Hinton Team’s Best of 2024
While it seems impossible, we somehow find ourselves at the end of the year 2024. Before we cast our eyes to the future, the Hinton team takes a look back at our favorite things that we watched, read, listened to, and enjoyed this year. Maybe they’ll be some of your favorites too, and we hope we’ll introduce you to a few things you still need to check out. To kick us off Hinton’s incredible interns made your their lists of the best things they experienced this past year.
Ivonne Lares’ best of 2024
Tv Shows:
Interview with the Vampire (2022-)
With the first season now available on Netflix, Interview with the Vampire is a television series based on The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. This is the second adaptation of the series, the first being the 1994 film starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. The show follows journalist Daniel Molloy (often compared to Anthony Bourdain by viewers) as he interviews the vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac. From the first episode, I was hooked; the narrative shifts between 20th-century New Orleans and modern-day Dubai, exploring a story of love and struggle—racial, moral, familial, and romantic. Daniel’s no-nonsense responses to Louis, an unreliable narrator, bring depth as Louis recounts his life in New Orleans. The story unveils the mystery of Louis' lover, Lestat de Lioncourt, the tragic life of their adopted daughter Claudia, and how this found family ultimately betrayed and reconnected with each other. An amazing story, I can’t recommend this series enough!
Another Netflix original cursed with cancellation! Despite this, I still highly recommend watching Kaos, a modern retelling of Greek mythology centered on a looming prophecy that has Zeus terrified of its fulfillment. Characters like Orpheus, Eurydice, Ariadne, Caeneus, and others are reimagined to explore themes of religion, gender, politics, and power. The show masterfully blends serious topics with comedic elements that entertain without diminishing its thematic depth. I haven’t finished the series yet, but seeing a modern society reference all these classic Greek myths brings out the fan in me, a love that began with reading the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. And if that doesn’t persuade you, just know that Jeff Goldblum is Zeus. With that as my final argument, I hope you check out Kaos!
Movies:
Created by Hayao Miyazaki, the legendary director who just can’t stay retired, The Boy and the Heron is another stunning animated film from Studio Ghibli. If you’re not usually into animation, don’t let that hold you back. My parents typically aren’t either, and they absolutely loved it.
Going in blind is ideal for this Studio Ghibli film, but to give you a little teaser, it follows a stubborn boy named Mahito, who’s grappling with the recent loss of his mother, adjusting to a new home, and navigating what it means to have a stepmother. Available on Max, the English-dubbed version features well-known actors like Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe, Robert Pattinson, and Florence Pugh. If you’re looking for a movie to immerse yourself in, let go of any stress, and simply enjoy the magic of storytelling, The Boy and the Heron is a must-watch!
The best way to describe It's What's Inside is as a psychedelic experience. The movie centers around a reunion of college friends gathering to celebrate their friend Reuben's wedding the next day. Their relationships are deeply intertwined, both positively and negatively, which makes their version of the Mafia game, revolving around a mysterious suitcase, even more intriguing. Since the film is a mystery and I don’t want to spoil too much in this review, I will focus on its cinematography instead. The film makes many unique stylistic choices. Cinematographer Kevin Fletcher, in an interview, mentioned how the visual style draws on influences from both surreal and realistic worlds, with unconventional editing techniques like digital images springing to life during flashbacks. These choices immerse viewers in the story’s emotional complexity, helping to enhance the mystery at the heart of the narrative. It’s difficult to fully explain, so it’s best to watch it yourself to understand exactly what I mean.
Books:
Written by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist is a novel that has captivated millions worldwide with its timeless tale of self-discovery and destiny. The story follows Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd, as he embarks on a life-changing journey in search of a treasure he has seen in his dreams. Santiago's quest is filled with lessons about following your heart, embracing the present, and listening to the omens of the universe. Coelho weaves a story that's as much about inner transformation as it is about physical adventure. What I love about The Alchemist is its simplicity paired with profound wisdom. This is a story I find myself revisiting whenever I need inspiration or a reminder to trust the journey.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold (2015)
A novel written by Japanese playwright Toshikazu Kawaguchi, Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a heartwarming novel that dabbles in time travel. Set in a hole-in-the-wall café in Tokyo, the café has the opportunity to send its customers back in time, but only for as long as it takes for their coffee to cool. This collection of characters are introduced to us, all tied together by this café, and explores the idea that while the past cannot be changed, the act of revisiting it can profoundly affect the present. With the slight element of fantasy accompanying the raw emotional honesty of the characters, it truly creates a captivating novel. If you’re looking for a story that will make you smile, and cry, then I recommend you read Before the Coffee Gets Cold.
