
10. The Secret Agent (dir. Kleber Mendonça Filho)
The title is something of a misnomer. Wagner Moura’s Armando doesn’t really do much espionage. But as someone who refused to roll over to corruption in the authoritarian government of Brazil, a clandestine life becomes necessary. It would be an oversimplification to say the point of the film is that fascists suck and movie theaters are awesome, but apparently we need reminders of both these days.

9. No Other Choice (dir. Park Chan-wook)
A pitch-black comedy from a master director, No Other Choice will surely be relevant to anyone who’s been laid off and/or had to sift through hundreds of job postings on LinkedIn. After an American conglomerate buys the paper company Man-su (Lee Byung-hun) has devoted his life to, he’s distraught and can’t find work. Months after his worst-case scenario has come to pass, he gets a novel idea: eliminate his competition. It’s nasty, thought-provoking and often hilarious, as most of Park’s work is.

8. It Was Just an Accident (dir. Jafar Panahi)
I’ve not seen any of exiled Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi’s earlier work, and apparently this one is atypical for him. A relatively straightforward thriller with knotty emotions and morality, It Was Just an Accident explores what happens when revenge meets reality, and whether our oppressors deserve the mercy they never showed their targets.

7. Bugonia (dir. Yorgos Lanthimos)
Emma Stone continues her fruitful run with Yorgos Lanthimos, delivering another performance for the ages. As the She-EO Michelle, her icy and off-putting demeanor has her employees on edge. When two ill-prepared doofuses kidnap her, she assumes they want a ransom. But no, they’re convinced she’s an alien and they want to travel onto her mothership. What follows is a tense and devastating battle of wills that keeps you guessing until the very end.

6. Sinners (dir. Ryan Coogler)
To anyone who’s going to complain this isn’t higher… it’s my list! Make your own!
Anyway, Coogler’s wildly ambitious musical horror film has higher highs – including the audacious number pictured above – than just about anything this year. It overflows with ideas about race, identity, music, religion, assimilation, community, and more. They don’t all get fully explored, but what a great problem to have! At a time when so many big budget movies don’t have two brain cells to rub together (looking at you, Jurassic World Rebirth), this truly original work gives me hope. It’s no surprise audiences responded so favorably.
























