And here they are, 139 2023 movies (excluding repertory re-releases: Titanic 25th Aniv., Sharknado 10th Aniv., etc.) I watched last year, ranked from worst to best. Zero Netflix movies/documentaries, sorry. doc: documentary. DC: Dolby Cinema. AP: AMC Prime. W: directed by a woman.
Starting with the worst of the worst:
139. MALIBU HORROR STORY 138. SKINAMARINK 137. 1920: HORRORS OF THE HEART (India) 136. GOD IS A BULLET 135. MRS. CHATTERJEE VS. NORWAY (India, W) 134. ON FIRE 133. CHILDREN OF THE CORN ('23) 132. MEG 2: THE TRENCH (IMAX) 131. IT'S A WONDERFUL KNIFE 130. SHELTER IN SOLITUDE (W) 129. PSYCHO-PASS: PROVIDENCE (Japan) 128. THE BOOGEYMAN ('23) 127. BLACK ICE (Canada, doc) 126. DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA - TO THE SWORDSMITH VILLAGE (Japan) 125. RELAX, I'M FROM THE FUTURE 124. THE MACHINE 123. 65 (AP) 122. ARISTOTLE AND DANTE DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE 121. FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S (DC, W) 120, THE WRATH OF BECKY 119. GOLDA (UK) 118. RAID ON THE LETHAL ZONE (China) 117. FREELANCE 116. THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER (DC) 115. THE WONDERING EARTH 2 (China) 114. HYPNOTIC 113. EXPEND4BLES (DC) 112. THE RETIREMENT PLAN 111. KANDAHAR 110. M3GAN (IMAX) 109. THE POINT MEN (South Korea) 108. GUY RITCHIE'S THE COVENANT 107. A THOUSAND AND ONE (W) 106. MARLOWE 105. FEAR 104. BORN TO FLY (China) 103. THE SHIFT 102. OF AN AGE (Australia) 101. ASTEROID CITY 100. KNOCK AT THE CABIN 99. ALICE, DARLING 98. THE KILL ROOM 97. JOY RIDE (W) 96. RETRIBUTION 95. CHEVALIER 94. ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA (IMAX) 93. THE STARLING GIRL (W) 92. STRAYS 91. GODARD CINEMA (doc) 90. THE DEVIL CONSPIRACY 89. PRISCILLA (W) 88. ANIMAL (India) 87. CREED III (IMAX) 86. THE LOST KING (UK) 85. THE LITTLE MERMAID 3D (IMAX 3D) 84. SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS (IMAX) 83. HIDDEN BLADE (China) 82. A HAUNTING IN VENICE 81. THEATER CAMP (W) 80. RENFIELD 79. PATHAAN (India) 78. IT LIVES INSIDE 77. THE ROYAL HOTEL (Australia, W) 76. SILENT NIGHT 75. ANYONE BUT YOU 74. THE ROUNDUP: NO WAY OUT (South Korea) 73. JAILER (India) 72. DUMB MONEY (AP) 71. BUTCHER'S CROSSING 70. THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE 3D 69. PLANE 68. BLUE BEETLE (DC) 67. OUTLAW JOHNNY BLACK 66. THE TUNNEL TO SUMMER. THE EXIT TO GOODBYES (Japan) 65. CLOSE (France) 64. PAST LIVES (W) 63. Disney's WISH (W) 62. 20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL (doc) 61. AIR (AP) 60. COCAINE BEAR (W) 59. WONKA (IMAX) 58. THE BOYS IN THE BOAT 57. FERRARI (AP) 56. MEMORY 55. EILEEN 54. JAWAN (India) 53. THE BLACKENING 52. THE ZONE OF INTEREST (UK/Poland) 51. DREAM SCENARIO 50. THE ETERNAL MEMORY (Chile, doc) 49. ANATOMY OF A FALL (France, W) 48. THE MARVELS (IMAX, W) 47. THANKSGIVING 46. AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM 3D (IMAX 3D) 45. THE MARSH KING'S DAUGHTER 44. SHEHZADA (India) 43. SCREAM VI 42. NO HARD FEELINGS 41 THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER 40. SOUND OF FREEDOM 39. LOST IN THE STARS (China) 38. THE EQUALIZER 3 (IMAX) 37. INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY 36. INFINITY POOL 35. LANDSCAPE WITH INVISIBLE HAND 34. BOTTOMS 33. Pixar's ELEMENTAL 3D 32. BLACKBERRY (Canada) 31. THE POPE'S EXORCIST 30. KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON (IMAX) 29. AMERICAN FICTION 28. HOLY SPIDER (Denmark) 27.SHORTCOMINGS 26. MALUM 25. NAPOLEON (IMAX) 24. THE BOY AND THE HERON (Japan, IMAX) 23. TALK TO ME (Australia) 22. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 (IMAX) 21. JOHN WICK CHAPTER 4 (IMAX) 20. THE FLASH (IMAX) 19. ALL OF US STRANGERS (UK) 18. BIRTH/REBIRTH (W) 17. WHAT HAPPENS LATER (W) 16. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING PART ONE (IMAX) 15. GODZILLA MINUS ONE (Japan, IMAX) 14. POOR THINGS 13. SALTBURN 12. DREAMIN' WILD 11. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES (IMAX) 10. SUZUME (Japan) 9. A GOOD PERSON 8. SISU (Finland, DC) 7. THE QUIET GIRL (Ireland) 6. OPERATION FORTUNE: RUSE DE GUERRE 5. WHEN EVIL LURKS (Argentina) 4. OPPENHEIMER (IMAX 70MM) 3. BARBIE (DC, W) 2. SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE (IMAX) 1. THE HOLDOVERS
