The Best of the Best 2024

Welcome to my 2024 List!

Once again, taking a few moments to discuss some of the things that brought me joy this year!

Top 5 Best Series:

The Way Home Peacock: So, I found this one randomly and then got instantly addicted like a week before the second season premiered - and that was great because I binged it and could not get enough! The women in this story are powerful, and the fantasy elements set to their various deep-set traumas makes it unique and captivating. Andie MacDowell is incredible in this show and it's one I'm eager to see continue as we come into 2025.

Interview with the Vampire Season Two - AMC+: So season two proved that it was the Summer of Lestat and it brought the heat, the drama, the blood, and everyone into the embrace of the Brat Prince with beautiful execution! An honorable mention from last year's list that I must discuss is how excited I am about The Mayfair Witches Season Two which premieres January 5, 2025!

Landman - Paramount+: This one is Taylor Sheridan's newest creation, and I think that fans of Yellowstone will love this approach to an oil landman and his dysfunctional family dynamics while he navigates the dangerous world of oil rigs and drilling - all delivered by the amazing Billy Bob Thornton who has some hilarious dialogue to offset the tension. I've come to thoroughly love it - hooked me from episode one.

High Potential Hulu: So, this was another one that came across my table randomly - I was looking for something to watch and happened to see the trailer about three or four days before the pilot dropped. My son and I tuned in to watch the pilot on premiere day and were instantly hooked by how relatable and comical the show is. I am hopeful they bring back more in the new year and also need to give another honorable mention here for Doctor Odyssey, starring Joshua Jackson and the lead doctor who works the sickbay on a Cruise ship - another that I found fun, unique and intriguing, and truly enjoyed this fall.

Virgin River Season Six - Netflix: I have adored Virgin River since the beginning but this year’s holiday episodes stole my heart! I love this series and cannot wait to see what comes next: Determined to uncover the truth, Mel and her fiancée Jack (Martin Henderson) set off on an eye-opening adventure. As they follow the clues that lead them to the man who may be her father, the rest of the town is getting ready to celebrate the holidays, with several characters gearing up to make huge life changes.

Top 5 Best Movies:

Twisters: Twisters is a great movie and it is probably one of the best sequels that Hollywood has produced in quite a long time it is quite a tremendous challenge to meet a movie that is so iconic with equal tenacity and I believe that these people definitely achieve that with this production. Daisy and Glen made this movie so much fun to watch and their energy together onscreen was fabulous. The story execution with this movie was great and it carried through to make for an epic and emotional ending that was beautiful. Some great dialogue lines bring some funny moments and I appreciated them.

Deadpool v Wolverine: Out of all of the Deadpool movies, this is the BEST one. Ryan did such a fantastic job and seeing Hugh in the full true Wolverine X-men suit was the most beautiful thing. As a 90s kid who grew up on the X-men and adored everything about the animated series it was the most beautiful thing to see brought to the big screen in terms of nostalgia and it made me beam with pride and joy. From the reactions of people in the audience with me, it was clear I wasn't the only one who felt that way.

Kraven: Kraven was an entire mind trip! It was a thrill ride and a pleasure to see, but also astonishing for some of the more violent scenes. I was impressed with the acting of Aaron and I felt that it was a raw, riveting, and fun immersive story that drew the audience into an interesting tale with added mystical elements that were unique and thought-provoking. I enjoyed seeing Russell Crowe in a much more sinister role where he took more of a backseat to being the main character which was cool and fun - his portrayal of a Russian mob with a "family business" at stake was on point. I thoroughly enjoyed the interactions between his character and Aaron Taylor-Johnson's because they seemed to pair well with the energy. One of my more enjoyable Marvel experiences this year.

Mufasa: I adored this movie. As a lifelong Lion King 🦁 fan this was the prequel we all needed to fully see the legacy that becomes Simba and Pride Rock from its very beginnings. This movie pulled on heartstrings but was so beautifully put together. The film itself is a spectacular revisiting to a heavenly paradise along with the story told and how each piece works together to present what will become a powerful and captivating storyline that has held the hearts of millions for 30 years. Mufasa is the movie in the Lion King series we all needed.

Nosferatu: This is the best movie of the year and should guarantee Lily-rose Depp a nomination for an Academy Award. The beautiful shots of this movie are pure atmospheric art and it's the most beautiful film in the Gothic genre that I've seen in ages. I put it up with Coppola's version of excellence as delivered in Bram Stoker's Dracula from 1992. As a Dracula fan and a Gothic literature enthusiast, I was enthralled from start to finish. Nosferatu is a stunning cinematic delivery of a Gothic story of pure splendor that is a visual delight for the eyes in every possible way.