Music:
Loveseat (2024) is by artist Sven Gamsky from Oakland, California, who performs under the stage name Still Woozy. My favorite song from this album is “Shotput.” I would recommend this album if you enjoy chill, groovy, and gentle melodies.
Bar Mediterraneo (2022) is by a musical group based in Naples, Italy. My favorite song from this album is “Marechià (feat. Celia Kameni).” I would recommend this album if you enjoy music in different languages and a fusion of diverse sounds and cultures.
PA’L CORA . 01 - EP by Christian Nodal
PA’L CORA . 01 - EP (2024) is by artist Christian Nodal from Caborca, Mexico. My favorite song from this album is “Un Besito Más.” I would recommend this album if you’re interested in the different sounds of Mexico, such as norteño, cumbia, and mariachi.
Speak the Sojourner:
Yanet Giles’ Best of 2024
Books:
Intermezzo is Sally Rooney’s fourth novel that was just released this past September. Although I haven’t had the chance to crack it open yet, this has been a very highly anticipated release for me, so of course the book has already been purchased and is sitting, waiting patiently for me on my bookshelf. Rooney became one of my favorite authors after her 2018 novel, Normal People launched itself up into a top spot in my “favorite books of all time” ranking. Normal People is known (and admired by me) for Rooney’s perspective on the subtleties and complexities of young adult relationships. Her writing is both deeply touching, yet unafraid to be critical. She is able to smash all idealistic ideas of what young love will feel like, yet she makes you believe in it all the same. Intermezzo is another addition to her catalog of powerful coming-of-age stories, this one now, about two brothers and their journeys with love and grief. Rooney is that author that I can trust will wonderfully tug at my emotions, which is why I am ready to blindly put her on my best of 2024 list, and, on second thought, maybe I should purchase a box of tissues for my bookshelf too.
“Small Murders” by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
“Small Murders” is a piece from American poet Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s 2003 poetry collection, Miracle Fruit. In this poem Nezhukumatathil describes the weight that the sensory experience of scent carries in the memory of romantic relationships. The narrator begins to move on with a “new boy” that compliments her perfume, one that her previous partner had picked out for her. In becoming intimate with this new boy, the mark her previous relationship left on her is regretfully washed off. This poem instantly cut into me like a hot, sharp knife, so much so that I will admit that I got so teary-eyed that I instantly looked up Nezhukumatahil’s email address just to let her know how much it moved me. I think it is safe to say we have all had moments where we have caught a whiff of some scent while out and about and been instantly transported back to a memory that scent suddenly unlocked. To think about the power of perfume on seduction and affection was unexpectedly poignant. Who would have ever thought that the perfume I wear daily could now become a source of so much grief?
Movies:
Challengers (2024) dir. Luca Guadagnino
Yes, it is my best of 2024, but I truly believe Challengers is arguably the best film released all year and a testament to why Luca Guadagnino is one of the best working directors of this generation. The beauty of Challengers is in the details. Guadagnino’s attention to time, place, styling, his use of inventive camera technique and his ability to bring out a wonderful physicality out of his actors’ performances is all done masterfully. What Guadagnino was able to create was crafted from Justin Kuritzkes already electric screenplay. I had the opportunity to hear Kuritzkes speak about his writing process at the Challengers premiere in London earlier this year, which was one of the most incredibly insightful moments I’ve ever gotten to listen in on. They’re playing tennis, but it’s actually the ultimate game of sign vs. signified. Exploring the intimacy and eroticism found in sports and in friendship, the whole thing is riddled in a rich subtext that makes Challengers one of the most unique and insanely thrilling viewing experiences - not only this year but of a lifetime.
Know Your Place (2022) dir. Zia Mohajerjasbi
If you are looking for ways to support the local Seattle arts scene, may I recommend you support this independent film by local filmmaker Zia Mohajerjasbi. Know Your Place navigates identity, familial responsibility, economic displacement, and isolation through a 15 year old Eritrean-American boy amidst a Seattle that is rapidly becoming gentrified. Viewing this film this year was a moment that was immeasurably special. This was the first time I had ever witnessed my culture represented on screen, in the city that I’ve called home my whole life as well. Mohajerjasbi handles my culture with care, every home feels like a home that I’ve been in, every character feels like a family member I may know. Know Your Place is undoubtedly authentic. It is tender, yet funny, quietly powerful, and urgent. The greatest skill Mohajerjasbi displays here, though, is in his eye for performance. During the screening I attended, he informed us that for many of the actors in this film, it was their first ever time acting. I was in disbelief, as the performances were deeply beautiful and tear-jerking. A definite must see.
