Check out our favourite films of 2022 below:

Honourable Mention: Barbarian

Unbelievably original and freakishly scary, writer/director Zach Cregger’s Barbarian was one extremely clever piece of horror that came right out of left field and delivered on all the terror. From its foreboding opening scenes to the excessive gore of its closing moments, Barbarian was a hell of a watch, and it really put the fear into audiences. This was a film that was unexpected and completely took audiences by surprise and its jump scares and repellent horror elements made for one of the best horror experiences of the year.

10. Cyrano

Noted filmmaker Joe Wright returned behind the camera for the opulent tale of the historical classic Cyrano de Bergerac in Cyrano, and this musical-historical-romance was a cinematic extravaganza. Show with a very luxurious eye and styled with beautiful baroqueness this film explores the very notion of love and its control over our souls. Peter Dinklage again commanded the very centre of the screen and as an audience member you could not but be caught up in the beauty and elegance of this amazing work.

9. Nightmare Alley

Visionary director Guillermo del Toro brought his unique gothic sensibilities to the outlaw carnival realm of the 1930s in his gripping and intense psychological thriller Nightmare Alley. And the result was film noir with a mean sense of bite. Re-adapting William Lindsay Gresham classic thriller to the big screen, del Toro narrowed in on the complexities of power and the dark side of man as Bradley Cooper’s ambitious carnie Stanton ‘Stan’ Carlisle would do anything for fame and fortune. With its dramatic scale and nerve-racking vigour, Nightmare Alley was a cinematic experience that kept audiences on edge the whole way through.

8. The Northman

A cinematic experience of full force, Robert Eggers’ The Northman was a teutonic movie of epic power and bold mythology and in watching it you felt the full fury of the Viking Age. Balancing the blood-letting ferocity of the past with the mysticism of the pagan era, The Northman was a beast of a movie and its savage power made you sit up in your seat. Alexander Skarsgard went to an extreme edge to become the murderous Prince Amleth, and this was a cinematic presentation that hit with the force of a battle axe!

7. Parallel Mothers

Renowned for his mastery of the cinematic arts, Pedro Almodóvar’s Parallel Mothers was a piece of cinema that completely wrapped you up in the complexity of its layered storytelling and its dramatic severity made a lasting impact on the audience. Exploring themes of love, motherhood, family, trauma and history, Parallel Mothers was a film that surprised you at every moment and its narrative turns led to plenty of shocking exposition. Penélope Cruz and Milena Smit created a very meaningful sense of chemistry between one another, and all of Almodóvar’s creativity and focus were refined down in this picture.

6. The Batman

With a brooding film noir presence director Matt Reeves brought the Dark Knight back to cinemas and this was a new type of Batman that audiences had never witnessed before. Laced with shadows and psychological complexity, The Batman was a rough and tumble portrait of an all-new Batman and it made for a very severe watch. Robert Pattinson brought a new quality to his obsessive and extreme portrayal of Bruce Wayne/Batman, which was matched with the seductive sensuality of Zoe Kravitz Selina Kyle/Catwoman. Then there was the psychopathic villainy of Paul Dano’s The Riddler and the old-school gangster bravado of Colin Farrell’s The Penguin, and all of it made for a new kind of watch. The Batman was bold and operatic in its cinematic presentation and its opening 20 minutes is some of the best cinematic presence ever captured on film. A new Dark Knight rose with The Batman, and audiences were spellbound.

5. Avatar: The Way of Water

After 13 years visionary filmmaker James Cameron returned to cinemas with the much-awaited sequel to his 2008 triumph Avatar, with Avatar: The Way of Water, and this was an utter masterpiece. Pushing the art of cinema further than it had ever been pushed before, Avatar: The Way of Water dialled up the technology of its storytelling to present an utterly beautiful presentation, and the action and intensity of this film ran at speed. Cameron jumped on the accelerator with this picture, and for those lucky enough to see it in IMAX, this was a film that delivered on the sheer scale that only cinema can present.

4. Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

With its heartfelt storyline, loveable characters and gorgeous haute couture style, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris was simply one of the best films of the year and audiences would be spellbound by its presentation. Anchored by a flawless performance by Lesley Manville, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris was a beautiful movie-going experience right from start and you couldn’t help but get wrapped up in the lovely little story. Every part of this production came together with a beautiful sense of refined elegance and it was an utterly magical piece of cinema to watch.

3. The Menu

In terms of cinematic satire, nothing was sharper this year than director Mark Mylod’s The Menu and from beginning to end audiences were in for one hell of a shock. With a pitch-perfect cast, clever narrative, elegant decor and acute moments of horror, The Menu was horror cinema with a pulse and it certainly served up something new to the genre. Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes engaged in one hell of a standoff in this picture, and the shock factor of this picture kept the audience guessing at every single moment.

2. Top Gun: Maverick

In 2022 Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise once again stepped back onto the flight deck and buckled in for the adrenaline rush of Top Gun: Maverick as Captain Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, and this was a film that pulled audiences right back into the danger zone. With its non-stop adrenaline, heartfelt nostalgia and cinematic technology that put you right into the centre of an F-18 at full velocity, this was a blockbuster extravaganza and it was a picture that brought audiences back to the power of the cinema. From beginning to end, Top Gun: Maverick was a rush of energy and fun, and audiences looking to have their adrenaline maxed out were well rewarded by this picture. It was just AWESOME!

