25 - Evil Dead Rise
I find myself enjoying the
Evil Dead media the best when Bruce Campbell leads the franchise. Understandably, he can't do it forever, but I find it a little off-putting when the series seems to jump over the 2013 reboot and take off in some other disconnected direction. What is this, another
Terminator reboot?
I thought this would be pretty droll at first glance, but the film turned out to be more interesting than expected. It certainly doesn't hold back on the blood—there's so much of it by the end. But this entry sustained my interest with the core conflict of a loving mother becoming a deadite—it's poignant, if not heart-wrenching, to watch a family (even a troubled one) torn apart this way. It's more bite and terror than I expected, and the film looks pretty dang good. Could do without the jump-scares. The callbacks to the older films is a little eye-rolling. Otherwise, it's a better horror experience than I expected.
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24 - The Covenant
Guy Ritchie's The Covenant
Guy Ritchie breaks away from telling stories about plucky groups of criminals to tell a story about a plucky group of soldiers. Although some quippy banter and plenty of combat scenes will entice the average action-movie junkie (with style nonetheless),
The Covenant draws attention to the ramifications of it title and puts the spotlight on unfulfilled promises. While this can be a scathing criticism against the military, the film's second half becomes more devoted to the personal struggle for one character to save another, and it's a surprisingly heartfelt journey.
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23 - No One Will Save You
Wordless and simple, but not necessarily quiet or uneventful. As the film puts all of its focus on one woman suffering the scorn of a whole town (which, honestly, is the most frustrating aspect, especially since no dialogue offers any explanation behind why), the story draws the viewer close to her and makes the many harrowing encounters terrifying. There is a fascinating point being made concerning conformity and judgment, and it leads up to an intriguing twist ending. It's all thrilling to experience, with just enough bread crumbs scattered around to lead your curiosity to its bizarre twist ending.
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22 - Talk To Me
If anything can approach the novelty of the original
Flatliners, it's this film. Of course it's a bad idea to shake a creepy hand statue and invite spirits into you, but here we are, watching a group of dippy kids turn this into a party game, and it obviously leads to horrifying outcomes. The dramatic heights are definitely gripping as events send characters at each others' throats, but the supernatural threats are genuinely frightening, and it builds up to a whopper of a final scene.
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21 - The Creator
Whoa whoa whoa, what's this? An original Hollywood sci-fi epic that's not based on a comic book? It's not a sequel, prequel, requel, or reboot? What kind of madness is this—did I wake up in the 1990s somehow?
One has to admire Gareth Edwards for at least trying.
The Creator is easily the most eye-catching sci-fi movie since
Oblivion, with some of the coolest combat scenes since
Elysium. It's not all a blur of CGI either—much of the film's beauty stems from using real landscapes and a wealth of great-looking practical costumes and sets. Any given scene in this movie can easily outclass the modern waves of Marvel, DC, and Disney schlock, and I am enamored by the vivid world Edwards created in
The Creator. I wish the storyline and worldbuilding wasn't as hackneyed, but the film has bursts of greatness. It's still a worthwhile viewing experience on the merits of its production, and the mere fact that it's something original by golly.
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20 - Missing
A new variant on the innovative filmmaking shenanigans that made
Searching fresh and interesting.
Missing continues the trend of building a whole movie based on, simply, phone and computer screenshots. With a story expanded into more international locations, the film manages to feel bigger than its predecessor. It pulls out some dang big plot twists—it might come across as convoluted or improbable, but I appreciate how the film takes every opportunity to eke out tension and misdirection with every new turn. Some folks will probably write this off as dumb, but the experience genuinely kept me at the edge of my seat.
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19 - Super Mario Bros: The Movie
It is genuinely exciting to see a video game franchise treated right on the big screen. Especially considering how the last
Super Mario Bros. adaptation went, yeesh.
Illumination's version earns some brownie points by default, for faithfully adapting the characters and staying true to the world-building. In fact, it probably plays things too safe, harping a lot on references and nostalgia to elicit a positive fan response. They took the greatest hits from the greatest games (including
Donkey Kong and
Mario Kart) and strung them on a rather predictable plotline (one that's surprisingly not too dissimilar to the '93 film that we all hate). It is a colorful and funny adventure though that will please fans of the games and characters.
Plus, Jack Black gives the musical performance of the year with his "Peaches" song. Give the man an Oscar for best original song already, holy crap.
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18 - Barbie
Ew, it's a girl's movie!
No, wait, it's good. Greta Gerwig purposefully crafted this film for mass appeal, addressing men and women alike. It is a snappy, cartoony self-aware comedy that everybody can enjoy.
