Well, folks, 2024 has come and gone… it’s really been quite a doozy! I don’t know about you but 2024 feels like it went by really fast! Like blink-and-you-miss-it fast! It’s been an interesting year for me personally work-wise and health-wise, but all in all, I am grateful for everything and I continue to be hopeful even during trying times. Surely I’m thankful to still be blogging after over a decade, THANK YOU for reading and supporting FlixChatter through your readership and comments!! 💯
December is pretty light in terms of movie watching as I was in Florida for a week to spend time with family. I rewatched Home Alone with family on Christmas Eve and The Holiday on the plane.
Anyway, here’s my monthly recap, and a list of favorite films #directedbywomen and some films I can’t wait to see in 2024.
DECEMBER VIEWINGS
The Music of John Williams
The Order
A Complete Unknown
All We Imagine As Light*
review upcoming
Carry-On
Flow
Blink
That Christmas
Shaun the Sheep: Flight before Christmas
Jimmy Carter: Rock n Roll President*
review upcoming
Sing Sing
review upcoming
December 2024 Movie of the Month
Flow tells the story of a lone creature called Cat who seeks shelter and teams up with different species on a boat after a massive flood wrecks their home. As they journey through enchanting, flooded terrains, the crew faces various challenges and threats while adjusting to their new reality.
I immediately fell in love with this movie, the animation style is so unique, with its vibrant colors and gorgeous illustrations. I like the fact that the character designs aren’t too lifelike but with expressive, adorable eyes. As a big cat lover, I was mesmerized and enchanted by Cat and its incredible tale of survival. Directed by Gints Zilbalodis and written by Zilbalodis and Matīss Kaža, it’s one of the most enchanting movies ever without any use of dialogue. After its debut at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, the film was met with rave reviews and snagged a bunch of awards in both film and animation categories. It’s been chosen as Latvia’s entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards, deservedly so!
TV SERIES
I always love a good romantic spy thriller but there are so few of them out there. Netflix’s Black Doves really embraces the romance while blending in some spy action and a sprinkle of witty friendship humor. Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw are a fantastic pair, and their chemistry is evident from the start. Love Sarah Lancashire as Knightley’s sly handler. Set during the Christmas season, this 6-episode series makes for quite a festive and feisty thriller with as many twists as your holiday garland. It’s preposterous and incredulous at times, but overall it’s enjoyable and even heartfelt. I’m glad there will be a season 2!
52 Films By Women – 2024 Challenge
Per Women In Film (WIF) organization, the basic rules are simple: watch 52 films directed by women within one year and share what you watched on social media, using the hashtag #52FilmsByWomen to spread the word, and get more people talking about the women filmmakers that don’t always get attention.
In my November recap, I said I had completed 61 films #directedbywomen. I managed to only see two additional women-directed movies in December, which brings the total yearly tally to 63! 2024 has been a strong year for women filmmakers, so here’s hoping that there’ll be better and better female representation in Hollywood in years to come.
I made this post highlighting my favorite female-directed films in the first half of the year... now here are my top 10 fave movies by women of the entire 2024, listed in the order of favorites:
- All We Imagine As Light
- La Chimera – my review
- Laapataa Ladies
- Ama Gloria – my review
- On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
- Bob Trevino Likes It
- I Am Celine Dion – my review
- Sira
- The Movie Teller – my review
- Babes – my review
What to look for on FlixChatter in January
I will be highlighting some of my favorite performances of the past year, as well as my most anticipated movies of 2025.
And of course, stay tuned for my Top 10 Movies of 2024!
Let me make a toast to 2024 and everything to be grateful for (the good and the bad) this past year May 2025 be a year filled with laughter, love, good health, and the fulfillment of your dreams!
FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG 
Yes, 2024 went by so fast! I still think it was yesterday that 2023 ended and 2024 began. The Covid years really messes with my sense of time. Lol! But happy new year to you, too!
