best foreign film (for Denmark). An absolute record that confirms the exceptional nature of the product, beloved by critics since its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival 2021. The film tells the story of Amin, a refugee who fled from Kabul at a very young age to find refuge in Copenhagen and who for most of his life she decided to hide her dramatic past from everyone, even from friends and her boyfriend.
23. Licorice Pizza
In the San Fernando Valley of the 1970s, a teenager with an early acting career, Gary (Cooper Hoffman), meets and starts courting Alana (Alana Kane), a 25-year-old who works as a photographer’s assistant. Despite the ten years of difference, Gary and Alana are irresistibly attracted to each other and, while failing to define the contours of their relationship, the two become more and more accomplices. Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza is a warm and vital coming of age that takes the viewer on a nostalgic journey through the America of the seventies, between vinyl records and fast food consumed in the car. The film, poised between comedy and drama, can count on the brilliant and fresh performance of the two rookie actors,
24. Moonfall
In 2011, three astronauts on a space shuttle are overwhelmed by a kind of “black swarm”. The two who are inside the spacecraft are saved, the third dies and NASA tries to cover up the affair by filing it as a human error. After 10 years, a young conspiracy theorist passionate about astronomy, notices that the Moon changes its orbit around the Earth and spreads the news on the net, saying he is convinced that our satellite is a mega artificial structure, but obviously he is not believed. NASA, unable to cover the news, sends three astronauts to the moon, but they are promptly killed by the same swarm that had overwhelmed their colleagues at the beginning of the film. Roland Emmerich is back and is always a guarantee of spectacular and compelling entertainment and movies. After giving us the glaciations, the alien invasions and the most compelling Mayan prophecies in the history of cinema, with Moonfall the director of Independence Day takes us on a mission to the moon, amidst black swarms, conspiracies and looming threats. The film has a cast led by Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson and John Bradley. If you’re into the genre, you might want to check out our article on the best recent movies set in space.
25. Ambulance
Remake of the homonymous Danish film, Ambulance gives us a Michael Bay “strangely” in the mood for exaggeration. Everything starts from a strong idea, the typical high concept that is told in a few minutes: two robbers kidnap an ambulance with a nurse and a seriously injured police officer inside. Thus begins a long and desperate chase through the streets of sunny Los Angeles. Frenzied rhythm, adrenaline and clear references to western imagery. Ambulance dusts off the American myth confirming the fascination of outlaws who try to mock the system.
26. The signs of the heart (TAIL)
CODA – The signs of the heart is the film by Sian Heder that won three awards at the 2022 Oscars, including one for best film. It is a dramedy that has its strength in the simplicity of the story and in the extraordinary interpretation of Emilia Jones, who plays the role of a girl who has both parents and her brother who are deaf. A particular family situation that creates some difficulties for the protagonist, especially in terms of integration with her schoolmates. Ironically, CODA is also a film that has a strong musical component and has won audiences over for its songs as well. Next to Jones (who sings a song by Joni Mitchell in the film) we find the Oscar winners Troy Kotsur and Marlee Matlin (Kotsur was awarded in 2022, while Matlin, also deaf, won in the 1980s for Sons of a Lesser God). Many have wondered if CODA is based on a true story: it isn’t, but it’s the remake of a 2014 French film, The Bélier family. If you want to learn more about sign language after the movie, don’t miss our article on how to communicate with deaf people.
27. Parigi, 13Arr. (Les Olympiades)
After passing in competition at Cannes in July 2021, the new film by Jacques Audiard, one of the best contemporary European directors, has finally arrived in Italian cinemas. Paris, 13Arr, as the title says, is all set in a district of Paris (also called Les Olympiades) and tells of the love and “erotic” triangle formed by the Chinese-Parisian Emilie who works in a call center, the original teacher African Camille and thirty-year-old Nora, just landed in Paris and without friends or acquaintances. Photographed in an elegant and persuasive black and white, the film tells the precariousness, both work and love, of the last generations.
28. Spencer
Let’s get things straight: if you are expecting a biopic about Lady Diana that is conventional and historically flawless, then Spencer is not for you. Pablo Larrain, who in recent years has reworked other iconic female figures such as Jackie Kennedy, tells Diana Spencer through her point of view, relying on Kristen Stewart. The director places the story of the film in a short span of time, that of the Christmas holidays spent by the Princess of Wales and the Royal Family in Sandrigham. Diana comes to life on screen with her frailties and her strength, at a crucial moment in her life when she decides to divorce Prince Charles, the father of her children. In recent years, the character of Lady D. has come back to life through various film and television incarnations, and that of Kristen Stewart (nominated for an Oscar 2022) together with that of Emma Corrin for The Crown are among the most convincing. Provided that the viewer is willing to welcome them in clothes that go beyond the personal and collective imagination.