The amazing and stunningly shocking performance that Lily-rose Depp gave has proven that she has gotten the talent from her father to deliver the kind of performances that Gothic horror necessitates for it to be delivered properly to an audience.

An example of this is in fact that no CGI was used in the creation of this film and Lily-rose's iconic acting in the moment where she goes into a seizure and begins quaking is so believable that you truly do think that she's about to convulse and this is actually happening to her. Next, comes Bill Skarsgard in one of the most phenomenal and unrecognizable rules I've ever seen him, and however the heroine voice that he delivers comparing it to the things that he's done in the past, especially with the iconic voice that he gave to Pennywise, it was clear to see he put a great deal of time and effort and ensuring that the accuracy of his voice and accent depicted that of a Romanian nobleman in such a way that it gave the character So much more depth even for the lack of visualization since he was mostly covered in shadow until his great reveal. Nicholas Hoult and Aaron Taylor Johnson also did great in their respective roles, but I will say I load Aaron Taylor Johnson in this role and that is a credit to his acting because the character in my opinion was meant to be hated. Willem Dafoe offers a sense of levity at moments in this movie and yet brings everything together in such a way that the ending delivery is not only perfect for the story line but also bittersweet I truly think that Robert Eggers has delivered us a masterpiece of cinematic art.

Top 5 Documentaries or Miniseries:

Como Agua por Chocolate Max: This is a series by Salma Hayek that is based on a book that had been turned into one of my favorite movies in the 1990s. The story centers around Tita, who is commanded to care for her narcissistic mother at the expense of her own life and happiness with the man she loves, Pedro. It's a beautifully filmed series that gives some insight into Revolutionary era Mexico and the family dynamics that Tita and Pedro must navigate as they fight the passion they feel and the magnetic draw they cannot deny from one another.

Sugarcane Hulu: Sugarcane is a heavy documentary, but one that is necessary to watch. This documentary is heartwrenching and life-altering. The stories of survivors are harrowing and full of despair that seems to seep through the screen with palpable sadness that reflects the depth of pain, loss, and suffering of the First Nation's people in Canada and greater Turtle Island. Even more turmoil than anyone should ever endure is revealed by the stories of those who are victims and were buried in secrecy and evasion to cover up the abuses of clergy and the government on the most vulnerable and innocent. It's a must-see for anyone who cares about the ongoing genocide of tribes and the untold stories that are now being brought to light after generations of continual exploitation.

Zurawski v Texas Jolt: There are some documentaries that you have to watch and Zurawsk v Texas is one for 2024. What it reveals pertinent to women's healthcare, reproductive rights and the rights of their families and medical providers in how they seek intervention or proper prenatal and postnatal care is by far the most important thing with consideration to present issues and human rights in the United States and especially in the Southern States. This film shows the realities of struggles that families go through when they want a child and laws have been created to prevent them from the proper medical care and accessibility for what their doctors deem mandatory. It shows us what can happen when your ability to make decisions with your partner and medical provider is removed because of exterior influences that do not know you personally, nor care about the general welfare of your person nor your ability to procreate all under the guise of assuming that right to life laws should trump over medically necessitated options that prevent the loss of maternal lives, and their ability to have more children.

TMZ's Downfall of Diddy Tubi: At the start of the year, there was a bomb dropped on society and it sent shockwaves through the world - so much so that TMZ has now produced three parts in this epic disclosure series surrounding one of the most corrupt, and allegedly - most perverse, Music Moguls and Producers in recent times. It's not for those who struggle with triggering topics, but is necessary to uncover all the various persons and situations that have led to this massive trial and expansive lawsuit that has surely got many more secrets to bear for it is all said and done - and many more culprits to be charged and found, as well.

The Menendez Brothers Netflix: This one was popular because the story took so long to be fully expressed, and the understanding of the victimization that these brothers endured when considering the tragic way in which their parents were murdered was dismissed and lost in the chaos of the shocking case that landed both brothers convicted of murder. The documentary also opened doors for there to be discussions on releasing these two men after the severity of their abuse has only just now been brought to light.

Two Favorite New Artists in Music:

Clejan - This violinist is one of the hottest players I've ever seen! He's got some amazing music, but the song that got my attention and kept me coming back to his Tiktok lives was The Way I Fiddle - give it a listen and you'll quickly come to understand why Clejan from Atlanta is pure 🔥 with a unique and captivating sound unlike anything you've ever heard - his only competition might be Lindsey Stirling, but to be honest the two of them playing together would be a concert of pure bliss - that's how good Clejan is!

Zauntee - I love Zauntee's lyrics and the power behind his music; it's truly energetic and some of the best spiritually-led sounds of heard in some time. My two faves that were on constant repeat were God Taught Me, and Oxygen.