Detailed post about Top 10/20 later today after I return from work. :-)
My ten of 2023!! Inevitably there’s something that I missed that would likely have made my list if I had seen it. This year that movie is Poor Things. I’m about 95% sure Blackberry will fall off the list once I see Poor Things. Dream Scenario and The Boy and the Heron also stand a chance since I didn’t get to those either. Anyway, here we go!
10.) Blackberry 9.) Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie 8.) Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning 7.) Suzume 6.) Oppenheimer 5.) Killers of the Flower Moon 4.) Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves 3.) John Wick Chapter 4 2.) Godzilla Minus One 1.) The Holdovers
A ton has already been written about this masterpiece (it is). All i can add is that in the months leading up to release i read the book its based on, American Prometheus, and i am SO impressed how Nolan (director AND writer) managed to distill so many topics into one movie. Science, War, Evolution, Innovation, Relationships with others and self, Philosophy, Power and who wields it and how, Regret, Betrayal, Infidelity, Questions where there is no clear "right" or "wrong", and so so much more. Its a movie where i think i will find something new upon EVERY viewing. Cant wait.
Oh man, I'm back to the movies! I only watched 43 in 2023, for many weird reasons, but I'm getting back into this.
The Thief of Bagdad (1924) - Just a blast of a movie showcasing Douglas Fairbanks Sr and his considerable physical skills and charm. Took half a star off of for the standard 1924 racism in it.
Speedy (1928) - Defector highlighted this this week because it's new to the public domain but my god, forget that, this is a whole raft of dangerous fun with Harold Lloyd trying to save his potential father in law's business running the last horse-drawn streetcar in New York City. It's real damn good, has a fun appearance by Babe Ruth at the height of his celebrity and half an hour of a visit to Coney Island with makes it look like a really fun death trap at the time. (Also, a running gag with a live crab in Lloyd's suit pocket that keeps accidentally stealing stuff.). A huge recommend.
Mala Noche (1986) - I'd never seen Gus van Sant's debut and it shows so, so much promise for him. A lovely and sad piece about transients and restaurant workers and folks just drifting along, this feels like a transition between The Outsiders and the upcoming queer cinema of the '90s (and watching this, I can only imagine Linklater really took it to heart). It's not quite great but man is it good.
Amour (2012) - OK, this movie absolutely wrecked me. It's a masterpiece in all the right ways, a raw and honest look at how dementia can turn someone you love into someone you don't recognize. This happened to my mother and my god does does this movie get it right.
Sometimes life gets in the way of movies. They will be there waiting for your attention.
Speedy is fun Harold Lloyd, one that I would rank above Safety Last. (I have not watched the latter for a long time, though.) It accidentally became a documentary about late 1920s New York, too. So many Model Ts on the road.
