2023 in Review: Best and Worst Films of the Year

Now that we’re almost halfway into January, I figured it was about time I put together my wrap up lists of films I saw in 2023. I saw 56 classic films, and 59 new films, for a total of 115 in theater experiences. So it’s safe to say I spent a lot of time at the movies, and I have thoughts about what I saw.

Since it’s always fun to rant about what you don’t like, let’s start with the worst films I saw in 2023. Thankfully there were only five I deemed bad enough to include on a list.

5. Five Nights at Freddy’s

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting much from this. The premise seemed silly but I knew the game was a fan favorite. So, I thought how bad could it really be? Apparently really bad. Here’s the thing, I don’t ask too much from my Horror films. I just want some good scares, some gore, and maybe some laughs along the way. If you take it to the next level and get me thinking even better. I wasn’t expecting the last one from Five Nights at Freddy’s but I at least hoped it had some good jump scares. It didn’t. It had some gore but it wasn’t really impactful. It had zero laughs, and the story made no sense so there wasn’t any reason to care about the characters or what happened to them. This was the only new release I saw in theaters in October so it ended up being a massive disappointment.

4. Meg 2: The Trench

Speaking of massive disappointments, this should have been on my other list for the year. It isn’t hard to please me when we’re talking about shark films. I’ll watch any kind, and I get a kick out of even the most ridiculous ones, which is why I loved the first Meg movie so much. It’s a movie about a giant shark breaking loose and hunting down a ton of victims. Oh, and it stars Jason Statham! So why was the sequel such a let down? For starters, they retconned a bunch of things from the first film in a completely unnecessary move. The story made no sense, just getting dumber the farther along we got. To top it off the special effects looked outdated. So the whole reason you’re coming to see a film like this didn’t even deliver.

3. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

I’ll admit I forgot this came out this year. I think it falls inline with most of the other Marvel releases as of late. It simply lost the charm that made this character and corner of the MCU so fun. The characters are all lackluster, they’re stuck in an over CGIed world that loses any impact after the first scene because it’s so over done, and it makes the mistake of trying to drive its story through a character not named in the title. Paul Rudd, and Ant-Man, have been some of my favorite additions to this franchise and it was a little heartbreaking to see that not even he could save this film from falling flat.

2. Infinity Pool

Mia Goth was what made two of my top films from 2022 so great, and why I was so excited for this film. Unfortunately she couldn’t save this anymore than Paul Rudd could save the previous film. What should have been a creepy physiological thriller ended up an over-indulgent mess. The filmmakers got caught up too much in the process and didn’t focus enough time and energy on telling a compelling story.

1. Barbie

I know there will be a lot of people who feature this at the top of their best lists but I thought it was just one big pile of pink coated crap. Perhaps it was another case of expectations let down. I’ll admit I wanted this to be amazing. I’ve embraced the Barbie culture since I was a kid and I couldn’t wait to see what Greta Gerwig did with the character. What ended up being delivered was a bland, not funny opinionated rant using the Barbie culture as the centerpiece of its argument. The world of Barbie should have been a colorful splash but the production design was dull and forgettable. Barbie as a character is inconsistent and so are the rules of this world. The real world portion is cartoonish to an annoying point and makes no sense intertwined with the Barbie one. The first two minutes had one or two laughs but then the rest of the film is dry and flat. As I said in my initial review, it felt like an SNL skit that went on too long.

Now that the least impressive films of 2023 are out of the way, let’s get the bad taste out of our mouths with the best films I saw. We’ll start with some honorable mentions since there were so many good films released last year, and they deserve the love.

Cocaine Bear

While not as over-the-top laugh-out-loud fun like I hoped, it ended up being a pretty solid film, with enough gruesome humor to deliver on my expectations.

The Flash

The universe seemed to be plotting against this film. Covid delays, lead actor drama, a general dislike of DC adaptations, and an emerging fatigue with the superhero genre all collided right when The Flash finally saw its release. This is so unfortunate because Ezra Miller is perfect in the role, and this is one of the most enjoyable of the recent DC enterprises.

Asteroid City

Wes Anderson is an inconsistent director for me. I either love his films or find them irritating. Asteroid City fell into the first category. It was utterly delightful, and Jeff Goldblum was the star on top.

