And just like that another movie year has come and gone. A few days ago I shared my Top 10 movies of 2024 (check it out HERE). It’s always a fun list to put together, but I also enjoy giving some attention to the year’s very best performances. Over the next few days I’ll be sharing my favorites for each of the four major acting categories. So per usual, let’s kick it off with Supporting Actress.
Honorable Mentions: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (“Nickel Boys”), Carrie Coon (“His Three Daughters”), Elizabeth Olsen (“His Three Daughters”), Connie Nielsen (“Gladiator II”), Ariana Grande (“Wicked”), Carey Mulligan (“Spaceman”),Isabella Rossellini (“Conclave”), Rachel Sennott (“Saturday Night”), Renate Reinsve (“A Different Man”), Toni Collette (“Juror #2)
#5 – Zoe Saldaña (“Emilia Perez”)
It’s unfortunate that “Emilia Pérez” wasn’t a better movie and it’s bizarre that the film’s true lead has been tossed into the Supporting Actress category. But regardless, Zoe Saldaña is fantastic in Jacques Audiard’s messy musical/crime thriller hybrid. The often underappreciated Saldaña routinely elevates the material she’s given through a layered and nuanced performance that proves to be the flawed movie’s biggest strength.
#4 – Saoirse Ronan (“Blitz”)
The wonderful Saoirse Ronan has gotten a lot of attention in 2024, mostly for her outstanding lead performance in “The Outrun”. But I think a case could be made that she’s even better in Steve McQueen’s underrated “The Blitz” where she plays a single mother in search of her young son in the early days of World War II. She nails every facet of her role, conveying a heartfelt tenderness one minute and unflinching determination the next.
#3 – Monica Barbaro (“A Complete Unknown”)
With just a little more screen time Monica Barbaro could have easily been my #1 choice. She is terrific playing Joan Baez in James Mangold’s “A Complete Unknown”. Not only does Barbaro wow us with her acting, but she also sings and plays her own songs which only makes her performance stand out more. Barbaro is clearly an actress on the rise and her work in “A Complete Unknown” makes that truth abundantly clear.
#2 – Rebecca Ferguson (“Dune: Part Two”)
Not nearly enough awards consideration is being given to Rebecca Ferguson who was nothing short of brilliant in Denis Villeneuve’s masterful “Dune: Part Two”. Ferguson had a difficult part to play in the film and she delivers everything her role demands. She’s cryptic, mysterious, calculating, and strong. She often lurks in the shadows but makes her presence known when she needs to. It’s an utterly fascinating character and Ferguson is a big reason why.
#1 – Danielle Deadwyler (“The Piano Lesson”)
By now it shouldn’t be a surprise that Danielle Deadwyler is magnificent whenever she’s attached to a movie. After her well-documented Oscar snub for her powerful performance in “Till”, she comes right back with another dandy in “The Piano Lesson”. Once again she commands the screen and captures our attention with every impassioned word she speaks in this fantastic August Wilson adaptation. It’s terrific work.
And that wraps up Supporting Actress. What are you thoughts on my picks? Let me know in the comments section below. And stay tuned, Supporting Actor is up next.
And that takes care of the Supporting Actresses. What are you thoughts on my picks? What would make your list? Let me know in the comments section below. Next up I take on Supporting Actors.
Just wanted to take a few moments to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. For me personally, 2024 was filled with some enormous highs and a few pretty unexpected lows. But as far as this site goes, it has been a great year. Thank you all for the many visits and comments over the last 365 days. The conversations have been great and the growth has been exciting.
I can’t wait to talk more about movies with you all. I already have three 2025 reviews in the can and a few more ‘Best of 2024’ posts to share. Hope you’ll check them out.
Here’s wishing you and yours the very best in 2025.
Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment is celebrating the 30th anniversary of David Fincher’s acclaimed psychological crime thriller “Se7en” by bringing it to 4K Ultra HD for the very first time. Led by powerful performances from Academy Award winners Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kevin Spacey, “Se7en” has left an indelible mark and is rightfully heralded by many as one of the best movies of its time (see my full review of the film HERE).