I posted my top 20 of 2023 on Twitter, might as well copy it here too. I'm hosting a year-end movie poll on a Finnish forum and compiled my list from what was released here in 2023, so there are a few movies here that came out in 2022 in most of the world. There's also a lot of stuff I still want to see but haven't gotten around to yet.
1. Godzilla Minus One (Japan) 2. Oppenheimer 3. The Banshees of Inisherin (Ireland) 4. Fallen Leaves (Finland) 5. Pearl 6. Sisu (Finland) 7. John Wick: Chapter 4 8. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves 9. Knock at the Cabin 10. Death Is a Problem for the Living (Finland) 11. Barbie 12. Air 13. No One Will Save You 14. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 15. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One 16. The Killer 17. Creed III 18. Decision to Leave (South Korea) 19. The Fabelmans 20. M3GAN
And I know my self esteem shouldn't be tied to something that has absolutely nothing to do with me, but I can't help that it's made me feel good seeing Finnish movies (Sisu and Fallen Leaves) on several top 10 lists throughout the week.
It's embarrassing how few Oscar best picture winners I've seen, so I made a New Year's resolution to watch them all. Of the 95 winners, I'd only seen 44, so 51 to watch. Perfect for a year long project, so I'm trying to watch one a week.
I started with Billy Wilder's The Lost Weekend (1945), which pretty much knocked my socks off! A pretty harrowing portrayal of addiction, beautifully directed by Wilder and amazingly performed by Ray Milland. My project got off to a good start.
And yesterday I watched The Taking of Pelham One Two Three for the first time, and had a great time with that too. 70's New York City isn't necessarily a place I'd want to visit, but I love seeing it in movies. Walter Matthau in the lead as a laconic Transit Police lieutenant is excellent, and the last shot of the movie is perfect.
Interesting project that you have set yourself, Mikko. You will find that even in past decades the "best" picture of the year did not always get the OSCAR. Going My Way over Double Indemnity in 1944? No way.
Went into this thinking: 1) the trailer, as most trailers these days, gave away the entire movie and 2) feels a bit like a video game commercial. And after watching i think i was correct. That being said, its a fine by-the-numbers underdog story that treads close to "nerds vs jocks" territory. David Harbor was a great choice as the curmudgeon-y coach trying to turn gamers into racers. The racing footage is entertaining for sure. There is a relatively surprising moment that im not sure i fully agree with how the film handled and feel it brings up deeper questions regarding accountability/safety.
10 - GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3. This year's best Marvel movie, mishandling of Adam Warlock notwithstanding. 9 - DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES. Jarnathan spinoff movie when? 8 - Tie: SCREAM VI/EVIL DEAD RISE. Fave franchises stay relevant with two killer new entries. 7 - THE BOY AND THE HERON. Miyazaki goodness! 6 - BOTTOMS. Definitely a future cult classic. Foul-mouthed and weird, yet also sharply observed. 5 - BARBIE. A movie that commits to its message while also being laugh-out-loud funny. That's something of a miracle. 4 - GODZILLA MINUS ONE. Every Godzilla flick has to have something for the human characters to do, but this is one where the human story truly matters. 3 - NO HARD FEELINGS. An R-rated big-studio comedy with movie stars that was released in theaters? We need more of this. 2 - KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON. Scorsese goodness! 1 - NIMONA. A big, sprawling epic full of action, humor, and heart, not to mention grand world-building and gorgeous visuals. It's why we love movies. This is the part where you... watch it again!
Honorable mentions: NAPOLEON, MAY DECEMBER, SPIDER-VERSE, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, JOHN WICK, and, I guess, OPPENHEIMER. Still haven't seen, but want to: THE HOLDOVERS, SALTBURN, SISU, TALK TO ME, and DREAM SCENARIO.
Worst movie of 2023: Lots of people loved it. It's making other top 10 lists, and folks are comparing it to Kubrick. But me? BEAU IS AFRAID just p***ed me the f*** off.
Best TV show of 2023: BLUE EYE SAMURAI. Best game of 2023: SPIDER-MAN 2. Best comic book of 2023: Joshua Willamson and Gleb Melnikov on DAWN OF DC: SUPERMAN.
Best new-to-me movie of #Junesploitation 2023: BEYOND THE INFINITE TWO MINUTES (2020). Best new-to-me movie of #ScaryMovieMonth 2023: DAUGHTER OF HORROR (1955).
