When I list off The Bestests of each and every year, I am careful to point out that these are my personal favorites. Are they objectively better than others? Who can say. How do you measure art? It’s different for every person, I dare say, and that’s why it’s fun to see what other people pick. I love reading and hearing about other people’s favorites of the year. Different lists, different choices, everyone wins. Now, I have spent the month of December reflecting on 2022’s top tier offerings and selected the most outstanding examples of entertainment. It is your turn to agree or disagree, to be surprised, shocked, pleased, outraged, disgusted, overjoyed and/or puzzled by my picks. I am handing out all the superlatives along with some self high fives. It’s been a year.
Cinema/Film/Movies:
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Everything Everywhere All at Once was one of the most breathtaking experiences I’ve ever had in a movie theater. I really felt movie magic – just being awestruck at what was happening on screen. It was so good to see a film take a kind of contrived sci-fi plot point and use it to tell such a well crafted and emotional story about family. It’s beautiful, simply profound, and perfect. A masterful delight of a film. If there’s any justice in the world, Stephanie Hsu is going to be in EVERYTHING in the next few years. Her performance was absolutely out of this world.
Nope
Jordan Peele likes to pack details that seem so unremarkable when you see them that when you learn things that should change your perspective later in the film you don’t initially make that connection. That’s definitely the case with Nope. I’m still thinking about it. The horrifying squelching of everyone being eaten. The regurgitated remains on the house. All things Michael Wincott. The “true” form of the UFO/UPA in the end. The little pockets of big humor. I’m happy for more films of this scale that remain in my consciousness. And as someone who liked how odd and messy Us was, I fully embrace Peele’s stranger, messier impulses.
Werewolf by Night
What I wanted from Disney: Gael Garcia Bernal in Andor to act opposite of Diego Luna. What I got from Disney: Gael Garcia Bernal in the MCU acting opposite a werewolf. A glowing ode to classic monster movies while retaining the MCU sensibilities. This is one of my favorite Marvel projects no question. A breath of fresh air: The cinematography, acting and atmosphere brought this to life and to bring in more of the supernatural side of the MCU. Man Thing and Jack’s relationship is literally everything. The Monsterverse is going to be ILL.
Honorable mentions: Prey, Barbarian, Glass Onion, RRR & The Banshees of Inisherin.
TV/Streaming:
Andor
I haven’t felt this level of anticipation for something and then the actual payoff afterwards since watching The Empire Strikes Back. It feels like I’ve been waiting for this my whole life and right now, I feel that it is the second best work done in the entire franchise. Andor gives flair without lightsabers and Skywalkers. It brings into focus the reality of what the struggle was for ordinary people who loathe the Empire and the struggles and sacrifices that were made by them. It elevates the entire OT to a beautiful new height. It’s executed with immense competence, looks beautiful, populates itself with well-drawn, complex characters, has something to say about the real world, and still kicks ass in the Star Wars way when it needs to. Everything about this worked for me. EVERYTHING.
Severance
I didn’t realize how much I missed sci-fi stories/TV shows that make you wait for answers. Also, I have a soft-spot for absurdist dark comedy set in office environments. The cast is PHENOMENAL. Arquette in episode 1 is brilliant. Tillman is equally fantastic in episode 2. Britt Lower has been a CONSISTENT stand out in all the EP’s so far. This show goes into a lot you don’t initially think about. Like how you walk out the door for the day, but immediately come back feeling “refreshed” without any memory of sleeping. Of course, the biggest thing is that you’re a slave to yourself. Your work self might want to quit, but your outside self keeps marching right back in unaware of how you might be treated on the inside. Real heady stuff here. Sidenote: “The Way We Are”: the season finale may be the most intense episode of television I’ve ever seen. I hadn’t felt that on edge since the first time I saw Children of Men.
Our Flag Means Death
OFMD a.k.a. What We Do In The Shallows is a quirky, defiant tale about outsiders for outsiders. The series as it celebrates the unconventional, the outcasts, and the wanderers looking for their tribes. Easily one of the most unique comedies that reimagines the genre’s lazy tropes. Our Flag Means Death is absurd and beautiful. It is love, comedy, and exactly what television was made for. PLEASE more Jim in season 2.
Honorable Mentions: The Bear, Rap Sh!t, Station Eleven, Yellowjackets, The Sandman, Reservation Dogs & Small Screen Marvel (again)- Moon Knight, Ms Marvel, She Hulk.
Music:
Black Thought & Danger Mouse- Cheat Codes
I swear Danger Mouse has the Midas touch, anything he works on is anywhere from solid to fucking stellar. And as great as The Roots can be, I’m more of a sample-based boom bap guy myself, so Bryan Burton is a great fit with the god level lyricist, Black Thought. This record is a burner from end to end. It doesn’t veer too far outside the old school comfort zone or really break any golden era ground. However, it rocks the perfect blend of raps classic decades and brings it to the here and now. It is an absolute modern masterpiece.
Pusha T- It’s Almost Dry
I’m a sucker for all King Push’s’ solo records (and his fast food diss tracks), but they usually have a couple filler joints. This record is crazy front to back. I like that this wasn’t just another Daytona, a colorful, more expressive and dimensional follow up feels right, and it’s a testament to how Pusha can continue to innovate even if he still writes about the same topic, classic COKE raps. Honestly, King Push could start rapping about how the Kool-Aid Man keeps getting locked in his house and won’t leave and how he’s starting to get nightmares about monkeys in his pool and it still be fire. I’ve listened to him rhyme about drugs for nearly 20 years and I’ll keep listening for another 20 years.
