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Chicago – It’s New Year’s Eve, so what better day for a look-back to the 10 Best Films of 2024, a soul search exercise in experiences. How do you break down a hundred and a half films in a year to a 10 in the end? Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, Wbgr-fm and Wssr-fm gives it his best shot.

If there was one trend that defined 2024, in my observation, was the perhaps beginning of the end of the superhero genre? The only huge hit was Deadpool & Wolverine ($640M), with Venom: The Last Dance in second ($132M) barely reaching its budget in domestic box office. Madame Web, Kraven The Hunter and Joker: Folie Á Deux were box office duds.

I format my 10 Best to reflect the on-air reviews I do weekly on Wbgr-fm and Wssr-fm and occasional appearances on Missourinet.com. Each of the 10 Best will be in the on-air or audio format for your listening pleasure.

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on Wbgr-fm on December 7th, 2023, reviewing “The Boy and the Heron,” the latest animated film from Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki. In theaters on December 8th, 2023.

Rating: 5.0/5.0

The fantasy involves Mahito, a boy who witnesses his mother dying in a fire bombing in Tokyo. His father Soichi (Christian Bale) moves the son to the country, intending to marry his wife’s sister Netsuko (Gemma Chan). The estate has a mysterious tower, which contains magical treasures, and while exploring the boy is pestered by a grey heron (Robert Pattinson). Through the tower, the heron eventually leads Mahito into an alternate reality and a magical realm.

”The Boy and the Heron” is in theaters on December 8th. Featuring the English voice cast of Christian Bale, Gemma Chan, Robert Pattinson, Mark Hamill, Florence Pugh, Willem Dafoe and Luca Padovan. Written directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on Wbgr-fm on November 30th, 2023, reviewing “May December,” featuring Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman, directed by Todd Haynes. Streaming on Prime Video on December 1st, 2023.

Rating: 4.5/5.0

Gracie (Julianne Moore), ia a Savannah baker with three children who lives with her husband or 24 years, Joe (Charles Melton). A movie is about to be made about their lives … the couple met when Joe was 13 years old and Gracie was 36, and began an affair that exploded in the tabloids, and resulted in the birth of their first child. The actor Elizabeth (Natalie Portman) will be portraying Gracie in the film and is in town to do research, opening up the old wounds regarding the event. Everyone will again be affected by the past.

”May December” streams on Prime Video beginning December 1st. Featuring Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman, Charles Melton,...

Chicago – Lists are very arbitrary, but the exercise in determining a personal 10 Best Films list of any year is a celebration of what I love, and there ain’t nothing wrong with that. The filtering of experiences that form our opinions is a great gift, and the journey I’ve had with film criticism and reporting has been the greatest of my life.

So begins my* list of the 10 Best Films Of 2022, in a reflective time I guess. There were more films seen this year on the big screen since the pandemic era began, with a shout out to Avatar: The Way Of Water, Top Gun: Maverick and the Superhero genre for really bringing movie fans back to the theaters.

*The Über Critic, Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, Wbgr-fm & Wssr-fm.

For the second year in a row, I’m formatting this 10 Best to reflect the on-air reviews I do weekly on Wbgr-fm and Wssr-fm.