Johnny California: Moments Out of Time 2023

 by JB

Half memories from a very interesting movie year.

Impossible to make Tom Hanks unlikeable, A Man Called Otto

ME: “Hey! That’s what I have!” Otto visits the cardiologist, A Man Called Otto

Truth in advertising, Women Talking

One of the many indignities faced by women of a certain age: being forced into hot wings competitions, 80 For Brady

More fun than it it had any right to be, Cocaine Bear

John Wick (Keanu Reeves) and his opponent climb the Rue Foyatier, John Wick 4

“What if we just paid the fines?” Air

The exact legal definition of “half a good movie,” Renfield

Nazis with oh-so-kill-able faces, Sisu

You know you’re at the right movie on the right night when Quentin Tarantino is there, It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World

It’s a game of skill, not luck, Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game

Imagine if the team behind Barbie made The Haunted Mansion

Made me miss comedies that are bat-shit crazy, Bottoms

Such a great film that 3-D adds nothing to it whatsoever, Jurassic Park

Worth the $35, Stop Making Sense in IMAX

Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) AND Halloween? Yes please, A Haunting in Venice

David Dastmalchian is a twitchy national treasure, Last Voyage of the Demeter

Bruce Davis (Danny DeVito) does not like this chair, The Haunted Mansion

We see more of Harris Ford having JUST run than actually running, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

We meet Rocket Raccoon’s other friends, Guardians of the Galaxy 3

Einstein (Tom Conti) snubs Lewis Strauss (Robert Downey Jr.), Oppenheimer

Was I the only one who REALLY missed Noir Spider-Man and Spider-Pig? Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse

Jeff Goldblum was born to play a space alien, Asteroid City

Montana (Rupert Friend) sings a song, Asteroid City

We learn who attacked the private detective, Killers of the Flower Moon

Scorsese himself narrates the epilogue of a radio drama, Killers of the Flower Moon

Allan (Michael Cera) explains himself, Barbie

Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon) explains herself, Barbie

Barbie (Margot Robbie) has a moment with a mysterious woman on a park bench, Barbie

Kevin Gill (Pete Davidson) eats the Door Dash food he is paid to deliver, Dumb Money

Jules helps a friend in trouble, Jules

Jules needs seven cats, Jules

Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti) metes out a novel punishment for plagiarism, The Holdovers

Battling the Russians… ON ICE, Napoleon

Guilt and Kaiju: two of my favorite things, Godzilla Minus One

Reality does not live up to Molly’s (Dylan Gelula) fantasy, Dream Scenario

The Expert (Tilda Swinton) eats dessert first, The Killer

Winner, Most Cigarettes Smoked in a Single Film, Maestro

Worst Black Friday Sale ever, Thanksgiving

John Carver, creepiest Pilgrim ever, Thanksgiving

“It’s what adults do,” May December

More fun than it had any right to be, Candy Cane Lane

Bella (Emma Stone) wants to punch the baby, Poor Things

Reality does not live up to Duncan Wedderburn’s (Mark Ruffalo) fantasy, Poor Things

Mark Ruffalo stands in for every male who has ever lived, Poor Things

Dad (Holt McCallany) plays clarinet; who knew?, The Iron Claw

Kerry Von Erich (Jeremy Allen White) takes a boat ride, The Iron Claw

Kevin Von Erich (Zac Efron) watches his sons toss a football, The Iron Claw

Hats off to the Regency Buenaventura Theater for hosting theatrical screenings of Clue, To Kill a Mockingbird, Shaun of the Dead, Ghostbusters, The Sting, White Christmas, and It’s a Wonderful Life.

Hats off to Fathom Events for hosting theatrical screenings of Groundhog Day, Grease, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Princess Mononoke, Enter the Dragon, American Graffiti, The Exorcist, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail.