In rapid-fire style, I’d like to go over my top five movies of the year so far ahead of my attendance of the Seattle International Film Festival as press next month! It’s been an interesting year, but I’ve had a good time at the movies. There have been scares, thrills, kills and a whole lot more. But what is the best Hollywood has to offer so far?
Honorable mentions: “Lisa Frankenstein” and “Civil War”
- ‘Snack Shack’
Not many people saw this movie, it came and went in theaters pretty quick, but I was pleasantly delighted by it. “Snack Shack” stars newcomer Conor Sherry and “The Fabelmans” breakout star — and one of my favorite actors — Gabriel LaBelle as two hooligans living in Nebraska City in 1991 who find themselves running the snack shack at the local pool.
The movie isn’t revolutionary. It follows pretty traditional coming-of-age beats, you’ve seen these storylines and characters before, but each performance is so electric, and the energy the film creates is addictive. It’s a great time with friends, especially as we head into the summer.
- ‘Love Lies Bleeding’
I absolutely loved Rose Glass’ debut film “Saint Maud,” so needless to say I was incredibly excited to see this, and I liked it a lot! It didn’t live up to my admittedly sky-high expectations, but it works incredibly well as a 90s genre-film throwback which not only features a movie star in Kristen Stewart, but also creates one in Katy O’Brian.
The ensemble featuring Stewart and O’Brian is buffed out with Ed Harris, Dave Franco, Jena Malone and more. Glass creates a tension that runs throughout the movie and feels like it could snap at any minute, and when it does, it’s so rewarding.
- ‘Immaculate’
I have already expressed my love for “Immaculate” before in the paper, but any chance to praise it will be a chance I take. I’m still shocked at how great this was, and specifically at how great Sydney Sweeney was.
The final scene is one for the ages, Sweeney’s performance solidifies her as one of our great scream-queens in a quite literal way. This would be my number two of the year, if not for the very similar…
- ‘The First Omen’
Talk about nun-sploitation! “The First Omen” takes everything that “Immaculate” had brought back to the cinemas just weeks prior, and dials it up to 11. “The First Omen” looks and feels exactly like a true respects-paid modernization of the original classic. This movie is VILE, truly evil and so much fun. There are many homages throughout to horror classics, both old and new, there is one towards the end that is a reference to “Possession” that I adored.
Another movie that hangs over this movie like a cloud is — ironically — “Saint Maud.” If you take anything away from this piece, I guess it should be to watch “Saint Maud.” It’s like “Joker” for church camp kids, which might be the best sentence I’ve ever written.
- ‘Dune: Part Two’
What else would it be? I won’t take too much of your time. But “Dune: Part Two” still rips. I’ve seen it four times to date, and given that I have just purchased it on Amazon, that count shall grow very quickly. Bring on “Dune: Messiah.”
