Check out my previous reviews!
I watched one-hundred ninety one movies this year. Here are my
top 15 and bottom 3 picks for
the year. This is based simply on the movies I watched this year, not on
what was released this year. I revisited a higher percentage of older movies this year due to the writer and actor strikes stopping production.
I included an honorable mention this year. Classic movies are dated and feel like it. I had to include this classic movie on the list just because of how relevant it feels.
Check out the previous year-end reviews.
I frequently forget to catalog the best scenes, the pie eating scene in A Ghost Story was silent, long, yet so full of emotion.
The Top 15 of 2023:
Memento (2000)
Written by: Christopher Nolan (screenplay), Jonathan Nolan (short story "Memento Mori")
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, Mark Boone Junior, Jorja Fox, Stephen Tobolowsky, Callum Keith Rennie
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
A man with short-term memory loss attempts to track down his wife's murderer.
Verdict
This movie perfectly matches an unusual story presentation with the plot so that we experience the same confusion as the protagonist. It starts as a bewildering movie as we see the conclusion and then backtrack from there. Slowly the pieces begin to fit together and we finally see what started this plot. This provides an experience few movies can match, as rarely do we get to experience things in tandem with the protagonist.
Full Review
Hero [Ying xiong] (2002)
Rent Hero on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Feng Li & Bin Wang & Zhang Yimou
Directed by: Zhang Yimou
Starring: Jet Li, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, Chen Daoming, Donnie Yen
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer
Plot
A defense officer, Nameless, is summoned by the King of Qin regarding his success of terminating three warriors.
Verdict
This
is excellent from start to finish. The visuals and fighting style are
certainly unique and stylized, but feel completely appropriate in
context as a warrior recounts a tale. Each fight captures the energy of
the moment while the Wuxia style lends it a dreamlike quality. This is
completely engaging, and it's a joy to watch a movie where all facets
work in tandem to produce something truly great. While the visuals are
great, the story provides a fantastic foundation for everything we see.
Full Review
The Prestige (2006)
Rent The Prestige on Amazon Video (paid link) // Buy the book (paid link)
Written by: Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan (screenplay), Christopher Priest (novel)
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine, Piper Perabo, Rebecca Hall, David Bowie, Andy Serkis
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer
Plot
After
a tragic accident, two stage magicians in 1890s London engage in a
battle to create the ultimate illusion while sacrificing everything they
have to outwit each other.
Verdict
This
is such an incredible experience. This weaves a tale of two feuding
magicians trying to one up each other, but they become obsessive and end
up destroying their lives. At the core of this movie is the how of this
trick. We're wondering how it's done just like some of the characters.
Just like a great magic trick, it's the reveal that completely blows you
away. This is all about misdirection, and watching this a second time
is nearly as fun as the first time. The second time around, you're
looking at this differently. It's like the movie tells us, we want to be
fooled.
Full Review
Almost Famous (2000)
Rent Almost Famous on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Cameron Crowe
Directed by: Cameron Crowe
Starring:
Billy Crudup, Patrick Fugit, Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand, Jason Lee,
Zooey Deschanel, Anna Paquin, Fairuza Balk, Philip Seymour Hoffman,
Jimmy Fallon
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
Given the chance to write a story for Rolling Stone magazine about an up-and-coming rock band, a high school boy accompanies them on their concert tour in the early 1970s.
Verdict
Everyone
in this movie is chasing a dream and feeling, and the movie captures
the energy and mood of being a kid on the verge of adulthood and a band
on the edge of stardom perfectly. It certainly feels like a memoir, but
it develops these characters and provides us insight so that we know how
they feel and what they want. This captures what rock was in the '70s
in a way few movies can. This is a love letter to rock and being
sixteen. William's love of rock is in part a rebellion from his mother,
but she's also the reason he's disciplined enough to remember why he's
on tour. Everyone is pursuing a dream that might just lead to sobering
realizations.
