Movie with Abe: Devotion

I watched “Devotion,” currently in theaters, which is a decent real-life aerial adventure and friendship story. I reviewed the film for The Film Experience - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Where the Crawdads Sing

I watched “Where the Crawdads Sing,” currently streaming on Netflix, because its song "Carolina" is getting nominated for awards. I reviewed the film for The Film Experience - head over there to read my review.

Weekend Movie Recommendations with Abe

Every Friday, I'll be uploading a Minute with Abe: Weekend Movie Recommendations Edition, surveying new releases in theaters, on DVD, and on streaming services. Check it out, and subscribe to the movieswithabe channel!


New to Theaters: A Man Called Otto, Alice, Darling
New to Netflix: White Noise
New to Hulu: Delia’s Gone
Top 10 Films of 2022

Top 10 Films of 2022

I saw a lot of movies in 2022, somewhere around 280 titles. Like last year, my top ten films were all actually released in 2022. I saw seven at film festivals and only four in person. I’ll be “handing out” my AFT Awards, my annual film awards, next month, but for now, here are my favorite films of 2022. Click the title to read my review and follow the link after each to find out where to watch!

#10: Official Competition (AMC+)

#9: Cha Cha Real Smooth (Apple TV+)

#8: Dual (Hulu)

#7: Don’t Make Me Go (Prime Video)

#6: Athena (Netflix)

#5: Girl Picture (VOD)

#4: Women Talking (Theaters)

#3: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix)

#2: Everything Everywhere All at Once (Showtime)

#1: The Whale (Theaters)

Movie with Abe: Blonde

I finally watched “Blonde,” currently streaming on Netflix, and was not impressed. I reviewed the film for The Film Experience - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: A Man Called Otto

I very much enjoyed “A Man Called Otto,” opening in theaters this Friday. I reviewed the film for CinemaDailyUS.com - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Little Nicholas

“Little Nicholas,” now playing in theaters, is an under-the-radar Oscar contender for Best Animated Feature. I reviewed the film for The Film Experience - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Athena

I highly recommend the French film “Athena,” currently streaming on Netflix. I reviewed the film for FilmFactual - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Nostalgia

Pierfrancesco Favino stars in Italy's official Oscar submission, “Nostalgia.” I reviewed the film for FilmFactual - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: The Eternal Daughter

Tilda Swinton pulls double duty in her latest collaboration with Joanna Hogg, “The Eternal Daughter,” currently available on VOD. I reviewed the film for FilmFactual - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Retrograde

The American pullout from Afghanistan gets a spotlight in the Oscar-shortlisted documentary “Retrograde,” currently streaming on Netflix. I reviewed the film for FilmFactual - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Descendant

A present-day connection to the slave trade gets an interesting analysis in the Oscar-shortlisted documentary “Descendant,” currently streaming on Netflix. I reviewed the film for FilmFactual - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Beba

Rebecca Huntt presents a fascinating piece of self-reflection in the documentary “Beba,” currently streaming on Hulu. I reviewed the film for FilmFactual - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody

Naomi Ackie shines in the new biopic “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody Movie Review,” now playing in theaters. I reviewed the film for FilmFactual - head over there to read my review.

Weekend Movie Recommendations with Abe

Every Friday, I'll be uploading a Minute with Abe: Weekend Movie Recommendations Edition, surveying new releases in theaters, on DVD, and on streaming services. Check it out, and subscribe to the movieswithabe channel!


New to Theaters: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, I Wanna Dance with Somebody, Corsage, Living
New to DVD: The Banshees of Inisherin, Tár
New to Netflix: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Side Effects
New to Hulu: Three Minutes - a Lengthening, Sharp Stick, The Legend of Molly Johnson, Mack and Rita
New to Disney+: Strange World

Movie with Abe: Spirited

If you're looking for something that's fun holiday entertainment, try “Spirited,” streaming on Apple TV+. I reviewed the film for FilmFactual - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

As part of my awards season catchup, I had the chance to see “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris,” which earned star Lesley Manville a Golden Globe nomination. I reviewed the film for FilmFactual - head over there to read my review.

Oscar Shortlists Announced!

Oscar shortlists have been announced in ten categories, which means I have my work cut out for me in catching up on a handful of feature films and 45 shorts. Check out the lists at FilmFactual.

