Launched in 2012, A24 has built a reputation for making films of the highest quality. Some of their cult hits include Everything Everywhere All at Once, Moonlight, The Lighthouse, Hereditary, Uncut Gems, and Pearl. A24’s television division has also produced several hit shows, including Euphoria, Bee, and Ramy. However, the company’s big-screen department remains its strongest. Its films mostly shun the style used by Hollywood productions, and some of them have been credited with influencing the tone of contemporary horror and arthouse productions.
The name “A24” was inspired by the Italian A24 freeway on which founder Daniel Katz was driving when he decided to form the company. Given the high volume of films the company has produced over the last decade, it’s easy to forget the projects that laid the foundation. Well, it was a hit-and-miss affair at first, but each of the first 10 films still offers something unique. Here’s how they rank against each other on Rotten Tomatoes.
10
‘A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III’ (2012)
Rotten Tomatoes: 16%
It’s the ‘70s in A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III, and graphic designer Charles Swan III (Charlie Sheen) is having a great run as both a businessman and a lothario. But his girl, Ivanna (Ketheryn Winnick), isn’t happy, so she drops the infamous “It’s not you, it’s me” line, then hits the road. Understandably, the development causes Charles to lose it. How will he cope with the post-break-up blues?
Good-Looking… But That’s Just About It
“Tiresomely self-indulgent and lacking any storytelling cohesion, this Glimpse Inside the Mind finds little food for thought,” reads the consensus on Rotten Tomatoes. Most critics felt that the first-ever film by A24 was all style and visuals, and no substance. Indeed, none of the actors are impressive, and the plot hardly makes sense. But one could tell that the company was onto something. The movie serves as a great cautionary tale, reminding audiences to always avoid being selfish in relationships.
9
‘The Bling Ring’ (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes: 59%
Based on the factual 2010 Vanity Fair article “The Suspects Wore Louboutins” by Nancy Jo Sales, The Bling Ring is about a group of LA teens who burglarize celebrity homes. They track stars, sneak into their homes, and steal cash, designer clothes, and jewelry. Unfortunately for them, their obsession with flaunting their bounty on social media attracts police attention.
Crime Looks Cool, Until It’s Not
Emma Watson, Israel Broussard, Katie Chang, and Taissa Farmiga are all excellent, with director Sofia Coppola flaunting her out-of-the-box filmmaking skills once again. And the soundtrack, consisting of krautrock, hip-hop/rap, and electronic, is quite a treat to the ears. However, critics felt the themes and characterization could have been better. “While it’s certainly timely and beautifully filmed, The Bling Ring suffers from director Sofia Coppola’s failure to delve beneath the surface of its shallow protagonists’ real-life crimes,” the review aggregator site’s summary reads.
8
‘Spring Breakers’ (2012)
Rotten Tomatoes: 67%
Four college girls in Spring Breakers are eager to break free from their mundane existence, so they commit a robbery and head to Florida, where they indulge in nonstop partying and drug use. Predictably, they are soon arrested, but Alie (James Franco), a flamboyant gangster-rapper, bails them out. Unknown to them, they are about to be drawn even deeper into the world of crime and violence.
The Party’s About To Take a Nosedive
The Harmony Korine crime thriller has its flaws, but this is the kind of film that hits you with so much good stuff you eventually forget what you didn’t like. The final word on RT notes that “Spring Breakers blends stinging social commentary with bikini cheesecake and a bravura James Franco performance.” The choice to go with a Skrillex score was also a genius move as the music adds to the psychedelic tone of the proceedings.
7
‘The Rover’ (2014)
Rotten Tomatoes: 67%
The Rover begins as a tale of citizens’ struggle to survive in poverty-stricken rural Australia, a decade after a global economic collapse. For the drifter, Eric, his car is his last possession, and he is glad that things are beginning to look up. But fate is ready to hit him with further misfortune and hardship. Bad luck keeps hounding him, and in the latest chapter, his car gets stolen. You bet he won’t let go of it that easily.
He Needs His Car Back, by Any Means Necessary
There’s always something about movies set in the Australian outback: something addictive, something gritty. “Fueled by engaging performances from Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson, the tension-filled The Rover overcomes its narrative faults through sheer watchability,” say critics. The lead actors do indeed bring their A-game to this dystopian western. The film earned seven nominations at the AACTA Awards (Australian version of the Oscars) and has been further praised for its stylish violence and cinematography, among other production aspects.
6
‘Enemy’ (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes: 73%
In Enemy, Adam Bell (Jake Gyllenhaal), a college history professor, rents a movie, under the recommendation of a friend, only to spot an actor who looks exactly like him. He learns the man’s name is Anthony Claire and tracks him down. Soon, both men find themselves in a cupid-related misunderstanding after Adam accuses Anthony of sleeping with his wife.
Twins or Not?
