Here's some of what I watched and liked in 2023 in order of viewing (I logged 99 films, so close to 100!!).
- Tar (2022) - 2022 catchup early in the year. Cate Blanchett is a narcissistic orchestra conductor in Germany. It's a pretty wild character study and Blanchett gives an insane performance. One of my 2022 favs, despite not seeing it until Feb. Highly recommended if you like dramas, Cate Blanchett, or music related movies. The takes on "cancel culture" and separating the art from the artist imo contain more nuance than what we've seen in the current discourse.
- Citizen Kane (1941) - Way late to the party on this one. I watched the film by itself and then checked out Robert Ebert's commentary (highly recommended, his commentary is unbelievably in depth). Anyway, not much to say here other than it really does live up to the hype. It holds up surprisingly well on quite a few levels. The rise and fall trope is a classic that can still be enjoyed today, but the story of a wealthy technocrat using media and politics to gain power is still all too familiar. Got a lot of Elon vibes from Orson Welles in this. Some of the cinematic tricks used throughout are also still impressive, in some ways even more impressive in the CGI world.
- Deliverance (1972) - One thing I’ve noticed about movies from the 70s is more of a novel like feel with the way characters and themes are explored. There's a lot more show don't tell which I really enjoy. The movie is best remembered for the banjo duel and an out of left field rape scene, but it sticks with you for the sinister quiet moments and the subtle commentary on man's dark nature. I don't want to sound like a "they don't make movies like that anymore" kind of guy, but I do feel Deliverance has a lot to offer that I rarely (if ever) see in movies made today.
- Ben Hur (1959) - I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. The chariot race is the most famous thing about this movie, probably for good reason, but the whole thing is filled with stunning set pieces. I found myself fascinated with the biblical backdrop and how it gives viewers a context for more of the politics around Jesus and the Romans. If you live in the Western world, you know the story of Jesus' crucifixion, but I'm not sure if the historical context is entirely clear in the Gospels.
- Seven Samurai (1954) - Another one I'm severely late to. I'll be honest and say that I struggled with this one some. It is a very long film and like Citizen Kane it's one of those movies that you'll recognize even if you haven't seen it. The fight scenes continue to be replicated to this day and the trope of bringing a group of warriors to help save a village is super common. So it took a lot of effort for me to try and remove my modern biases and enjoy the movie for what it is. Unlike Citizen Kane, the movie sometimes moves slow and the camera work isn't quite as playful. In Seven Samurai it's more about the performances and blocking. A different experience overall, but I definitely need to see it a few more times to fully get into what it has to offer.
- RRR (2022) - Another 2022 catchup, this one is probably my favorite of that year. So over the top in the best way possible. Amazing action scenes, stunts, dance sequences, songs. A true cinematic experience that I'm so glad I got to experience in the theater. A few unexpected twists to the "best friend betrayal" trope keep this one engaging throughout a pretty thick runtime.
- Sisters (1972) - Early DePalma. Not as iconic as Carrie but around the same time. On the face of it, it's pretty much just a Psycho remake (even contains music by Bernard Hermann). Some experimental camera work and editing choices modernize the story a bit, and the mystery of a woman killing a black man in the 70s gives way to decent social commentary as well.
- Taxi Driver (1976) - Like Seven Samurai and Citizen Kane, there's not much for me to add to this one. Lived up to the hype, still holds up, etc etc.
- Suzume (2022) - Cool Anime story about people who stop earthquakes in Japan by closing doors. It's a bit of an out-there concept, but totally works in the framework of the movie. Clearly a reaction to the devastation caused by the Japanese earthquakes in 2011, and sadly relevant again as the country suffers through another quake.
- Past Lives (2023) - First movie on the list from 2023 and probably my favorite of the year as well. Classic missed connection story about a Korean woman who immigrates to New York City as a child and happens to run into one of her childhood romances from Korea as an adult. I loved the performances and the way the film gracefully sidestepped a lot of the cliches you would expect with this type of story. Beautifully filmed as well, loved the use of color.
- Moonlight (2016) - 7 years after release, I think this one is going to eventually cement itself as a classic and one of the most important films of the century so far. Movies depicting the various stages in life of a protagonist are a dime a dozen (think Forrest Gump or most biopics), but the way it weaves together black masculinity and LGBTQ topics without feeling forced/pandering gives this one a unique flavor to make for a standout film. Gorgeously shot and a really tight script - very light dialog but they get the point across.