29. Morbius
How much blood runs in Spider-Man’s veins? Because Sony wants to drink it at will, like a parasite that wants to feed on the popularity of others. After the resounding commercial successes of Venom, Morbius gets in the wake to feed the narrative universe dedicated to the Spider-Man villains. A film that promised dark atmospheres and introspective tones, but it turned out to be a clumsy thriller in which the comic line totally clashes with the alleged intentions of the film. A cinecomic that for staging and ingenuity really recalls the naive and rough ones of the early 2000s.
30. Lamb
A couple lives in isolation on their farm. Life flows placidly, marked by the usual routine. Then the twist: a daughter arrives in the family to say the least unexpected. She unexpected and very, very strange. All immersed in the vast lands of a splendid Iceland isolated from the world. Telling Lamb is not easy, because Valdimar Jóhannsson’s debut walks on a suspended thread between multiple genres: the family thriller, surreal horror and even some flashes of grotesque comedy. All staged with great care and good doses of estrangement.
31. C’Mon C’Mon
Directed by Mike Mills, C’mon C’mon is a film that provokes a strong emotional involvement in the viewer, telling the story of an uncle and his nephew who will spend time together and find themselves increasingly united. Johnny (Joaquin Phoenix) is a documentary filmmaker famous for his very punctual interviews and podcasts on American society; one day – at the request of her sister who has to take care of her sick husband – she will agree to take care of her nephew Jesse (Woody Norman) for a period. Johnny will take Jesse on one of his trips, from Los Angeles to New York and then New Orleans: during the coexistence on the road , the two will forge an ever stronger relationship, helping each other to overcome all the difficulties.
Shot in elegant black and white, C’mon C’mon is a delicate and profound tale of the meaning of parenting, infused with great hope for the future and in the new generations.
32. Sonic 2 – It movie
If the first Sonic – The movie paved the way, this Sonic 2 runs it at full speed. Incredible but true: finally a saga based on a video game that manages not to disfigure. Indeed, he even manages to do things right, dosing the fun, quotes and winks to the fans as it should be. In this sequel, Sonic is joined by Tales and the menacing Knuckles, demonstrating how much the saga has a great desire to explore the mythology of the blue hedgehog by SEGA. So here is a great adventure, which in its simplicity and with its light-hearted spirit manages to put everyone in agreement. Sonic 2 is a really nice example of kids’ cinema with an almost nineties aftertaste.
33. The dark daughter
Debut behind the camera by Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Dark Daughter is based on the novel of the same name by Elena Ferrante and tells the story – on two different temporal levels – of a woman and her difficult relationship with motherhood. Leda (Olivia Colman), a well-known university researcher, arrives for the holidays in a Greek seaside resort, where she has rented a small apartment. There she will meet a very large family and will be particularly impressed by a young mother, Nina (Dakota Johnson), who is very attached to her daughter. Her confrontation with Nina will bring to light painful memories for Leda, and will force her to come to terms with her past. When she was very young, in fact, she abandoned her daughters for a while, giving priority to her professional career.
34. Fantastic Beasts – Dumbledore’s Secrets
Third film in the saga linked to the world of Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts – the secrets of Dumbledore received a more lukewarm reception than the first film, also because of the unpleasant controversies in which the author JK Rowling (for his utterances transphobic on social media) and star Johnny Depp, replaced by colleague Mads Mikkelsen in the role of Gellert Grindelwald, following the tough legal battles between him and his ex-wife Amber Heard. The film, which again sees Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, centers on the struggle between Dumbledore (Jude Law) and the dark wizard Grindelwald, whose power could upset the balance of the wizarding world. In the cast we find Dan Fogler, Katherine Waterston and Ezra Miller, also involved in unpleasant news episodes during the period in which the film is in theaters.
