Road to the Oscars 2023: Top 10 Best Films of 2022 (Part 1)

10. Triangle of Sadness (Sweden)

The satirical and socially critical work of Swedish director Ruben Ostlund has earned him a prestigious second-place Golden Palm award just five years after his previous win. While not creating as strong of an impact as his previous films Force Majeure (2014) or The Square (2017), Triangle of Sadness is still a challenging and darkly humorous black comedy, directly attacking the essence of modern humanity.

Triangle of Sadness has a structure consisting of three independent parts but interconnected through two main characters: a pair of models and an influencer. They are invited to participate in an experience on a super-rich yacht, where they all have to go through unexpected situations.

In each part, the director tackles a different theme, from gender roles and modern dysfunctional relationships in part 1, to social stratification and the privileges of the super-rich in part 2, and finally a spectacular "changing of the guard" when the survivors of the yacht have to live on a deserted island like in primitive times.

With its confrontational and absurd approach to themes, and its daring, irreverent humor, Triangle of Sadness once again showcases the distinctive and somewhat eccentric cinema that comes from Northern Europe in general and director Ruben Ostlund in particular.

9. RRR (India)

RRR (Rise Roar Revolt) by Indian director S. S. Rajamouli is a surprise contender in this year's awards season. After beating out Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and Rihanna to win Best Original Song (Naatu Naatu) at the Golden Globes, RRR continued its success by winning Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Song at the recent Critics Choice Awards.

Although not India's official submission for Best International Feature Film at the upcoming Oscars, RRR could still contend in other major categories, even for Best Picture. Its sweeping success at this year's Oscars could be compared to South Korea's Parasite in 2019 or Japan's Drive My Car last year.

Under the direction of Rajamouli - often dubbed the James Cameron of Indian cinema, RRR embodies many typical elements of Indian cinema. It features energetic dance sequences, slow-motion shots throughout the film, and an epic storyline with melodramatic moments. The film stimulates a sense of national pride among Indian audiences in a grandiose yet visually appealing way.

8. All quiet on the Western Front (German)

Although there have been several film adaptations, the first of which won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1931, the latest adaptation by German director Edward Berger from the novel All Quiet on the Western Front (1929) left a profound and even haunting impression of the ferocity and brutality of World War I through its vividly depicted scenes. This work deserves a place on the list of the best war films.

Like in the original novel by Remarque, the latest adaptation is the perspective of the young recruit Paul Bäumer (through the haunting performance of Felix Kammerer) as he endures a brutal war, a human meat grinder that crushes his youth and innocence, along with that of his friends, leaving a lasting impact on their lives.

All Quiet on the Western Front is an important work that speaks to the dangers of nationalism and the senseless and futile nature of war. The concluding information in the film notes that the war on the Western Front in Germany lasted for four years, "roasting" hundreds of thousands of soldiers in shells, mud, and extreme hunger and thirst, only to gain a few hundred meters of land in France.

Almost a century later, All Quiet on the Western Front remains a significant film in the current context, as the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine shows no signs of easing. The senseless deaths, suffering, and desperation of those who survive the war continue to repeat themselves in one place or another, demonstrating that humanity has not learned much from the wounds of history.

7. Argentina, 1985 (Argentina)

If you are a fan of courtroom dramas with classic films like 12 Angry Men, To Kill a Mockingbird, or The Trial of the Chicago 7, then this is the latest and most exciting addition to the genre.

Inspired by real events surrounding the 1985 trial of the Juntas, Argentina, 1985 is a gripping film that seeks to prosecute the leaders of the last civilian-military dictatorship in the country. This regime is considered the bloodiest dictatorship in the history of Argentina, having kidnapped, tortured, and killed tens of thousands of people, including pregnant women and even newborn babies.

The film focuses on the journey of justice by prosecutor Julio César Strassera and young and inexperienced lawyer Luis Moreno Ocampo. They are determined to bring powerful individuals to justice, despite facing threats to their own lives and families.

As the young lawyer said in an interview: "I am a lawyer, and the law is my obsession. I won't let criminals escape justice. What we want, in addition to justice for the victims, is to put an end to the use of death as a political tool."

The film is expertly crafted and extremely captivating, particularly the courtroom scenes towards the end. Argentina, 1985 directed by Santiago Mitre and starring Ricardo Darín is becoming a major contender for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2023 Oscars after winning this award at the recent Golden Globes.

6. Aftersun (England)

Aftersun is a small but highly acclaimed gem of last year's cinema, praised for its delicate cinematic language and its emotional story about the relationship between a father and daughter, and memories that move the audience.

The film is deeply personal, telling the story of a woman's childhood memories of her last vacation with her father at a cheap resort in Turkey. This trip connects the father and daughter while uncovering the pain hidden beneath the father's calm demeanor.

Through the portrayal of the father (played by rising star Paul Mescal), the film raises an important question for many men: what happens when you become a father when you're not ready, or in a broken relationship with the mother of your child?

Retold through the lens of memories, Aftersun emerges with frames of nostalgia, intimate and familiar moments, and seemingly aimless conversations that reveal the hidden corners of the father. These scenes make up a small yet refined film that tightens our emotions as it draws to a close and leaves a powerful ending.

The debut film by director Charlotte Wells has received high praise from critics, earning multiple nominations at the UK Independent Film Awards and even being ranked #1 in Sight & Sound's list of the best films of 2022.