This beautiful 4K Ultra HD anniversary edition of “Se7en” includes a digital copy and will be available to purchase on January 7th. See below for a full synopsis and release info including a list of special features.
About the Film:
Year: 1995
Runtime: 127 Minutes
Directors: David Fincher
Screenwriters: Andrew Kevin Walker
Cast: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Richard Roundtree, R. Lee Ermey, Kevin Spacey, John C. McGinley, Julie Araskog, Richard Schiff, John Cassini, Reg E. Cathey, Peter Crombie, Richard Portnow, Mark Boone Junior, Hawthorne James, Michael Massee, Leland Orser
Rating: R for grisly afterviews of horrific and bizarre killings, and for strong language
Two cops (Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman) track a brilliant and elusive killer who orchestrates a string of horrific murders, each kill targeting a practitioner of one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Gwyneth Paltrow also stars in this acclaimed thriller set in a dour, drizzly city sick with pain and blight. David Fincher (“Fight Club, Zodiac”, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) guides the action – physical, mental and spiritual – with a sure understanding of what terrifies us, right up to a stunning denouement that will rip the scar tissue off the most hardened soul.
Directed by three-time Academy Award nominee David Fincher (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, “The Social Network”, “Mank”) from a screenplay by Andrew Kevin Walker, the film stars Academy Award winner Brad Pitt (“Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood”), Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”), Academy Award winner Gwyneth Paltrow (“Shakespeare in Love”), along with John C. McGinley (“Platoon”), Golden Globe nominee R. Lee Ermey (“Full Metal Jacket”), and Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey (“The Usual Suspects”, “American Beauty”) as John Doe. The film is produced by Arnold Kopelson and Phyllis Carlyle.
“Se7en” received an Academy Award nomination for Best Film Editing (Richard Francis-Bruce) at the 68th Academy Awards. The film was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay (Andrew Kevin Walker) at the 49th British Academy Film Awards.
The 4K restoration of “Se7en” was completed at Warner Bros. Discovery’s Motion Picture Imaging (MPI) and was sourced from the original camera negative. The restoration was overseen by director David Fincher.
Special Features:
“Se7en” Digital release and Ultra HD Blu-ray disc contain the following previously released special features:
Commentaries –
The Stars: David Fincher, Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman
The Story: Richard Dyer, Andrew Kevin Walker, Richard Francis-Bruce, Michael De Luca, David Fincher
The Picture: Darius Khondji, Arthur Max, Richard Francis-Bruce, Richard Dyer, David Fincher
The Sound: Ren Klyce, Howard Shore, Richard Dyer, David Fincher
Deleted Scenes –
Car Ride in from Gluttony
My Future
Raid on Victor’s
Spare Some Change?
Tracy Wakes from Light Sleep
Pride
Alternate endings –
Animated storyboards of un-shot ending
Original “Test” ending
Still Photographs (featurettes) –
John Doe’s Photographs
Victor’s Decomposition
Police Crime Scene Photographs
Production Photographs
The Notebooks
Production Design (featurette)
Mastering for the Home Theater (featurette)
Exploration of the Opening Title Sequence: Early Storyboards (featurette)
Exploration of the Opening Title Sequence: Rough Version (featurette)
Exploration of the Opening Title Sequence: Final Edit (featurette)
Exploration of the Opening Title Sequence: Stereo Audio Commentary One – The Concept – Designer Kyle Cooper (featurette)
Exploration of the Opening Title Sequence: Stereo Audio Commentary Two – The Sound – Brant Biles & Robert Margouleff (featurette)
It’s hard to believe but another movie year has come and gone. Overall it has been an interesting yet somewhat disappointing year for movies. As always it had its share of surprises and more than a few letdowns. There were a decent number of box office successes, just as many undeserved bombs, and several trendy indies that are being pushed right through awards season. Things started slow but picked up in the final quarter which managed to save the year.