Movie with Abe: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” now playing in theaters, is a fun animated installment that doesn't require preexisting knowledge of the franchise. I reviewed the film for CinemaDailyUS.com - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Mars One

As part of my awards season catchup, I had the chance to see “Mars One,” Brazil's official Oscar submission. I reviewed the film for FilmFactual - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Darkling

As part of my awards season catchup, I had the chance to see “Darkling,” Serbia's official Oscar submission. I reviewed the film for FilmFactual - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Joyland

As part of my awards season catchup, I had the chance to see “Joyland,” Pakistan's official Oscar submission. I reviewed the film for FilmFactual - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Klondike

As part of my awards season catchup, I had the chance to see “Klondike,” Ukraine's official Oscar submission. I reviewed the film for FilmFactual - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Nope

As part of my awards season catchup, I had the chance to see “Nope,” which was a much less stressful watching experience than I had expected. I reviewed the film for FilmFactual - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Babylon

“Babylon,” opening in theaters next Friday, is pure chaos, but I had plenty to say about it. I reviewed the film for CinemaDailyUS.com - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Don't Worry Darling

As part of my awards season catchup, I had the chance to see “Don't Worry Darling,” which starts out with intrigue but doesn't quite satisfy as it goes on. I reviewed the film for ShockYa - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Black Adam

As part of my awards season catchup, I had the chance to see “Black Adam,” a DC action movie that delivers pretty well on its premise. I reviewed the film for ShockYa - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Avatar: The Way of Water

I was thrilled to be able to participate in a video review with fellow critic Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi for Cinema Daily US as part of the site's America vs. Europe series. Check out our discussion of the film “Avatar: The Way of Water,” now playing in theaters, below:

Weekend Movie Recommendations with Abe

Every Friday, I'll be uploading a Minute with Abe: Weekend Movie Recommendations Edition, surveying new releases in theaters, on DVD, and on streaming services. Check it out, and subscribe to the movieswithabe channel!


New to Theaters: Babylon, Avatar: The Way of Water
New to VOD: The Fabelmans, Bones and All
New to DVD: Call Jane, The Woman King, Plan A
New to Netflix: Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths
New to Hulu: Retrograde, I Love My Dad, Life Partners
New to HBO Max: The Banshees of Inisherin

Interview with Abe: The Swimmers

“The Swimmers,” now streaming on Netflix, features a pair of extraordinary performances from real-life sisters. I got to speak for Cinema Daily US with one of them, Nathalie Issa - watch our third conversation in full below and check out my review from TIFF.

 

Movie with Abe: Bardo

“Bardo,” coming to Netflix this Friday, is Mexico's official Oscar submission for Best International Feature. I reviewed the film for CinemaDailyUS.com - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Cairo Conspiracy

“Cairo Conspiracy,” coming soon from Samuel Goldwyn Films, is Sweden's official Oscar submission for Best International Feature. I reviewed the film for CinemaDailyUS.com - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: EO

“EO,” now playing in theaters, is Poland's official Oscar submission for Best International Feature. I reviewed the film for ShockYa - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Emancipation

“Emancipation,” now streaming on Apple TV+, is an involving and disturbing story of slavery and freedom. I reviewed the film for CinemaDailyUS.com - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Sr.

“Sr.,” now streaming on Netflix, is an insightful documentary about filmmaker Robert Downey Sr. I reviewed the film for ShockYa - head over there to read my review.

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical

My predictions: 4/5
Who’s missing? The Menu, White Noise, Bros

This list is not too surprising, but it does give a big boost to the film I didn’t predict: Triangle of Sadness, which also scored a supporting actress nomination for standout player Dolly De Leon. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, a sequel to a previously-nominated film, also earned just one additional nomination. Babylon did pretty well, picking up four other nominations, while Everything Everywhere All at Once brought in five others. The big winner of the day, however, was The Banshees of Inisherin, which scored in every possible category and even got two bids for supporting actor.

Who will win? I’d like to think that it’s “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” but I’m worried that The Banshees of Inisherin is now the frontunner.

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Motion Picture – Drama

My predictions: 3/5
Who’s missing? Women Talking, She Said, The Whale

This category doesn’t include surprises other than the films it’s missed, namely “Women Talking,” which should have been a shoo-in. I’m seeing Avatar: The Way of Water tonight, apparently after Golden Globe voters who were able to enthusiastically acclaim a sequel to a previous winner in this category. Elvis also did well, meriting a directing bid to go with star Austin Butler’s mention. TÁR performed about as expected, while Top Gun: Maverick could have done better and The Fabelmans missed out on an extra acting nomination or two that it could have gotten. That doesn’t leave a clear frontrunner, which at least is interesting.

Who will win? I feel like this will be The Fabelmans but maybe “Avatar: The Way of Water” can win too?

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Director – Motion Picture

My predictions: 3/5
Who’s missing? Sarah Polley (Women Talking), S.S.Rajamouli (RRR)

This is probably the biggest snub of the day and one that’s inexplicable: Polley, who made one of the best films of the year and would have been the only woman nominated in this category had she been included. I recognize that Rajamouli was a major longshot, but I didn’t see Baz Luhrmann (Elvis) coming, though I guess it does make sense. James Cameron (Avatar: The Way of Water) did win this prize back in 2009 for the first film, so I hope to appreciate his second effort when I go see it tonight. The other three were all expected and their films are the nominations leaders: Steven Spielberg (The Fabelmans), Martin McDonagh (The Banshees of Inisherin), and, most excitingly, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (Everything Everywhere All at Once).

Who will win? Without Polley in the race, it’s either Cameron or Spielberg.