Gran Turismo

The better of the two racing films released this year that are based on true stories. What’s not to love? It’s got incredible odds, an underdog, and Orlando Bloom and David Harbour!

The Killer

This one is sneaking onto the list because I actually caught it in a theater, even though it was a Netflix release. David Fincher films should always be viewed on the big screen. This film is gorgeous, tense, and compelling in its deliberate slowness. It needs a distraction free environment to be truly appreciated.

The Boys in the Boat

Though it feels a little wrong to be rooting for a Washington team, this film is otherwise packed with all sorts of things I love. Once again we have an underdog sports story, pitting them against impossible odds. Throw in some patriotism and feel good plot points and you’ve got yourself a solid film.

Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

Tom Cruise jumping off a cliff from a motorcycle into a parachute deployment. That’s just the tip of the awesome stunts in this non-stop thrill ride. The whole gang is back too so it’s like coming home to a crazy, funny family reunion. Only knock against it is that Part Two doesn’t come out for a year.

10. Plane

Alright, jumping into the top ten list here is one that was a very nice surprise early in the year. Gerard Butler has found his niche corner of the cinematic universe and a crew to work with that compliments his style. Coming in under the two hour mark, this is a tightly knit together tense rollercoaster. There’s plenty of action, some solid hand-to-hand combat, and enough character development to make you actually care what happens to the stranded passengers.

9. Scream VI

It is rare for the sixth entry in a franchise to still deliver on the original premise. It’s even rarer still for it to do so in a horror series. Yet, that is what the Scream films have done. They keep delivering because they know their audience backward and forward. They keep enough to the original tropes to not step on the predecessors but also bring some cool twists each time. The New York setting and opening sequence in the sixth film are beautifully executed. Also, they bring back Kirby, who was the best addition to the series since Timothy Olyphant as Mickey in Scream 2.

8. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

I love a good heist film, even better when it’s in an adventure fantasy setting. This was some of the most fun I had going to see a movie in a long time. The expectations weren’t high but man, did it deliver. Everyone was perfect, the quest the team goes on easy enough to understand and keep up with, and there was plenty of humor sprinkled throughout. I don’t know if it will turn into a series, or if it even needs to but I was very pleased with the final outcome here.

7. Wonka

Did we need another Willy Wonka story? No, not really. Did we need a Wonka film directed by Paul King, the genius behind Paddington and Paddington 2? Yes, yes we did. This was absolutely delightful. Timothée Chalamet was charming as a young Wonka, the production design was very appetizing, and Hugh Grant, despite his clear dislike for the role and its technical requirements, was absolutely perfect. One of the more pleasant Christmas Day screenings I’ve experienced in recent years.

6. Sisu

Finnish revenge film against Nazis? Okay, I’m there. This was another perfect expectations delivery. It features just enough creative gore to satisfy the bloodlust, and is precise in its pacing and tension building. In other words, it’s perfect from start to finish (see what I did there?).

5. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

After several rounds of disappointing Marvel films, we got James Gunn’s final entry into the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. Shouldn’t have worried at all that Gunn knew what he was doing. With a focus on Rocket’s traumatic past, this was perhaps the most emotional of the Guardians films and Gunn handled it wonderfully. We still get plenty of moments of levity, while still being engrossed in the more sobering story. Even the CGI world we’re in feels more real because of the care in which it is crafted. Personally, I feel that each Guardians films is interchangeable in terms of ranking, and that is a testament to Gunn, and the actors that took on these characters, making them their own.

4. Air

Who would have thought a movie about Nike and Michael Jordan, that features little to no basketball could be so compelling? What makes this so successful is an incredible amount of talent (kudos to Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, and Ben Affleck), plus one of those almost too unbelievable to be true stories. It was a perfect alignment of the universe that brought the brand and athlete together for one of the most iconic partnerships. Here, the story is told in a compelling way through precise pacing, clever dialogue, and outstanding performances.

3. Sound of Freedom

There are dark and disturbing corners of the world, and the people who choose to venture into them in order to help the vulnerable are true heroes. Sound of Freedom shines a light on the terrible child human trafficking epidemic. This is yet another film on this list that is based on a true story. It is harrowing and difficult to watch due to the nature of its subject material but it never feels like the filmmakers venture into excess in what they decide to include in the story.