Full Review
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
Rent Everything Everywhere All at Once on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert
Directed by: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ke Huy Quan, James Hong, Jenny Slate
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
A
middle-aged Chinese immigrant is swept up into an insane adventure in
which she alone can save existence by exploring other universes and
connecting with the lives she could have led.
Verdict
This
movie is such a wild ride. While I could describe scenes that sound
wacky, in the context of the movie it completely works. This manages to
surprise and entertain while exploring life's questions in a thoughtful
manner. This is such a big movie and a delight to experience. It's end
of the world stakes, but this can be so funny and silly. I've seen bits
and pieces of the ideas in this in others movies, but this one pulls it
together so well. Few movies manages to challenge, entertain, and joke
like this one. All of the actors are absolutely phenomenal. This movie
is so well crafted. It starts great and only gets better.
Full Review
The Green Mile (1999)
Rent The Green Mile on Amazon Video (paid link) // Buy the book (paid link)
Written by: Stephen King (novel). Frank Darabont (screenplay)
Directed by: Frank Darabont
Starring:
Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan, David Morse, James Cromwell, Doug
Hutchison, Sam Rockwell, Barry Pepper, Jeffrey DeMunn, Patricia
Clarkson, Harry Dean Stanton, Gary Sinise
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
The
lives of guards on Death Row are affected by one of their charges, a
black man accused of child murder and rape, yet who has a mysterious
gift.
Verdict
This
is just as good as I remember it, if not better. It may be three hours,
but it
doesn't feel like it. A great story and writing carry this, each scene
building on the last until the conclusion. We feel exactly what this
intends every step of the way. It's a fantastical story that never feels
unbelievable. There are quite a few characters, but they are each
unique enough and compliment the story. It's well made, and the writing
is exceptional.
Full Review
Cast Away (2000)
Rent Cast Away on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: William Broyles Jr.
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt, Paul Sanchez
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer
Plot
A FedEx executive undergoes a physical and emotional transformation after crash landing on a deserted island.
Verdict
This
is a great adventure, bringing to life what it would be like deserted
on an island. Not only does this feel accurate, the movie does a great
job of never showing or explaining too much. It provides just what we
need to see, and that makes the pacing feel quicker than the run time
might imply. This is a movie about how the human spirit perseveres, how
it copes, and how it faces challenges. This movie doesn't need to end
the story with some cute twist. Life keeps moving and so does Chuck. He
survives.
Full Review
30 Days of Night (2007)
Written by: Steve Niles and Stuart Beattie and Brian Nelson (screenplay), Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith (comic)
Directed by: David Slade
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, Danny Huston, Ben Foster, Mark Boone Junior
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
After an Alaskan town is plunged into darkness for a month, it is attacked by a bloodthirsty gang of vampires.
Verdict
This might be my favorite horror movie not because it's scary or tries to shock, but because it's relentless. This avoid the common horror movie tropes and makes this movie about survival. It's the what these characters must survive that pushes this into the horror genre. It's an underrated gem. This is bleak and sparse with a simple premise that connects because it gives you more than enough time to think about what you'd do in that situation while letting that hopelessness sink in.
Full Review
A History of Violence (2005)
Rent A History of Violence on Amazon Video (paid link) // Buy the graphic novel (paid link)
Written by: John Wagner and Vince Locke (graphic novel), Josh Olson (screenplay)
Directed by: David Cronenberg
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Ed Harris, William Hurt
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
A
mild-mannered man becomes a local hero through an act of violence,
which sets off repercussions that will shake his family to its very
core.
Verdict
What
I like about this movie is the compact narrative and probing questions
it asks. A man has to confront his violent past, one he thought he had
buried. Things like that never stay hidden, and with each scene violence
surges, straying farther from the image of a peaceful family man. By
the end nothing is the same. This is how violence follows you, how it
escalates upon provocation. The title has a double meaning, we're
looking at Tom's history and also a broad history of how a violent act
is never singular. Tom has to confront his past, but in the process he
destroys his present. The future is uncertain, but it will never be the
same as it was.