But wait, hasn't the Barbie doll perpetuated an unhealthy standard for women across decades? Surely a movie based on the doll would objectify women.
No, wait, it's all good. The film openly acknowledges the toy's heritage and the story does revolve around Barbie's evolution, adopting to modern times to address current realities and the need to represent modern identities. For all that goes, the biggest point is that Barbie can be anybody, just as women can be anybody they dream of.
But what about Ken? The film literally says he's built solely to be within Barbie's gaze and he has no other purpose. What kind of double standard is this? It's sexist I tell you. Harumph!
No wait, it's all good. Ken has his own arc in which he finds a purpose and identity beyond being Barbie's object of affection.
And so it goes, the film brings one issue to mind, it addresses it with self-aware analysis and wit. It's hard to come into the Barbie brand without bringing up the battle of the sexes, and in doing so it will invite some controversy and ire. It does strive to achieve nuance though, perhaps going so far as satirizing the whole affair. But even without those layers, the film is sufficiently entertaining as a candy-coated comedy that celebrates a toy's enduring legacy.
Wait, this is just a toy commercial, isn't it? Nuts to this, imma watch some
GI Joe and
Transformers. Them are big boy movies.
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17 - Sisu
You know what they say in all the Finnish memes I've seen on FB:
the power of a Finn is the Sisu within. As an American of Finnish descent who likes action movies and can appreciate some grit, this seemed like a must-see. While the film plays out a lot dryer than I expected, it is pretty badass. Action scenes will satisfy those looking for a lot of brutal Nazi-killing. Cinematography can be eye-popping despite the drab nature of the settings.
With slower scenes padding the scenes out, it comes off as a little hollow, leaving one to wonder what else there is to take away from the film. On the other hand, I do appreciate that the film does what it does without extraneous dialogue, letting actions speak for themselves most of the time. However, I expected more snap to this (thanks largely to the Tarantino-esque trailers). It's a fair experience that does justice to the Sisu spirit, and I'd probably prefer this over the latest
Rambo picture, but it's best taken with tempered expectations.
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16 - Renfield
media thrives only on fresh blood. Thankfully, this film thrives on the life blood of two Nicks—Nicolas Cage, channeling all his hammy powers as Dracula, and Nicholas Hoult, who takes the front stage as the titular Renfield with surprising nuance.
Renfield finds its soul through its subversive approach, focusing on Dracula's narcissism and abusive relationship with his familiar. It is rather heartwarming to watch Renfield struggle to liberate himself, but with its witty script and no shortage of absurd, over-the-top violence, the film succeeds at being a snappy horror comedy. It even has some theatrical flair thanks to its vivid lighting, set design, fight choreography, and the playful way it edits in scenes from the classic
Dracula film. It's a far more entertaining film than I expected it to be, but it helps that there's some heart to it as well.
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15 - The Holdovers
Christmas at a prep school sounds like a bummer, although
The Holdovers makes this fertile ground for a surprising amount of dramatic potential. The clash of personalities provides a good amount of comedy and conflict, but as the film progresses, its focus tightens on a budding relationship that cuts deeper into the characters and their unique stances on life. Echoing the sentiments in films like
Dead Poets Society, the film ultimately finds its heart in showing how generations connect and inspire each other within academia. You do have to cut through some jaded cynicism to get there, but there is certainly charm behind it.
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14 - The Sound Of Freedom
Some things need to be said. The current media landscape isn't receptive to letting certain hard truths being shown or spoken about in the arts, so it's no surprise that it takes an independent studio and 100,000 online investors to produce a film that Hollywood studios (namely Fox) didn't have the guts to make themselves.
Sound of Freedom has the gumption to shine a spotlight on the issues concerning human trafficking, and it treads the fine line between showing enough of its horror to elicit shock, but without relying on graphic or exploitative material. There is no real subtlety to the film, given the sheer amount of on-the-nose dialogue that bleats the movie's mission statement to the audience. Personally though, I appreciate the frank, direct approach. What good is subtlety anyway when the message alone can hit you in the heart? And nothing says it more succinctly than "God's children are not for sale."
The story and delivery won me over, but the film earns its extra brownie points for looking really professional with its grade-A photography, sound design, and music score. Jim Caviezel is a real chad as he portrays the real-life chad that inspired this whole movie. It's a far better film than I'd expect from Angel Studios, and I appreciate that they're willing to let the movie tell it like it is. Even though there are films I rank higher, this is the one that probably deserves to be seen the most by the general public.
