Entertainment

The co-president of the Black Film Critics Circle, Mike Sergeant, and Linda Holmes of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour have put together a list of the best movies of 2024. 2024 has been a year of history-making productions and a few flops, likely from franchise films. There have been remakes of old classics and more context to movies like The Wizard of Oz, Beetlejuice, and more, but only a few have made Mike and Linda’s list at the end of 2024. Here are some of the best movies from 2024; ‘Wicked’ WICKED, Cynthia Erivo, 2024. © Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection Although released only a few weeks ago, Wicked is easily one of Mike’s best movies of 2024. He admitted to his lack of enthusiasm for the movie; however, he changed his mind once he watched it. He encouraged more people to see Wicked in theaters, noting that it is performing well because it is an event. The American Film Institutehas also recognized Wicked as one of 2024’s top movies. ‘Conclave’ CONCLAVE, John Lithgow (center), 2024. © Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection Conclave is an impressive movie showing the work that goes into appointing a new pope. It features three Academy Award nominees—Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow, who play Thomas Cardinal Lawrence, Aldo Cardinal Bellini, and Joseph Cardinal Tremblay, respectively. The film also portrays controversial allegations about the Roman Catholic Church kept within the Vatican. ‘The Brutalist’ THE BRUTALIST, Alessandro Nivola, 2024. ph: Lol Crawley / © A24 / Courtesy Everett Collection This three-and-half-hour movie made it to Linda’s list of the best movies of 2024 thanks to the portrayal of art and artists. Starring Adrien Brody as architect Laszlo Toth, it tells the tale of a creative realizing himself and his talent after the holocaust. He moves to Pennysylvania to rebuild his family and career after the war in Europe. ‘The Fall Guy’ THE FALL GUY, Ryan Gosling, 2024. © Universal Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection The Fall Guy is an action-packed film starring Ryan Gosling, a major character in one of last year’s box office hits Barbie, as a stuntman in his former lover’s movie. Emily Blunt plays the ex, and it ends with her getting back with Ryan. ‘Nickel Boys’ NICKEL BOYS, Ethan Herisse, 2024. © Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer /Courtesy Everett Collection Mike was impressed by RaMell Ross’ direction of Nickel Boys, and the storytelling was another feature that stood out for him. It is about life at a century-old school from the perspective of two young boys and is based on the 2019 book of the same title by Colson Whitehead. ‘Anora’ ANORA, Mark Eidelshtein, 2024. © Neon /Courtesy Everett Collection Mike is quite a fan of Sean Baker, who has a reputation for directing movies about socially overlooked groups. Anora is about a sex worker whose life changes into a Cinderella story. It is reportedly engaging and has no boring moments. ‘Sing Sing’ SING SING, Colman Domingo (center), 2023. © A24 / Courtesy Everett Collection Based on a true story, Sing Sing sees the inside story of a wrongfully arrested member of a theater program for incarcerated people. It also featured those who were in the Sing Sing Prison in real life, making it even more real. ‘His Three Daughters’ HIS THREE DAUGHTERS, from left: Natasha Lyonne, Elizabeth Olsen, Carrie Coon, 2023. © Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection Linda commended the solid casting on His Three Daughters, which featured Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne and Elizabeth Olsen. It shows three sisters by their father on his deathbed after years of estrangement and unravels family issues and sibling rivalries that are relatable to many. ‘Piece By Piece’ PIECE BY PIECE, from left: Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, 2024. © Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection For Mike, Piece By Piece was an interesting way of making a documentary, as it added some fun to Pharrell William’s story. Mike noted that some areas of the singer-songwriter’s life were best portrayed by animation due to how interesting they sound. ‘Girls State’ GIRLS STATE, 2024. © Apple TV+ / Courtesy Everett Collection Girl State is the flip side version of Boys State from 2020, which is about a program that brings high school boys together with a mock government featuring elections. This stood out to Linda for its attention on reproductive rights, as it was filmed when the Supreme Court was deliberating over laws governing women’s bodies.