35. The Lost City
A writer of adventure romance novels is kidnapped by an eccentric tycoon in search of a lost treasure. Alongside the author, here is a special ally: the model of her covers. What could go wrong? More or less everything. The Lost City starts from a more sympathetic premise than the film itself, which focuses on the alchemy between Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum, who, however, are not exactly close-knit. The gags work at times, which makes The Lost City a film that proceeds in flames, uncertain between the sincere adventure and the parody. Between a few highs (Brad Pitt and Daniel Radcliffe’s cameos) and lots of lows, this film is a kind of merry-go-round that doesn’t leave much of an impression once you’re back on the ground.
36. Surprise ending
Directed by Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat and starring Penélope Cruz, Antonio Banderas and Oscar Martínez, Finale a Surprise is a pungent comedy about the heated rivalry between two completely different actors who share a huge ego. Vain Hollywood star Félix (Banderas) and serious stage actor Iván (Martínez) are chosen by renowned and eccentric director Lola Cuevas (Cruz) to take part in a cinematic masterpiece financed by a glorious entrepreneur. To manage two such different personalities eager to show off, Lola Cuevas will subject the two performers to a series of bizarre tests capable of adding even more fuel to the fire on their rivalry. The result is a hilarious film in which the planes of reality and fiction mix continuously.
37. The Northman
For his third work, director Robert Eggers plunges his hands into Scandinavian mythology and brings the pre-Shakespearean myth of Hamlet written by the Danish medieval historian Saxo Grammaticus to the screen. Set in 10th century Iceland, The Northman follows the story of the Viking prince Amleth (Alexander Skarsgård), seeking revenge for the murder of his father at the hands of his uncle when he was just a boy. Helping him in fulfilling his destiny will be Olga, a Slavic woman reduced to slavery and played in the film by Anya Taylor-Joy. The Northman, in which historical accuracy and myth merge until one no longer knows where one ends and the other begins, has the great merit of providing a portrait of the Viking people as we have never seen it before,
38. Downton Abbey II: A New Era
The cast of the beloved British television series returns to the big screen once again for a second film titled Downtown Abbey II – A New Era. In this new chapter, Countess Violet Crawley (Maggie Smith) discovers that she has inherited a mansion on the French Riviera from a French noble whose family was unaware of the existence. Part of the Crawleys then leave for the French Riviera while the others must remain in Yorkshire: a film production company has, in fact, rented the villa for the summer months. In Downtown Abbey II – A new era we find the humor and the dazzling jokes typical of the TV series alternating with poignant moments and personal dramas.
39. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
In this new chapter dedicated to the adventures of Doctor Strange, which sees the return to the direction of a cinecomic Sam Raimi, we are catapulted into a crazy multiverse, in some moments very colorful in others dark and restless. In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) will have to protect the young America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), a girl with extraordinary powers, from the aims of Wanda / Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), who would like to exploit her gifts. . A journey between universes and alternative realities that will leave the viewer literally breathless.
40. Cip & Ciop special agents
The world’s most beloved squirrel couple returns for a new hilarious adventure in a mixed media film directed by Achiva Schaffer. Thirty years after the cancellation of their animated series, Chip and Dale spend two completely different and, above all, separate lives: the first is a successful insurance salesman, the second, after undergoing “CGI surgery”, he spends his time trying to recall the good old days. But when their former castmate Monterey Jack – an unforgettable long-whiskered, robust mouse – is kidnapped, the two squirrels will once again join forces to save their friend in distress and finally return to being Cip & Dale agents. special.