With the tax work beginning, there will be less time available for movies ahead. With that in mind, I made sure to watch something whenever the opportunity came up during the week.
WEEK-END IN HAVANA (1941, dir. Walter Lang) – Though MGM was the studio king of musicals at this time, I have a soft spot for the musicals of 20th Century Fox. Even by the silly entertainment standards of the era, they are extremely silly. When that is combined with a gaudy Technicolor style, it is a spectacle that I am seldom bored by. Week-End In Havana is a good example of the studio’s product, pure escapism into a fantasy Cuba. Carmen Miranda who steals the show as a nightclub performer. Her costumes alone are very campy, but that camp factor amps up when the musical numbers start. 1940s Hollywood is not renowned for its cultural sensitivity, so the “Latin” stereotypes throughout the film should come as no surprise.
LORE (2012, dir. Cate Shortland) on Prime – With their Nazi parents under arrest, a group of five siblings, one of whom is an infant, undertake a trek across occupied Germany in Spring 1945. The eldest, fourteen-year-old Lore, takes on the big challenge of taking care of everyone in the chaos of a destroyed country. She also has to deal with the stigma of being connected with a discredited cause. The best part of the film is the journey. Though the ending gets muddled, that does not detract from the impact of the film.
THE NIGHT WALKER (1964) – A William Castle production that I had not heard of before watching it last night on a movie show called Creature Features. It was a pleasant surprise, an entertaining thriller starring Barbara Stanwyck that delves deeply into dreams. Shot in black-and-white and with some twists that you cannot always see coming.
KRAMPUS (2015, dir. Michael Doherty) – The original plan was to watch this around Christmas, but I did not receive the blu-ray until after the holiday. It is kind of appropriate to watch Krampus on the day of a big snowstorm, though. Despite not having any expectations going into Krampus, the mix of tones and scenarios did catch me off-guard. When the fantasy elements kick in near the conclusion, I was taken out of the film quite a bit. In spite of that, there is much to appreciate about Krampus. Hearing the director talk about influences like Gremlins and Jim Henson films makes sense.
According to my watch list, there were only six films from the 2020s viewed in 2023. (Half were documentaries.) I saw over 40 from the 1970s alone, which should come as no surprise. More than half of the films I saw came out between 1960 and 1999. My top 10 first-time watches reflects that.
1. PIGS AND BATTLESHIPS (1961) - Shohei Imamura's boisterous and cynical portrayal of post-WWII Japan.
2. AIRPLANE! (1980) - I cannot explain why it took so long to see this.
3. TIE ME UP, TIE ME DOWN! (1990) - Almodovar's raunchy and zany romantic comedy is distinctly Almodovar. It frequently had me squirming from the uncomfortable content.
4. ANKUR (1974) - From Indian director Shyam Benegal, this tale of forbidden love amid the oppressive Indian caste system was one of the most forceful watches of the year.
5. SCREAM (1996) - Yes, I do like scary movies. Wes Craven somehow yanked me around into accepting the ridiculous premise.
6. THE HUMAN CONDITION (1959-61) - Masaki Kobayashi's 10-hour World War II epic was a grueling watch but worth the effort.
7. THE TOWERING INFERNO (1974) - A perfect spectacle to watch for the first time at a drive-in. The scale of the production and number of movie stars involved impressed me.
8. YES, MADAM (1985) - Watching Cynthia Rothrock and Michelle Yeoh kick butt was a highlight of Junesploitation.
9. SAMURAI SPY (1965) - Although the story is way too convoluted, the cinematic style of Masahiro Shinoda is very compelling.
10. NIGHT OF THE DEMONS (1988) - Epitomizes trashy '80s horror. Among the most entertaining watches of the year.
Honorable Mentions: When A Woman Ascends The Stairs (1960), Come and See (1985), Kung Fu Wonderchild (1986), Raining In The Mountain (1979)
And here they are, 139 2023 movies (excluding repertory re-releases: Titanic 25th Aniv., Sharknado 10th Aniv., etc.) I watched last year, ranked from worst to best. Zero Netflix movies/documentaries, sorry. doc: documentary. DC: Dolby Cinema. AP: AMC Prime. W: directed by a woman.