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13 - M3GAN
Hokey, I know, but I was entertained. A lot. Something about the tone, writing, levity, the way scenes are blocked, creative decisions and the nature of the story invoked a sense of fun that reminded me of horror movies I used to love in the 90s. There's an intangible snap to it that carries the film through its absurd storyline. However, the film does the work to keep audiences invested in the characters, and it becomes surprisingly relevant and emotional as it explores the themes of technology and its role in parenting. It's more depth than I expected, but even without it, the film is quite the thrill ride, and M3GAN herself is easily the scariest robot I've seen since GLaDOS.
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12 - Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Movies like this seem to come and go year after year. It seems like the vast majority of blockbusters aim to be adventures, but they rarely capture the right spirit. Most of them simply miss a certain something: a spark of creativity, enthusiasm for the material, or perhaps passion. Somehow, against all expectation and seemingly out of nowhere, it's
D&D: Honor Among Thieves that demonstrates more sprit than decades of similar adventures (including the other abysmal
D&D movies).
You might have seen fantasy adventures like this before, where a party of outcasts group up on a journey with all the usual dragons, elves, dwarves, kings and queens, treasure-hunting, dungeon-crawling shenanigans. What sets this film apart is the heart and levity put into it. The film's script is sharp enough to cut through the many fantasy cliches that other films succumb to, even to the point of lampooning them (seriously, they put a chonky dragon in this?!). There are plenty of creative choices that feel inspired and are showcased in eye-popping ways. When the action scenes hit, they are sufficiently spectacular, feeling fresh and interesting to watch. Best of all though, the film does the work to give characters depth and life, giving us a stronger reason to care through all the clever twists and suspenseful turns. Comedy, terror, action, wonder, heart—the film has it all, and it's more satisfying and enjoyable than it had any right to be.
Now imagine how much more awesome some films would have been if it had as much effort and care as this one did. Like
Morbius.
Fast 9 or
10. That last
Tomb Raider movie. 2010's
Clash of the Titans. So many films could have been so much better.
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11 - Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
A few years ago, Sony opened up a multiverse of possibilities with their animated Spider-Man franchise that follows the growing pains of Miles Morales. A sequel was inevitable. And of course it's solid. It bears all the same qualities as its predecessor, achieving a punchy and vibrant presentation through its unique style that blends pop-art aesthetics with choppy frames and lucid 3D renderings. This entry even finds some space to flex some creative gags, which includes live-action inserts, animating a punk Spider-Man with paper cutout style, an Indian-themed Spider-Man, and more opportunities to insert the pointing-Spider-Man meme. Beyond those superficial qualities though, the film still strives to heart by focusing on the characters and their relationships. Can't say I love the cliffhanger ending, but I do have a good feeling that the third installment will be as solid as all these other ones have been.
Webs are flowing out and touching endless lives with a shoulder tap
Pointing at each other as they chase Miles all the way across the multiverse
Strange villains and plot twists are just a step through opened portals
Colorful and exciting
That's a groovy film, yeah
Nothing's gonna change my mind
Nothing's gonna change my mind
Nothing's gonna change my mind
Everything will change, next film
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10 - Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One
Seventh in the series, this mission is unsurprisingly routine, but also unsurprisingly good. Christopher McQuarrie delivers a slick experience, as expected, and Tom Cruise continues to dominate the screen with real stunts and gravitas, as usual. It'd almost be mundane if there was any less attention to detail, but thankfully the film commands attention with its sense of character, confident style, and dedication to the bit. The film has numerous tension-filled setpieces that are genuinely gripping. It's all unified by the story, which puts focus on a runaway AI and underscores modern fears behind the technology. My only gripe is that the script is rather shallow and cliché-ridden, and we'll have to wait for Part 2 to see how this is wrapped up.
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9 - Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3
It's been a long six years since the last volume, and it's hard to shake off the negative buzz that plagued James Gunn lately. Even harder to shake off the apathy I've started to feel towards Marvel and Disney properties. Should have kept my faith in Gunn being Gunn though, because once
GOTG Vol. 3 found its stride, it becomes a fairly remarkable sprint that outpaces Marvel's mediocrity.
Volume 3's opener comes off as mopey, not only because they used Radiohead's "Creep" to frame Rocket's painful backstory, but also because trauma becomes the through-line for the every character. It's not particularly becoming to watch our favorite misfits pout and shout at each other, but it doesn't exactly come out of left field either—the film recognizes how far these characters have come, how things have changed since the beginning, and it becomes quite an emotional struggle for them to hold things together as a family. That's where all the heart is, and it does hit hard at key moments. All that being said, the film still has its hilarious moments from the second act onwards, as if humor factors into the healing process. There are some very bizarre and eye-popping creative designs on show (a meat planet, seriously?!). Action scenes are as spectacular as ever. I even appreciate that all the threads left from the last volume are addressed. It's a much more satisfying adventure than I expected, and I'm grateful that it wears its broken heart on its sleeve and still troops on. It's a lot more merit than any other Marvel film has shown throughout...whatever phase we're on now.