41. Night exterior
External Night is one of the best films by Marco Bellocchio, through which the director, twenty years after Buongiorno, Notte, has returned to recount the circumstances of the kidnapping and killing of Moro by the Red Brigades. This time Bellocchio relies on Fabrizio Gifuni, who offers a convincing interpretation of the president of the Christian Democrats, and changes his perspective on history. External night is more faithful to historical reality (despite taking some narrative freedom) but above all it tells the Moro case from the point of view of those who lived it “externally”, from the politicians of the time to the family of the kidnapped statesman. Bellocchio’s latest work is also one of the best films on Aldo Moro and has received a favorable reception from critics. In addition to Gifuni, the cast includes Margherita Buy,
42. Nostalgia
Nostalgia is an Italian film directed by Mario Martone and based on a novel by Ermanno Rea, which was presented at the Cannes Film Festival 2022. Pierfrancesco Favino is the protagonist of the film, Felice Lasco, a wealthy and affirmed man who, after having lived many years in Cairo, he returns to Naples, in the Sanità district, where he grew up and where his mother still lives. Felice will stay in Naples longer than expected and will confront him with his past and above all with his friend Oreste (Tommaso Ragno), with whom he has maintained a long-distance friendship, despite having definitively embraced a criminal existence. On the Sanità district, Pierfrancesco Favino said:“When we started shooting the film in that place that, years before, I had visited as a tourist with the Lonely Planet who warned:” be careful, let us accompany you, do not venture alone “I found myself having to knock on the door of the people to ask if I could go to the bathroom and always find a cup of coffee waiting for me on the kitchen table. “
43. Top Gun: Maverick
Top Gun: Maverick is the sequel to Top Gun, one of the beautiful films of the 80s, a true cult that in its time contributed to add a fundamental step in Tom Cruise’s career. In this Top Gun 2 directed by Joseph Kosinski, Tom Cruise reprises the role of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, who today tests secret planes for the Navy, but due to circumstances that we do not anticipate, he will return to the Top Gun school. The charisma and charm of Tom Cruise are the same as ever, despite 34 years have passed since the first Top Gun and despite some not very reassuring rumors about the actor. Next to Tom there is a whole new cast of actors, formed by Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hann, Ed Harris. We find Val Kilmer, recently plagued by serious health problems, in the role of Iceman. Top Gun:
44. Jurassic World: Domination
Jurassic World – Domination is the third and final film in the Jurassic World trilogy (the new trilogy, the one that follows on from the historic Jurassic Park trilogy). Directed by Colin Trevorrow, the film again stars Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, but also the historical protagonists of the dinosaur saga, such as Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and Sam Neill. The film is set four years after the events told in the second chapter, The Destroyed Kingdom , and the main difference with the previous films are the locations. This time, in fact, dinosaurs are literally everywhere, even in urban contexts and cause unprecedented catastrophes. Among the many action scenes and environmental disasters, the show is guaranteed, but the film has not convinced critics and fans of the Jurassic saga.
45. Hustle
Every time Adam Sandler turns his back on comedy, the world gives thanks. It happened some time ago with the amazing Raw Diamonds, and it happened again (again on Netflix) with the beautiful Hustle, which is the typical movie that Americans know how to shoot properly. Because it speaks of their sport par excellence (basketball), of second chances and of people put on the sidelines trying to get back on top. In the film, Sandler plays a former player turned observer for the Philadelphia 76ers, who was suddenly dismissed from the NBA and forced to start from scratch. How? By focusing everything on the crystalline talent of a guy to mentor. A classic story, but told with great tact and sincerity.
46. Spiderhead
Directed by Joseph Kosinski, Spiderhead is set in the near future, on the edge of dystopia. Inmates are given the opportunity to shorten their sentences if they volunteer for medical trials. At the center of this story we find two inmates, Jeff (Miles Teller) and Lizzy (Journee Smollet), who agree to undergo the treatments of Dr. Steve Abnesti (Chris Hemsworth): the therapy they undertake is aimed at altering their emotions and their perception of the world, putting control of their minds in Abnesti’s hands. The two protagonists, over time, will begin to question the reality that surrounds them, bringing to light a series of terrible secrets concerning the mysterious doctor and his laboratory.
47. Lightyear – La vera storia di Buzz
Have you ever wondered what was the origin of the cute toy astronaut among the protagonists of the Toy Story film saga? To satisfy this curiosity we think Lightyear – The true story of Buzz, a Disney-Pixar film that stars the Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Chris Evans in the original version), engaged in a very dangerous space mission. Buzz and his commanding officer and best friend Alisha Hawthorne (Uzo Aduba) must manage to escape from Tikana Prime, a habitable planet that is home to hostile life forms. To help them will be an unlikely supporting actor: a very tender robot kitten.
48. Elvis
Nine years after The Great Gatsby, director Baz Luhrmann brings to the screens Elvis, a biopic and musical film centered on Elvis Presley, the King of Rock, who revolutionized the world of music and entertainment with his musical and personal style. The style of the director of Moulin Rouge! he is always rich and cared for in every aspect, from the image to the costumes, from the soundtrack to the reconstruction of an era. Austin Butler plays Elvis Presley and alongside him are Tom Hanks (in the role of Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis’ impresario with whom the singer had a controversial relationship) and Olivia DeJonge in the role of the star’s teenage wife, Priscilla. The film is part of the trend of musical biopics released in recent years, but despite the excellent success in the box office it did not have the same media impact as Bohemian Rhapsody. Speaking of music, it should be emphasized that If I Can Dream, one of the latest Maneskin songs, also stands out in Elvis’ soundtrack.
