Cahiers du Cinéma never cared about hive-mind or “groupthink,” they live in their own passionate world of auteur-driven moviegoing, and we should all be grateful about that.
All of this to say that Cahiers has released its annual best of the year list. This year’s 10 best of 2024, compiled by the magazine’s 30+ staffers, is topped by Alain Guiraudie’s “Misericordia.” This the fifth time Guiraudie has made the list and second in first place, after 2013’s “Stranger by the Lake.” It was one of the best films of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, and is set for U.S. release in early 2025.
There are two films in the top 10 that I still haven’t seen: Hong Sang Soo’s “In Water” (#3) and the late Sophie Filliere’s “Ma Vie Ma Gueule.” Neither has been released in the U.S. or, as far as I know, has Stateside distribution.
Don’t be so shocked by the inclusion of M. Night Shyamalan’s “Trap” at #9. The Cahiers du Cinéma love him, and have written raves for his last five films. This is the fourth time a Shyamalan has cracked the magazine’s annual top 10, the others were “The Village,” “Lady in the Water” (!!!) and “Split.” Meanwhile, “Old” was #11 on their 2021 list.
I’m a “Trap” fan, it’s strong film, incredibly entertaining, until it falls apart in the last 10 minutes. Josh Hartnett is also wonderful in the lead villainous role. I’d go as far as to say it’s Shyamalan’s best film since the aughts.
Of note, Todd Haynes’ “May December” (#2) and Jonathan Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest” (#4) were only released in France this year.
Here’s the full 2024 top 10:
1) Misericordia (Alain Guiraudie)
2) May December (Todd Haynes)
3) In Water (Hong Sang Soo)
4) The Zone of Interest (Jonathan Glazer)
5) All We Imagine As Light (Kayal Kapadia)
6) The Delinquents (Rodrigo Moreno)
7) Evil Does Not Exist (Ryusuke Hamaguchi)
8) Ma Vie Ma Gueule (Sophie Fillieres)
9) Trap (M. Night Shyamalan)
10) The Other Way Around (Jonas Trueba)