As a longtime film journalist, I've long been used to being behind-the-scenes of motion pictures. Oh sure, I'll occasionally dip my phantom toes into the world of producing or I'll choose to support some indie filmmaker I adore. However, I'm a behind-the-scenes guy through and through.
2025 changed things in a big way.
The Independent Critic himself, also known as Richard Propes, appeared in two award-winning films and shot scenes for a third film that appears to be temporarily on hold.
First, Austrian filmmaker Johannes Grenzfurthner, whose work I've long supported, extended an invite for a brief but appealing cameo in his latest film, Solvent. Picked up by Film Movement for an indie distribution after a successful indie fest run, Solvent found me serving up a certain degree of badassery even if I'm only actually on-screen for five seconds or so.
Solvent also happens to be an awesome film.
The second film? Decidedly bigger, at least for me. The Tenderness Tour had its world premiere at the Oscar-qualifying Heartland International Film Festival, and has already picked up a handful of substantial awards as it gets set for a festival run in early 2026. Chronicling an event I started in 1989 and focusing on my efforts to erase medical debt in Indiana, The Tenderness Tour is directed by Andie Redwine and has a team behind it that boggles the mind.
The Indiana Film Journalists Association, with me abstaining from both conversations and voting, selected The Tenderness Tour as the best documentary of 2025 and they were serious (I'll confess. I was also stunned. I figured the film might sneak into the runner-up spot).
Along the way, I've watched fewer films than usual this year and reviewed about half as many as usual. That said, I've easily observed enough magic to serve up my annual listing of the year's best films. I won't be selecting The Tenderness Tour, of course, though I give the film my wholehearted endorsement.
Here we go:
#10: The Testament of Ann Lee
Mona Fastvold's The Testament of Ann Lee is one of the films that truly stayed with me in 2025, an intriguing and impossible to forget depiction of faith centered around the story of the founder of the Shakers. Amanda Seyfried gives what is easily the best performance of her career and is aided greatly by the script from Fastvold and collaborator/spouse Brady Corbet. This is a folkie musical of sorts that doesn't always work, but I found I didn't care. Original music from Daniel Blumberg is sublime; Celia Rowlson Hall's choreography contributes to the film's gorgeous, immersive spirituality and vibrance.
#9: Is this Thing On?
Is This Thing On? is the first Bradley Cooper directed film to not feel like it's shooting for the Oscars. The result? It's my favorite Cooper film and it's not even close. I've had several friends go through divorces over the past year, so maybe just maybe this story hits me at the right time. I don't think that's it. I think it's Will Arnett's remarkable, intuitive, and vulnerable performance as Alex, a recently divorced man who discovers a therapeutic outlet in stand-up comedy.
Laura Dern's Tess is right beside him. She's a woman who gave up life as an Olympic athlete in favor of a family with Alex.
Okay, sure, we've seen these types of films before. We've maybe even seen them better, but I fell in love with these characters and there's just something glorious about Arnett and Dern here. Cooper's here in a supporting role along with the always remarkable Andra Day.
The first film from Bradley Cooper to not aim so intentionally for an Academy Award is likely the film most deserving of one.
#8: If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
Sometimes, you sit down with a film with minimal expectations. Most of the time, you finish your viewing with those expectations intact. Other times, such as with If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, you end up being blown away.
I'll be the first to admit that this haunting A24 drama doesn't quite all gel. This seems to be a recurring theme in my "best of" world this year. Rose Byrne, whom I've long adored, gives the best performance of her career as Linda, a psychotherapist who knows what it takes to be a good parent.
But, of course, "knowing" and "being" are two entirely different things.
Okay, sure. You thought this footless film journalist would be making jokes about the film's title. Trust me, starting out I did. Then, I watched the film and instantly knew it would be one of my favorite films of 2025.
#7: Solvent
I said I wouldn't put The Tenderness Tour in my top ten. I didn't say anything about Solvent. I'll admit it's a little ridiculous how proud I am of a brief, "blink and you'll miss it" appearance in this latest mind fuck from Johannes Grenzfurthner. In the film, an American expat joins a team of experts searching an Austrian farmhouse for historical Nazi documents. They find much more.
Grenzfurthner is one of my favorite indie filmmakers. Solvent is one of the reasons why. Grenzfurthner says what needs to be said and explores what needs to be explored. I never know what I'm going to get with a Grenzfurthner film, but I know it's always going to rock my cinematic world.