1. Elvis

But when it comes to the cinema of 2022 one film reigned supreme and that was Baz Luhrmann’s auteur rock ‘n’ roll epic Elvis! And damn did this picture groove. With his unique sense of glamour, style and pop energy, Luhrmann brought the life of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll , Elvis Presley, to the cinema as only he could. This was a film of pure spectacle and marked rising star Austin Butler as one performer to seriously keep an eye on. His commitment was complete and total and he rocked out completely as The King! Elvis was a cinematic experience of pure energy and you found yourself fully grooving out in your seat with this picture, and watching it in the dark of the cinema, with a full audience around me was one of the best experiences of the year.

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In 1950s London, a widowed cleaning lady falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress, deciding she must have one of her own. After working to raise the funds to pursue her dream, she embarks on an adventure to Paris that will change not only her own outlook — but the very future of the House of Dior.

Director Anthony Fabian brings to life a brand new adaptation of the classic novel by author Paul Gallico in Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris about why sometimes it’s best to risk it all to follow your dreams. Fabian finds an interesting angle into this simple and charming story of one woman who finds the courage to undertake an almost impossible dream. With the right balance of drama and comedy, the narrative at the heart of Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is both sweet and smart, and this is a story that keeps audiences on their toes.

Recalling the likes of classic films of the past, such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Roman Holiday, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is an utterly delightful film to watch. It finds the perfect combination of performance, cinematography, design and score, and the film’s extensive wardrobe is utterly beautiful to look upon. Using colour and design to his advantage, Fabian brings a bold palette to help distinguish each part of the story. An array of tweeds and ambers represent a dreary 1950s London, while a palette of greys and browns showcase a downbeat and still healing post-WWII Paris, and then there’s the clean whites and fresh pastels that showcase the vibrance, beauty and magic that lie at the heart of the famed House of Dior.

Cast as the film’s central character Mrs. Ada Harris, a widowed cleaning lady who becomes obsessed with owning a Dior gown, is celebrated English thespian Lesley Manville. And she holds the attention of the screen with her performance. Manville expresses Ada as an ordinary woman possessed of an extraordinary dream, and who learning of the House of Dior decides to treat herself to a little bit of magic. Her journey leads to her discovering her own voice, and her grand adventure is sure to inspire audiences. Manville completely transforms into the character of Ada Harris, and her performance is certain to tug at your heartstrings.

Standing alongside Manville are an eclectic supporting cast and all get their moment to shine in the picture. Breathtaking beauty is found in the form of Alba Baptista who takes on the role of the dashing and glamourous Parisian model Natasha, the new face of Dior, who strikes up an unlikely friendship with Ada, and who with her help can finally be true to herself. Then there’s Lucas Bravo, a handsome and chipper young Frenchman cast as André Fauvel, a Dior accountant who comes to the aid of Mrs Harris when she needs it, and who with her assistance and support, overcomes his shortcomings to pursue the love and life he wants. These two young performers match effortlessly with Manville, and the elder actress helps elevate their performances, with Baptista and Fauvel becoming key parts of the success of this story.

But while Manville’s Mrs Harris may dream of haute couture, she has a few hurdles to overcome. And these are chiefly represented by Isabelle Huppert as Claudine Colbert, Dior’s icy director and chief assistant to the grand master of design himself. As one of France’s most celebrated performers’ Huppert is in her element in Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, and even though she appears as the initial antagonist of the story, like every character present in this narrative, this is not her only side. As the film moves forward in its story we come to see a completely rounded character, courtesy of Huppert’s performance, and there’s an incredible sadness that lies at the heart of her character, and she soon finds the connection between herself and Ada.

As a cinema-going experience, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is nothing short of a visual spectacle, and this is present in the presence of the famed House of Dior, which is brought to life with stunning beauty. Fabian and costume designer Jenny Beavan worked hand-in-hand with the legendary fashion house to re-create the golden age of Haute Couture, and the world of Dior blossoms on screen in this picture. Recreating the era of the ‘New Look’, and its iconic pieces, including Dior’s legendary ‘Bar Dress’, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris works to bring audiences into this renowned fashion era. And it’s utterly gorgeous to look upon. Paying tribute to the opulence and grace of the House of Dior, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is a tribute to those designers and seamstresses who ‘make moonlight’, and its fashions will take your breath away.

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is a very groovy film experience, and there are plenty of moments that will get the audience’s heart beating and their groove racing. From the introduction of the House of Dior to wild parties at the Moulin Rouge, there’s an energy and zeal to Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris and the score of Rael Jones certainly adds to it. Mixing orchestral elegance with swing-band jazz, Jones gives the picture a unique tone that complements the visuals, and also helps to extend the emotional journeys of the characters. It’s a score you’ll want to listen to over and over again, and this audio and visual mix certainly play on the audience’s feelings.

This is a picture that is also best experienced in the company of a large audience, and the collective experience of watching it in a cinema with others only adds to the fun. It’s a picture and narrative that will certainly touch the hearts of those who witness it, and if you’re seeking a picture to treat your mum to, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is a perfect watch.

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is a charming and classic fairytale about the importance of following your dreams, and audiences will be utterly enchanted by its heart-warming story, colourful cast of characters and crisp visual beauty. It’s simply a gorgeous gem of a movie that will make your heart flutter with delight.

Image: Universal Pictures

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