Stars At Noon (2022) ****

Enigmatic, mesmerizing and sensuous drama set in totalitarian Nicaragua during the Covid lockdowns. A masterpiece of "exotic/erotic" cinema. But instead of an Emmanuelle-style fantasy, we have a realistic portrait of a real woman forced to humiliate herself and to sell her body in order to survive and escape from a totalitarian nightmare. Winner of the Grand Prix du Jury at the Cannes Film Festival and Margaret Qualley's most memorable acting performance to date.

Bardo False Chronicle Of A Handful Of Truths (2022) ****

Uneven, but often brilliant film that explores Mexican history and identity in a deeply allegoric and personal way.

The Whale (2022) ****

Almost every film review of this film describes it as a story of an overweight man and his problems. It is not. It's a story of an angry young girl lashing out at the entire world and coming to terms with a traumatic event from her childhood when she was eight and abandoned by a father whom she adored. One of Darren Aronofsky's best films.

No Bears (2022) ****

Another excellent film from Jafar Panahi. It's about an Iranian filmmaker trying to direct (via Skype) a movie filmed across the border in Turkey while residing in a small village on the Iranian side of the border, and getting involved in a serious conflict in that village over a photograph of a young couple. Winner of the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival.

The Menu (2022) ****

It is everything that "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery" (which it superficially resembles) isn't, namely clever, well-directed, thoughtful, suspenseful and effective. A minor masterpiece.

The Son (2022) ****

Superb drama, incredibly deep and profoundly moving.

Triangle Of Sadness (2022) ****

Winner of the Palme d'or at the Cannes Film Festival. A brilliant satire about modern life, loosely inspired by Cecil B. DeMille's "Male And Female" (1919). Directed by Ruben Ostlund.

Alcarràs (2022) ****

Tar (2022) ****

A very surprising film that strongly denounces the excesses of the "cancel culture" while making it abundantly clear that its main character is guilty of sexual abuse on a Harvey Weinstein scale. 

Athena (2022) ****

Superbly directed war movie co-written by Ladj Ly ("Les Miserables").

Bones And All (2022) ****

A film about cannibals which is unlike any other film about cannibals.