- Eraserhead (1977) - This year I finally took the dive into David Lynch's films, starting with his debut feature. Eraserhead is bizarre but also surprisingly human. The gray industrial feel and the long uncomfortable bits of dialog are surreal but also force you to think about the humdrum and uncontrollable nature of your own life.
- Oppenheimer (2023) - The big movie of the year (other than Barbie). Oppenheimer lives up to the hype, although it isn't without its flaws. I'm not a huge Nolan fan but I think this one is among his best, mainly because it is so character driven where some of the plots of his movies can get in the way of his characters. Still, there are a few Nolanisms that I don't think Oppenheimer is immune to. My biggest problem with this movie and Nolan in general is that it's just too loud. Not just the literal audio of the movie (which was almost painful on the ears at time) but also just the fast cutting and dramatic montage sequences. The movie has no room to breathe and, despite its 3 hour run time, feels like it's in a hurry the entire time. There's a lot of comparisons to 12 Angry Men, which I suppose I understand in terms of the RDJ plotline, but Nolan presents a pretty much opposite experience. Complaints aside, I did greatly enjoy it and really dug the duo structure of the color Oppenheimer sequences and the black and white stuff focusing on him losing his security clearance. Nolan succeeded in portraying a complicated character. I think there will be a lot of buzz for this one to win big at the Oscars, but I actually don't expect it will win anything besides adapted screenplay and maybe best sound. I think Best Picture alluding Nolan is going to become a "thing" the way Leo never winning an Oscar was a thing until it wasn't anymore. Nolan is just a little too blockbuster-y and after Everything Everywhere All At Once winning last year (deservedly), I expect the academy to go more in the arthouse direction, probably Poor Things or even Killers of the Flower Moon.
- 2001 (1968) - This was one I was holding off on because I really wanted to catch it in a theater. It was worth the wait. Visually stunning with an epic story. I was not ready for how absolutely fucking bizarre the last third was. Loved every minute of it.
- Big Shark (2023) - From director of The Room, Tommy Wiseau. It’s only his second film and his first since The Room. My story of trying to see the movie is about what you might expect from a Tommy Wiseau movie. It hasn't been released digitally, on DVD, or any streaming services. No wide theater release or road show or anything like that - instead it has been one night only releases in various cities with very little fanfare or advance notice. So I've been trying to see it for at least a year. I just happened to be in Portland OR for an early screening back in September. Then I was able to see the movie again a month later in LA, again just by circumstance (I was just there for a weekend). In the month since screening the movie in Portland, Wiseau made significant edits to the film, from changed sound effects to added CGI, and even the addition of a soundtrack (the first cut I saw had almost no music, including scenes where someone was playing an instrument but no sound coming out). Some dialog was changed and a scene was even added. Bizarre stuff. Anyway, it's about what you would expect. The difference being that The Room was ostensibly a genuine attempt at making a film. Big Shark seems to be Wiseau embracing the "so bad it's good" crowd by basically having a handheld camcorder on location feel with a script that was probably heavily improvised. The sound mixing is also atrocious, there are scenes where audio is clearly coming from the camcorders as the sound changes as the shot changes and scenes where the audio is so loud to the point of distortion. In the grand scheme of bad cult movies, Big Shark is pretty forgettable, but it does add to the Wiseau mystique and is a solid entry alongside The Room and The Disaster Artist. You don't care about the story, but check this one out if it is playing near you. Hopefully it makes digital soon.
- Bottoms (2023) - This one is going to join my library of favorite cult classics ala Scott Pilgrim. Super over the top comedy that flips the high school thing on its head. The premise is two outcast girls starting a fight club so they can hook up with the hottest girls in the school. Some really hilarious dialog and insane action sequences. Good breakout role for Ayo Edebiri who steals the show along with... NFL star Marshawn Lynch? I've already seen this movie twice because it's so much fun and is a great pick for parties.
- House (1971) - Saw a 35mm print of this on a whim, had no idea what I was getting into (although Mike Portnoy has it on his Criterion top 10). Honestly, nothing could prepare me for this and I'm not sure how I could possibly do it justice here. It's a Japanese film about some schoolgirls in a haunted house. There's a demented cat, dancing skeleton, and a demon lady who eats children. I had an amazing time and the packed theater experience was essential! Not sure how often it gets played, but you have to see it in a group.
