Tom Santilli's Top Films of 2024

Cineverse/Vinegar Syndrome, 2024.

It was a year of personal and professional change, but that didn't keep me away from the movies.

As 2024 ends, I'd like to share with you my Top Films of the Year. Gone are the days when I would see between 200-300 films per year...I've admittedly seen way fewer films overall this past year than in recent years, but I still see WAY more than most. If a favorite movie of yours does NOT appear on this list, I will leave it to your imagination as to whether or not I didn't see it, or if I just didn't like it. I will give you a few reveals: First, I did see "The Brutalist" - a film appearing on almost every single critic's Year-End Lists - but I just didn't like it. At all. Sorry not sorry! I also regrettably missed "Megalopolis," a movie I was dying to see (not that it's appearing on ANY Year-End Lists). And finally, I saw and enjoyed "Wicked," but not enough for it to make my list.

And with those controversial statements behind us, I bring you my favorite films of 2024:

15. "Conclave"

This gripping drama, helmed by Edward Berger (who last brought us the visually stunning "All Quiet on the Western Front" remake in 2022), takes us into the secretive and tense world of a papal election. Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow deliver powerhouse performances, and despite it's low-boil energy, Conclave keeps you on the edge of your seat. 

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14. "Love Lies Bleeding"

A gritty lesbian romance infused with psychological tension, "Love Lies Bleeding" stars Kristen Stewart, Anna Baryshnikov and features a haunting supporting performance by Ed Harris. It's a darkly compelling exploration of ambition, obsession, and the price of love...you can tell things aren't going to end well from the beginning, but the chemistry between the two stars just seemed to crackle off the screen like no other film I saw this year.

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13. "Anora"

Sean Baker is one of the best filmmakers going these days ("The Florida Project," "Red Rocket," "Tangerine"), and his latest, "Anora," had the potential for greatness. Breakout star Mikey Madison is fantastic as a young sex worker who falls for a mysterious young oligarch (Mark Eydelshteyn), but the third act, for me, fell apart and will leave most audience members scratching their heads. The journey is far more exhilarating then where this one ends up, and that's a shame...but there's still a lot to like about "Anora."

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12. "Vermiglio"

One of the most chilling, beautifully-crafted films of the year comes from Italy, and Italian writer/director Maura Delpero, and it will be Italy's selection for Best International Feature at this year's Academy Awards. Set in a remote village in the Italian Alps, it follows the intertwining lives of a community grappling with the aftermath of a devastating avalanche.

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11. "Maria"

While many are applauding the performance by Angelina Jolie in "Maria," I thought the movie itself was quite astounding. Directed by Pablo Larrain as the third in his trilogy focusing on powerful, iconic women (he also directed 2016's "Jackie" and 2022's "Spencer"), I found this to be just as good - if not better - than the previous films. Jolie portrays opera legend, Maria Callas, in her final days during the 1970s, when fame - and her famous voice - have become fleeting. It's a powerful emotional character study that left me quite breathless, and it would be a travesty if Jolie was not nominated for Best Actress.

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10. "The Wild Robot"

Inventive and infused with heart, "The Wild Robot" also features one of the best scores of the year. Based on the beloved novel about a robot programmed strictly to complete tasks for its master, but who finds herself washed up on a remote island, it is a story chock-full of messages for young children, but themes that resonate with the parents as well. There's no film in 2024 that I've seen more (my 8-year old son loves it more and more upon every re-watch), and it's bound to become a classic.

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9. "Jim Henson Idea Man"

I'm a sucker for all things Muppets and all things Jim Henson, and I was deeply moved by this reverent look at the career of one of the greatest creative minds we've ever known. Available on Disney+, I wouldn't call it a "hard-hitting" documentary, but it's perhaps one of the most all-encompassing films I've seen that truly captures the spirit of his work and his life's mission. If you love Henson, or if you don't know much about him, this movie is for you.

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8. "The Substance"

Another film, like "Anora," that was fast-tracking its way to the top of my Year-End List, until it was derailed by a preposterous final act. But the train-wreck ending of "The Substance" doesn't take away from it being the one film that will stick in my head LONG after 2024 has come to a close. I am not a fan of horror, but the weird, sci-fi-adjacent vibe - as well as the two great performances from Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley - was enough to glue my eyes to the screen...even if on occasion, I was watching from in-between the fingers of the shocked and shaking hand that was covering my face.

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7. "Dune: Part Two"

The build-up and under-whelming feeling of "Dune: Part One" ended up being worth the wait when "Dune: Part Two" dropped early in 2024. Director Denis Villeneuve returned to deliver a visually awe-inspiring chapter in the Dune saga, an utterly epic sequel that elevated the stakes, had rich world-building, and featured some powerful performances. I'm constantly in awe of Villeneuve, and this chapter was the movie we were all waiting for...and now he's got me hungry for more.