2. The Holdovers

Set in 1970, this feels like a film from that decade. It is a character study that is driven by excellent performances, and at its heart a story of finding shared humanity among unexpected company. Add in that it is set during the holiday season and you get all the bittersweet joy of a classic Christmas film. This is definitely going to be added to the yearly rotation of films in our Christmas movie advent calendar.

1. Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant

A grueling rescue story baked into a war film, this hits particularly hard considering recent events of the last few years. Guy Ritchie knows when to balance action and tension with emotionally heavy storylines. Casting Jake Gyllenhaal is another master move. Few actors can take on the physicality of a role like this without sacrificing the emotional impact. Dar Salim is also incredible in his role as Ahmed. This should be required viewing. There are people that are too good in this world that have been left to suffer at the hands of evil because of the cowardice and incompetence of their so-called friends. This is their story and we owe them so much better than what we’ve given.

2022 in Review: Best and Most Disappointing Films of the Year

2022 was a pretty great year for the movies. We finally saw things return a little more to normal after suffering through the drought of 2020 and 2021. Plus, the quality of films released was outstanding. That’s not to say there weren’t a few duds (there definitely were but we’ll get to that momentarily). I went to the theater plenty throughout the year and saw 45 new releases, along with my usual ventures to visit returning favorites.

As is my tradition I have compiled lists for both my favorite films of the year, as well as my biggest disappointments. Since I like ending on a positive note, let’s start off with those films that did not live up to expectations.

10. Moonfall

I think my exact words after seeing this were, “Wow, was that stupid.” I won’t pretend that I was expecting a masterpiece but I was expecting a little more than what we got, especially considering how many Academy Award winners and nominees were in the film. I went into the film hoping to enjoy some mindless fun action and explosions but unfortunately I couldn’t even do that because the storyline was just too ridiculous, and the action so over-the-top.

9. Ambulance

This was another film I went into with very little expectations and just couldn’t come away feeling like my money was well spent, despite the LA setting and appearance of Jake Gyllenhaal. On top of yet another poorly executed action storyline, the shaky camera effects actually made me sick. It felt a little like Gyllenhaal was trying to step into being this generation’s Nic Cage with this flick so, perhaps that could be the one plus this movie has to offer.

8. Elvis

As is the case with my past bottom of the year lists, there are a few titles on here that are more disappointing than bad films. This is one of those. I was really looking forward to this, as I am a big Baz Lurhmann and Elvis fan. I just thought there were a lot of missed opportunities. The story felt jumbled and inconsistent, the music never got the punches it deserved, and I could not get on board with whatever it was Tom Hanks was doing.

7. Lightyear

I wouldn’t have believed it possible for a Pixar film to feel so devoid of life and joy. The color palette is depressing, consisting of dull grays and desaturated neutrals. The story is overly convoluted and hard enough to follow for an adult audience, let alone the children for whom the film is intended. It hits so much more how much of a letdown this is when considering this is the same studio that brought us Wall-E, a film about a trash collecting robot that opens with a 45 minute dialogue-less section that is more captivating than this entire film.

6. Amsterdam

There was so much here that should have made for a great film, David O. Russell in the director’s chair, a stellar cast, and a gorgeous production design. Sadly it all gets lost in a meandering story and overly stylized acting directions.

5. Don’t Worry Darling

This movie makes zero sense. The only worthwhile part of the experience is the gorgeous cinematography and Florence Pugh’s unreasonably perfect performance considering the material she’s given.

4. Barbarian

A simple concept is all a good horror movie needs to get started. In this case, what would happen if two people “accidentally” book the same AirBnB? The first act of this film sets about answering that question, and does so quite effectively. Both actors are believable and the mood is beautifully set for the next sequence of events. Unfortunately a good start is not all that is needed in order to finish strong, and therein lies the issue with Barbarian. It goes off the rails in the second act, begins strong again at the start of the third, and falls completely apart by the end. It tries to be something else in the middle rather than sticking with the idea that brought it, and in doing so completely loses focus and eventually its impact.

3. The 355

It should not have surprised me that a January release would end up being so disappointing. What should have been a fun girl power spy flick ended up being mind numbingly boring. The performances were all very stiff and no one seemed to get the memo that this was supposed to be a fun action film. Even the action that was there was overdone to the point of also being boring. This was the second film I saw in 2022 and it made me very nervous that it was setting the tone for what was to come. Thankfully it ended up being a fluke.

2. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

This is on my list purely for what it does to Wanda. I know there are plenty of fans that enjoyed where the storyline went but to me it seemed such a disservice to turn this character we have spent a decade with into a villain in the span of one scene. The rest of the plot relies on this one event and as such comes off as weak and contrived. I don’t accept the excuse of “this is what happens in the comics” because this isn’t the comics and we as an audience should require that the level of storytelling is elevated from its source material. I guess this is how fans of Game of Thrones felt about the Daenerys storyline in the final season but at least they had seven seasons leading up to it to get used to the idea.

1. Babylon

How far the mighty fall when given too much creative control. That’s the biggest issue with Babylon. Damien Chazelle is clearly a talented filmmaker, and I’ve loved each of his previous features very much. Unfortunately here, at just over three hours, the film is overloaded with unnecessary sequences and tangents. As a result it loses what beautiful moments it does have to the unbearable weight of excess and debauchery that ends up on screen.

With the “worst of” list finished, let’s dive into the good stuff and get to my favorite films of the year.

10. The Menu

The brilliance of this film is in its execution. It has just the right amount of self-awareness and snark to not come across as too arrogant and indulgent. It does have a bit of commentary running through its veins but it doesn’t let that distract it from delivering a really fun experience supported by an outstanding cast.

9. Vengeance

This will likely be the main source of my Oscars rant this year. Ashton Kutcher deserves a nomination for his surprisingly poignant performance. The rest of the film is also wonderfully funny and insightful. Much like the previous film on the list it has something to say but doesn’t let it get in the way of also telling a clever story.

8. Top Gun: Maverick

In case anyone had any doubts, Tom Cruise showed us once again why he is a true movie star. In one of the rare cases, this was absolutely worth the extra two year wait. The action was incredible, the stunts breathtaking, and all of it supported by a solid story and great supporting performances at its foundation.

7. Devotion

Had to have the two plane films back to back on my list. The reason this one gets a slight bump is the fact that it’s based on a true story. It’s the story of Jesse Brown, the first Black aviator in the U.S. Navy, who helped turn the tide in the Korean War. Yet again at the heart of the film is a strong story, told with great performances. The amazing stunts and beautiful cinematography are just extra on top of that.

6. Bullet Train

This may have been the most fun I had at the theater this year. Unlike the other entries on my list there isn’t necessarily a strong plot at the center of this film but rather what makes the experience is the all-star cast, gorgeous production design, and excellently choreographed stunts.

5. Scream

It is rare for the first good film I see to remain on my top list until the end of the year but that’s what happened with Scream. It was my first film in theaters in 2022, the fifth in a series I love, and my most anticipated movie of the year. It lived up to all my internal hype, and continued with the tradition of the others in the franchise with its ultra insider commentary, which is all I really ask. I laughed out loud, was pleasantly surprised by the turns, and overall very excited to jump back into this world.

4. The Greatest Beer Run Ever

This film snuck onto my list despite being a streaming focused feature because it did have a limited exclusive run in theaters that I was able to take advantage of. Those that only saw it on Apple TV+ missed out on one of its biggest draws, it’s amazing cinematography. You just don’t get the full impact on a small screen. It is another war film based on a true story, this time about a kid from New York who goes on a beer run to cheer up his friends during the Vietnam war. It all comes together thanks to the excellent performances, particularly from Zac Efron as the lead but also Russell Crowe in a surprisingly subdued but effective role as the seasoned journalistic photographer.

3. See How They Run

Once again there was a Whodunit film that came out the same year as a Knives Out film that just did the job so much better. This one takes place in 1950s London and involves a cast of players in the wildly successful Agatha Christie story marking its 100th performance on stage, and that’s about to be made into a film. We get hilarious performances from Sam Rockwell, Adrian Brody, Saoirse Ronan, and so many more. Plus, the mystery was actually really clever. 

2. The Fablemans

A semi-autobiographical story from Steven Spielberg about a young Jewish boy who learns to express himself through film while dealing with a slightly unstable home life. Was there any real doubt this would end up on my favorites list? It is interesting to watch what is a very personal story told through the lens of nostalgia brought to life by the very person whose story it is. It could have gone poorly due to the bias alone but Spielberg brings his unique touch and makes it heartwarming, emotionally moving, and laugh out loud funny all at once.

