The Best of the Best of 2024
A list of favorites from this past year.
While 2024 as a whole felt a lot like this… there were some solid pieces of art worth escaping into. I’ve compiled a short list of recommendations.
Enjoy!
La Chimera
Never has a film felt more like a living, breathing entity. Just go into it blind and with an open mind.
Magical realism done right, in my opinion.
Challengers
Dune: Part Two
Perfect Days
Nosferatu
Nala Sinephro - Endlessness
Knocked Loose - You Won’t Go Until You’re Supposed To
Tucker Zimmerman - Dance of Love
Blood Incantation - Absolute Elsewhere
Swimming Paul - Smiling Through the Pain
Michael Nau - Montrose Tape
DIIV - Frog in Boiling Water
Hayden Pedigo - Live in Amarillo
Chat Pile - Cool World
Mount Kimbie - The Sunset Violent
Kublai Khan TX - Exhibition of Prowess
Dogbreath by Matthew Genitempo
Think Alex Cox’s Repo Man meets Vittorio De Sica’s The Bicycle Thief … eh?
Back in October, I was lucky enough to attend an artist talk at Baltimore Photo Space with Matthew Genitempo in attendance to discuss his new photobook Dogbreath. While these “talks” aren’t a requirement to appreciate the work, the affair was a wonderful look at the process of making Dogbreath and left me and my buddy Matt Steindl feeling inspired.
I’ve found myself coming back to this book more than any other release this year.
The Best YouTube Videos I Watched in 2024
Sheepskin worked his ass off on this thing. It’s a damn feature film.
Joel and Ethan Coen Talk No Country for Old Men with Megan Abbott
Coreys - Connor O’ Malley
The 5th Inning of Game 5 from Yankees vs Dodgers World Series
Harry Dean Stanton & David Lynch (not released in 2024 but who cares)
Stoner
I didn’t read a ton this year but thanks to a recommendation from Bryan Birks, John William’s Stoner was probably the standout this year. Quietly profound piece of work.
Spending a few mornings on the porch this fall reading Stoner will stick with me for some time.
A Passion for Nature, The Life of John Muir - Donald Worster
At Home: A Short History of Private Life - Bill Bryson (Audiobook that LE had on at night)
Alright, that’s enough. Hope you have a great 2025!
I got some reading and watching to do, thanks for the list.