As far back as I can remember, this was the year I didn’t get to the theater as much as I wanted to. I mean, once a month for me is where I’d like to be. Maybe that’ll be on my goals for next year, but really, I think I got there 5 times this year. Which was a bummer, but the reason, which I’ll get into next year, was very good.
That said, the stuff I saw in theaters? Gosh, at least one of them I should’ve gotten my money back.
SHUDDERS
Anyways, here’s the best five movies I saw this year. They’re in no particular order, as the ORDER I am saving for our next episode of Cinema Gush (Which I will add the link to once the episode is up). I’m sure I missed a ton, so please let me know what I absolutely had to have seen!
ONE HONORABLE MENTION:
Spirited
For years the folks who run the Academy Awards have been asking themselves a simple question; how do we get more viewers?
Look no further then nominating “Good Afternoon” for song of the year. Or whatever that category is called. I was laughing so freaking hard during this song and it really sold me on the movie. Well, the story, the writing, the themes…It all sold me on the movie really. I love the high concept of it all and the little twist that came halfway through, the jokes, the one ups…All of it was pure peppermint delight.
Hard to believe the guy that wrote “Sex Drive” has had such a career, including Instant Family, a movie that makes my wife cry a great deal.
If I didn’t sell you on why Apple+ is amazing in my best shows of the year post, this is yet another reason to get it. Spirited has potential to be a Christmas classic. I know we’ll be watching it again in 2023.
Okay, onto the bigger stuff. Let’s begin with two you haven’t heard of (I’m guessing, you may have, I dunno) and three you definitely did.
Marcel the Shell
I feel like I saw the teaser for this randomly and thought “nah.”
But I was on a plane, heading to vacation and the flight was 6 hours. So then I thought, “Eh, why not?”
OMG.
An hour and some change later, face full of tears, you guys, this movie was so dang wonderful and sweet.
This will be one to revisit. The respect for your elders, the love for family, the idea of overcoming fears, the cute little jokes, the payoff of WHAT’S IN A DAMN DRAWER were all wonderful little moments that truly made a lovely little movie.
I’ll buy a physical copy of this one. It was so sweet. Watch it with the kids. Check it out.
The Banshees of Inisherin
In Bruges did something to me years ago. After that I couldn’t wait to see what else writer/director Martin Mcdonagh.
I saw Seven Psychopaths. It was fine, don’t need to see it again.
I saw Three Billboards and I just hated it.
So my hesitancy with Banshees was understood, as I felt like this guy was kind of a one off. I was scrolling through HBO Max, struggling to get back onto some writing and I saw it there. I really planned to watch for 30 minutes and give up.
I left it on until the credits were done.
Wow.
I know. This doesn’t look like the thing for you. Why on earth would you want to watch a movie about 2 best friends breaking up? I hear ya. I had no interest either other than my curiosity and that’s really where the movie shines: CURIOSITIY.
You want to know what’s going to happen. You want to know if they’ll rekindle their friendship, and morbidly, you want to know if Mad-Eye Moody will be cutting his freaking fingers off for the sake of being left alone.
The r/movies discussion about this movie was incredibly enlightening. I had no idea the parallels this movie had with the Irish Civil War. Reading those only made me like it more. Give it a shot. If you’re not sold yet, let me assure, THIS MOVIE IS UTTERLY HYSTERICAL AND I LAUGHED OUT LOUD A GREAT DEAL.
Les Batman
We have a very strange societal tradition we collectively go through every few years.
Remaking movies, yes, that’s part of it.
The other part is collectively getting upset that the person who they chose to play that role isn’t going to do a good job.
For example, I’m old enough to remember when everyone collectively was upset that tHe FeLLa from 10 ThInGs I hate about YoU was gonna be the JokEr REEEEEEEEEEEE>>>>>>>>!!!
And then the whole I dunno ABout Cavill for SupAmAn REEEE and then suddenly NOT EDWARD CULLEN FROM TWILIGHT!! NOT MY BATMAN REEEEE
He crushed it.
But you know who really deserves a dang academy award for this movie?
Holy. Crap. The man vanished into the role.
I saw this on the biggest possible screen I could and other than rebirthing my desire for INTERMISSIONS to return to theaters, I really enjoyed this take on the Bats. At times it was darker than it needed to be (the contrast and brightness settings that is), but emo Bruce is the way to go.
Maybe for future Batmen flicks with long running times we could also make a bigger popcorn tub for fat asses like me.
Sommmmeethinnnn innnn the way…..
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmm
Everything Everywhere All At Once
First of all–
That’s one of the two directors. The other girl is Sunita, who was the Ghost of Christmas Past in Spirited. It’s all connected in this metamegaverse, baby!
I didn’t expect this to warm my heart as much as this ended up doing. It’s just a great reminder that movies are about the little things. The big explosions, the big set pieces, the big dildo fights, etc. None of it means anything without the simple, universal struggle.
Look at what these movies are actually about:
Back to the Future – growing up to be a failure.
The Matrix – Neo never believes in himself.
Indiana Jones – Faith and the possibility of miracles.
Jaws:
So yeah. Through all the bat$#!+ nonsense, it comes back to a simple, universal human feeling/emotion regarding feeling like you’ve amounted to nothing, married the wrong man, and disconnected with your daughter.
Another I’ll need the criterion collection for.
AND FINALLY
Top Gun Mav
Can we all just–
@briamaire i’ve seen this movie four times and this scene gets me every time😭#topgunmode #topgunmaverick #roosterbradshaw #maverick #milesteller #tomcruise #fyp #tellertok
♬ Hold My Hand - Lady Gaga
cry together?
What made this movie was the lightness of it all.
No politics.
No checked boxes.
No nonsensical tests (See Kyle Smith’s piece in the National Review).
Just movie.
I’d recaption one of my favorite 6 word, 3 paneled comics.
Pls movie? No agenda!! Only movie.
Glad I saw this on the big screen. While I thought they did Kilmer’s voice a little wrong, everything else was so dang right, including a totally unexpected Act 5. Brilliant all the way around and proof that PEOPLE WANT TO GO TO THE MOVIE THEATER AND NOT JUST WATCH STUFF ON STREAMING.
breathes
That’s it for now. What’d I miss? Let me know!
~Nic
