Most directors pay lip service to the idea that sound is 50 percent of filmmaking, but it almost always receives short shrift in favor of the visual. And yet so often the key to a film maintaining its emotional hold on the audience is audio.

That was especially true in 2022, when so many great films unlocked their full potential and reached into new dimensions, literally and figuratively, by exploring the aural. Work by veteran artisans like Johnnie Burn, Ai-Ling Lee, Mark Mangini, and Wayne Pashley just underlines how deep the talent pool for sound has grown, and why it’s shame they aren’t household names like Roger Deakins or Ruth E. Carter.

More from IndieWire

• The Best TV Shows of 2022

• The 20 Best TV Episodes of 2022

• The 12 Best New TV Shows of 2022

Best of IndieWire

• New Movies: Release Calendar for December 9, Plus Where to Watch the Latest Films

• Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 45 Films the Director Wants You to See

• Martin Scorsese's Favorite Movies: 53 Films the Director Wants You to See

Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.