On a personal note, this year was extremely hard for me. I went through a lot of things mentally and physically and at times it got in the way of my review writing. That being said, I would always find my way back to cinema; films have a way of transporting us away or to inspire us when we need it the most. When times got tough, I knew I could come back and lose myself in an incredible story and then to share my thoughts with all of you.
There have been some outstanding films this year. Incidentally my top five all came out towards the end of the year. There were also some that I wish I could forget.
Without further ado, here are my top five best and worst films of 2024. I look forward to seeing what 2025 will bring!
Elliot (Maisy Stella) has always felt like a big fish in a small pond. She can’t wait to get out of Muskoka and stat over again at university in Toronto. When she and her friends Ruthie (Maddie Ziegler) and Ro (Kerrice Brooks) trip out on shrooms, Elliot comes face to face with her thirty nine year old self (Aubrey Plaza). Older Elliot comes with some warnings that will completely alter everything younger Elliot thought she knew.
Over the years there have been many coming of age films. Lady Bird, Eighth Grade and Perks of Being a Wallflower all walked so that My Old Ass could run. I wish there was something like this around when I was growing up. Turns out it still had an impact on me now.
I first saw Stella in 2012’s Nashville. After some time away from the spotlight, she’s back and better than ever. She brought so much charm and charisma to the role and was so extremely relatable. I’m really looking forward to seeing what she does next. Plaza, on the other hand, was not who I would have thought for Stella’s older counterpart, but it worked. I really enjoyed their scenes together and thought that they had a natural chemistry.
This film was so completely Canadian and I loved that aspect so much. Being able to experience cottage country again in its full form was pure joy. The beautiful Muskoka lake, the little islands scattered around it and puttering around on a motorboat brought me back to the various summers that I spent in an area not too far away from there. I also appreciated the fact that they casted some proper Canadian talent too.
I had a feeling that I would love My Old Ass, but I wasn’t prepared for just how much. Director Megan Park truly understands the minds of young adults. There were so many moments where I felt sucker punched with how real it all was. It gave me a lot to think about and I love it when a film does that. I highly recommend checking this one out!
Credits Rolling 