ReplyDeleteStarting with the worst of the worst:
139. MALIBU HORROR STORY
138. SKINAMARINK
137. 1920: HORRORS OF THE HEART (India)
136. GOD IS A BULLET
135. MRS. CHATTERJEE VS. NORWAY (India, W)
134. ON FIRE
133. CHILDREN OF THE CORN ('23)
132. MEG 2: THE TRENCH (IMAX)
131. IT'S A WONDERFUL KNIFE
130. SHELTER IN SOLITUDE (W)
129. PSYCHO-PASS: PROVIDENCE (Japan)
128. THE BOOGEYMAN ('23)
127. BLACK ICE (Canada, doc)
126. DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA - TO THE SWORDSMITH VILLAGE (Japan)
125. RELAX, I'M FROM THE FUTURE
124. THE MACHINE
123. 65 (AP)
122. ARISTOTLE AND DANTE DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE
121. FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S (DC, W)
120, THE WRATH OF BECKY
119. GOLDA (UK)
118. RAID ON THE LETHAL ZONE (China)
117. FREELANCE
116. THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER (DC)
115. THE WONDERING EARTH 2 (China)
114. HYPNOTIC
113. EXPEND4BLES (DC)
112. THE RETIREMENT PLAN
111. KANDAHAR
110. M3GAN (IMAX)
109. THE POINT MEN (South Korea)
108. GUY RITCHIE'S THE COVENANT
107. A THOUSAND AND ONE (W)
106. MARLOWE
105. FEAR
104. BORN TO FLY (China)
103. THE SHIFT
102. OF AN AGE (Australia)
101. ASTEROID CITY
100. KNOCK AT THE CABIN
99. ALICE, DARLING
98. THE KILL ROOM
97. JOY RIDE (W)
96. RETRIBUTION
95. CHEVALIER
94. ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA (IMAX)
93. THE STARLING GIRL (W)
92. STRAYS
91. GODARD CINEMA (doc)
90. THE DEVIL CONSPIRACY
89. PRISCILLA (W)
88. ANIMAL (India)
87. CREED III (IMAX)
86. THE LOST KING (UK)
85. THE LITTLE MERMAID 3D (IMAX 3D)
84. SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS (IMAX)
83. HIDDEN BLADE (China)
82. A HAUNTING IN VENICE
81. THEATER CAMP (W)
80. RENFIELD
79. PATHAAN (India)
78. IT LIVES INSIDE
77. THE ROYAL HOTEL (Australia, W)
76. SILENT NIGHT
75. ANYONE BUT YOU
74. THE ROUNDUP: NO WAY OUT (South Korea)
73. JAILER (India)
72. DUMB MONEY (AP)
71. BUTCHER'S CROSSING
70. THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE 3D
69. PLANE
68. BLUE BEETLE (DC)
67. OUTLAW JOHNNY BLACK
66. THE TUNNEL TO SUMMER. THE EXIT TO GOODBYES (Japan)
65. CLOSE (France)
64. PAST LIVES (W)
63. Disney's WISH (W)
62. 20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL (doc)
61. AIR (AP)
60. COCAINE BEAR (W)
59. WONKA (IMAX)
58. THE BOYS IN THE BOAT
57. FERRARI (AP)
56. MEMORY
55. EILEEN
54. JAWAN (India)
53. THE BLACKENING
52. THE ZONE OF INTEREST (UK/Poland)
51. DREAM SCENARIO
50. THE ETERNAL MEMORY (Chile, doc)
49. ANATOMY OF A FALL (France, W)
48. THE MARVELS (IMAX, W)
47. THANKSGIVING
46. AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM 3D (IMAX 3D)
45. THE MARSH KING'S DAUGHTER
44. SHEHZADA (India)
43. SCREAM VI
42. NO HARD FEELINGS
41 THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER
40. SOUND OF FREEDOM
39. LOST IN THE STARS (China)
38. THE EQUALIZER 3 (IMAX)
37. INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY
36. INFINITY POOL
35. LANDSCAPE WITH INVISIBLE HAND
34. BOTTOMS
33. Pixar's ELEMENTAL 3D
32. BLACKBERRY (Canada)
31. THE POPE'S EXORCIST
30. KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON (IMAX)
29. AMERICAN FICTION
28. HOLY SPIDER (Denmark)
27.SHORTCOMINGS
26. MALUM
25. NAPOLEON (IMAX)
24. THE BOY AND THE HERON (Japan, IMAX)
23. TALK TO ME (Australia)
22. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 (IMAX)
21. JOHN WICK CHAPTER 4 (IMAX)
20. THE FLASH (IMAX)
19. ALL OF US STRANGERS (UK)
18. BIRTH/REBIRTH (W)
17. WHAT HAPPENS LATER (W)
16. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING PART ONE (IMAX)
15. GODZILLA MINUS ONE (Japan, IMAX)
14. POOR THINGS
13. SALTBURN
12. DREAMIN' WILD
11. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES (IMAX)
10. SUZUME (Japan)
9. A GOOD PERSON
8. SISU (Finland, DC)
