“Challengers”
“Challengers” was directed by the renowned Luca Guadagnino and released in theaters on April 26, 2024. Starring actors Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor, the film explores the relationship between three tennis players and their individual relationships with the sport. Tashi Duncan (Zendaya) is a tennis prodigy when she meets longtime friends and tennis partners Patrick (O’Connor) and Art (Faist), who instantly begin clamoring for her attention. The film follows the course of the three’s complicated love triangle from college to adulthood in the professional athletic world.
“Challengers” quickly grew to popularity, even sparking a newfound interest in tennis for many who watched it. The exceptional acting, combined with tension-filled scenes and Guadagnino’s signature aesthetic visuals made the film a truly engrossing watch. “Challengers” is a uniquely fresh film that uses tennis as a metaphor for the passion yet conflict that comes with their relationships and lives. Whether you’re a tennis fan or not, the movie is captivating, incredibly produced and without a doubt one of the most notable movies of the year.
“Inside Out 2”
“Inside Out 2” first hit theaters on June 14, 2024, a highly anticipated sequel to one of Disney’s best new animated films,“Inside Out.” The sequel features the same main character, Riley Andersen (Kengsington Tallman), but introduces three new, more complex emotions to show Riley’s changing persona as she grows up and begins high school: Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos), Anxiety (Maya Hawke) and Envy (Ayo Edebiri). The trio’s entrance into Riley’s mind is a chaotic one and shows just how much teenagers can have going on in their head.
The movie’s plot surrounds Riley’s attendance at a summer ice hockey camp which will determine if she gets a spot on her high school’s team. The conflict between Joy (Amy Poehler) and Anxiety throughout the film shows how both emotions fight for victory when making crucial decisions, and how it can impact one’s mental health. The film as a whole was incredibly well-received, receiving praise for its accurate depiction of teenage anxiety, and how it can be both debilitating and exhilarating. Despite Disney’s films being typically marketed towards children, teens alike watched the movie and enjoyed revisiting Riley, being able to relate to her struggles.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”
A long-awaited sequel to the cult classic, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was the perfect movie to kick off the Halloween season, released on Sept. 6, 2024. With Tim Burton’s usual crafty style, the film had a good mix of funny and serious bits while still having a meaningful storyline that never got you lost. A rare commodity in today’s media.
The film also made many references to the previous movie, adding on to unfinished quips and developing the setting of Winter River, Conn. quite a bit if you watch closely, satisfying longtime fans. The cast had a mix of actors from the 80’s film such as Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder; as well as a new set of characters such as Jenna Ortega as Astrid Deetz and Danny Devito as a blue zombie. The continued storyline left you at a satisfying close and didn’t feel forced or rushed at all.
This movie wasn’t as good as the original, but it came pretty close. The amazing special effects, storyline, cast and generally hilarious subtleties made this an instant favorite.
“Heretic”
Released on Nov. 8, 2024, “Heretic” is A24’s latest psychological thriller that plays on the themes of theology and control. The story follows two young Mormon missionaries, Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), as they find themself in a dangerous predicament after being fooled by a seemingly innocent Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant) as they attempt to convert him to Mormonism. The two girls realize that the only way to escape is to play into Mr. Reed’s tricky game, causing them to question their beliefs, senses of reality and sanity.
The thought-provoking subject of the film was one of controversy and interest. Mr. Reed’s monologue tears many holes in not just Mormonism, but also Christianity, Islam and many other religions as he makes the claim that they are all just spin-offs of each other, comparing them to different versions of monopoly or the copyright issue between Radiohead’s “Creep” and Lana Del Rey’s “Get Free.” Overall, “Heretic” did a wonderful job of encapsulating the creepy, psychologically disturbing feel that A24 is known for, and it is worth a watch for anyone interested in theology or looking for a good thrill.
“Twisters”
“Twisters,” a 2024 action film based on the 1996 film “Twister,” hit the theaters on July 19, 2024. The movie stars Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kate Carter as she simultaneously battles both tornadoes and her past trauma. Years after the storm-chaser goes through a traumatic experience and moves to the city, Kate finds herself obligated to go back to the countryside she once left to fight back against tornados. The story follows her as she experiences fear, betrayal and triumph as she reconnects with the hobby she once loved and forms unexpected bonds.
The film was not just an action-packed adventure movie with an exciting soundtrack produced by Luke Combs; it was filled with an interesting plot line, character development and themes of grief and insecurity. As the film develops, viewers watch as Kate gets over her fears and trauma as she remembers her core values and finds the right crowd to support her endeavors. From the beginning to the end, “Twisters” was enthralling, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats as they laugh, cry and celebrate with the characters.
