2024 saw an exciting blend of movies worldwide. From horror evolving as quite an interesting genre to sequels nearly as exciting as the prequel, 2024 has seen some quality and technological prowess in film.
As the medium of entertainment changes rapidly, audiences have many movies to choose from or take inspiration from. Even as OTT becomes more powerful, the movie-going experience continues to be sought after. Filmmakers now work harder to make movies worth the time and money of audiences across the globe for a theatrical release.
The year is yet to end, but you can strike a 2024 few movies off your list to make way for the Holiday Season binge-watch. Here are a few quick recommendations:
All of Us Strangers
Released worldwide in 2024, All of Us Strangers blends the supernatural and the emotional quite perfectly. It’s deep and intimate and stays on your mind long after the final scene, forcing you to accept the complexities of life and death amidst all the struggle and pain of grief. Space and time are two phenomena that carry the story on their shoulders more than the characters. It’s amazing how Director-Writer Andrew Haigh has portrayed the aching hearts and souls of Adam (Andrew Scott) and his parents (Jamie Bell and Claire Foy) while staying true to the soul of the Japanese novel Strangers by Taichi Yamada, which the movie is an adaptation of.
Inside Out 2
This one had all the adults in tears while the kids simply enjoyed the banter between different emotions. One of the most successful movies of 2024, Inside Out 2 uses brilliant storytelling and everyday debates between different human emotions without restricting itself or confirming any stereotype. There’s no oversimplification, and audiences share the puberty experience with Riley, who welcomes anxiety and struggles with self-esteem and establishing boundaries while navigating a new way of looking at the world.
The movie recognizes the challenges of being a teenager and ensures all audience segments relate to it. The unique voices of Maya Hawke (Anxiety), Tony Hale (Fear), and Amy Poehler (Joy) contribute to the engagement factor the movie possesses.
Laapataa Ladies
The movie’s OTT release generated much more PR than its theatrical release. Nevertheless, even if the movie had not been India’s official entry to the Oscars, it was a heartwarming tale of women’s empowerment and struggle for agency in a traditional, patriarchal society. The two lost brides depicted how women behind the veil might not be a good idea if it makes them lose themselves, figuratively and metaphorically.
Women’s right to choose a life for themselves and the power of financial independence became highly palpable to scores of women across India. Additionally, the support and cooperation from the male leads in the movie showcased how women will never be able to attain equality if the menfolk don’t support them and stand behind them.
Manjummel Boys
A movie that pivoted Malayalam cinema to pan-India attention, Manjummel Boys is one of the most talked about Indian films of 2024. Based on a real-life incident that happened decades ago, it tells the story of a group of friends on a trip to Kodaikanal (a hill station in the southern state of Tamil Nadu) who ventured into the dangerous and mysterious Guna Caves and encountered an impending tragedy. Through brilliant cinematography and impeccable storytelling, the film showcases the unbreakable bond between the friends and their fight for survival amidst system refusal and supernatural beliefs.
Kalki 2898 A.D
This mytho-sci-fi film is low on the script but high on VFX and a stellar performance by Amitabh Bachchan. Deriving inspiration from The Mahabharata for its plot and a host of Hollywood flicks in terms of its action sequences, Kalki 2898 A.D made mythology look cool even while relying heavily on VFX to get audiences to theatres. Nevertheless, it piqued the audience’s interest and promised them a sequel. Many people were also lured in because of its pan-India star cast, which included cameos by filmmakers like S.S Rajamouli and Ram Gopal Verma.
Do you have more movie recommendations for 2024? Let us know in the comments or on social media!
List Courtesy of Neha Jha
Feature Image via The Indian Express