Ranking the Best Films of 2024

A: Alright, kicking off our top ten for 2024, and what a start! We're beginning with a film that brought the house down on Broadway, literally.

B: You mean 'Wicked' at number 10, right? I have to admit, I went in with some skepticism for 'Part One,' but Jon M. Chu really pulled it off. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande just *became* Elphaba and Glinda.

A: Totally. It felt like a full story, surprisingly, and those songs just stick. But then, a completely different vibe at number 9, 'Sing Sing,' from Greg Kwedar. This one's all about raw, life-affirming drama.

B: And it's incredible. Colman Domingo is brilliant, but what really elevates it is having actual alumni from the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program playing themselves. It’s an intimate look at finding purpose, even in the bleakest environments.

A: From spectacle to deeply human. Then, shifting gears again to atmospheric dread with Robert Eggers' 'Nosferatu' at number 8. Bill Skarsgård as Count Orlok just casts this massive, lingering shadow.

B: Absolutely. Eggers nails that gothic horror. And then we've got 'Conclave' at number 7, a political thriller with Ralph Fiennes and Edward Berger behind the camera. It felt almost unsettlingly relevant to 2024.

A: The tension in that film was palpable. And rounding out this first batch, at number 6, is 'The Brutalist.' Brady Corbet's epic vision, with Adrien Brody as László Tóth (LASS-loh taught), chasing the American Dream on a surprisingly lean budget.

A: Alright, let's dive into the core of the human element as we continue our countdown, starting with number five: "Challengers." Talk about a love... triangle, no, a love *square*.

B: Definitely a square, and what a driving force tennis becomes in that. Luca Guadagnino (gwoddog-NYEEN-noh) just nails that ambition, doesn't he? Zendaya, Josh O'Connor, and Mike Faist (FYE-st) all vying for more than just a win, whether on the court or off.

A: The internal conflicts are so gripping. But then, a complete tonal shift at number four: "The Wild Robot." It's animated, yet packed with so much humanity.

B: And it really surprised me with its depth. Themes of parenthood, community, and even responsible AI, all woven into this incredibly moving story. It's truly life-affirming.

A: From life-affirming to skin-crawling satire, number three is "The Substance." This one is a sharp, *sharp* critique of beauty standards, right?

B: Absolutely. Coralie Fargeat (CORA-lee far-JJJAH) pulls no punches, does she? Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley embody this desperate pursuit of perfection that just twists into something truly grotesque. It’s hard to watch but so effective.

A: And then, coming in at number two, we have "Anora." I heard it described as 'Pretty Woman' hit with a reality bomb.

B: That's it exactly! Mikey Madison gives an absolute breakout performance there, just brave and hilarious and so empathetic. It's got this chaotic energy, but beneath it, a really sincere, albeit complicated, love story. It just grabs you.

A: Alright, so after all that, our number one, the absolute champion of 2024... it has to be "Dune: Part Two."

B: There was really no other choice, was there? For years, people said Frank Herbert's novel was unadaptable, and Villeneuve just... proved them right, by splitting it. But in doing so, he created something incredible.

A: Exactly! The first one was great, but the second part, that's where the real story just explodes. And you could even argue he improves upon the source material in some crucial ways.

B: Especially in how he portrays Paul Atreides. It's so clear he's not your conventional hero. That ending is just... chillingly ambiguous. Is it triumph, or is it impending disaster?

A: It really leaves you hanging, wanting that next installment right now. Before we fully wrap, we have to give a quick nod to our honorable mentions: "Memoir of a Snail," "A Real Pain," and "All We Imagine as Light" by Payal Kapadia – a powerful story there.

B: So much great cinema this year, but "Dune: Part Two" just stands so tall. What was everyone else's favorite movie of 2024?