Full Review
A Ghost Story (2017)
Written by: David Lowery
Directed by: David Lowery
Starring: Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
In this singular exploration of legacy, love, loss, and the enormity of existence, a recently deceased, white-sheeted ghost returns to his suburban home to try to reconnect with his bereft wife.
Verdict
I like movies that push creative boundaries. There aren't many movies like this that are so quiet and focused. This is a movie about a ghost watching the world go by, and in turn we watch this ghost. This doesn't conform to what's typical. There's little dialog and even less action. It makes you wonder what this movie is supposed to be, but it also gives you time to speculate and guess. We wonder about what it means to live and die while watching a man in a sheet.
Full Review
Tár (2022)
Rent Tár on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Todd Field
Directed by: Todd Field
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Noémie Merlant, Nina Hoss, Sophie KauerMark Strong, Alec Baldwin (voice)
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
Set
in the international world of Western classical music, the film centers
on Lydia Tár, widely considered one of the greatest living
composer-conductors and the very first female director of a major German
orchestra.
Verdict
It's gripping from the first moments and never let's go. This is a
powerful movie that doesn't hold your hand as we see someone with so
much stature and then so much lost. She's at the peak and then tumbles
all the way down. The script and direction is great, and Blanchett is
amazing. There's so much happening off screen in this movie, plights we
ascribe to Tár that are never seen but assumed. Tár isn't likable, but
we do get a glimpse of how much work it took to rise in her industry.
The fall is her own fault, we're left to speculate whether she became
too comfortable or egotistical.
Full Review
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Rent Pulp Fiction on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary (stories), Quentin Tarantino (written by)
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Starring:
John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Tim Roth,
Ving Rhames, Harvey Keitel, Rosanna Arquette, Christopher Walken, Eric
Stoltz, Phil LaMarr,
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
The
lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster and his wife, and a pair
of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.
Verdict
It's
a movie you have to watch. While it put Tarantino at the forefront of
the industry, it's value is in how it makes an action movie around
inconsequential dialog. These criminals face some bizarre problems that
this movie treats quite lightly. The performances are amazing, though
that's boosted by a very sharp script. Composed of intertwining stories,
every scene is engrossing. Each performance is enchanting. It's not
just good, this is a great movie.
Full Review
Notting Hill (1999)
Written by: Richard Curtis
Directed by: Roger Michell
Starring: Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts, Rhys Ifans, Clarke Peters
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer
Plot
The life of a simple bookshop owner changes when he meets the most famous film star in the world.
Verdict
It's such a smart script that's a fairy tale for two people from different worlds. You want it to work, and it's that hope that drives this movie. The structure and pacing is well done, and this uses silence to such great effect. While Hugh Grant's bumbling nervous character becomes grating, Julia Roberts does such an amazing job. You completely feel the emotions she radiates. I've seen it before and enjoyed it, but I forgot just how good it is.
Full Review
Se7en [Seven] (1995)
Rent Se7en on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Andrew Kevin Walker
Directed by: David Fincher
Starring:
Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey, Gwyneth Paltrow, John C.
McGinley, Reg E. Cathey, R. Lee Ermey, Richard Roundtree, Mark Boone
Junior, Richard Schiff, Charles S. Dutton
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
Two detectives, a rookie and a veteran, hunt a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his motives.
Verdict
This
is a murder mystery, with each crime more horrific than the last. What also sets this apart, is the production, directing, and an
excellent script. Every scene has a purpose, building story and
character. Each crime scene surprises and horrifies, but this case
doesn't unfold in a typical fashion. While the ending is lauded, as well
it should be, the entire movie is incredible. It's just that ending
leaves you with so many feelings, an image imprinted on your mind.