TV shows:
Starring Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall, this limited series adaptation of David Nicholls’ novel comes thirteen years after the film adaptation famously starring Anne Hathaway. With this new adaptation, the version of romantic-comedy we all have loved and dearly missed makes a full swing return. Chronicling the decades-long romance between Emma and Dexter, this One Day gives their love story room to breathe, to sit, and for us to sit and ruminate their love with them. This version is much more vibrant and lively, but I particularly enjoy the way in which it has the time to demonstrate the way two people can essentially shape shift throughout the years. From changing career paths, evolving morals, failed marriages, struggles with addiction, etc., the show explores every possible side to these characters, rendering them unrecognizable before it ultimately brings them back to who they are, and what their relationship was at its core.
For fans of the O.C., Seth Cohen is back. Adam Brody stars as a rabbi grappling with religious and familial responsibility and his romantic feelings for a non-Jewish woman, played by Kristen Bell. Brody is still able to wield all the same charm that made everyone fall in love with him in the early 2000s. Bell is bright and unapologetic. The spark between them bursts through the screen, but between all the lines of witty banter and fun, silly rom-com moments, is a relationship that is messy and anxious and uncertain as we watch if these two characters can weather the storm of this untraditional relationship or if they’ll crumble under the expectations and disapproval of those around them.
Cultural events:
The Timothée Chalamet Look-alike Contest
On October 27, 2024, New York City saw the emergence of the first ever Timothée Chalamet Look-alike Contest, an unofficial event jokingly organized through fliers stamped on NYC lamp posts advertising a $50 prize. What a surprise when an estimated 10,000 people showed up to Washington Square Park ready to uncover who the grand-prize winner would be. What an even bigger surprise when Timothée Chalamet himself made a surprise appearance! He took a few pictures with some of the entrants, and caught the attention of news outlets all across the country as the contest became a viral moment on social media. Chalamet, who had recently been in NYC filming for an upcoming project, was photographed by paparazzi in the weeks prior to the contest walking past a flier that was hanging up for the event. “Timothée Chalamet has the opportunity to do the funniest thing ever,” was the resounding sentiment shared amongst fans online, and it was so satisfying that he did. Although a seemingly trivial moment in society’s (and my own mental) catalog of pop culture moments, what particularly fascinated me about this one is the sheer scale of the event. Not only does Chalamet’s popularity refute mumblings that there aren’t any “real” movie stars anymore, (which gets into an entirely separate discussion of late stage capitalism) it speaks to a sense of yearning for community. One poster likened the look-alike contest to something that might happen in Stars Hollow on an episode of Gilmore Girls. And it’s true. In a post-covid world, in the midst of an election year, during a time where most unofficial gatherings of this quantity are for political protests and demonstrations, it does feel as though this fun and lighthearted contest was a social statement of its own. After all, four people were arrested during the event. I think that people want whimsical, to feel like they’re all in on the same joke, for camaraderie - on a grand scale. This humorous moment satiated that craving just a little bit.
Music:
Beyoncé’s 2024 release Cowboy Carter works as the Act II body of work in tandem with her 2022 studio album, Act I, Renaissance, an experimental album tapping into the dance/house genre. Many, myself included, were shocked when the Recording Academy failed to choose Renaissance as the Album of the Year winner at the 2023 Grammy Awards. Now, Cowboy Carter has become her 5th Album of the Year nomination, as well as garnering her a total of 99 total Grammy nominations, making her the most nominated artist in the Academy’s history. Even more shocking to know she has never won Album of the Year after hearing that, isn’t it? On the track “SWEET ★ HONEY ★ BUCKIIN’” from the album, Beyoncé sings, “A-O-T-Y” I ain’t win, I ain’t stuntin ‘bout them…come back and f*** the pen,” which has lead to Cowboy Carter becoming incredibly pervasive as the Recording Academy finds themselves in a position where if she does win AOTY in 2025, it could be seen as a cop out - a pity win - and if she doesn’t win, then the Academy will certainly be met with the fireist fury from many who believe that the they have already been intentionally discriminating against her for years. It’s quite frankly the most thrilling the music industry has been in a long time. It is especially fitting as Beyoncé wields her musical genius by utilizing this album to reinvent all known conventions of the country music genre while criticizing both the current state of the American landscape and those in the music industry who claim that she isn’t “country enough.” The Texan Black woman isn’t country enough? Wait, what group of people did country music originate from? Yeah, that’s what I thought too.