#6: Rental Family
It's difficult to express just how much I love having Brendan Fraser back in the Hollywood spotlight. While Rental Family won't likely find Fraser snagging another Oscar, this is such a lovely film that finds its inspirational in the real "rental family" services that first popped up in Japan in the 90's. Unabashedly heartfelt, it features an absolutely perfect Fraser approaching the story in absolutely the perfect way. I loved this film.
#5: The Life of Chuck
If I were to one day find out that Stephen King didn't care for Mike Flanagan's adaptation of his work, I'd likely stop reading Stephen King. That's how strongly I feel about this soulful, energizing, and must-see effort featuring a tremendous turn by Tom Hiddleston and marvelous performances from one of the year's best ensembles. I can't help but notice that Matthew Lillard is in my top ten for the year. Where's QT?
While The Life of Chuck doesn't completely nail the landing, this is such a lovely film that I can't imagine my top ten without it.
#4: One Battle After Another
It's possible, at least in my mind, to acknowledge that Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the greatest living filmmakers and to also accept that his films aren't for everyone.
I get it (I really don't). I've never rated an Anderson film less than 4 stars on my 4 star scale. I've never had one of his films not end up in my top ten. It could happen, of course. I don't set out pre-determined that he's going to create another masterpiece. He just consistently does it. I'm not sure I ever expected him to land a $130 million budget for a film, but One Battle After Another proves he'll make magic no matter how much you give him. You could program my top five here and I'd be happy watching these films for the rest of my life. I can't help but think it's down to this one or Sinners to snag best picture.
#3: Train Dreams
I'll be the first to accept that a soulful, peaceful film isn't always a likely candidate for one of the year's best. Clint Bentley's Train Dreams is an exception. Joel Edgerton stars as a man living quietly in rural Idaho. William H. Macy reminds us why we will always love William H. Macy. Kerry Condon is absolutely delightful. In a world that so often these days feels divisive, this is a film I find myself wanting to watch again and again and again. In a very strong year for film, this film is a standout.
#2: Sinners
While I wouldn't call Ryan Coogler's Sinners the most important film of the year, I would easily call it the year's most important blockbuster of a film. Produced, written, and directed by Coogler, Sinners pulses culturally and spiritually with a masterful Michael B. Jordan helming another one of the year's absolute best ensembles. Every year, I look for that film that really blew me away. Sinners absolutely blew me away.
#1: Bob Trevino Likes It
The Other Bests of 2025
The Next 10 Best of 2025 (in alphabetical order):
Eephus, directed by Carson Lund
Fairyland, directed by Andrew Durham
Frankenstein, directed by Guillermo del Toro
Good Boy, directed by Ben Leonberg
Peter Hujar's Day, directed by Ira Sachs
Shakti, directed by Nani Sahra Walker
Sorry, Baby, directed by Eva Victor
The Phoenician Scheme, directed by Wes Anderson
The Secret Agent, directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho
The Ugly Stepsister, directed by Emilie Blichfeldt
Ten Best Documentaries of 2025 (NOTE: The Tenderness Tour intentionally not included)
2000 Meters to Andrilvka, directed by Mstyslav Chernov
BLACKNWS: Terms & Conditions, directed by Kahlil Joseph
Come See Me in the Good Light, directed by Ryan White
Comparsa, directed by Doug Anderson and Vickie Curtis
Cover-Up, directed by Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus
Disposable Humanity, directed by Cameron Mitchell
My Undesirable Friends: Part 1- Last Air in Moscow, directed by Julia Loktev
The Librarians, directed by Kim A. Snyder
The Perfect Neighbor, directed by Geeta Gandbhir
The Tale of Silyan, directed by Tamara Kotevska
Ten Best Leading Performances in a Narrative Feature (alphabetical order)
Everett Blunck, The Plague
Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
Joel Edgerton, Train Dreams
Barbie Ferreira, Bob Trevino Likes It
Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
Jennifer Lawrence, Die, My Love
Amanda Seyfried, The Testament of Ann Lee
Eva Victor, Sorry, Baby
Ben Whishaw, Peter Hujar's Day
Ten Best Supporting Performances in a Narrative Feature (alphabetical order)
