Hello, faithful readers!
Despite the fact that germs have invaded my home and I'm attempting to write this article while heavily medicated, I knew that I just couldn't let you down with my once-a-year blog post about which movies I enjoyed watching during the previous year. After all, I've gotten at least seven comments on similar posts for 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009.
So without further ado, but with a little congestion, here are my top ten favorite movies that I watched in 2023.
10. RRR (2022)
As strange as it sounds, RRR is a high-octane action movie/musical. At times, this film is deliciously cheesy, such as the over-the-top fight scenes and highly entertaining dance numbers. Other parts, however, were a bit too corny for my tastes. It also didn’t really need to be over three hours long. They definitely took their time to get to some plot points. Nevertheless, I enjoyed my experience watching it. It’s hard to dislike a movie as fun as this one. Plus, I had no concept of the true stories this fictional account was based on, so I felt like I learned something about Indian history, as well.
9. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is far better than it had the right to be. This is the sixth movie in the Shrek franchise. It’s a sequel to a spin-off. And yet I found myself laughing more than I have since Shrek 2. The animation is vibrant & colorful, and the action sequences are highly energetic. It’s obvious that the animators took good notes while watching Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek Pinault do a good job, as per usual, but newcomers Harvey Guillén, Florence Pugh, and John Mulaney gave memorable performances, as well. It seems that Puss really is a legend.
8. A Bronx Tale (1993)
I’d seen pieces of A Bronx Tale on television when I was growing up. I got the gist of the story—a boy who is conflicted about wanting the “glamorous life” of a gangster and wanting to obey his parents—but I didn’t really get the full emotional impact of the film. Watching it in its entirety was a different experience. It’s a dramatic coming-of-age tale with interesting characters and remarkable acting. I was especially impressed by little Francis Capra. Yes, I may still get this De Niro/Pesci/mafia movie mixed up with the other iconic ones, but I’m glad I finally sat down to watch A Bronx Tale.
7. A Night to Remember (1958)
A Night to Remember is presented in such a matter-of-fact way that it almost feels like a documentary. And, indeed, this film was released only 46 years after the real-life events, and the filmmakers interviewed a number of survivors to make sure they got certain details correct. While Titanic (1997) wins when it comes to the visual effects of this disaster, I feel A Night to Remember captured the tragedy & seriousness of it all more effectively. In addition, I learned a few new things about the real story, too. It’s a powerful film without all the flash and melodrama of James Cameron’s version.
6. M3GAN (2022)
I didn’t really expect much from M3GAN, but I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. This is like Child’s Play for the modern PG-13 crowd. It isn’t exceptionally scary—I think I laughed more than I jumped—but I found the story to be engaging and the somewhat campy tone works. Plus, this movie has a few genuinely creepy moments. Allison Williams and Violet McGraw both give good performances, and the team of Amie Donald, Jenna Davis, and the visual effects team do a great job of making M3GAN an increasingly intimidating antagonist. This is a popcorn horror movie for teens, and it’s self-aware of that.
5. The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years (2016)
For some reason, I didn’t know that The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years existed. This documentary somehow flew under the radar for me. I enjoyed it. It’s a concise history of the band and features some fun behind-the-scenes footage of The Fab Four. It’s also more upbeat than the other biography I watched this week, The Beatles: Get Back. Ron Howard’s documentary actually serves as an interesting companion to Peter Jackson’s, giving almost the whole history of The Beatles when viewed sequentially. I’m glad I discovered this movie and would recommend it to other fans of The Beatles.
4. Jeremiah Johnson (1972)
Jeremiah Johnson is an oddly soothing film. Despite the hardships and life-threatening obstacles Robert Redford’s character faces, there’s a continual sense of hope, courage & perseverance throughout this story. This movie resonated with me, as well, despite the fact I’m not really the outdoorsy type and would never choose the isolated existence of a mountain man. I’ll admit that I finally chose to watch this movie because of the famous GIF circulating around the internet, but I’m really glad I did. I may never live the life that Johnson did, but it made me appreciate the life I have a little more.
3. Tetris (2023)
The thing that most impressed me about Tetris is that I was in total suspense during a movie about getting the distribution rights to a video game. This should have been a very dry topic, but the filmmakers did a great job of telling the story in a highly engaging way. Taron Egerton really brought an emotional center to the movie. I was also amused by the visuals of this film, which incorporate 8-bit effects at the right times. The soundtrack is fun, too. I know some parts of Tetris are complete fiction, but I was shocked by how much drama there was behind the history of this classic video game.
2. Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (2023)
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie would have been an interesting story in and by itself. However, the way this story is told makes this documentary absolutely fascinating. It blends old film & TV clips, dramatic recreations, and real-life footage in an almost seamless way to create a memorable cinematic experience. And it’s an inspiring tale about a man who is continuing the fight against impossible odds. Michael J. Fox seems like such a down-to-earth guy, even though he was one of the 80s biggest stars, and I’m glad that he was able to create this autobiographical film while he was still able to.
And the #1 movie I watched in 2023 is....
1. Last Night in Soho (2021)
Last Night in Soho is a dark & dazzling mix of sight, sound, and story. Edgar Wright carefully crafts each scene to keep your eyes and your ears at attention as everything unfolds. The soundtrack is as carefully choreographed as the dance scenes, creating a highly intricate film that demands a second viewing. I become more impressed with Thomasin McKenzie with each performance I see of hers, and Anya Taylor-Joy commands the screen whenever she’s on it. I can see some reasons why this movie didn’t fare well at the box office, but I think more people should take a stab at watching Last Night in Soho.
So there you have it, faithful readers. That's my list of the movies I enjoyed the most last year. If you'd like to hear about the movies I didn't enjoy in 2023, you can visit Baconsale.com. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go blow my nose for the 4,815th time this morning and take another nap.
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