Now it’s late December, that time of the year where we critics complete our silly but fun annual ritual of picking the ten best movies from the past year. Interestingly, there has been a noticeable lack of variety among early top ten lists and awards announcements (at least more than usual). So I’m pretty proud to have onethat stands out from the crowd. But enough jabbering. It’s time to get down to business.
As always, let me start by showing some love to my #11-20….
#20 – “The Wait”
#19 – “Thelma”
#18 – “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga”
#17 – “Late Night with the Devil”
#16 – “On the Wandering Paths”
#15 – “Alien: Romulus”
#14 – “Bonhoeffer”
#13 – “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter One”
#12 – “Gladiator II”
#11 – “Juror #2”
Now without further ado,here are my Top 10 Films of 2024.….
“The Bikeriders” – Jeff Nichols is a filmmaker who makes movies that speak to me. I’ve loved everything he’s done from his 2007 debut “Shotgun Stories” to his latest, “The Bikeriders”. Nichols puts together a tremendous ensemble led by the trio of Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, and Tom Hardy and immerses us in the biker culture of the mid to late 1960s. The style, the music, the attitude – it all coalesces into an authentic experience full of grease, grit, and human spirit. It’s yet another fascinating slice of Americana from Jeff Nichols. [REVIEW]
“September 5” – With “September 5”, director Tim Fehlbaum has crafted one of the most riveting edge-of -your-seat thrillers of the year. This taut journalism procedural chronicles the in-the-trenches work of the ABC Sports team covering the hostage crisis during the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics. “September 5” had me glued to the screen with its fiercely focused ensemble, its detailed recreation of ABC’s studio adjacent to the Olympic village, the gripping real-life intensity of its story, and the humanity that pulses through it all. Whatever you do, don’t sleep on this one. [REVIEW]
“I’m Still Here” – With “I’m Still Here”, Walter Salles delivers a powerful biographical drama driven by a Fernanda Torres performance that should be (but sadly isn’t) atop every Best Actress list. The searing screenplay from Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega tells the enthralling true story of a wife and mother in search of her missing husband while protecting her children in the middle of Brazil’s 21-year military dictatorship. Salles maintains a clear-eyed focus and firm control, conveying the horrors of the oppressive regime while emphasizing the family’s emotional journey. The results are intense, enlightening, and heart-wrenching. [REVIEW]
“The Order” – Justin Kurzel’s “The Order” sits comfortably as one of the biggest and best surprises of the 2024 movie year. Set to a striking 1980s rural Pacific Northwest backdrop, this riveting crime thriller is based on the true story of the FBI’s pursuit of a white supremacist terrorist group and its charismatic leader. Jude Law gives one of his best performances as does Nicholas Hoult who has had a remarkable year. They are essential to making “The Order” a thoroughly compelling thriller that emits a resonating urgency. [REVIEW]
“Nosferatu” – Despite having only three feature films to his name, Robert Eggers had already established himself as a visionary filmmaker with an unmistakable style. His fourth film, “Nosferatu” didn’t just cement his reputation – it added an exclamation mark. This is a Robert Eggers movie through and through from his stunning visuals to his masterful tone management. Most impressive is how he honors F. W. Murnau’s 1922 horror classic while still adding his own macabre twists. And he’s helped by an extraordinary cast that includes Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Bill Skarsgård, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Willem Dafoe, Ralph Ineson, and Emma Corrin. [REVIEW]
“The Piano Lesson” – One of the year’s best ensembles come together to deliver another sterling feature film adaptation of an August Wilson stage play. “The Piano Lesson” marks the impressive directorial debut of Malcolm Washington whose older brother, John David leads a talent-rich cast which includes Danielle Deadwyler, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Potts, Ray Fisher, Corey Hawkins, Erykah Badu, and Stephan James. Set in 1936 Pittsburgh, this is an authentic lived-in domestic drama with a tinge of the supernatural that kept me captivated throughout. [REVIEW]