I lost count, is this phase twelve now, or something?
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8 - Godland
Vanskabte Land
Undeniably the most beautiful film from 2023 that my eyeballs have beheld. The gorgeous Icelandic landscapes are part of the film's beauty, as it captures the raw and rugged glaciers, mountains, volcanoes, fields, and oceans with a photographic panache. It's more than appropriate for a film about a photographer trekking around Iceland, but beneath the rustic beauty lies layers of thematic material that permeates the subtle drama between the characters (and ultimately between whole cultures). The film's pacing is a challenge for me, but the sheer quality of the film definitely commands attention, and the story it tells has fascinating subtexts that deserve study.
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7 - Saltburn
I love a good downward spiral sometimes. Although the film is often compared to works like Pasolini's
Teorema,
Saltburn strives to be in a class of its own, and it presents itself handsomely through its firm cinematography, dedicated performances, and sheer mood. It is definitely an experience, and it becomes increasingly uneasy as it showcases a despicable character enthralled by obsession. It leads to some shocking scenes that will keep folks talking, and the final shot leaves nothing to the imagination. Like plenty of other acclaimed films, it showcases a sordid affair wrapped in an artistic presentation—it might not be deep, but like salt in a wound, the burn is strong.
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6 - Beau Is Afraid
There is so much to be afraid of these days. Like brown recluse spiders. Wackos on the street, always trying to break in to your home. What if you take your medicine the wrong way? Above all though, what would your mother think of you? *gasp!*
Of all the movies I've seen this year, this is the one that probably gives me the most anxiety. This long, surrealist yarn about a man who just can't seem to find his way home is as unique and relatable as it is frustrating. The first 40 minutes is a whopper of an experience, painting a strange and stress-inducing picture of modern American living that feels ripped straight from all the crazy stories I see coming out of the news and social media. The middle and final acts don't have nearly as much snap, but as it is with his other films, Ari Aster juggles gut-wrenching themes of narcissism, guilt, and judgment (among family nonetheless) and ties them up in an existential drama that echoes the experience of Charlie Kaufman's films (especially
Synecdoche, New York), but with a plotline that echoes
The Truman Show.
Beau Is Afraid is often a frustrating (and maybe even manipulative) watch as Beau is constantly accosted by unreasonably cruel characters and twists of fate, but I honestly do relate to his struggles with shame. Kudos to Joaquin Phoenix, who despite all the crying and bumbling, does present a skilled performance.
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5 - John Wick Chapter 4
If any character deserves to go out with a big bang, it's gotta be John Wick. Chapter 4 gives the man his biggest and most absurd rampage yet, mashing together enough enemies and conflict to fit two films (as was originally planned) for one epic finale. It helps that the pacing is high and the film never feels dull. Still invested in its unique underworld with interesting characters and rules, the film pushes Wick to an intense endgame filled with memorable setpieces and cheer-worthy moments of victory. The film is as visually-dazzling as its predecessors, accentuated with unique locations, vivid lighting, wonderful action choreography, and awesome music. Potential always existed for this series to drone on and on, but as it is, Chapter 4 gives it a bombastic, satisfying finale, cementing its legacy as one of the best action franchises of the modern age.
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4 - The Killer
Director David Fincher adapts a French graphic novel with his signature perfectionist style to deliver the modern-day
Le Samourai. As it was in the 60s (and across plenty of other assassin-themed movies since), there is something fascinating about the cool, procedural nature of these disciplined characters treating their grim professions with calculating precision and cold-hearted professionalism. But in a genre that's become diluted with such tropes, Michael Fassbender brings a different brand of assassin to life—one that emphasizes hipster tendencies beneath a nihilistic shell. With a focus on realism juxtapose with cynical narration, the film pushes a dour worldview lacking in emotion and compassion. It has the effect of portraying a try-hard character navigating a razor-thin plotline established in post-modern genre deconstruction—it's a movie that spits in the candy-coated faces of James Bond and Agent 47, and I strongly suspect it's intended to reflect the troubling aggression and disillusionment of modern men. It's not a pretty picture, and with ample amounts of negative space many will peg this as droll. The style and character fascinates me though, far more than most other schlock that's come out this year.
