The BFI’s Sight and Sound poll is one of the biggest moments of the year for film. Hundreds of film critics cast their votes to determine which films shone the brightest that year. Film critic Sam Clements took part in the polling for 2024. He is the host of the 90 Minutes or Less Film Fest Podcast and Picturehouse Cinemas’ The Love of Cinema Podcast. He chose his top films of the year, and there is quite a variety in there. Here are film expert Clements’ top five films of 2024.
5. Dune: Part Two
Dune: Part Two is an epic space opera film. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jon Spaihts, the sequel to Dune (2021), is the second of a two-part adaptation of the novel Dune by Frank Herbert. Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Charlotte Rampling, and Javier Bardem reprise their roles from the first film, with Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, and Léa Seydoux joining the cast. The film’s synopsis reads: “Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he must prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.”
4. Conclave
This political thriller film directed by Edward Berger and written by Peter Straughan was based on the novel by Robert Harris, published in 2016. The film stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellitto, and Isabella Rossellini. Conclave’s synopsis reads: “Conclave follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events – selecting the new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence uncovers a trail of deep secrets left in the dead Pope’s wake, secrets which could shake the foundations of the Church.”
3. Pavements
Pavements is an experimental musical biopic concert film written, co-produced, and directed by Alex Ross Perry. It is a docufiction about the American indie band Pavement. The film’s synopsis reads: “Documentary about the American indie band Pavement, which combines scripts with documentary images of the band and a musical mise-en-scene composed of songs from their discography.”
2. Hard Truths
This comedy-drama film, written and directed by Mike Leigh, stars Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Michele Austin, and David Webber and is set in London. Hard Truth’s synopsis reads: “Pansy, angry and depressed, lashes out at family and strangers. Her constant criticism isolates her, except from her cheerful sister Chantelle, who remains sympathetic despite their differences.”
1. Anora
Anora is a romantic comedy-drama film written, directed, produced, and edited by Sean Baker. It stars Mikey Madison and Mark Eydelshteyn. The supporting cast includes Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan, Darya Ekamasova, and Aleksei Serebryakov. Anora won the Academy Award for Best Picture at the most recent ceremony. The film’s synopsis reads: “Anora, a young sex worker from Brooklyn, gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and impulsively marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as his parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.”