Ellen's Year in Film: 2022
- Ellen Cheshire
- Jan 1, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 12, 2023
With thanks to @letterboxd pro stats, compiling this end of year film lists so much simpler. I logged 756 films this year, 596 first-time watches, and 160 re-watches.
52 in cinemas, the rest at home. You can check out my letterboxd profile, cheshellen.
I took part in some fab online community themed watches inc #precodeapril #shocktober #noirvember & caught up with some back catalogues of films #directedbywomen which is why amongst the most watched directors list at the top sits #AliceGuyBlache with 22 & #LotteReiginer with 20.
Also in the top 4 most watched directors were #StephenPoliakoff as watched all his films (as both writer & director) and #KathrynBigelow in the run-up to a course I gave at CityLit on women film directors. The Poliakoff season also helped nudge up the number of #BillNighy films making him the actor whose films I watched most.
I attended some fabulous film festivals...
And went to some wonderful independent cinemas
I gave 41 films released in UK cinemas or streaming 3 ½ - 5 stars. My Top 4 fave film released in 2022… Living d. Oliver Hermanus RRR d. S. S. Rajamouli Fire Island d. Andrew Ahn Elvis d. Baz Luhrmann
Top 4 first-time watches this year (pre-2022):
Om Shanti Om (2007, Farah Khan)
Millennium Actress (2001, Satoshi Kon)
The American Friend (1977, Wim Wenders)
A Cottage on Dartmoor (1929, Anthony Asquith)
These were 4 of the 12 5* films watched in 2022!
My Top 4 favourite re-watches:
The Lost Prince d. Stephen Poliakoff
Edge d. Carol Morley
Arsenic and Old Lace d. Frank Capra
Inside Llewyn Davis d. The Coen Brothers
I watched 207 films #directedbywomen, from the 181 feature film first-time watches my top 4 were…
Om Shanti Om d. Farah Khan
Jumbo d. Zoé Wittock
Bergman Island d. Mia Hansen-Løve
The Peasant Women of Ryazan d. Olga Preobrazhenskaya
Here's links to other 2022 lists on letterboxd:
Top 4 musical moments from films released in 2022...
Elvis’s first gig in Elvis
Naatu Naatu from RRR
Revolting Children from Matilda, the musical
Wherever I Fall from Cyrano
Top 4 heartbreaking moments from films released 2022...
Mr Williams sitting in the dark in Living
Marilyn Monroe being challenged by Arthur Miller on her reading of Magda in Blonde
Brian going after Charles in Brian and Charles
Dominic asking Siobhan out in The Banshees of Inisherin
Top 4 funniest moments from films released in 2022...
Luke & Keegan in the Heads Up game in Fire Island
Nick Cage & Javi Gutierrez watching Paddington 2 in Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Barbara & Alan’s first conversation in Then Barbara Met Alan
Get Me Out Of This Chair antics in The Lost City
Top 4 performances from 2022 releases...
Bill Nighy in Living
Austin Butler in Elvis
Tang Wei in Decision to Leave
Alisha Weir in Matilda, the musical
Top 4 they’re not in the film that much, but still steal the film performances...
Brad Pitt in The Lost City
Tom Burke in Living
Val Kilmer in Top Gun: Maverick
Jackie Hoffman in Glass Onion
So that's my year in film! If some of your faves aren't here, let me know.
They may not have made my list as either:
a) we have different tastes
b) I've not seen it!
Looking forward to 2023 in film...