Kendrick Lamar- Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
I know art is subjective but since this LP’s release, I’ve only scratched the surface on its depth and it’s still as rich as it is, frankly amazing. The skill and level of detail (from the themes, lyrics, performances and production) is extraordinary. This is an experience that is thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. There is not ONE “radio” friendly single on the entire opus. Kendrick is arguably the best thing going in songwriting right now.
Honorable Mentions: JID- The Forever Story, Quelle Chris- Deathfame, Black Star- No Fear Of Time, Vince Staples- Ramona Park Broke My Heart, Earl Sweatshirt- Sick!, Sudan Archives- Natural Brown Prom Queen & Joey Badass – 2000.
Books/Comics:
Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla (Dan Charnas)
A stunning work of biography, journalism, and accessible musicology. This book is an education on the evolution of Hip-Hop after J Dilla got his hands on it. The sections breaking down the rhythmic nuances that make “dilla time” are able to convey some fairly complicated ideas in easily digestible ways. Dilla Time is a worthy read for anyone remotely interested in the evolution of Hip-Hop and the cultural significance of James Yancey. Read it now before the Questlove doc drops at Sundance in 2024? 2025?
Thrust: A Novel (Lidia Yuknavitch)
Easily the weirdest, most mind-blowing book about America I’ve ever read. It is the story of several individuals whose lives more or less revolve around the Statue of Liberty. A mysterious shapeshifter of a novel, multi voiced, scattered across time and true to its core. Lidia’s writing is vivid and visceral and her ideas striking and original. She’s good at exploring disability, sexuality, and resistance to exploitation via strange and fantastical concepts. This is one of those rare books where even when you’re about halfway through it, you’re already thinking about the next time you’ll read it.
Fairy Tale (Stephen King)
This was everything I hoped for plus some. Fairy Tale is a potent reminder about why King is, well, king. This was a brilliant and imaginative story about family, love, courage, and the cost of power. This is one of those books that you like or not. I can honestly say that I was completely hooked from page one, and that I was so emotionally involved during the first couple hundred pages, so worried with anticipation, that I did not think that I could keep reading. You can tell that Mr. King was really enjoying himself with it, and that enjoyment is infectious. It’s now one of my top ten favorite Stephen King novels and I’ve read quite a few.
Honorable Mentions: Devil’s Reign (Chip Zdarsky / Marco Checchetto), Monkey Meat (Juni Ba) and The Twilight World (Werner Herzog).
Video Games:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
It doesn’t get much better for the beat em up genre. Smart, respectful design that brings the new and the nostalgic together. Simple enough for immediate fun but a big enough move set that you can perfect your skills over time. The online component is crazy smooth, which is surprisingly rare. You can play a mix of local and online co-op and people can just drop in and drop out both locally and online…it’s actually a triumph of online multiplayer gaming. Now DorEmu needs to do X-men.
Stray
A much needed breath of fresh air. This game really makes you FEEL like you’re a stray cat. The world building and atmosphere is some of the best I’ve experienced, and there’s this weird mix of like charm/allure and deep sadness and melancholy over what’s left of…us. A real work of art.
The Quarry
Look, if you still don’t know anything about this game, go in cold. I adore the playable movie genre so much. I get that it’s not for everyone though. However, what I really like about games like this are their replay value. You can make different decisions that alter how it all plays out. The Quarry is a worthy successor to Until Dawn, and definitely keeping true to its Butterfly effect gameplay structure. The gameplay helps to keep you on edge and it always feels like you’re in control of every action. A must play for choose your own adventure interactive film and horror fans.
Honorable Mentions: Sifu, Wordle
Other tidbits from 2022…
I really dug Max escaping Vecna with the power of Kate Bush. It was such a memorable scene that it made Running Up That Hill top of the charts again.
Tramell Tillman has the best/most menacing mustache on TV.
Darius attempting to return an air fryer while the store is being looted in Atlanta had me LOLZ.
The creation of Mordor & Mount Doom sequence was the chef’s kiss.
Wednesday Addams’ dance was inspired.
Also…
Terrifier 2
This one is a blast. It’s a cheap pocket lint budget gore fest, yes, is the story good or great, not really. And that’s perfectly fine, I think there is a beauty in a movie or killer, in this case Art the Clown, who just kills for NO reason and enjoys the hell out of it. I get the feeling the creators are heading into the ‘backstory’ territory but it would be super fresh if they just kept him a murder machine. I will always root for D.I.Y. properties that have the most fun. Always.
As far as the musics goes … I want to see some full-length LP’s from Tobe Nwigwe, Coast Contra & Villain Park AND a TOUR!
P.s. I didn’t play Elden Ring, God Of War: Ragnarok or Horizon Forbidden West.
The Next-Est 2023
Spiderman: Across The Spider-Verse
Cocaine Bear
Infinity Pool
Disappointment Boulevard
John Wick: Chapter 4
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Dune: Part Two
Killers of the Flower Moon
Poker Face
Secret Invasion
Loki S2
Ironheart
Echo
X-Men ’97
The Last of Us
The Mandalorian S3
Ahsoka
Shadow and Bone S2
The Witcher S3
True Detective: Night Country
Oddisee: To What End
Gorillaz: Cracker Island
Clipse?
Crook Manifesto (Colson Whitehead)
The Shards (Bret Easton Ellis)
How to Sell a Haunted House (Grady Hendrix)
The Ferryman (Justin Cronin)
Flux (Jinwoo Chong)
The Salt Grows Heavy (Cassandra Khaw)
Starfield
Alan Wake 2
Star Wars: Jedi Survivor
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Baldur’s Gate 3
The Wolf Among Us 2
Spider-Man 2