Paul’s Top 5 Movies of 2022

Movie critic Paul McGuire Grimes, creator of Paul’s Trip to the Movies, gives us his top 5 picks of last year and how you can still see them.  Check out Paul’s YouTube Channel (Paul’s Trip to the Movies) for his full Top 10!

5. TILL

Director: Chinonye Chukwu

Starring: Danielle Deadwyler, Sean Patrick Thomas, Whoopi Golberg, Jalyn Hall

Director Chinonye Chukwu and writer Keith Beauchamp spent years bringing Emmett Till’s story to the big screen. The film is a staggering reminder that the tragedy of Till’s death is still relevant and happening today. Their approach was to tell it through the lens of Emmett’s mother, Mamie Till and Danielle Deadwyler’s performance is nothing short of awe-inspiring as she leaves nothing on the floor ripping every emotion out of the audience. Chukwu uses quite a bit of restraint letting the truth speak for itself as she shies away from making this your standard courtroom drama.

Buy it OnDemand through Xfinity, Apple and will be available to rent January 17.

4. WOMEN TALKING

Director: Sarah Polley

Starring: Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Rooney Mara, Frances McDormand, Ben Whishaw, Sheila McCarthey, Judith Ivey

Writer/director Sarah Polley takes a “less is more” approach with her film that centers around a group of Mennonite women who must decide whether they will leave their colony to save their life and risk the wrath of God or stay with their men and suffer further abuse and rape. There’s no weak link in her cast with Rooney Mara, Jessie Buckley, Claire Foy, Sheila McCarthy, and Ben Whishaw turning in excellent performances. These women are forced to vote on whether they stay and fight or leave and the discourse that follows will certainly stay with you.

In theaters in Minnesota January 13.  (It was in theaters in LA and NYC in 2022, hence why it’s on Paul’s 2022 list)

3. TOP GUN: MAVERICK

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Starring: Tom Cruise, Glen Powell, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Val Kilmer

This very well could be the best legacy reboot, sequel we have seen so far that not only hit the nostalgic moments but elevated filmmaking to new heights. Tom Cruise pulled out all stops knowing precisely what his audience wanted out of this film. It was a rollercoaster ride that literally put the audience right in the cockpit thanks to the visual effects, practical stunts, and cinematography. I was blown away by its technical accomplishments and as the Lady Gaga theme song “Hold My Hand” played at the end, I realized how emotionally drained I was at this story of fathers and sons, friendships, and the legacy we want to leave behind. This movie defined why we love going to the movie theater, and the box office receipts proved it during this time of streaming and home viewing options.

Streaming on Paramount+.

2. THE FABELMANS

Director: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Gabriel LaBelle, Judd Hirsch, David Lynch, Seth Rogen

Just when you think we’ve seen it all from Oscar winning filmmaking Steven Spielberg, he turns the camera onto his childhood and delivers another crowning achievement in his career. The Fabelmans is a semi-autobiographical look back at how Spielberg turned to the movies to cope with his parents’ eventual divorce and the antisemitism he faced growing up. You can feel the heart and soul, he poured into the film as Michelle Williams lights up the screen, Judd Hirsch and David Lynch have memorable one-scene cameos, and young Gabriel LaBelle is a young star on the rise. Paul Dano doing a complete 180 from his work in The Batman.

Rent or buy on Xfinity and Apple

1. EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

Director: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert

Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ke Huy Quan, James Hong, Stephanie Hsu

Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, also known as The Daniels, made the most daring, fascinating, mind-boggling film of the year. Michelle Yeoh gives the performance of her career that has her character Evelyn examining her life choices thanks to a multiverse. That’s just the very tip of what The Daniels have in store as Everything Everywhere All At Once. It’s wildly unpredictable and beautiful around every corner. They remind the audience that there’s always something to love in life if you just take a moment to look for it among the chaos. Another top-notch ensemble with Ke Huy Quan, James Hong, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Stephanie Hsu. I would love to see this wholly original film dominate the Oscars.

Watch on Showtime or rent or buy OnDemand through Xfinity or Apple