- Blue Velvet (1986) - Following up my David Lynch journey. More of a "normal" film than Eraserhead but still some really bizarre moments. An interesting take on suburbia and its disturbing underbelly. Unforgettable performances from all involved, but especially Isabella Rosellini and Dennis Hopper. Like Eraserhead, I found myself taken aback at how much humanity Lynch was able to convey with such a surreal story. Excellent soundtrack as well.
- Jeanne Dielman (1975) - Checked this out after its surprise #1 placement on the Sights and Sound Top 100 list in 2022. To call anything the greatest anything of all time is a bit of a fool's errand, but I was curious about how a movie that primarily captures the mundane day to day of a single mother could be so acclaimed. I actually really enjoyed the film. There's a lot of tension in the long scenes and I appreciated the challenge. I actually went back and rewatched a lot of the scenes afterwards as I found myself fascinated with a lot of it. Kind of a weird experience.
- Anatomy of a Fall (2023) - Palm d'Or winner this year, but doesn't really seem to have caught on in the states that much. I think the long takes primarily made up of monologs is a bit outside what American audiences are looking for as it ends up feeling more like a play than a movie. With that being said, I thought it had a lot of cinematic candy. Shot kinda like a Hitchcock thriller with manipulative camera work and delicate control over what the audience sees and hears. It's a murder mystery that unfolds in the courtroom. By the end of the movie, despite the final verdict, you're still not entirely sure what actually happened. Recommended if you like mysteries/character driven dramas.
- Top Gun: Maverick (2022) - Maverick was way better than it had any right to be. It's like if you took everything good about the original Top Gun but actually wrote a good story to go with it as well. It's more or less the same movie again visually and in terms of attitude. Tom Cruise is back, all the locations and set pieces from the original are back, but the effects are updated of course. The dogfighting scenes are absolutely incredible, some of the best action sequences I've seen in a recent blockbuster. It was just cool to see so much use of practical effects and real stunts. I can't stand Tom Cruise as a person, but I have to admit that I have a lot of respect for what he and the rest of the crew did to make this one happen.
- Blade Runner 2049 (2017) - Another "should never have been made, should not have been good" situation. I had a very similar impression of this as I did with Maverick. It did a lot to build off the original and kinda just blew up the original concept in a really compelling way. The difference with Maverick is mainly that the original Blade Runner was pretty much perfect as is, so not as much to improve on there. Still, it's an amazing sequel and amazing that it lives up to the original in almost every conceivable way. The only way it doesn't live up to the original is in the visuals. I thought the landscapes and sets were drab and lifeless compared to the colorful original.
- Godzilla Minus One (2023) - A Japanese Godzilla "remake," i.e. no relation to the Kong vs Godzilla franchise or anything like that. I'm not a huge Godzilla fan, sometimes I like watching the old movies for the cheese factor, but the newer films are CGI explosion fests that just aren't very interesting to me. So I had pretty low expectations going into this, but was pleasantly surprised! They did a really solid job creating a compelling human story of a failed WWII Kamikaze pilot facing his old demons and reclaiming self worth. I enjoyed that the movie brought Godzilla back to its atomic age roots and, frankly, there are not a lot of movies out there where we get to see the fallout of World War II from the perspective of a Japanese soldier (not to mention many scenes of a Japan that has been turned to rubble).
- Poor Things (2023) - This one is going to be a big deal during awards season IMO. Lots of movies this year dealing with feminist topics and general themes of modern womanhood, to varying degrees of success IMO, but I think Poor Things was the most successful. Watching this Frankenstein's monster develop from a babbling baby to an inteligent adult in a short amount of time is a journey and throughout the movie I found myself somewhere between fascinated and horrified, leaving me constantly unsure of how I felt about the main characters. Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe give career performances and are fantastic on screen together. All of this is to say nothing of the amazing visuals. Loved the way this was filmed and the dreamy sets. An unforgettable experience!
- Planet of the Apes (1968) - I finished out the year with this one on NYE. I pretty much knew the whole plot already, so the ending "twist" wasn't really a twist for me. Despite knowing the ending, I actually really loved the movie. The costumes and prosthetics are obviously outdated, but I thought they were well made for the time. I also dug the on location shooting. The story itself is really thematically on the nose with the social commentary, but like Citizen Kane it's still relevant today. I'm a fan.