7. THE QUIET GIRL (Ireland)
6. OPERATION FORTUNE: RUSE DE GUERRE
5. WHEN EVIL LURKS (Argentina)
4. OPPENHEIMER (IMAX 70MM)
3. BARBIE (DC, W)
2. SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE (IMAX)
1. THE HOLDOVERS
Detailed post about Top 10/20 later today after I return from work. :-)
Once again, haven't seen many new movies this year, but it's still fun to read your list. HNY, JM!
DeleteEPIC list JM....well done...well done indeed!!!!!!!!
DeleteQuite a list there, J.M. I would never attempt to rank that many at once.
DeleteMy ten of 2023!! Inevitably there’s something that I missed that would likely have made my list if I had seen it. This year that movie is Poor Things. I’m about 95% sure Blackberry will fall off the list once I see Poor Things. Dream Scenario and The Boy and the Heron also stand a chance since I didn’t get to those either. Anyway, here we go!
ReplyDelete10.) Blackberry
9.) Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
8.) Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning
7.) Suzume
6.) Oppenheimer
5.) Killers of the Flower Moon
4.) Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
3.) John Wick Chapter 4
2.) Godzilla Minus One
1.) The Holdovers
Oppenheimer (2023 blu)
ReplyDeleteA ton has already been written about this masterpiece (it is). All i can add is that in the months leading up to release i read the book its based on, American Prometheus, and i am SO impressed how Nolan (director AND writer) managed to distill so many topics into one movie. Science, War, Evolution, Innovation, Relationships with others and self, Philosophy, Power and who wields it and how, Regret, Betrayal, Infidelity, Questions where there is no clear "right" or "wrong", and so so much more. Its a movie where i think i will find something new upon EVERY viewing. Cant wait.
Oh man, I'm back to the movies! I only watched 43 in 2023, for many weird reasons, but I'm getting back into this.
ReplyDeleteThe Thief of Bagdad (1924) - Just a blast of a movie showcasing Douglas Fairbanks Sr and his considerable physical skills and charm. Took half a star off of for the standard 1924 racism in it.
Speedy (1928) - Defector highlighted this this week because it's new to the public domain but my god, forget that, this is a whole raft of dangerous fun with Harold Lloyd trying to save his potential father in law's business running the last horse-drawn streetcar in New York City. It's real damn good, has a fun appearance by Babe Ruth at the height of his celebrity and half an hour of a visit to Coney Island with makes it look like a really fun death trap at the time. (Also, a running gag with a live crab in Lloyd's suit pocket that keeps accidentally stealing stuff.). A huge recommend.
Mala Noche (1986) - I'd never seen Gus van Sant's debut and it shows so, so much promise for him. A lovely and sad piece about transients and restaurant workers and folks just drifting along, this feels like a transition between The Outsiders and the upcoming queer cinema of the '90s (and watching this, I can only imagine Linklater really took it to heart). It's not quite great but man is it good.
Amour (2012) - OK, this movie absolutely wrecked me. It's a masterpiece in all the right ways, a raw and honest look at how dementia can turn someone you love into someone you don't recognize. This happened to my mother and my god does does this movie get it right.
Sometimes life gets in the way of movies. They will be there waiting for your attention.
DeleteSpeedy is fun Harold Lloyd, one that I would rank above Safety Last. (I have not watched the latter for a long time, though.) It accidentally became a documentary about late 1920s New York, too. So many Model Ts on the road.
Hi gang! Hope everyone's enjoying the weekend.
