Mike’s Top Ten of 2023
2023 is a fascinating year. On the one hand, interesting theatrical movies for people who want more than the usual ‘franchise and remake’ fare returned in a big way. The Barbenheimer phenomenon was truly something to behold and actually brought people back to theaters in a legitimate manner for the first time in three years. The part that went understated about those two is how both were (ostensibly) original and unique films. Sure, one is based on a doll, but everything about that movie is more unique than almost anything else that came out the rest of the year. And I love that, especially because the past few years were rough for theatrical films in wide release that appealed to people who wanted something more than just mindless entertainment.
On the other hand, I look at 2023 and think, “What a terrible year for movies.” Part of that is because of the strike that happened. So many films got pushed out of the year, either because they couldn’t get finished or couldn’t be promoted (plus there’s always a handful of films that shoot throughout the year that come out at the end, and those didn’t happen like they usually do). And so what we were left with — at least from my perspective — was a year that was so thin I almost couldn’t fill out a Top Ten list. Every year, I can get to 80 movies easily. This year, I struggled. I barely got to my quota (and that was after watching the stuff that would normally be icing on the cake for me — the shortlisted foreign films and documentaries). Even getting past 10 was tough. Figuring out 11-20 was the hardest I’ve ever had for a current year ever. It was rough.
And I understand it, but it’s weird to have that dichotomy. There doesn’t feel like there’s a middle class this year. I’m so curious how 2023 will age for me. Though I guess I feel the same way about 2020, 2021 and 2022 as well. So I guess we’ll see. (more…)
Pic of the Day: “If wearing hair up means becoming a lady, I’ll wear it down until I’m 100 years old.” (90th Anniversary)
B+ Movie Blog 