The surrealist Kafka-esque psychological thriller is widely considered one of Denis Villeneuve’s finest works, and was named Best Canadian Film of the Year at the Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 2014. Despite the seemingly simple premise, the plot is quite labyrinthine, with Villeneuve eager to challenge the viewer’s mind every minute. At times, it’s even hinted that the two men could be the same person. Are they? “Thanks to a strong performance from Jake Gyllenhaal and smart direction from Denis Villeneuve, Enemy hits the mark as a tense, uncommonly adventurous thriller,” reads the conclusion of critics.
5
‘Ginger & Rosa’ (2012)
Rotten Tomatoes: 78%
Set in ‘60s London, Ginger & Rosa tracks best friends Ginger and Rosa as they share dreams and go on adventures together. As the Cold War intensifies, Ginger (Elle Fanning) becomes obsessed with politics. Rosa (Alice Englert), on the other hand, pursues romance. In a twist, she falls for Ginger’s charming father, creating a rift between the two.
Betrayals and Tough Lessons
Ginger & Rosa is by turns melancholic and heartwarming. The duo’s truculent and often unhinged friendship comes off as very concerning to audiences. As a whole, the coming-of-age drama excels as an assault on the numerous iniquities and absurdities of ‘60s British society, targeted specifically at the jugular of teen delusions. The Rotten Tomatoes reviews singled out Elle Fanning for praise, noting that she “gives a terrific performance in this powerful coming-of-age tale about a pair of teenage girls whose friendship is unnerved by the threat of nuclear war.”
4
‘Under the Skin’ (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
Under the Skin stars Scarlet Johansson as The Female, a predatory extraterrestrial who seduces men in Scotland and harms them by luring them into a surreal void. As she continues her reign of terror, she starts to develop a conscience, inspired by human compassion and kindness. She soon starts questioning her purpose.
Men in Danger
About the movie, critics summarized that “its message may prove elusive for some, but with absorbing imagery and a mesmerizing performance from Scarlett Johansson, Under the Skin is a haunting viewing experience.” Indeed, the film has been analyzed as being an allegorical look at racism and immigration, but some of the arguments seem far-fetched. Even without digging into the themes, this is one sci-fi-horror outing you’ll enjoy, thanks to Scarlett Johansson’s incredible showing and a plot that moves quickly.
3
‘Obvious Child’ (2014)
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Obvious Child opens on a sad note. After performing a set at a comedy club, stand-up comedian Donna Stern (Jenny Slate) gets dumped by her boyfriend in the bathroom. She tailspins and drunkenly has a one-night stand with a man named Max (Jake Lacy). Weeks later, she discovers she is pregnant and plans an abortion. But fate might have other plans.
To Have It, Or Not?
Films that open new conversations about fertility and abortion are always welcome. Obvious Child achieves that and much more, digging deep into the basics of career and family, while including some memorable pop culture references. Watch out for the scene where Max and Donna watch Gone with the Wind together. Critics loved everything they saw, too. “Tackling a sensitive subject with maturity, honesty, and wit, Obvious Child serves as a deeply promising debut for writer-director Gillian Robespierre,” they said.
2
‘Locke’ (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Locke stars Tom Hardy as the married construction foreman Ivan Locke. He needs to be in Birmingham for a major task, but after receiving news that the woman he had a one-night stand with is pregnant, he opts to drive to London to be with her during childbirth. During the 2-hour drive, he makes a whopping 36 phone calls (many of them excuses) to numerous people, including his business associates and his wife. Unsurprisingly, his life crumbles before his eyes.
All Falls Down
Locke is at its highest in its most casual, aimless-appearing moments, in the quiet intervals between rants when Locke is just zipping down the road and trying to figure out what to do next. And he often seems as dumbfounded by the developments as the audience is. For years, Hollywood has fooled us that Hardy always needs to walk around. He doesn’t, and critics acknowledge this on Rotten Tomatoes. “A one-man show set in a confined location, Locke demands a powerful performance—and gets it from a never-more-compelling Tom Hardy,” the consensus reads.
1
‘The Spectacular Now’ (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
In The Spectacular Now, Sutter Keely (Miles Teller) is a charming high schooler living for the moment and enjoying the party-n-ladies lifestyle. After a breakup, he unexpectedly falls for Aimee Finecky (Shailene Woodley). As their love deepens, Sutter is forced to do some introspection.
Look Hard, But You Won’t Find a Flaw
The Spectacular Now will undoubtedly warm your heart. Some may say that the movie’s light hues and lighter plot give it the air of every other teen romance drama we’ve seen before; but hang in for what’s destined be a good, wild ride. RT critics acknowledge this, saying this “is an adroit, sensitive film that avoids typical coming-of-age story trappings.” Teller is ferocious, and who’s not looking for a good reason to stare at May Elizabeth Winstead’s face.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