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Screenplay – Motion Picture

My predictions: 4/5
Who’s missing? She Said, The Whale

I’m relieved that at least Women Talking wasn’t snubbed here since it had the most disappointing day of all, missing out on multiple expected acting bids, a director mention, and a top category nomination. The Fabelmans, The Banshees of Inisherin, and Everything Everywhere All at Once all scored nominations for directing also, while TÁR surely came close too based on its overall performance.

Who will win? I think this win goes to The Fabelmans but it could be any of them.

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Original Song

My predictions: 4/5
Who’s missing? Love Is Not Love (Bros), Applause (Tell It Like a Woman), many others

I hadn’t remembered which songs I had selected here and was pleased to see that I did so well overall. I’m most thrilled about Naatu Naatu (RRR), which I have a hard time believing wouldn’t win over anyone’s vote after listening to it and all the others. But Hold My Hand (Top Gun: Maverick) and Lift Me Up (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) are both good choices from popular artists – Lady Gaga and Rihanna – and Ciao Papa (Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio) has a particular relevance to its film. It’s interesting to note that there’s only one nominee here that’s the sole representative from its film, Carolina (Where the Crawdads Sing), which also happens to be the only film in this race I have yet to see.

Who will win? I’ll give this one to Hold My Hand.

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Original Score

My predictions: 4/5
Who’s missing? Tár, RRR

This category features four films that performed very well overall and one that disappointly didn’t: Women Talking. I’m a big fan of that score and of Babylon, which I’m pleased to see also made the cut. Two of the most-nominated films, The Fabelmans and The Banshees of Inisherin, are here too, as is Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio. I have been and will continue to listen to these scores to get to know them better and decide whether I prefer any of the latter three.

Who will win? I think Babylon wins this.

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Foreign Film

My predictions: 2/5
Who’s missing? Bardo (Mexico), EO (Poland), many others

I did much worse than I thought, but I’m not surprised by any of these nominees. It was a risky decision to predict one Korean film, “Hunt,” over the Oscar-eligible favorite, Decision to Leave (South Korea), and I thought Argentina, 1985 (Argentina) and Close (Belgium) would earn Oscar nominations after missing here. All Quiet on the Western Front (Germany) remains the frontrunner in my mind, though it may lose here to an Oscar-ineligible choice that also earned a song nomination, RRR (India).

Who will win? I’ll pick RRR.

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Animated Film

My predictions: 4/5
Who’s missing? Lightyear, Wendell and Wild

I was reaching with my hope that “Lightyear” would be included since apparently I’m the only one who loved the film, and there’s just one nominee that did get in that I have yet to see, Inu-oh from GKIDS. I just watched Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, which is a fun inclusion, and Turning Red made the cut, which was hardly a guarantee. The race to the win will likely be between two other well-received projects: Marcel the Shell with Shoes On and Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio, which also received mentions for its score and song.

Who will win? I’ll go with Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio.

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

My predictions: 2/5
Who’s missing? Hong Chau (The Whale), Jessie Buckley (Women Talking), Claire Foy (Women Talking)

This category is pretty disappointing, even if it’s a good world we live in where Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin) is a shoo-in. I’m shocked by the omission of both “Women Talking” actresses and thought Chau was on track for a nomination too, while Carey Mulligan (She Said) showed up as the lone representative of her film. I’m all for Dolly De Leon (Triangle of Sadness) even though I don’t love the movie, but I’m frustrated by the fact that Jamie Lee Curtis (Everything Everywhere All at Once) is here over her costar Stephanie Hsu. Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) is a bit of a surprise given that no performers from the first film got nominated, but it’s a good mention and she is a very strong actress.

Who will win? Without the presumed frontrunners, I’ll bet on Condon to win this.

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

My predictions: 3/5
Who’s missing? Paul Dano (The Fabelmans), Ben Whishaw (Women Talking)

This category boasts two very surprising omissions given that “The Fabelmans” did do very well overall, while “Women Talking” was very unfortunately snubbed in all the major races. Eddie Redmayne (The Good Nurse) showed up for a performance that I don’t think needs to be here, while Brad Pitt (Babylon) merited a nomination that likely won’t translate to Oscar attention. Barry Keoghan (The Banshees of Inisherin) managed to join his expected costar Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin), providing some in-film competition that may benefit the final nominee in this race, Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once).

Who will win? I think Quan will be able to beat Gleeson.

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical

My predictions: 5/5
Who’s missing? No one major!

It’s nice to get a perfect score, and this is the only category in which I pulled that off. I just watched Lesley Manville (Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris) and expected her to be a double nominee today, but she didn’t manage a supporting bid for “The Crown.” The other lone nominee is Emma Thompson (Good Luck to You, Leo Grande), a great inclusion who I’m glad wasn’t snubbed. Anya Taylor-Joy (The Menu) is here with her costar Ralph Fiennes even though her film didn’t make the top category. Margot Robbie (Babylon) is a great choice and her film did very well, though not quite as well as Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once), the surest nominee in this race to head on to the Oscars.

Who will win? It could be Robbie, but I think Yeoh is safe.