Within 2022, it seemed like movies were dead, and they still are. No, but really, the year was full of sequels that people waited decades for, and in my opinion, only one was worth the wait. This is list is pure film, no TV awards except for one category, sort of. This is due to the fact that I just didn’t have the time to watch much new TV last year. If I did have those categories I would probably mention Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Terminal List. I did my best to avoid spoilers, but there are some small ones here and there. With that said, these are the goods, again, from 2022.
Best Streaming Film/Longish Special
Awarded to the Film/Longish Special, exclusively on a streaming service, that made you think, “Wow, okay, streaming isn’t useless, that’s right. Man, you know sometimes I forget.”
Nominees:
Phil Churchward – The Grand Tour: A Scandi Flick
Tetsuro Araki – Bubble
Winner:
James Gunn – The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special
This Holiday Special is a great example of how to utilize a streaming platform to further a story. It’s such a fever dream, Mantis & Drax literally kidnap Kevin Bacon, and then he sings a song to all the Guardians about the importance and value of Christmas. One of my favorite moments in the MCU comes from when Star-Lord has the realization that his friends stole a human being for him saying, “This is, this is HUMAN TRAFFICKING!” The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special is easily the best project in Marvel Studios’ 4th phase.
Outstanding Cinematography
Awarded to the film with Outstanding Cinematography, elevating the storytelling and immersing the audience into the world.
Nominees:
Polly Morgan – Where the Crawdads Sing
Jeremy Lasky – Lightyear
Claudio Miranda – Top Gun: Maverick
Winner:
Craig Fraser – The Batman
How do you make a character with over 80 years of storytelling, and almost 60 years of content on the big screen seem new? Well, you make the audience ‘the Batman.’ What I mean by that, and how the cinematography elevates this idea, is that this is a detective story. The camera angles are constantly making you on the edge of your seat, looking for clues. Within the first 30 minutes, it trains you to do this by having objects only in the foreground in focus or directing attention to dark alleyways making us wonder where Batman could be lurking. The opening in particular is full of awesome shots of Gotham City telling us everything we need to know about this interpretation of a familiar world with its always having you look around at different points of the screen.
Most Memorable Moment
Awarded to a Moment that stands out either as a fun action scene, a cool line of dialogue, a character moment, or something along these lines, that is Memorable for the audience.
Nominees:
Nicholas Cage crying over Paddington 2 – The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Puss’ last fight with Death – Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
“Who said they had to be living?” – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Winner:
Opening Monologue – The Batman
This is one of the best-written monologues of all time. The music, the lighting, directing, and showing Bruce Wayne put on eyeliner even, all make this, just so cool. I quote it all the time. I want it read at my funeral. It also does a great job at planting the seeds of themes that are shown throughout the story, as well as having a closing monologue that brings this full circle.
I also love how we are shown later in the film how this monologue is actually him writing out his thoughts in a journal that keeps showing his progress in Gotham as the world’s greatest detective. “They think I’m hiding in the shadows. But I AM the shadows.” Let me put it like this, I listen to this sometimes when I work out, and it feels just as good as pre-workout.
Biggest Surprise Feature
Awarded to the film that didn’t look that good, but after watching it you’ll go, “That was a Surprise Feature, my goodness.”
Winner:
Rosalind Ross – Father Stu
If everyone else is afraid to say it, I will, Mark Wahlberg is actually a pretty good actor. In the past decade from Joe Bell, The Gambler, Pain and Gain, and Ted, he’s presented his acting range, while sprinkling his classic Wahlberg performances here and there with wonderful performances like… Sully in Uncharted. Yaaaayyyyy. Father Stu tells the story of commitment, working towards your goals, and standing for something. Stu was engaging, and the co-stars, specifically Mel Gibson, stands out and brings something refreshing to a Montana story.
Best Feature That No One Really Talked About, But I Still Enjoyed
Awarded to the film that may not be the next great thing, but was pretty solid, and wasn’t brought up much in conversation that deserves a viewing.
Nominees:
Ol Parker – Ticket to Paradise
Sunghoo Park – Jujutsu Kaisen 0
S.S. Rajamouli – RRR
Winner:
Olivia Newman – Where the Crawdads Sing
I had not read the book, so I had no idea where this story was going. Within the final few shots, there is a reveal and I audibly gasped in the theater, where I was alone. It feels like a really good streaming film, that would make you forget you’re watching it on Netflix. So anyway, as of this article being written, Crawdads is available on Netflix.
I thought the story was investing, the acting was good, and it definitely made you root for who the “Marsh Girl,” should be with, and how she should live her life. Basically what I’m saying is, if you’re kinda snoopy and always want the drama from your old high school that doesn’t affect you on any level, but you just really want to remember a time before you had to pay taxes, Where the Crawdads Sing is probably up your alley.
Best Feature of 2022
Nominees:
Matt Reeves – The Batman
David O. Russell – Amsterdam
Tom Gormican – The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Winner:
Joel Crawford – Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
The 2011 spin-off to the Shrek franchise, was nothing special. It’s not bad, and I like it more than most, but it’s pretty generic. Its 2022 sequel is everything but generic. The unique animation style, mature themes, awesome villains, and fun jokes make Puss in Boots: The Last Wish my clear choice for the best film of the past year. I waited so long for this movie, it delivers on almost every level. Upon rewatch, I don’t really care for Jack Horner, he works for the story as another villain, but he’s just not that great.
The action stands out with the help of a cool almost shell-shaded animation style, along the lines of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. All of the action is great and is only elevated due to a great and easy-to-follow script structure filled with themes that make the audience ponder and think about what they’ve watched. We don’t have 9 lives, and it takes this new story for Puss in Boots to understand that and his character development is the best part. By the time you’re done with this, you’ll be playing ‘Fearless Hero’ on your way to work for the next few weeks.
MooCow Entertainment 