49. Black Phone
Black Phone is a horror film directed by Scott Derrickson and starring Ethan Hawke, who had previously collaborated together for Sinister, considered one of the best recent horror films. The black phone in the title is the one that rings in the basement where a 13-year-old boy, Finney (Mason Thames), kidnapped by a kidnapper of children, is being held. We are in 1978 in Denver, Finney and his sister Gwen live with their father, an alcoholic man. The mother of the two boys committed suicide, and was able to have premonitory dreams, just like Gwen. The girl dreams that a classmate of Finney’s, Bruce, is kidnapped by a maniac nicknamed The Grabber, who wears a demonic mask. After a few days, Finney will also be kidnapped and will find himself locked up in a soundproof room in which there is a disconnected telephone.
50. Thor: Love and Thunder
Once upon a time there was Thor, the Asgardian superhero who became a fairy tale comedy. This could be the story behind the great transformation of the God of Thunder wanted by Taika Waititi who, after Thor: Ragnarok, continues to upset the Viking Marvel focusing everything on jokes and parodies. Yet, behind the glitter of Thor Love and Thunder beats a heart. This time Waititi has really written a fairy tale for children (in fact the film is a story aimed at children) capable of reconciling drama and comedy with great ease. Unbalanced in tone but nonchalant in the changes of register, Thor Love and Thunder relies on a combative Natalie Portman (in the unprecedented role of the Mighty Thor) and a disturbing Christian Bale (Gorr, the butcher of the gods) to make his mark on the vast panorama of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
51. The monster of the seas
For hundreds of years, the maritime kingdom of Tre Ponti has been haunted by the presence of huge sea monsters that bring death and destruction as they pass. The only defense of human beings from these frightening beasts is the body of the Hunters, expert navigators among which the crew of the Inevitable, the best among the hunter ships led by the legendary Captain Crow and his second Jacob Holland. The arrival on the ship of an enterprising girl will forever change not only Holland’s life, but also the perception that humans have of sea monsters. Produced by Netflix Animation Studio in collaboration with Sony Animation, The monster of the seas is a very enjoyable adventure among the seas that can count on a large technical sector and directed by Chris Williams,
52. The Gray Man
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, The Gray Man is a thrilling spy story, with an all-star cast that includes names like Ryan Gosling, Billy Bob Thornton, Chris Evans and Ana de Armas. At the center of the story, a secret agent known by the code name of Sierra Six, a former inmate enlisted by the CIA and who has become, over time, a veritable killing machine. When he gets hold of uncomfortable information that could jeopardize the careers of his new bosses, he himself will become the number one target. Will he be able to survive the intense manhunt against him? On the trail of him Lloyd Hansen, a ruthless and unscrupulous former agent.
53. X: A Sexy Horror Story
X: A Sexy Horror Story is an erotic horror film, set in 1979 in Texas, which openly mentions horror films of the time like Don’t Open That Door , but also classic adult films of that period, like Mischievous Games .. Directed by Ty West, the film stars Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega, Brittany Snow and Scott Mescudi. At the center of the plot is the crew of a hardcore film that ventures into rural Texas to shoot hot scenes with a “rustic” setting. They will find themselves in a gas station, but their sexual performances will end in a bloodbath. The special aspect of this film is that Mia Goth plays the dual roles of aspiring actress Maxine and that of Pearl, the elderly wife of the owner of the gas station, Howard. Shortly after the release of X: A Sexy Horror Story, the trailer for the prequel Pearl was launched , focusing on the old woman’s bloody and turbulent past. In addition, Pearl was announced as one of the flagship titles of the Venice Film Festival 2022.
54. Secret Love
Secret Love is a romantic-dramatic film based on the novel A day of celebrationby Graham Swift. The story is set in 1924 in England and stars a girl, Jane (Odessa Young) who works as a waitress for a wealthy family, the Niven. Jane has a secret relationship with Paul Sheringham, the son of the Niven’s neighbors, who are also wealthy. Paul, however, is engaged to Emma, who had been the girlfriend of her brother (who died in the war) and will marry her shortly. We meet Jane several years later: she has become an established writer and is married to Donald, whom she met in a bookstore. Her story with Paul took a dramatic turn, but it’s one of the events that led her to become a writer. In addition to Odessa Young, Glenda Jackson, Josh O’Connor, Olivia Colman, Colin Firth are also part of the cast of the film by Eva Husson.
