by Jacob Harrington, Contributor

MOVIES

The Power Of The Dog (dir. Jane Campion)

Jane Campion is an artist at the full command of her skills. She tells this story with sensual subtlety and menace. The acting is incredible. The score gets under your skin. The gothic melodrama has deep empathy for its characters, and the ending spins your head around. A masterpiece. 

No Time To Die (dir. Cary Joji Fukunaga)

Cary Joji Fukunaga and Daniel Craig capped off the five film Craig Saga by pulling off what seemed impossible - they made a sequel to Casino Royale that was as good, and maybe better, than Craig’s first film. 

The Matrix Resurrections (dir. Lana Wachowski)

A beautiful, hopeful movie made with passion and sincerity. Lana Wachowski has a point of view, things she is angry about, reasons to make this movie. The most romantic movie of the year.

Spencer (dir. Pablo Larraín)

A movie about marrying into the weirdest family in the world and weathering the holidays with them. Diana is haunted by the past, present and future, and Timothy Spall’s mysterious royal assistant - the guy really making the gears turn- is either trying to threaten her or send her a warning to get out while she can. 

The Green Knight (dir. David Lowery)

The last half hour is some of the best stuff you can see this year.

• The Last Duel

• The Harder They Fall

• Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar

• Those Who Wish Me Dead

• Dune

• tick, tick… BOOM! (under seen)

Television

Foundation

Apple’s big budget space Game Of Thrones that could go for a few seasons and reach high heights if they play their galactic, century spanning hand right. When this show works, it is dazzling. Plans, messages, feelings taking centuries to unfold. Sometimes it can’t keep up with its own ideas but for the most part it makes them soar.

Joe Pera Talks With You

One of the sweetest and most under seen shows shows on television. It is so full of wisdom and relatable, humble observations about the weird world we live in. Joe Pera has a distinct voice that lands somewhere between Mr. Rogers and Tim Heidecker. He has made three seasons of perfect television.

The Great

The most salacious, nasty show on television, with beautiful costumes, gratuitous royal court sexual escapades, and madcap performances from Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult.

For All Mankind

This one is a little strange. Some parts of it are dreadful. It has one of the dumbest, disastrous sub plots of the year. But like Apple’s other space drama, it reaches high heights, and here they are more down to earth.

Search Party

Search Party has taken a wild course correction in every season of its run. It is never the same show twice. But for as much as the characters and their challenges change, they stay the same. They learn from their experiences and double down on their stubbornness and flaws. The trailer for upcoming final season looks like it’s biggest swing yet. It has come so far from its season one premise, but it hasn’t abandoned any of its stories. It is both very funny and deeply scary and haunting. 

I Think You Should Leave

Really and truly a special show that we are lucky to exist at the same time as. Triples is best. 

• Succession

• The White Lotus

• How To With John Wilson

• Midnight Mass

• Hacks

• Mare Of Easttown

• Only Murders In The Building

• Ted Lasso