I didn’t see any new movies in theater, thought about seeing Nosferatu but it only plays at Dolby Cinema late at night and at my old age, I prefer seeing movies in the afternoon time. Lol! But since I just saw that they’ll release an extended cut once it comes out on disc and digital, I’ll just wait to see that version instead of paying to see the shorter cut in theater.
I did see a couple of new movies to me. Carry-On was a lame movie but it wasn’t bad, it’s just forgettable. I rented Strange Darling, a serial killer thriller that tried to subvert expectations and it worked for the most part. Lastly, I finally saw The Long Riders, an old western that eluded me. It’s another telling of Jesse James and his crew. Not a great western but the action scenes were well shot by Walter Hill.
Then I watched a bunch of TV series. Finished Squid Games 2. Black Doves starring Keira Knightly and Ben Whishaw was surprisingly good, I would call it a Netflix version of Slow Horses. Continue watching Silo season 2, so far it’s kind of disappointing. Started watching Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, finally a fun Star Wars show that mixes in The Goonies with Indiana Jones concept.
Glad I’m not the only one feeling that 2024 went by too fast!
I’m really curious about Nosferatu even though I’m not into horror films normally. I might rent it once it’s available. Yeah, Carry On has so many plot holes that are laughable but overall it was enjoyable, I’m a big fan of Taron Edgerton.
I saw Black Doves too! I forgot to include my brief review of it so I just added it. I was skeptical at first but I love Keira and Ben, so I thought I’d check it out. It’s not as good as Slow Horses but not bad, especially for Netflix, ahah. Bummer that SILO season 2 is disappointing, I’m about to start that one soon.
2024 wasn’t a good year for me personally as it comes to film watching as I barely made it to the finish line with Berlin Alexanderplatz and finishing the year with a re-watch of Days of Heaven. I ended up seeing 267 films with 45 first-timers directed/co-directed by women. Disappointing. I need to do better this year.
Hey, don’t beat yourself up too much Steven! Sounds like Berlin Alexanderplatz is quite a challenge to finish, so hope you’ll get around to it soon.
I think it’s amazing that you saw 267 films, wow!! If you include rewatches, you probably would have hit 52 films by women last year, right?
I don’t count re-watches in my 52 Films by Women pledge as I think it’s unfair to do that. Fortunately, I have gotten a couple of major box sets of films by women in Chantal Akerman and Agnes Varda that can help me for the next few years.
I don’t count rewatches either, if I do, my tally would probably be around 80+ ahah
I’m going to start early with the challenge so I don’t feel rushed towards the end of the year like I have done in the past.
It would be a lot more as well.
Happy new year, Ruth! I agree with you about Flow. Where can I go to adopt this cat? It might be strange to say this but I find this gorgeous movie with the sounds of nature and animals and no human voices to be a cleansing experience.
Happy New Year!! Flow is magical isn’t it? I love cats so it’s an extra treat for me. I hear ya about this being a cleansing and calming experience, I was mesmerized through it all.
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Okay, I’m way behind you!
I did see Jimmy Carter: Rock n Roll President* – Fabulous. Love it.
Have you reviewed Carry On? I’m curious about it.
Okay, lots on your list worth seeing, especially on your top 10 fave movies by women of the entire 2024. Thanks Ruth!
Hey Resa!! I saw Jimmy Carter: Rock n Roll President on the plane right after I heard of his passing. What a wonderful human being! I wish more politicians were like him.
I haven’t reviewed Carry On, not sure I will, as I’m prioritizing those that might be up for awards. It’s an enjoyable movie as I like the cast, but it’s also silly with tons of plot holes, ahah
I hope all those movies directed by women would get distribution, especially SIRA, an excellent film that’s a co-production of Burkina Faso, Senegal, France and Germany. Thanks for reading, my dear!
Yes, Jimmy Carter should be more of an inspiration than he is.
Yes, most recognize his wonderful work, but few pick up the mantel, especially in terms of politicians.
You described Carry On exactly how I thought of it without even seeing it. Lol!
Love your reviews!
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