55. Prey
A return – literally – to origins with this new chapter of the Predator franchise, available only on Disney +. Prey, directed by Dan Trachtenberg, takes us back in time, to the early eighteenth century, in the (almost) uncontaminated nature inhabited by the Comanches. The young Naru, played by the discovery Amber Midthunder, will be forced to fight with the hunter from space, the Predator we have known in many cinematic adventures (the first and best known, the one that sees him clash with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Major Dutch Schaefer ). An engaging and exciting struggle for survival, which made us appreciate an interesting and well-constructed film.
56. Luck
How many times have we thought we were being haunted by bad luck? Some, however, have reason to believe it; this is, in fact, the case of 18-year-old Sam Greenfield, the most unfortunate girl in the world. But her fate changes radically after the chance encounter with a mysterious black cat: the strange talking feline leads Sam to the Land of Fortune, a place inhabited by magical creatures who distribute good luck to all mankind. Here, the young woman will leave in search of a lucky penny to give to her little friend Hazel, an orphaned girl who hopes with all her heart to be adopted. Produced by Skydance Animation and directed by Peggy Holmes, Luck is an animated film capable of entertaining and thrilling at the same time,
57. Nope
Third work by the master of horror with a social background, Jordan Peele, Nope is coherently placed in a filmography capable of making the viewer reflect with his narrative and stylistic ideas. At the heart of Nope we find the brothers Haywood, Oj and Emerald (Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer), the sons of a horse trainer for Hollywood who died under mysterious circumstances. To turn their life around is the arrival on their ranch of what looks like an alien flying saucer: the two decide to immortalize it to chase fame and economic well-being. The UFO, however, will prove to be much more dangerous than it initially seemed.
58. Minions 2
Gru and the Minions return in this Minions sequel, which is actually a prequel to Despicable Me, focusing on the origins and history of Felonius Gru. We are in the 70s, Felonius Gru is only 11 years old but he is determined to become a supervillain and hopes to join the Evil 6, a team of bad guys who are looking for someone who can replace their founder, Willy Krudo, believed dead. . The theft of a stone, by the little Gru, will trigger a series of “very bad” events, including kidnappings, chases and lots of action.
The Minions (and the very bad Gru) have now entered the hearts of children and this film confirms once again the popularity of the little yellow “things”, which today are really everywhere, including films, gadgets and even in McDonald’s Happy Meal. Among the voice actors of the Italian version of Minions 2 we find Max Giusti (Gru), Pierre Coffin (the Minions) and Carlo Valli (Krudo). Coffin also lends his voice to the minions in the original version of the film.
59. Crimes of the Future
David Cronenberg returns to body horror, a sub-genre that had characterized his early works (such as La Mosca, Videodrome, etc.) with Crimes of the Future, a film starring Viggo Mortensen, Kristen Stewart and Lea Seydoux. Set in a future society in which the almost absence of physical pain allows man to transform his wounds into acts of eroticism, the film sees at the center of the plot Saul Tenser (Mortensen) a man who is suffering from a particular condition that causes the continuous formation of new organs. With the help of a former surgeon, Caprice (Seydoux) Tenser transforms the surgeries he undergoes into real artistic performances. The peculiarity of this situation attracts many interested and curious glances. Among the latter,
60. Men
Alex Garland (director of Ex Machina and Annihilation, but also screenwriter of 28 days later) signs this horror produced by A24, the studio that gave us films like Midsommar and Hereditary. Men has been defined by critics as a “feminist” horror, although some have downplayed this definition.
The plot of Men stars Harper (Jesse Buckley), a young woman who, after the suicide of her husband James, decides to spend some time in Colson, a small English village in which she has rented a large house. During a walk in the surrounding woods, entering a tunnel, she sees a man who tries to get close to her. This is only the first of many terrifying appearances that will haunt the protagonist. In addition, the death of Harper’s husband would have come at the end of a relationship of psychological abuse.
In some interviews, Garland explained that, for his film, he was inspired by many films – including Suspiria di Guadagnino – but also by an anime like The Iron Giant. At the following link you can read the explanation of the Men ending.