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3 - Nimona
You see this, Disney? You buncha hacks. This could have been your beautiful animated masterpiece of the year, but noooooo, you had to go and scrap Blue Sky Studios and pump out stupid baloney like
Wish. Well guess what?
Nimona came back from the grave baby, reanimated by Annapurna, and it is doing everything you failed to do, with real guts and spirit. You used to be the kings of animation, but nowadays you couldn't even greenlight a decent story if it waved dollar bills in your face. This is everything you could have been, but the mighty have fallen. This is your own grave you're digging, Disney. I hope you like the taste of dirt.
At any rate,
Nimona is pretty good, sure. It runs hot and heavy with its chase-driven plotline, pushing plenty of cartoony shenanigans for most of its runtime. Thankfully, the characters breathe life into the story, invoking genuine sympathy by its eye-popping finale. There is a daring approach in how it challenges the status quo (not only in pushing one or two gay characters, but in the classic flip-flop of sympathizing with monsters and villainizing forces of "good"). It helps that the film is slickly animated with style and vivid colors, but it only serves to highlight the colors already blazing from the cast. By its end, I had fallen in love with the film's unique world, the spirited experience, and Nimona herself.
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2 - Oppenheimer
Who would have thought that one of the best and highest-grossing films of the year would be a biopic about the theoretical physicist who directed the Manhattan Project? It's likely a case of a film being in the right place at the right time—not only juxtapose to Barbie's release, prompting plenty of amusing "Barbenheimer" memes, but mostly because this film came out in a time when blockbusters have become trite and overblown. Sometimes we're just sick and tired of seeing hundreds of millions thrown at contrived scripts, tired franchises, and effects-laden spectacles. Sometimes we need a straightforward drama to tell a simple, human story. It just so happens that Mr. Death-The-Destroyer-Of-Worlds fits this gap rather snugly.
It helps though that Christopher Nolan crafted this film with a keen eye for detail, in both its pristine photography and its snappy editing. There is some flexing with the narrative layers, reinforced with the use of black-and-white scenes, but it's rarely convoluted. Cillian Murphy's emotional yield must have exceeded five megatons, producing a blast of presence that can still be seen even through the eyelids. The rest of the cast populates the film with decent skill. The production looks swell and even the music score is solid.
It's the film we need and deserve, harkening back to days when dramas like
The Godfather or
JFK could pull a large audience on genuine cinematic merits.
Oppenheimer is simply a good film, but in an age when superheroes and franchises have overrun Hollywood, it is also a blast of fresh air. Fresh, hot, nuclear air.
Air to be afraid of.
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1 - Poor Things
"pour tiNgs...Wat a moovi.
Hehehe...it funny how tat girl stompz arond Sayz funny things. And tha old man burps up bubbles.
Its like
Frankenstein, innit? Altho these blak-and-white bits ar funny, like
Spider Baby.
Than, the girl goes with the guy on an adventur. It starts to be Wes-Anderson-like, with all them funny-looking sets.
Hehehe, the dance scene is funny. And that bit where she wants to punch a baybe.
As the film goes on, it has less sexy scenes, don't it? But we can see the woman's learning. Starts to talk all fancy, then the bloke gets mad about it. There's something going on with her, isn't it?
Ah, I see how it is. It's not the same adventure as these other films. It's the adventure of life, to go from living for pleasure to learning. From learning to empathy. Then to experience and rediscovering the past.
It's an absurd premise that's often funny because of how Bella's growing mind clashes with the world at large. But beyond the laughter and shock value, Bella's journey brings an insightful view of the world and all its pleasures and pain. Her thirst for experience and trajectory towards the punchline ending tracks along a natural learning curve that we all experience, swaying from juvenile hedonistic impulses to intellectual thirst (and even some combination of both). Leave it to Yorgos Lanthimos to lead us on this bizarre journey, through so many fish-eye lenses and eye-popping scenery, layering each scene with equal parts comedy, dramatic weight, and surrealism. Emma Stone brought Bella to life in a remarkable way, in a performance that shows attention to both physical and emotional nuances. The rest of the cast keeps pace with the mad world, with special compliments to Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, and Ramy Youssef. This production boasts impressive set design, vivid photography, a delightfully weird music score, and quaint special effects. It is a marvelous-looking film that elicits visceral reactions through its more grotesque details, but it tells a fascinating story of maturity and worldly experience that shows more humanity than the average monster movie.
...tehehe...the final scene was funny...
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The Blu-ray Community Top 25 Films of 2023 (Please Read 1st Post)
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