2024 Entertainment Favourites
2024 is done! So it's time once again to look back and pick my favourite books/movies/tv shows of the year! If you're interested in what I'm consuming during the year, you can see my books on GoodReads (and now mirrored on Story Graph), My tv shows and movies I track on Trakt. And for previous years posts see: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017.
Books
Breath
At my cousins' insistence suggestion I read this wonderful book toward the end of the year. It was thrilling from start to finish, and the characters and world building were top class. Keen to read some more Tim Winton in the near future.
Born to Run
I read Born to Run on the plane and inahled it! It got me excited about running and was an enthralling story. Highly recommend to anyone who likes running.
Unreasonable Hospitality
I picked this book up after seeing it referenced in 'The Bear'. It was a really great read, and I think a lot of great principles that are applicable outside of the hospitality industry. Having read it now, I can also see how it serves as inspiration for The Bear.
Project Hail Mary
I've been getting more into sci-fi in the last few years and this was one of the best I've read. The writing was excellent and I was kept on the edge of my seat throughout the novel.
Pixel Flesh
This was a really eye-opening book. I gained a much better appeciation for the omnipresent effect of the beauty industry and the way it pervades culture, especially amongst women. Well worth a read.
Honourable Mentions
I read heaps of awesome books this year, and some only just missed out, but honourable mentions go to: The Secret Race, Dopamine Nation, Word Freak, Dune, What If? 2, Technofeudalism, Jasper Jones, Magic Pill, Filterworld, and Doppelganger
Movies
Challengers
There's a lot to love in this movie. The soundtrack was awesome, it was engaging, intense, and had such a cool and unique style. Although one particular scene has dominated the discourse, I think the movie as a whole is fascinating and was so well executed.
My Old Ass
I saw this in theatres with my girlfriend and really enjoyed it! I think based on the trailer I saw, I underestimated this movie, so it was a nice surprise. It's heartfelt, and left a wondeful impression on me.
Oppenheimer
It took me a while to get around to watching Oppenheimer (mostly due to the runtime) but it was well worth the wait. An incredible movie with unbelievable visuals, fantastic acting and an incredible story.
The Ides of March
The Ides of March was a brilliant movie. It does a wonderful job portraying the descent into power and corruption that is so tempting in politics. An engaging and in some ways disheartening watch.
A Real Pain
This movie just snuck in to my list this year. I saw it with a few friends in the last few days of the year and found it wonderful. The acting and writing were fantastic and the complexity of the characters was intriguing. Definitely a movie I'll be pondering heading into the new year, but just a wonderfully told, concise story.
Honourable Mentions
Another good year of movies leaves me remiss not to mention: Dream Scenario, Pawn Sacrifice, Drive, What's Love Got to Do With It, A Man Called Otto, Dune Part 2, Kill Bill Vol 1. and Vol 2.
TV Shows
Severance
This show has been incredible. I'm lucky to have just picked it up in the latter half of the year, with a new season landing in January, and I am so excited. I find it hard to put in words what I love about this show, but it's blend of humour, darkness, and intrigue leave me thirsting for more. In terms of starts to TV shows, I put it up there with Westworld, Succession, and Mr Robot, which if you know me, is high praise indeed.
Fallout
Fallout was really great. I haven't played the games, so I don't have as much connection to the world, or characters, but I found it really engaging throughout. The characters are complex and interesting and I'm curious to see where it goes.
WeCrashed
I watched WeCrashed with my housemate and it was hilarious. The story was fascinating and I liked the way the show was structured.
The White Lotus
My girlfriend and I watched season 2 of The White Lotus together. It was a wild ride from start to finish. I was intrigued by the mystery and found the characters all really interesting in their flaws. Really enjoyable show.
The Curse
I'm a huge fan of Nathan Fielder's work, and this was no exception. I watched this with some friends and it was an incredible show. Each episode left us with questions, and there was plenty of hilarity throughout.
Honourable Mentions
There were quite a few shows that almost made the cut, including: Katering Show + Get Krak!n, The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh, Second to None, Flight of the Conchords, Tour de France - Unchained
Conclusion
I've enjoyed a lot of great books, movies, and tv shows throughout 2024 and I'm excited to see what the next year brings. Let me know in the comments your favourites from the year, or if you have any recommendations based on this post. Until next year.
- etopiei (29/12/2024)