Full Review
Barbie (2023)
Written by: Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach, based on Barbie by Mattel
Directed by: Greta Gerwig
Starring: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Issa Rae, Kate McKinnon, Alexandra Shipp, Dua Lipa, Simu LIu, Kingley Ben-Adir, Ncuti Gatwa, John Cena, Michael Cera, America Ferrera, Reha Perlman, Helen Mirren (voice), Will Ferrell, Lucy Boynton
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer
Plot
Barbie suffers a crisis that leads her to question her world and her existence.
Verdict
It's a smart, clever, and funny movie. That's not something I initially expected. It never loses sight of the message, and it never gets bogged down in unnecessary details. It uses the toy as a springboard for a poignant message about femininity, both the ideal and reality. It's impressive this story was created based on a toy line, and this does such a great job of building on an idea that provides viewers something to ponder and discuss.
Full Review
Honorable Mention:
Brief Encounter (1945)
Written by: Noël Coward (play, uncredited), Noël Coward (screenplay), Anthony Havelock-Allan, David Lean, Ronald Neame (uncredited)
Directed by: David Lean
Starring: Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, Stanley Holloway
Rated: NR [PG]
Watch the trailer
Plot
Meeting a stranger in a railway station, a woman is tempted to cheat on her husband.
Verdict
I often find it difficult to enjoy older films as they often feel too stagey or fake. Film has progressed so far that these movies often feel out of place. This movie manages to feel relevant, relying on a strong story about two married people that begin a relationship. We see their friendship grow from a chance encounter and progress to more. They know they shouldn't but their feelings cloud their judgement. The way this ends is masterful, managing to impart that same heartache to the viewer that the characters feel. The movie is very good, but the ending is impressive.
Full Review
The Bottom 3 of 2023:
Rent Bloodshot on Amazon Video (paid link) // Buy the comic (paid link)
Written
by: Jeff Wadlow and Eric Heisserer (screenplay), Jeff Wadlow (story),
Kevin VanHook and Don Perlin and Bob Layton (Valiant comic book)
Directed by: Dave Wilson
Starring: Vin Diesel, Eiza González, Sam Heughan, Toby Kebbell, Guy Pearce
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer
Plot
Ray Garrison, a slain soldier, is re-animated with superpowers.
Verdict
What a bland movie. The plot is a mashup of tropes and action scenes.
The most (only) interesting scene of the movie is set in a cloud of
flour which is flammable and the movie ignores that. This is nearly two
hours of little more than Vin Diesel punching things while getting shot.
The movie hopes nanobots are enough to cover all the inconsistencies.
This is a shell of a movie.
Full Review
Gray Matter (2023)
Written by: Philip Gelatt
Directed by: Meko Winbush
Starring: Mia Isaac, Jessica Frances Dukes, Garret Dillahunt
Rated: TV-14
Plot
Aurora has known all her life from her mother that the superhuman abilities they have also make them dangerous. Now, Aurora will discover the truth about one fateful and fatal night.
Verdict
The story leaves a lot to be desired. While it looks nice, the story plods along until it decides to wrap any loose ends as quickly as possible with little regard to the rest of the narrative. This concludes, and all I could think was 'that's it?' The ending is completely unsatisfactory. Then again the middle isn't very exciting either.
Full Review
The Current War (2017)
Written by: Michael Mitnick
Directed by: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon, Katherine Waterston, Tom Holland, Tuppence Middleton, Matthew Macfadyen, Nicholas Hoult
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer
Plot
The dramatic story of the cutthroat race between electricity titans Thomas A. Edison and George Westinghouse to determine whose electrical system would power the modern world.
Verdict
All the facts about the burgeoning electrical industry are here, but this doesn't present a compelling story. It feels much longer than it's run-time, and I'm surprised at how many stars are in this when it's so boring. It fails to capture the wonder and mystery of electricity, which probably should be it's first goal. I don't think editing could make this a good movie, the script needs a thorough re-write. This doesn't have a story arc. It's a bunch of scenes loosely tied together that fail to entertain.
Full Review
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