61. Bullet Train
Fun action film directed by David Leitch (the director of John Wick, Atomica Bionda and Deadpool 2), Bullet Train is set on a Tokyo-Kyoto train on which secret agents, hit men and other characters are found revolving around a mysterious case and its contents. Between fight scenes, unconventional weapons and missions to complete, on board Bullet Train we find a stellar cast formed by Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor Johnson, then Michael Shannon, Sandra Bullock, Zazie Beets, Logan Lerman, Channing Tatum, Masi Oka and even Ryan Reynolds.
62. DC League of Super-Pets
What if Superman and Batman had their faithful pets? How are Superman and Batman’s dogs doing? The path of cinematic renewal of the DC universe also passes through this animated family film capable of being transversal. Fun, quirky and colorful for the little ones; citationist and winking for the more adult audience, the one able to grasp all the nerdy quotes. But DC League of Super-Pets is above all a film about friendship and altruism. Those ideals that make us heroes in the choices and small gestures of every day.
63. Watcher
The new feature by promising director Chloe Okuno is a refined psychological thriller supported by the convincing interpretation of its protagonist, actress Maika Monroe (already appreciated in It Follows). In the background, a dilapidated and inhospitable Bucharest, which amplifies the feeling of alienation experienced by Julia, a young American woman forced to move to the Romanian capital to follow her husband’s career. During the long hours she spends alone, Julia notices the presence of a man who “seems” to be staring at her from the window in front of her. In that “it seems” the protagonist’s nightmare is consumed, that she is convinced that she is being followed by her but that she is not fully believed either by her husband or by her authorities to whom she speaks. Doubt also creeps into the viewer, through an intriguing game of points of view that makes this work interesting and enjoyable.
64. The lord of the ants
With The Lord of the Ants, the director Gianni Amelio tells the story of Aldo Braibanti, an intellectual and writer who in the 1960s was accused of having “plagiarized” a younger boy with whom he had started a homosexual relationship. The complaint originated from the boy’s father and turned into a national case, which involved politicians and journalists. So The Lord of the Flies is taken from a true story, which Amelio recalled with a cast that includes Luigi Lo Cascio (in the role of Braibanti), Elio Germano (in the role of Ennio Scribani, a journalist from L’Unità) and Leonardo Maltese. , Davide Vecchi and Sara Serraiocco. The film, written by the director of Il ladro di bambini himself with Edoardo Petti and Federico Fava, was presented in Venice 2022 during an eventful press conference. Thethe meaning of the title of the film is due to the fact that Braibanti was also a passionate myrmecologist, therefore a scholar of ants.
65. The Hanging Sun – The Midnight Sun
Tired of a life of crime to which he was introduced from an early age by his father (Peter Muller), a Mafia boss, John (Alessandro Borghi) decides to flee to the far north, arriving in a remote village in Norway where time seems stopped. Here our protagonist will have to deal not only with the ghosts of his past but also with the difficult situation that lives Lea (Jessica Brown Findlay), a woman and mother victim of domestic abuse amidst the indifference of the country. This is the plot of The Hanging Sun – Sole di Mezzanotte, the film chosen as the closing film in Venice 79 as well as the directorial debut of a feature film for the Milanese director Francesco Carrozzini.
66. The immensity
Immensity was one of the most discussed films in Venice 2022, where it was presented to the press for the first time, especially for the coming out of Emanuele Crialese who introduced the main themes of the film. Crialese, displacing the public and journalists a little, revealed that he is a transsexual man and that the film tells the beginning of his transition path and the family conflicts that ensued. Set in Rome in the 1970s, The Immensity stars Clara and Felice (Penelope Cruz and Vincenzo Amato), a married couple in crisis who have just moved into a new house in the suburbs. Clara, a woman of Spanish origin, dedicates herself to her children to try to escape the tensions of her marriage, but will have to deal with other conflicts, between her and her daughter Adriana,
67. I eat your heart
Directed by Pippo Mezzapesa, Ti mangio il cuore is a film based on an investigative book by Carlo Bonini and Giuliano Foschini, inspired by the true story of Rosa di Fiore, repentant and collaborator of justice. The protagonist is the singer Elodie, who with this film makes her debut as an actress in the role of Marilena, a woman married to a fugitive boss, who falls in love with the favorite son of the boss of the rival mafia family. An extremely dangerous situation that in the story conveys the criminal dynamics of the so-called Gargano mafia. Elodie, who made her debut on TV with Amici, is experiencing her moment of maximum popularity: she is the most loved Italian gay icon by the new generations, performer and artist with a great stage presence and her songs are among the most listened to. .