1. X

Set in 1979, X follows the ill-fated production of an adult film cast and crew as they attempt to create a low budget film in the guesthouse of a farmhouse in Texas. This had everything I love about the Horror genre, a simple premise executed brilliantly that relies on slow building tension for impact. And, as was the theme for most of my list, at its foundation is a strong plot with quality actors. It also has the added benefit of seeing an equally strong sequel released the same year. The only reason Pearl wasn’t on my list is because I feel that film rests entirely on Mia Goth’s performance,  which will be part two of my Oscar’s rant this year. X, on the other hand, is a solid ensemble picture that ends up being a really good, creepy story.

2021 In Review: Best and Most Disappointing Films of the Year

After a long year of almost no new theatrical releases, 2021 started off with the promise of a return to the movies. Current events and some misguided studio marketing strategies ended up derailing that promise just a little. While we didn’t get back to where we once were there were plenty of new releases to satisfy the hope of a revival of theatrical viewing experiences.

I saw approximately 35 new releases in 2021. I say approximately because due to the ever evolving technology around movie theater ticketing I no longer have all of my physical stubs to count up at the end of the year. There were some films I saw that only had the virtual ticket. This is something I sadly know I must get used to, and as such will need to figure out a better way of keeping track of things I see throughout the year. Perhaps this blog will suddenly start featuring more content as a result. Either way, of the films I saw there were plenty to choose from to determine a best of list, as well as a most disappointing list.

Since it is so much more fun to criticize than to praise, let us start with the more disappointing lot. Not all of these were bad films, they were simply underwhelming, especially after all of the expectation built from not having many new films to see in 2020.

Most Disappointing Films of 2021

6. No Time to Die

A Bond film on the “worst” list? How can it be? I would like to simply blame the hell that was 2020 for this mess of a film but unfortunately all of the blame must go to the filmmakers. This film struggled even before the issues of 2020. It lost its director halfway through shooting, Daniel Craig was injured, and there were rumors of terrible script choices from the beginning. What ended up in the final cut of the film was a meandering, saccharine story that featured one of the more pointless Bond villains of the franchise’s history, as well as the most unjust portrayals of some of the most beloved Bond characters and tropes. In trying to give Craig a worthy sendoff the creators overthrew by a mile. Instead, No Time to Die shall sit in the same ranks as The Last Jedi in disappointing fanbases with middling contributions to long loved franchises.

5. Last Night in SoHo

I had so much anticipation for this film, and had it not been for the last act it would have been on the other list in this post. I loved Edgar Wright’s stylization and his use of music but in the last part he fell into so many bad horror film tropes. There were character choices that made absolutely no sense except that they helped to move along the plot, and there were so many twists that it left me dizzy trying to keep track of everything. Perhaps upon future viewings I will be more forgiving of the lackluster ending but as of now this was my most disappointing film going experience of the year.

4. Nightmare Alley

This was another experience that was more on the disappointing side than being a terrible film. In fact, much of the film is well done. The cast is good, and the production styling is gorgeous. The film just moves at such a slow place and doesn’t feel like it has anything pushing it forward. Simply put, I found myself bored.

3. House of Gucci

Here was another film that had so much going for it and ended up being so slow and dull. Not to mention some of the performances were laughable despite being portrayed by Academy Award winning actors. I’m still marveling at the fact that such an interesting story, and a stellar cast could lead to such a boring film. The only explanation is that it is mishandled by the director’s choices. So for this I blame Ridley Scott.

2. Old

M. Night Shyamalan has been so inconsistent with his last few films. He either hits it out of the park or ends up fouling it drastically. There is an idea somewhere in this film that is interesting but its execution is a mess. So much of the film makes almost no sense and the weirdness of it detracts from any impact it might otherwise have in its performances and impressive visual effects.

1. Eternals

This film is what happens when you try to put what Marvel and Disney painstakingly crafted over ten years and 20 plus films into a single film. It is a hodgepodge of emotionless characters who have no real distinct identifying characteristics pushed into a plot that is world-ending in its scope, both in terms of the story within the film as well as potentially for the greater MCU as a whole. After so many years, and so many wonderful films from this universe, it was such a letdown to come away from this film feeling empty without any of that Marvel magic we have become so accustomed to experiencing.

