The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Into the Past: 2022

Welcome to The Wasteland into the Past! Join this journey backwards in time as I take a cinematic look at years past. Each article will focus on a singular year and my Top 5 films from that year. Turn back the clock with me…and let’s get started! 

2022

The Banshees of Inisherin

Who doesn’t love a film about friendship? Banshees of Inisherin might not be the kind of story you might expect. There is plenty of depth and themes in Martin McDonaugh tale of two men who are falling out on a small Irish isle. There is a dark and biting sense of humor like only McDonaugh can write and this talented Irish cast can bring to life. Colin Farrell delivers the performance of his career while Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon, and Barry Keough deliver as well. The cinematography is gorgeous as it highlights the impressive beauty of Inisherin and Carter Burwell’s score is somber and intricate. This might be the most Irish film around, but it is also one of the best films as well.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Story

How can Rian Johnson follow-up such a perfect murder mystery like Knives Out? With a bigger and broader murder mystery taking aim at politics, big business, and social media on a personal island. Glass Onion does so many great things on its own. The ensemble cast is incredible with Daniel Craig delivering another flashy and fun performance with the likes of Janelle Monae, Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, and others delivering pitch perfect performances. Johnson keeps defying expectations and subverting all the tropes and cliches you can find. The film looks gorgeous, it is legitimately hilarious, and there is an impactful sense of mystery around this whodunit. Johnson is one of the sharpest writers around; we could use more stories with Benoit Blanc.  

The Batman

Did Matt Reeves deliver the best Batman film to date? For me…absolutely. This darker and grittier version of Batman is a breath of fresh air to these iconic characters. The Batman delivers a true detective story as Batman hunts The Riddler, who is a straight up serial killer in this version. Fincher would be proud of the ominous tone that Reeves creates along with the breathtaking cinematography of Greig Fraser and the impactful and intense score from Michael Giacchino. Robert Pattinson disappears into this anti-social and tortured crusader as he goes on a journey to redefine the reasons he must be a hero. The casting is perfect with the likes of Paul Dano, Zoe Kravitz, and Colin Farrell who bring new memorable takes on iconic Batman characters to life. The pacing is great in this three-hour crime epic and every frame is worth getting lost in.

The Fabelmans

Does Steven Spielberg deliver his magnum opus in the form of this deeply personal drama? The Fabelmans is certainly one of the best films of Spielberg’s legendary catalog filled to the brim with some of the best films ever created. This tale of a young man in love and obsessed with film is emotional and engrossing. Sammy Fabelman’s journey is relatable and fascinating as we see into the mind of a filmmaking genius in the making. This is a gorgeous film that shows that Spielberg is still an auteur of cinema while opening his vulnerabilities to show his personal journey. Divorce, betrayal, and isolation are all part of Sammy’s life, but he finds his solace in the world of film which is so familiar and relatable to so many of his audience.

Everything Everywhere All at Once

Is Everything Everywhere All at Once this most unique Best Picture winner of all time? It certainly is…and by far the weirdest as well. Raccoon cooks, butt plugs, and hotdog fingers are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the wild multiversal world The Daniels. Michelle Yeoh delivers a layered and emotional turn as a mother, wife, and entrepreneur struggling through a life changing series of events. But when the world opens to endless crazy existences, this family is put through an emotional ringer…and so is the audience. There is action, science fiction, horror, drama, and comedy all rolled into an everything bagel shaped package that is delightful and rousing from start to finish.