Road to the Oscars 2023: Top 10 Best Films of 2022 (Part 2)

Read part 1 of the article here.

5. The Fabelmans (USA)

The Fabelmans is one of the top contenders of the upcoming Oscar season, having won awards at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture (Drama) and Best Director. The autobiographical film depicts the coming-of-age years of young Sammy Fabelman, inspired by Steven Spielberg's own childhood.

The Fabelmans tell two parallel stories: the journey of discovering his own passion for filmmaking and the irreparable fractures between his parents. In other words, filmmaking helps him uncover the truths about his family and himself.

The film beautifully portrays the emotions and love for cinema, even though it's just about a young man making his first amateur film. What impressed me the most were the two "thunderbolts" passed down from the ones who came before, inspiring Sammy.

The Fabelmans show that Steven Spielberg is still a master storyteller in the language of cinema, even though the film is his most personal and intimate work.

4. Decision to Leave (Korean)

Once again, Park Chan-wook portrays the desperation of love in a crime-romance film reminiscent of classic cinema: Decision to Leave, featuring standout performances by Thang Duy and Park Hae-il.

The film opens with a mountain and ends with the sea, with the symbolism of both throughout.

Its mix of crime and romance evokes classics such as Hitchcock's Vertigo and Wong Kar-wai's In the Mood for Love.

Even though while watching Decision to Leave, I felt that director Park Chan-wook was romanticizing murder, he led the audience through the journey of a desperate love story intertwined with criminal cases, and we understood the agony of two lovers who had to let go because they could not belong to each other.

3. Everything Everywhere All At Once (USA)

For true cinema lovers, the "cinephiles," Everything Everywhere All At Once (EEAAO) by the director duo Daniels is a breath of fresh air, a revolution in the 7th art in the past year.

The independent work of A24 Studio quickly became a phenomenon right from its debut, turning another Marvel universe-themed film into a children's plaything due to its poor material and boring presentation.

EEAAO is a very energetic film, very innovative in terms of ideas, and outstanding in terms of film language. It's crazy, insane, surreal, yet very relatable - especially when exploring the family theme of Asian immigrants, who are easily trapped in prejudices and worn-out patterns. The Asian cast: Duong Tu Quynh, Quan Ke Huy, Stephanie Hsu... all shine with their own roles.

Not only did the film conquer audiences, but it also received praise from acclaimed filmmakers for its excellence. Director Guillermo del Toro stated that the film had a strong impact on his children's generation, much like how his own generation embraced The Graduate (1967): "From now on, Gen Z has a 'peak' film of their own, a milestone that a generation can be proud to say, 'That was our voice at that time.'"

Alfonso Cuaron also compared the film's breakthrough to that of Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction or Danny Boyle's Trainspotting in the 90s. "It feels like a huge energy source has been injected into cinema," - the director who won 4 Oscars commented.

2. The Banshees of Inisherins (Ireland)

The Banshees of Inisherin have recently won the award for Best Comedy Film at the Golden Globes. However, in my opinion, if this were to be considered a comedy film, it would certainly be the saddest comedy film in the world.

The film centers around the deteriorating relationship between two longtime close friends on a fictional island called Inisherin, amidst the backdrop of the Irish Civil War in the 1920s. The accomplished musician Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson) decides to end his lifelong friendship with Pádraic Súilleabháin (Colin Farrell) - a single horse trainer living with his sister.

Like a deeply allegorical comedy or a surreal play, the latest work by Irish director Martin McDonagh has created a philosophical film about existentialism, posing questions about the meaning of existence and challenging the values of art.

As in a dialogue between Colm and Pádraic: what will be remembered when people die? A famous artwork or the kindness of humanity? Does great art make us immortal?...

1. Tár (USA)

For over 20 years, Todd Field has only written and directed three films: In the Bedroom (2001), Little Children (2006), and the latest, Tár (2022). All three are studies of unique characters, bringing to cinema roles that shine with Oscar nominations.

Todd Field undoubtedly has an extensive knowledge of the world of classical music, especially its artists, in order to create an exceptional character like Lydia Tár, a completely fictional character who seems to be drawn from some prototype in the world of academic art.

Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett) is hailed as one of the greatest living conductors and composers, one of the few artists in the world to have won the EGOT quartet (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar & Tony), and is currently the first female Chief conductor of a major German orchestra (the Berlin Philharmonic).

Tár makes its debut with a brilliant image of a revered and powerful artistic genius embarking on a journey to become a legend with new projects, including a live recording of Mahler's Fifth Symphony and a forthcoming book titled Tár on Tár.

However, as Todd Field's lens follows the character from behind, we begin to see the flaws in Lydia Tar's seemingly perfect facade. Eventually, as the cracks begin to show, Lydia's pinnacle of fame and power starts to crumble.

Appearing in nearly all 158 minutes of Tár, Cate Blanchett delivers a remarkable performance that is not only the highlight of the year but of the decade. Together, Todd Field and Cate Blanchett have created a masterpiece, a profound character study.

Above all, Tár is a profound study of the art world and the nature of a human being, especially a genius who loses oneself in the glitz and glamour of fame and power. This film has become a classic since its release, and people will remember Cate Blanchett's "pinnacle" performance for decades to come!