ReplyDeleteI posted my top 20 of 2023 on Twitter, might as well copy it here too. I'm hosting a year-end movie poll on a Finnish forum and compiled my list from what was released here in 2023, so there are a few movies here that came out in 2022 in most of the world. There's also a lot of stuff I still want to see but haven't gotten around to yet.
1. Godzilla Minus One (Japan)
2. Oppenheimer
3. The Banshees of Inisherin (Ireland)
4. Fallen Leaves (Finland)
5. Pearl
6. Sisu (Finland)
7. John Wick: Chapter 4
8. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
9. Knock at the Cabin
10. Death Is a Problem for the Living (Finland)
11. Barbie
12. Air
13. No One Will Save You
14. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
15. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
16. The Killer
17. Creed III
18. Decision to Leave (South Korea)
19. The Fabelmans
20. M3GAN
And I know my self esteem shouldn't be tied to something that has absolutely nothing to do with me, but I can't help that it's made me feel good seeing Finnish movies (Sisu and Fallen Leaves) on several top 10 lists throughout the week.
It's embarrassing how few Oscar best picture winners I've seen, so I made a New Year's resolution to watch them all. Of the 95 winners, I'd only seen 44, so 51 to watch. Perfect for a year long project, so I'm trying to watch one a week.
ReplyDeleteI started with Billy Wilder's The Lost Weekend (1945), which pretty much knocked my socks off! A pretty harrowing portrayal of addiction, beautifully directed by Wilder and amazingly performed by Ray Milland. My project got off to a good start.
And yesterday I watched The Taking of Pelham One Two Three for the first time, and had a great time with that too. 70's New York City isn't necessarily a place I'd want to visit, but I love seeing it in movies. Walter Matthau in the lead as a laconic Transit Police lieutenant is excellent, and the last shot of the movie is perfect.
"aaaachoooo!"
DeleteInteresting project that you have set yourself, Mikko. You will find that even in past decades the "best" picture of the year did not always get the OSCAR. Going My Way over Double Indemnity in 1944? No way.
DeleteGran Turismo (2023 Nflix)
ReplyDeleteWent into this thinking: 1) the trailer, as most trailers these days, gave away the entire movie and 2) feels a bit like a video game commercial. And after watching i think i was correct. That being said, its a fine by-the-numbers underdog story that treads close to "nerds vs jocks" territory. David Harbor was a great choice as the curmudgeon-y coach trying to turn gamers into racers. The racing footage is entertaining for sure. There is a relatively surprising moment that im not sure i fully agree with how the film handled and feel it brings up deeper questions regarding accountability/safety.
And here's my top 10 of 2023:
ReplyDelete10 - GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3. This year's best Marvel movie, mishandling of Adam Warlock notwithstanding.
9 - DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES. Jarnathan spinoff movie when?
8 - Tie: SCREAM VI/EVIL DEAD RISE. Fave franchises stay relevant with two killer new entries.
7 - THE BOY AND THE HERON. Miyazaki goodness!
6 - BOTTOMS. Definitely a future cult classic. Foul-mouthed and weird, yet also sharply observed.
5 - BARBIE. A movie that commits to its message while also being laugh-out-loud funny. That's something of a miracle.
4 - GODZILLA MINUS ONE. Every Godzilla flick has to have something for the human characters to do, but this is one where the human story truly matters.
3 - NO HARD FEELINGS. An R-rated big-studio comedy with movie stars that was released in theaters? We need more of this.
2 - KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON. Scorsese goodness!
1 - NIMONA. A big, sprawling epic full of action, humor, and heart, not to mention grand world-building and gorgeous visuals. It's why we love movies. This is the part where you... watch it again!
Honorable mentions: NAPOLEON, MAY DECEMBER, SPIDER-VERSE, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, JOHN WICK, and, I guess, OPPENHEIMER.
Still haven't seen, but want to: THE HOLDOVERS, SALTBURN, SISU, TALK TO ME, and DREAM SCENARIO.
Worst movie of 2023: Lots of people loved it. It's making other top 10 lists, and folks are comparing it to Kubrick. But me? BEAU IS AFRAID just p***ed me the f*** off.
Best TV show of 2023: BLUE EYE SAMURAI.
