2024 falls into the category of “If Carlsberg did years…” (other beer brands are available). The year started in a Dublin sound mixing suite, desperately trying to get my film Kneecap finished in time for its world premiere at Sundance. It didn’t quite get to sprinting up Main Street, Park City, grasping a DCP, but it wasn’t far off… I think the first hint that we were on the cusp of something beyond our expectations was when I arrived at Salt Lake City airport with the subjects of the film, the band Kneecap, and autograph hunters were waiting with pictures to get signed. Of them, not me. Fuming.
The premiere seemed to go really well, or did I just imagine that? Then within minutes of the credits rolling the reviews started dropping. I hadn’t imagined it. Oh shit, we got ourselves a movie… Kneecap were performing on stage at the afterparty and with the confidence of unexpected success flowing through me (and plenty of booze too) I decided to leap off the stage into the crowd. Only I screwed the landing and ended up clean on my arse in front of the great and good of indie film. Despite this (or, who knows, maybe because of it) we went on to win the NEXT: Audience Award.
At the airport an autograph hunter approached me:
“Are you the director of Kneecap?”
“Yes, I am” I replied, awaiting a pen.
“Do you think Kneecap will sign an autograph?”
I’ve seen Kneecap described as a “film festival darling” – though festival harlot is probably a more accurate description, with the film leaving a trail of debauchery in its wake from Melbourne to Mumbai. This year has been lived out of a suitcase, which for a man with two young children has been challenging. I’m a homebody at heart and losing any sense of routine has been tough, particularly when trying to write the next project. Yes, that noise is the world’s smallest violin playing…
The year has ended in the thick of awards season, and again the film seems to be punching well above its weight for an Irish Language movie about a Belfast hip-hop act most of the world had never heard of 12 months ago. Being at the Oscars next March continues to dance on the edge of possibility, which is mad. I’m not sure they know what they’re getting themselves into.
I’m spending Xmas at home with the family, enjoying some domestic normality and trying to catch up on the films I’m yet to watch this year. For a man who’s spent most of 2024 at film festivals I’ve somehow seen far fewer films than usual – go figure. Judge the following list accordingly…
10. GRAND THEFT HAMLET | Pinny Grylls & Sam Crane
Computer games are the preeminent media of our times, and in trying to keep up film has too often simply tried to ape the technology and visual effects of the format. So it’s so refreshing to see filmmakers engaging with the form in such a meaningful and innovative way. And how apt that Shakespeare is chosen, a storyteller whose work has transcended the shifting sands of form and fashion for centuries.
9. DIAMANT BRUT (WILD DIAMOND) | Agathe Riedinger
I watched this at the Biarritz Film Festival in France and didn’t realise the screening didn’t have English subtitles. My E grade in GCSE French was badly exposed. The fact I enjoyed it hugely despite not having a scooby what anyone was saying most of the time is testament to the film and the filmmaker.
8. WICKED | Jon M. Chu
Anyone with young kids knows that a visit to the cinema is usually 90 minutes of brain rot. So when I took mine to see Wicked a couple weeks ago and saw it was 2 hours 40 I feared the worst. But both me and my spawn were locked in from the opening frame. From pacing to set design, costume to visual effects, I thought it was really well done. We all love to laugh at the big studios when they pump out a dud, so it’s only fair to give them props when they get one right.
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7. HERETIC | Scott Beck & Bryan Woods
Hugh Grant agreed to be in my first (documentary) film One Rogue Reporter so I have a lot of love for one of our finest acting exports, particularly in this late career handbrake turn into weird and wonderful character roles. And in Heretic he is deliciously creepy, without losing his instinct for a comedic beat. Long may he continue to surprise…
6. SING SING | Greg Kwedar
Kneecap and Sing Sing have been on the festival circuit this year together and sometimes found ourselves compared for the use of actors alongside non-actors. The concept of Sing Sing is so ambitious, the execution so authentic and heartfelt, and the message so powerful I challenge anyone not to fall for this film… (And look, Shakespeare again! He’s gonna be massive that fella…)
5. ANORA | Sean Baker
I think on first watch this suffered from the curse of being so epically hyped it was tough to live up to expectations. But when I watched it again my appreciation grew and grew. That last scene still lives rent free in my head.
4. CHALLENGERS | Luca Guadagnino
This hung around my watch list for ages because I figured just how good could a film about tennis be? But of course it’s not really a film about tennis at all, and I thought the creativity behind some of the shots – such as filming underneath a transparent tennis court – elevated this far beyond what it could have been.
3. THE SUBSTANCE | Coralie Fargeat
In a world of cookie-cutter content, when you’re watching a Coralie Fargeat film you know you’re watching a Coralie Fargeat film, and I mean that as the highest compliment. Visionary. Fucked up visionary, but still…
2. PAST LIVES | Celine Song
Alright, maybe this is more 2023, but I saw it in 2024 and this is my bloody list so live with it…This film hit me right in the feels and refuses to leave me. Beautifully calibrated in every way.
1. NO OTHER LAND | Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham & Rachel Szor
Did I enjoy it as much as some other films? Fuck no. But some films exist not to be enjoyed, but to be witnessed. I hope it gets nominated for an Oscar and, if we do too, I hope it beats us. Give it all the fucking awards. Free Palestine.
Keep an eye out for Rich’s raucous adventures through cinema on his website and give his @naughtystep Instagram a follow too while you’re at it!
You can check out the rest of Team DN’s Top Ten picks here.
