35. Judas and the Black Messiah (Dir. Shaka King)
It feels odd to call a film nominated for Best Picture underrated, yet four years on, Judas and the Black Messiah still doesn’t receive the acclaim it deserves as a brilliant historical drama. Featuring two of the best actors working today, Lakeith Stanfield and Daniel Kaluuya, the film showcases what might be their best performances. Stanfield plays the titular Judas, William O’Neal, a petty criminal coerced by the FBI to infiltrate the Chicago chapter of the Black Panther Party. Kaluuya portrays Fred Hampton (the Black Messiah), the young and passionate leader of the chapter, imbuing the role with strength, charisma, and righteous anger. His monologues and speeches are riveting and impossible to look away from.
The contrast between Kaluuya’s commanding presence and Stanfield’s nuanced portrayal of O’Neal is striking. A lesser actor and script might have painted O’Neal as a mere villain, but Stanfield’s performance reveals a man torn between loyalty and self-preservation. Allowing Director Shaka King to delve into systemic oppression and corruption and explore how they exploit desperate individuals.
34. Top Gun: Maverick (Dir. Joseph Kosinski)
The legacy sequel has continued to gain popularity in recent years, often driven more by financial incentives than creative innovation. This frequently leads to lackluster films that fail to live up to their predecessors. Top Gun: Maverick, however, stands as a notable exception. It captures the spirit of the original while carving out its own identity, delivering a thrilling two-hour ride that feels both nostalgic and fresh.
The story follows Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell (Tom Cruise), now a seasoned pilot tasked with training a new generation of fighter pilots. While the plot may seem simple, the film consciously avoids subverting audience expectations, instead focusing on delivering the best of what fans want. Director Joseph Kosinski and his team craft a technically stunning and emotionally resonant action experience. The dogfight sequences, in particular, rank among the best filmed, making Top Gun: Maverick endlessly rewatchable and one of the finest action films of recent memory
33. Palm Springs (Dir. Max Barbakow)
Palm Springs is a delightful film with a fresh twist on the time-loop genre, seamlessly blending romance, comedy, science fiction, and existential reflection. Directed by Max Barbakow, the film follows two wedding guests, Nyles (Andy Samberg) and Sarah (Cristin Milioti), who find themselves trapped in a time loop, reliving the same day over and over.
Samberg and Milioti are the heart of the film, delivering standout performances that are both hilarious and heartfelt. Romantic comedies live or die on the chemistry of their leads, and here, Samberg and Milioti play off each other effortlessly, balancing both dramatic and comedic moments. The screenplay is sharp, witty, and unexpectedly emotional, while Barbakow enhances the film with a vibrant color palette that reinforces its dreamlike atmosphere. These elements elevate Palm Springs beyond a typical rom-com, making it a truly exceptional film.
32. Soul (Dir. Pete Doctor)
It’s a tall task for any film to tackle the question, “What is our purpose?” Attempting to answer this in an animated movie aimed at kids seems nearly impossible, but Soul is a success. Directed by Pete Docter, the film follows Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx), a middle school music teacher and aspiring jazz musician who, after a life-altering accident, finds himself in the afterlife. Feeling unsatisfied with where his life was, he joins with an unborn soul (Tina Fey) to try and get back to the real world.
Soul deftly explores existential themes with humor and heart, all while showcasing Pixar at its best in terms of animation, often unrivaled in the 3D space. Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor, and Atticus Ross craft a mesmerizing jazz and electronic score that elevates the film’s storytelling. Its message about finding joy in life’s small moments resonates on a deeply emotional level. Soul, like the great films of Pixar’s past, transcends its intended audience and is a genre-defining triumph.
31. Poor Things (Dir. Yorgos Lanthimos)
Yorgos Lanthimos’s Poor Things is a visually stunning and wildly inventive film that defies categorization. A Frankenstein-esque tale, it follows Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), a woman brought back to life by a mad scientist, as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and liberation. Lanthimos creates a world that feels unique, inspired by Victorian architecture and classic sci-fi, and visually captivating, unlike anything else in modern cinema. This choice isn’t just for aesthetic purposes; Lanthimos and writer Tony McNamara use the period as a backdrop to explore Bella’s struggle with being judged and rejected by a hypocritical society.
Stone delivers one of the most unique and captivating performances of her career, embodying the mannerisms of a child while capturing the beauty and horror of experiencing the world for the first time. The film also boasts a remarkable supporting cast, including Kathryn Hunter, Christopher Abbott, Willem Dafoe, and a standout performance by Mark Ruffalo. After years of playing franchise roles, Ruffalo reminds us of his immense range, portraying a scumbag who somehow makes us laugh with his line readings and mannerisms.
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