68. The children of others
Presented at the Venice Film Festival and directed by Rebecca Zlotowski, Children of Others explores the relationship between a woman, Rachel (Virgine Efira) and a recently divorced man, Ali (Roschdy Zem), with a young daughter, Leila. The woman will develop a very strong feeling towards the child, and she will begin to feel the strong desire to have a child of her own with her partner. Life, however, always reserves unexpected surprises.
69. Don’t Worry Darling
Previewed Out of Competition at the Venice Film Festival, Don’t worry, Darling is Olivia Wilde’s second film as director. We are in the 1950s and Alice (Florence Pugh) and Jack (Harry Stiles) live the perfect life in a small, idyllic and isolated community. Jack and all the men in the town work on the mysterious Victory Project, a project their wives know nothing about. Intrigued by the nature of Jack’s work, Alice starts asking questions, but she soon realizes that her husband is hiding something very dark and sinister from her …
70. Drought
Last work by Paolo Virzì presented out of competition at the 79th edition of the Venice International Film Festival, Drought is a film set in a dystopian present in which the inhabitants of Rome have to deal with a prolonged absence of rain that threatens the already scarce water reserves. Not only that: a new epidemic is on the horizon, probably linked to this very serious drought. A black choral comedy – in its cast we find, among others, Silvio Orlando, Valerio Mastandrea, Claudia Pandolfi, Monica Bellucci and Max Tortora – which represents an alarming reality but also frighteningly close to what we live today; in this sense, the film seems to be a warning about the present and what environmental policies should be.
71. Athena
It is difficult to talk about Athena without dwelling on her opening 12 minutes. One of the most sensational, stunning and memorable sequence shots ever seen on a screen to immerse us immediately in a French city set on fire. Great staging that will accompany us throughout the urban warfare of a film that blends contemporary realism and Greek tragedy. Sieges, armies, shields and flames. Without a moment to catch your breath. A kind of France: Fury Road where there are no heroes, but only souls in pain with no escape.
72. Moonage Daydream
Is it possible to enclose in a single film the figure of David Bowie, the magnificent universes he created, all his changes and his excesses? Absolutely yes, and Moonage Daydream proves it, a documentary written, directed and produced by Brett Morgen and premiered at the Cannes Film Festival 2022. A work that tells the artistic and professional parable of the British singer-songwriter (but also actor), drawing on interviews , videos of his performances and unpublished material and giving the viewer an irresistible and engaging experience. Definitely the definitive film about a great artist who seemed to come from another planet.
73. Anne Frank and the secret diary
What remains of the memory of Anne Frank? What can we read in it today? Anne Frank and the Secret Diary imagines answers, walking the line between harsh reality and the most visionary imagination. If with the splendid Waltz with Bashir he had reminded everyone that animation can also be “stuff for adults”, this time Ari Folman broadens horizons, drawing a lesson for everyone. A very didactic film, to be shown indefinitely in schools, which hides a sincere innocence. And then telling the fight against Nazism recalling Ready Player One is a touch of class that cannot be forgotten.
74. Blonde
Blonde is the film about Marilyn Monroe that more than others divided critics in Venice 2022 and also strongly divided the audience, in its debut on Netflix. Based on the novel by Joyce Carol Oates – in itself already controversial and violent – this film directed by Andrew Dominik stars a splendid Ana de Armas who has totally immersed herself in a complex and difficult role like that of the diva who disappeared in circumstances never clarified in the summer of 1962, only 36 years old. Alongside de Armas, the cast of the film also includes Adrien Brody and Bobby Cannavale in the roles of the actress’s two husbands, intellectual Arthur Miller and sportsman Joe DiMaggio. If you are expecting a conventional biopic, then Blonde is not for you. First of all, the film is based on a novel which, by explicit admission of the writer, totally reinvents the circumstances and pivotal events of Marilyn Monroe’s life and tragic death. In addition, Blonde has been described as a horror, violent and visionary film with interesting and fascinating visual elements, but also a deeply disturbing film about Marilyn and the characters that gravitated around her, by her husbands, producers, the Kennedys and her mother Gladys, a woman with severe mental disorders. All with an approach that has conquered many spectators and has antagonized others. producers, the Kennedys and his mother Gladys, a woman with severe mental disorders. All with an approach that has conquered many spectators and has antagonized others. producers, the Kennedys and his mother Gladys, a woman with severe mental disorders. All with an approach that has conquered many spectators and has antagonized others.
