My Movie/TV Unwrapped 2024
My Top 10 shows/movies i saw & why they were so good.
Unlike 2023, at times, I really struggled to find what to watch in 2024.
But in equal parts, it was a blessing in disguise as it led me down to classics from the 1940s to 1970, and there are hidden (not-so-hidden at the time) gems there. I also became more lenient, allowing some rope around the genres I love: Movies based on true stories, crime history, political dramas, true crime and difficult watches. Like 2023, these are not my all-time favourites, but what captivated me this year.
From classic dramas to insightful miniseries, here's my ranked list:
Thirteen Days (2000 - Movie)
Set during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Thirteen Days was riveting. I love political drama so much, but I have seen so many, and it was so difficult to find a great one I hadn’t seen. But this showed up, and it was brilliant. It is a Cold War story around the Cuban missile crises and how close we were to a nuclear WW3. The pulse of the movie was terrific, and it kept to realism a lot while ensuring that it kept that pulse and danger alive in the story. Kevin Costner had such fantastic chemistry with the cast, and it made me giddy to see great acting. It also gave me such a good insight into the politics that surrounded some of the other decisions during the Cold War. I genuinely couldn’t stop recommending it.
Rating: 7.2/10
9. The Night Of (2016 - Limited Series)
I was starved of difficult watches this year. That is why this makes the list—this HBO miniseries was so hard to stomach at times but thats when i know i’m enjoying it. Riz Ahmed shines as a college student entangled in a murder case, but the supporting cast of John Turturro and Micheal Kenneth Williams did a lot of heavy lifting as well. There was a lot of emotional weight with this, and I loved how gritty it was- The directing brought it to life-It was a series that got all its key moments right- even if it took some creative stretches with the story, it was such a watch that kept me glued, so it deserves its flowers.
Rating: 7.3/10
8. Band of Brothers (2001- Limited series)
Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks produced an all-timer World War II series here. No matter the year you watch this, it is always going to be a fantastic watch. Chronicling Easy Company’s journey was raw, emotional, and deeply human. You can feel the authenticity from the first scene to the last. Damian Lewis rose to fame with this, but he also deserved an Academy Award here- he didn’t get one, a shame. He seemed every part veteran already. The casting was insane because every single one delivered. It's such a shame that it comes at number 8.
Rating: 7.5/10
7. Brokeback Mountain (2005 - Movie)
It's so sad that Heath Ledger left this world so early; he was someone who was born to be on screen. His performance here was so real that I genuinely thought he was playing himself. In addition, I don’t miss a Jake Gyllenhaal movie. If he’s in, im probably going to see it and he didnt dissapoint with this. The two of them deserved so many more accolades for this movie, and I was surprised they didn't even get actor nominations, just the director got an academy nomination. The delivery from both was exceptional for me—a riveting story.
7.5/10
6. Furiosa: A Mad Max Story (2024- Movie)
For me, there were a lot of factors counting against this movie. One, Mad Max Fury Road, the Prequel, is in my all-time favourite 10, so I was quick to think this one would struggle to impress me. Also, 2024 has been such a terrible year for cinema movies (In my opinion). Almost everything released was terrible, so I had little hope for this. But I was proven wrong. Furiosa was such a joyful watch. Anya Taylor-Joy made me think it was Charlize Theron I was watching. She was wholesome. The directing was once again excellent, keeping to the Mad Max standard. Because of the lousy lineup of movies released this year, I don’t doubt this will pick up some Academy nominations or some wins!
7.8/10
5. On the Waterfront (1954 - Movie)
This year, I saw loads of movies from the 1940s and 1950s, most of which were cinematic treasures. On the Waterfront scales as the one on top because of Marlon Brando. He put in an unforgettable performance as Terry Malloy. Sometimes, I wished he had been born at this time in history and not before. Anyway, with Marlon Brando, everyone will always think of him when they remember “The Godfather”; Cinema paid him back because he was so brilliant in everything he starred in. The iconic “I coulda have been a contender” scene in this movie encapsulates the emotional intensity he brings to the screen. He carried this entire movie on his back and comfortably carried it to cinema perfection. If you love peak cinema, this is an essential watch.
Rating: 7.9/10
4. The Kings Speech (2011- Movie)
I was scratching my head as to why I didn’t rate Colin Firth so much before this year. He is such a natural to watch. You can tell he is brilliant. Carrying this character and movie would always be daunting, but he was flawless here. King George VI was such an inspirational and lovely real-life character, and Colin Firth makes you fall further in love with his portrayal here. Fittingly, he got an Academy Award for this. This was a movie I should have seen a long time ago. I also really enjoyed the directing; it was old, simple, and elegant. It captured how the royals were in that period, before Queen Elizabeth. I also thought Colin Firth was masterful in “The Staircase”. He was my “discovery” of 2024. Its so weird i didn’t rate him so highly before.
7.9/10
3. Iron Lady (2011 - Movie)
One way I know I've enjoyed what I've seen in a movie has gotten to me is when I go watch another movie to continue the character’s story. This movie was the kick at the back for me to watch The Crown. And at the back of it, I wanted more of Thatcher’s story because Meryl Streep had made me fall in love with the person she portrayed. Meryl Streep’s portrayal of Margaret Thatcher was immaculate. While it skims over historical nuances, Streep’s Oscar-winning performance is sublime, capturing the strength, failures and inevitability of Thatcher’s journey. I ended up watching many of Magrath Thatcher’s YouTube videos and reading a lot about her. She’s become my favourite British PM in history. It all started with me watching Iron Lady.
8/10
2. Blood In Blood Out (1993- Movie)
Orale, Ese. I liked that this was raw, like watching the uncut version of people’s lives. It was painful to watch at times because the characters were victims of their own lives. The story was masterful, and the delivery was raw and honest. I like forgetting i am seeing a movie, when i am seeing one; This made me feel that way. It’s a hidden gem deserving of wider acclaim. Here, it was like watching an accident happen, but you couldn’t do anything to control it. It explores the coming of age of three friends and how fate can be cruel, even if necessary. The relationships are passionate and naive because they are pure and painful in equal measure. I loved it.
8.2/10
1. Six feet under (2001-2005 - Series)
Only three movies/series have made me cry in my adult memory. It was two before I saw the last episode of Six Feet Under. This series is a masterpiece; it builds on its own, brick by brick, with each character arc as flawed and painful as an injury healing. You know they are on a path, yet you can feel the hurt even behind the laughs. This was peak family drama, with conversations that made you cringe to ones where you felt sad even with no words said. The series explores life, death, and family through the lens of a typical family who runs a regular funeral home business. I really enjoy shows where everyone puts in standout performances with a regular plot—Michael C. Hall and Peter Krause— were so brilliant. The series finale, again, is nothing short of perfection.
On the plus side, you get to know how funeral homes work. hahaRating: 8.9/10
Here’s my entire watch list and ratings for the year (everything from 6.5 is actually rated because I’m stingy with these scores for no reason) - All 83 Movies/Series i saw this year