Best game of 2023: SPIDER-MAN 2.
Best comic book of 2023: Joshua Willamson and Gleb Melnikov on DAWN OF DC: SUPERMAN.
Best new-to-me movie of #Junesploitation 2023: BEYOND THE INFINITE TWO MINUTES (2020).
Best new-to-me movie of #ScaryMovieMonth 2023: DAUGHTER OF HORROR (1955).
With the tax work beginning, there will be less time available for movies ahead. With that in mind, I made sure to watch something whenever the opportunity came up during the week.
ReplyDeleteWEEK-END IN HAVANA (1941, dir. Walter Lang) – Though MGM was the studio king of musicals at this time, I have a soft spot for the musicals of 20th Century Fox. Even by the silly entertainment standards of the era, they are extremely silly. When that is combined with a gaudy Technicolor style, it is a spectacle that I am seldom bored by. Week-End In Havana is a good example of the studio’s product, pure escapism into a fantasy Cuba. Carmen Miranda who steals the show as a nightclub performer. Her costumes alone are very campy, but that camp factor amps up when the musical numbers start. 1940s Hollywood is not renowned for its cultural sensitivity, so the “Latin” stereotypes throughout the film should come as no surprise.
LORE (2012, dir. Cate Shortland) on Prime – With their Nazi parents under arrest, a group of five siblings, one of whom is an infant, undertake a trek across occupied Germany in Spring 1945. The eldest, fourteen-year-old Lore, takes on the big challenge of taking care of everyone in the chaos of a destroyed country. She also has to deal with the stigma of being connected with a discredited cause. The best part of the film is the journey. Though the ending gets muddled, that does not detract from the impact of the film.
THE NIGHT WALKER (1964) – A William Castle production that I had not heard of before watching it last night on a movie show called Creature Features. It was a pleasant surprise, an entertaining thriller starring Barbara Stanwyck that delves deeply into dreams. Shot in black-and-white and with some twists that you cannot always see coming.
KRAMPUS (2015, dir. Michael Doherty) – The original plan was to watch this around Christmas, but I did not receive the blu-ray until after the holiday. It is kind of appropriate to watch Krampus on the day of a big snowstorm, though. Despite not having any expectations going into Krampus, the mix of tones and scenarios did catch me off-guard. When the fantasy elements kick in near the conclusion, I was taken out of the film quite a bit. In spite of that, there is much to appreciate about Krampus. Hearing the director talk about influences like Gremlins and Jim Henson films makes sense.
According to my watch list, there were only six films from the 2020s viewed in 2023. (Half were documentaries.) I saw over 40 from the 1970s alone, which should come as no surprise. More than half of the films I saw came out between 1960 and 1999. My top 10 first-time watches reflects that.
ReplyDelete1. PIGS AND BATTLESHIPS (1961) - Shohei Imamura's boisterous and cynical portrayal of post-WWII Japan.
2. AIRPLANE! (1980) - I cannot explain why it took so long to see this.
3. TIE ME UP, TIE ME DOWN! (1990) - Almodovar's raunchy and zany romantic comedy is distinctly Almodovar. It frequently had me squirming from the uncomfortable content.
4. ANKUR (1974) - From Indian director Shyam Benegal, this tale of forbidden love amid the oppressive Indian caste system was one of the most forceful watches of the year.
5. SCREAM (1996) - Yes, I do like scary movies. Wes Craven somehow yanked me around into accepting the ridiculous premise.
6. THE HUMAN CONDITION (1959-61) - Masaki Kobayashi's 10-hour World War II epic was a grueling watch but worth the effort.
7. THE TOWERING INFERNO (1974) - A perfect spectacle to watch for the first time at a drive-in. The scale of the production and number of movie stars involved impressed me.
8. YES, MADAM (1985) - Watching Cynthia Rothrock and Michelle Yeoh kick butt was a highlight of Junesploitation.
9. SAMURAI SPY (1965) - Although the story is way too convoluted, the cinematic style of Masahiro Shinoda is very compelling.
10. NIGHT OF THE DEMONS (1988) - Epitomizes trashy '80s horror. Among the most entertaining watches of the year.
Honorable Mentions: When A Woman Ascends The Stairs (1960), Come and See (1985), Kung Fu Wonderchild (1986), Raining In The Mountain (1979)