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6. "A Complete Unknown"

It took all of 10-seconds of screen-time in "A Complete Unknown" for Timothy Chalamet to completely win me over as a young Bob Dylan. Chalamet shows why he is considered the best young actor of his generation, but to my surprise, a "complete unknown" to me, Monica Barbaro, was equally as impressive as Joan Baez. Edward Norton too, gives an award-worthy supporting role as the aging musician, Pete Seeger.  Director James Mangold ("Logan," "Walk the Line") honors the title by not trying to pry too deeply into the mystique that makes Bob Dylan - to this day - one of the most intriguing figures in music. For those wanting to know what makes Dylan tick, this isn't the right movie for you. But if you want to experience the power and charisma of what made him an icon, "A Complete Unknown" does the trick.

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5. "Saturday Night"

Perhaps my love of Lorne Michaels and Saturday Night Live has blinded me, but one of my favorite movie-going experiences of 2024 was watching Jason Reitman's "Saturday Night." I tells the story of how the very first episode of Saturday Night Live hit the airwaves, changing the course of television and comedy for the next half-century. Not only is the casting inspired and spot-on, but the kinetic "real-time" energy that Reitman creates with the story, music and editing is really impressive...it's like we are really there. What a tremendous time to be alive, with all of that talent and creativity in one place...and to think that it was "this close" to never coming together.

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4. "Emilia Perez"

What is there to say about "Emilia Perez"? it’s unlike any other movie I’ve ever seen and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I don’t want to say much about out the plot, but this is an action thriller, a comedy, a drama, and even a musical…it’s audacious and bold…and it totally pulls off the high wire act of balancing its chaotic energy with its heartfelt moments.

Karla Sofia Gascon is amazing, and it also features career-best performances from Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez. It’s a movie that may not be for everybody, but it should be. "Emilia Perez"…on Netflix now!

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3. "Hundreds of Beavers"

The funniest film of 2024, hands-down. "Hundreds of Beavers" - made for around $150,000 and shot partially in Michigan, channels Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin and plays like a silent movie. Jean Kayak is a drunk applejack in the 1800s, who is forced to adapt to the wilderness after his life takes an unexpected turn. What begins as a quest for survival evolves into an absurd and hilarious journey as Jean takes on a new identity as a fur trapper, determined to master the art of trapping and outwit the hundreds of mischievous beavers that inhabit the area.

Filled with slapstick humor, over-the-top antics, and a unique visual storytelling style, the film celebrates resilience and ingenuity with a unique comedic twist. Jean’s escalating battle with the beavers becomes an increasingly wild and chaotic spectacle, culminating in an epic showdown that leaves audiences laughing and marveling at the sheer absurdity of it all.

Please do yourself a favor and seek out "Hundreds of Beavers," one of the smartest stupid movies you'll ever see.

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2. "My Old Ass"

I'm a sucker for coming-of-age films, but "My Old Ass" puts a surprising twist on the familiar genre. Writer/Director Megan Park puts herself on the map, and the breakout star and performance of the YEAR belongs to 21-year-old Maisy Stella. 18-year-old Elliott (Stella) trips on mushrooms and encounters her 39-year-old self, played by Aubrey Plaza. This unexpected meeting leads Elliott to reevaluate her relationships, future plans, and personal identity. What would you say if you could talk to your younger self? Your older self? The film's inventive narrative and the compelling chemistry between Stella and Plaza offer a humorous yet poignant exploration of self-discovery and growth. But it snuck up on me in ways I wasn't expecting. I may have even shed a tear or two by the end. Just superbly written, well-acted and one of the very best films of 2024.

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1. "Sing Sing"

There is a realism and an optimism in "Sing Sing" that makes it stand out as my #1 movie of 2024.

Directed by Greg Kwedar, it's an extraordinary film that defies expectations and leaves you in a state of flux. The story focuses on a group of incarcerated men who come together to stage a theater production within the walls of Sing Sing Correctional Facility. At its center is Divine G (Colman Domingo), whose leadership and passion for the arts inspire his fellow inmates to tap into their creativity and confront their personal struggles.

But the film isn’t just about the play they’re producing—it’s about the transformative power of art and the deeply human connections forged in an environment designed to suppress them.

What sets the film apart is its commitment to authenticity, with nearly the entire cast made up of real-life former convicts. Particularly Clarence Maclin, in this his first movie role, is so great. These bold casting decisions infuse every scene with a raw, unfiltered energy that no "actor" could replicate. Their lived experiences elevate the film, making it feel less like a scripted narrative and more like a glimpse into a world most of us never see. The result is a deeply moving, profoundly human story about redemption, community, and the universal need for self-expression.

"Sing Sing" resonated with me more than any other film this year, a true standout and the best film of 2024.