With the disappointments of the year out of the way, let us turn to happier thoughts, and the best films I saw last year.

Best Films of 2021

10. West Side Story

Being a Steven Spielberg fan, and a fan of the original it was very likely going into the film that I would end up loving it. While it is by no means comparable to the 1961 film, it does have that Spielberg quality I love and the cast is incredible.

9. The King’s Man

Having loved the first two films in this franchise, to say I was highly anticipating this release is a bit of an understatement. I was a little surprised at the seriousness of the film’s tone but think it works quite well, especially considering this is a bit of an origin story. Plus, there’s plenty of highly choreographed fighting and over-the-top gore to appease those seeking the lighter heartedness of the previous two films.

8. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

This was such a pleasant surprise! I went in with absolutely no expectations and had a blast! I knew nothing of this character and loved how his origin story was told, not too traditionally but also not so extravagantly that you lose something of its heart in the execution. The leads were great and had excellent chemistry. Most importantly this was a Marvel film that understood it was time to get back to having fun at the movies.

7. Cruella

Yet another surprise! I was very skeptical having seen some of Emma Stone’s accent in the trailers but found that after a couple of minutes it fell right into place with the rest of the film’s aesthetic. I’m also not the biggest fan of villain reimagining stories but somehow this one worked. Perhaps it was the cast, who were great, or the fact that the entire film feels like a 70s timepiece, which is simply brilliant. Whatever it was, this worked for me.

6. Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Despite the fact that this should have been the film opening the Summer blockbuster season, this was one of my favorite filmgoing experiences of the year. I got to see it at my old hometown theater, and it was one of the first times seeing larger audiences venturing out to the movies. Add in that the film was the perfect blend of sweet, sentimental, and humorous, with a touch of new, and it easily reserved a spot in my favorites list upon its initial viewing.

5. Nobody

Early in the year releases are not always the most promising signs so this was yet another happily surprising experience. Back when a lot of things were still being held for release this was one of the few films brave enough to come exclusively to theaters first. It ended up being a lot of fun, with so much action and humor packed into it that you were able to believe this unlikely lead could actually kick some ass.

4. Spider-Man: No Way Home

Finally Marvel/Disney and Sony worked together to bring us the multiverse! I’ve been a big fan of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and was incredibly excited when rumors started swirling around this film. To say it lived up to the hype would be an understatement. Based on the audience reaction from my viewing alone, this went above and beyond expectations. Again, Marvel realized it could swing back (pun absolutely intended) to the fun side while still balancing that dark side we see so often in superhero stories.

3. American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story

The last film I saw in 2021 was one of the best. Yes, it is filled with everything you expect it would be, all that sentimentality and go-get-’em attitude that some might roll their eyes at. For me it all worked. Maybe I enjoyed the film so much because I love Zachary Levi as an actor. Maybe it is due to the fact that football is my favorite sport and I love a good underdog story. Or maybe it’s because this story is really the stuff sports films are made of and it’s just a truly inspiring piece of both personal and sports history.

2. Dune

This may have been my most anticipated film of 2021. I grew up in a household where the 1984 film, and the book it is based on were very much loved. I had never read the book but was able to get it in just under the wire (literally finished it the day before the film was released), so I don’t have the long standing history with the story that many fans do but I did have some hopes and expectations. I was blown away by how well the film matched them. I still maintain that this is one half of a whole that has yet to come but even on its own it is a masterpiece of cinematic artwork. The production, sound, special effects, and cinematography alone would argue for its place on any top of the year lists.

1. Belfast

This film really snuck up on me. I hadn’t heard anything about it until right before its release when I saw the trailer play before something else. I love Kenneth Branagh as an actor and think he has done a wonderful job of bringing his talents from in front of the camera to his work behind it. He really is an actor’s director, and Belfast is a film meant to highlight characters played by brilliant actors. The story itself has enough sentiment on its own to pull at the heartstrings but it takes a talented storyteller to know how hard to pull and when to step back and let things breathe. It presents itself as a simple film about a family trying to live their best during incredibly rough times but really does end up being a heartfelt monument to this time in Ireland’s history, and more so to the people who lived through it.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings | Movie Review

Got out to see the most recent MCU film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and I had a blast! Check out my thoughts on the film in the video review below.

