If you’re sitting at home asking yourself how this year passed so quickly, we’re here to help lessen the stress of reality (because it did go by fast, didn’t it?) with some fun. This is Fangirlish’s End of the Year Lists 2022, Top 10 Underrated Films of the Year edition!
These days, it can be easy to feel like there is too much to watch and too little time to watch it. There are movies released in theaters, on-demand, and on many streaming services. The sheer number of choices can be overwhelming. No one wants to miss a film they might love. That’s what this list is about. These are some worthwhile films that you might have missed over the year. They come from a range of genres and they deserve a bigger audience. So, take a look at our choices and we hope you find a film or two that you didn’t know about before to enjoy.
Mr. Malcolm’s List
If you’re looking for diversity in your period drama, then look no further than this film. Based on a 2009 novel by Suzanne Allain, Jeremy Malcolm (played by Sope Dirisu) intends to find a wife based on a strict list of requirements. Julia Thistlewaite (Zawe Ashton) is so angered when she doesn’t measure up that she brings her friend Selina Dalton (Freida Pinto) to town to give him a taste of his own medicine. The leads are beautiful with good chemistry. Romantics, this one is for you.
Mr. Malcolm’s List is streaming on Showtime.
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris
The talented Lesley Manville shines in the title role of this delightful comedy set in the ’50s. London cleaning lady Ada Harris (Manville) becomes enamored of a Christian Dior dress and decides to save up her money to go to Paris and buy one. Her story turns out to be about so much more than a dress. It’s about how pursuing your dreams, no matter what age you are, is something that can have positive effects all around you. The way it celebrates couture fashion is a nice bonus. A lovely viewing experience.
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is streaming on Peacock Premium.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
This hilarious, self-referential comedy should have been a much bigger deal. Nicolas Cage plays himself and Pedro Pascal plays Javi, a superfan who hires him for a personal appearance. Things take a wild turn when Cage finds himself recruited into a CIA operation. Cage and Pascal are so funny together. They make a fantastic duo. One sequence made me laugh until my stomach muscles hurt. The story really does a good job of helping the audience suspend disbelief. And did I mention this film is funny? I would abslolutely call it one of the Top 10 Underrated Films of the Year.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is streaming on Starz.
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
How often do you get a sex-positive film centered around a woman above the age of 50? It’s rare, and that’s the best thing about this film. Well, that and the performances. Emma Thompson stars as Nancy, a widowed schoolteacher who hires a young, good-looking escort who calls himself Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack) to get the good sex she’s never had. The story here is intimate and revealing in many ways, not just physically. Both the repressed Nancy and the sexually fluid Leo are dynamic characters who make this story great.
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande is streaming on Hulu.
See How They Run
This film is the who-done-it that traveled under the radar this year. That’s surprising, though, because of the recognizable cast. Sam Rockwell, Saoirse Ronan, David Oyelowo, Ruth Wilson, Adrien Brody— they’re all here. Rockwell and Ronan are the 1950s Scotland Yard detectives put on the case when the director of an upcoming film version of the legendary Agatha Christie play “The Mousetrap” is murdered. There is quite a lot of humor and cleverness here but also a healthy respect for the traditions of the British murder mystery. Definitely one of the Top 10 Underrated Films of the Year.
See How They Run is streaming on HBO Max.
The Bad Guys
In a crowded animation genre, this film kind of got lost but that’s a shame because it is so entertaining. The “Bad Guys” are a notorious group of criminals led by Mr. Wolf (voiced by Sam Rockwell). When a heist goes wrong and they’re finally caught, Wolf makes a deal and pretends to go good. But can he really? And will his team want the same? Laughs and good action sequences abound in this one, and it has a significant “don’t judge a book by its cover” message that is always worth remembering, no matter what your age.
The Bad Guys is streaming on Netflix.
Munich: The Edge of War
Rich dramatic tension awaits the viewer in this drama about the lead-up to World War 2. Young British diplomat Hugh Legat (played by George MacKay) is racing to expose a Nazi secret at the 1938 Munich Conference. But this pits him against his German counterpart, Paul von Hartman (Jannis Niewohner)– who happens to be an old university friend. This film is based on a Robert Harris book, and the plotting is strong. As are the emotional beats of the relationship between to two lead characters.
Munich: The Edge of War is streaming on Netflix.
Hustle
Full disclosure: I’m not interested in sports. But this sports drama really got me. Adam Sandler stars as Stanley Sugerman, a recruiter for the Philadelphia 76ers. Watching a street basketball game in Spain, he finds Bo Cruz (Juancho Hernangomez), a powerhouse player. Stanley hopes Bo’s success will be his path to the coaching job he’s always wanted. Though there are setbacks, the relationship between these two is heartwarming and authentic. Sandler finds unexpected depths of emotion here, and bonus points for Queen Latifah as Stanley’s wife.
Hustle is streaming on Netflix.
Fire Island
This is a modern gay romantic comedy inspired by Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Do I have your attention? This film deserves to have a huge cultural footprint. Beware: there is a bit of graphic sexual content here. But the humor and strong characters are remarkable. Joel Kim Booster and Bowen Yang (in the Elizabeth and Jane Bennet roles) are joined by Margaret Cho, who is always a welcome presence. I love how well the plot point of Austen’s novel are modernized in this one. WATCH IT.
Fire Island is streaming on Hulu.
Fire of Love
National Geographic’s nature documentaries often provide gems to enjoy each year, and this year, it was this film. It tells the story of Katia and Maurice Krafft, who loved each other and volcanoes in equal measure. Though they had respect for the danger they were studying, it still took their lives. This film is a bit more abstract and impressionistic than I usually like films to be, but it works. It feels more artistic than pretentious. The footage of volcanoes is stunning, and the story really works emotional magic on you.
Fire of Love is streaming on Disney Plus.
If you’ve seen any of these films, did you love them as much as we did? Are there any other films you think should’ve been included on Fangirlish End of Year Lists: Top 10 Underrated Films of the Year? Let us know in the comments!