“Megalopolis” – No film earned a more divided response than Francis Ford Coppola’s insanely ambitious “Megalopolis”. Most of the reactions have ranged from fascinated to perplexed to scornful. Without question this is a personal passion project that was never going to land with everyone. But “Megalopolis” is an imaginative tour de force that sees Coppola working free of anyone’s rules and expectations. His creation is as breathtaking as it is bewildering; as compelling as it is confounding. And it is every bit a visionary work meant to be absorbed, considered, and reconsidered. I loved every eccentric and extravagant second of it. [REVIEW]
“A Complete Unknown” – Timothée Chalamet playing Bob Dylan was not the recipe for success I expected. But then I saw “A Complete Unknown” and realized how wrong I was. Chalamet delivers one the year’s very best performances in James Mangold’s transporting biography of the American music legend. Outstanding supporting work from Monica Barbaro, Boyd Holbrook, Elle Fanning, and Edward Norton help bring this fascinating slice of music history to life. Together with Chalamet, they sing their own songs and play their own instruments to brilliantly recreate the 1960s New York folk scene. [REVIEW]
“Longlegs” – I’m not sure that any movie sat with me as long as “Longlegs”. This well-written, visually stunning, and utterly harrowing horror thriller found its genesis in the mind of writer-director Osgood Perkins. He takes us on a tense and terrifying journey that mixes the psychological with the supernatural. “Longlegs” features some of the year’s best cinematography from DP Andrés Arochi Tinajero and a superb lead performance from Maika Monroe. And of course there’s Nicholas Cage. In a year full of great horror movies, “Longlegs” remains the best chiller of the bunch. [REVIEW]
“Dune: Part Two” – Denis Villeneuve not only matched the brilliance of his 2021 adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic science-fiction novel “Dune”, but he surpassed it with his sensational continuation in “Dune: Part Two”. This monumental sequel impressively builds upon the first film, staying true to the spirit of the source material but not shy about adding its own distinct flavor. The cast is extraordinary and the visual wizardry is astonishing. But it’s Villeneuve’s grand vision and keen ability to realize it on the screen that makes this such an unforgettable experience. [REVIEW]
And those are my Top 10 Films of 2024. What do you think of my list? What are your thoughts on the movie year as a whole? What was your favorite movie? Let me know in the comments section below. Until next year…
It’s hard to believe another year has come and gone. I just wanted to take a moment out of the hustle and bustle of Christmas Day to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. Thanks for all of the visits to this site, the time you’ve put into reading my reviews and/or features, and the great comments and conversations we have had. You all are a big part of what makes this film critic gig so much fun.
I hope each of you have a wonderful and blessed Christmas. Enjoy your time with family and friends and here’s wishing you all the very best in the upcoming year.
There has been a lot of buzz, both good and bad, about James Gunn’s ascension to the head of DC Studios. Without question Gunn has his fans and they aren’t afraid to share their support. But there just as many who are skeptical and for good reason. I remain a huge fan of the Zack Snyder cinematic universe that existed prior to the studio tearing it apart. And I’ve been lukewarm on Gunn’s superhero projects which often follow the same blueprint. But I’m very open to seeing his vision for DC starting with “Superman”.
The first teaser trailer for Gunn’s “Superman” has dropped and it gives us a first glance at the film that will kick off his DC universe. The trailer doesn’t reveal much but it allows us to see David Corenswet in action as both Superman and Clark Kent. We see Rachel Brosnahan as the new Lois Lane. We see Nicholas Hoult as the universe’s Lex Luthor. We even see a caped Krypto which brought an ear-to-ear smile to my face.
But the trailer is littered with other heroes and villains which speaks to one of my biggest concerns – is Gunn cramming too much into his first film. We’ll see. And while the trailer offers a number of captivating images, I still don’t have a good feel of the movie or of Gunn’s vision for the character. Will he capture the essence of Superman? Can he make Superman resonate with a new audience? Can he win over those who preferred a “Man of Steel” sequel? Who knows. But I’ll be there on opening day to see.
“Superman” flies into theaters on July 11, 2025. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.
Keith & the Movies 