Top Ten Films of 2019

Talking about my Top Ten Favorite Movies of the year. Check it out.

December Movie Wrap Up

I saw seven films in December. Here is what I thought of them.

November Movie Wrap Up

I saw a bunch of films in November, and I liked most of them. Check out my Wrap Up to see what I thought of everything I saw in theaters last month.

October Movie Wrap Up

I saw four films in October. Here is what I thought of them.

Hollywoodland (2006) Movie Review

Following up my reviews of Shopgirl and Chinatown for Movie Rob’s Genre Guestimation with a look at Hollywoodland. Hollywoodland is a pretty solid 2006 release that attempted to revive the Noir genre, and I don’t feel like it has gotten enough attention over the years, which is why I chose to highlight it today.

The film follows Louis Simo, played by Adrian Brody, as he is investigating the death of George Reeves, played by a pre-Batman Ben Affleck. As he digs deeper into the life of the television star, he is exposed to the ever-corrupt Hollywood movie scene and the greediness of people trying to make it big in the city of dreams. The film demonstrates that in Hollywood, not everyone’s dreams come true. George Reeves was given a starring role on a highly rated television show and yet he wanted more. He could not have more because once he was Superman that is who he would always be. He wanted to star in major motion pictures and he wanted to be a success. He could not have all of that though because the small success he had gained in the end turned into his ruined career.

As is true in Los Angeles and Hollywood, many people come to make it as big stars and few actually get the satisfaction of achieving this dream. Hollywoodland contrats the parties of movie stars and producers with darker sides of the city like police corruption. It suggests Hollywood is where dreamers come and more often than not they are severely disappointed. Reeves has found success but is then restricted by it, and in the end unhappy with the way his life has turned out. This is a true Hollywood story. It happens every day and it happened to Reeves.

The film pits Simo’s own stalling career and unhappy life against that of Reeves. He is a prime example of the classic jaded detective from a Noir film. He drinks too much, has a rough relationship with his loved ones, and struggles to find success. In the end though, Simo might actually have a more hopeful, if not happier ending than most detectives in the genre. It is the ending that makes this film feel very much like a “Hollywood film” in that it can’t quite commit to too harsh a finish for our main character. It has to leave a smidgen of hope for its audience to cling to, and in that respect it is very LA.

Chinatown (1974) Movie Review

I love stories about LA. It’s one of the reasons I chose LA Films as the genre for Movie Rob’s Genre Guesstimation. I just reviewed the film I recommended Rob watch (Shopgirl) so today I thought I’d check in on a classic LA Film, Chinatown.

In Chinatown, Jake Gittes is investigating the murder of an official from the Water Company. During his investigation, he discovers a hidden plot by the company to cheat thousands of farmers out of water that was promised to them (among other devious truths). The story shows that there is corruption and deception in everything. In the movie, Gittes is left dealing with betrayal and disappointment. He has come from a tragic loss in his former job to have the same thing happen all over again. He tries to prevent someone from getting hurt and ends up making sure that’s exactly what happens. Jake gets pushed around in a web of intricate lies and it really is a sign of how corrupt Hollywood and Los Angeles were in the 1930s. It shows the darker side of LA history.

The cinematography and production design of Chinatown allow the audience to view what Los Angeles and the rest of Southern California looked like in the 30s and 40s. The buildings, cars, clothes, shops, etc. are all made to look and feel like Los Angeles in the past. It is shot on actual locations all around Los Angeles County so it really feels like you’re right there with the characters. It even has the racial segregation and dried up river.

In keeping with Noir tradition, the film delves deeper into the idea of disappointed hopes through the use of shadow effects, a femme fatale, and a broken down detective who is weary and searching for something better in a city gone to crime. Chinatown uses this style to show the desperation of some people to find hope in the city after everything has gone wrong for them. Gittes loses in the end. He’s watched an innocent die and come face to face with pure evil and watched it win in the end. Chinatown shows that in Los Angeles dreams die and people lie. It isn’t a pretty side of the city but it might be a more truthful one. Chinatown is both a classic Noir, and a classic LA Film.