The Sea Beast has terrific computer animation, a Moby Dick story, a young girl as the leading character, and multiple political and social threads for adults. (3.5*)
Puss in Boots The Last Wish Is a terrific animated feature that will be enjoyed by children of all ages and their elders! It is the story of a legendary cat who faces his ninth life and discovers what is really important. (4*)
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is a superb example of stop-motion animation, but it falls short as a musical and doesn’t tell a story most audiences will enjoy. (2.5*)
An Overview and comparison of this year’s Oscar-nominated documentary films.
Navalny is as thrilling a movie as you can get, and even more so because it’s true. But is it a skillful documentary, or just a lucky filmmaker?(3.5*)
First of this year’s genre reviews, we look at three science fiction films, two of which are must-views!
All That Breathes is a different kind of documentary that tells its story of three Indian Muslims ministering to the needs of a bird, while exploring humanity’s relationship to the natural world. (4*)
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed is an amalgam of two different films, sharing a common person, photographer Nan Goldin. Most viewers will likely find this one a little unsatisfying. (3*)
A House Made Of Splinters is the story of 4 pre-teens who can no longer live with their families because of parental alcohol dependency. The kids tell their stories while the camera records their honest and heart wrenching feelings. A remarkable film. (4.5*)
Fire of Love is about two geologists who spend their entire marriage exploring volcanoes. But the film gives more insight into their love of volcanoes than for each other. (3)
EO is one of those rare movies where, not knowing exactly how, the film transports you into a different world. In the end you never knew you would have so much empathy for a donkey while exploring the meaning of consciousness. (4.5*)
Argentina 1985 is a docudrama telling the story of the world’s first civilian trial of a military dictatorship. It is a courtroom drama lightened with humor and stories of families. A good film, but maybe a bit difficult to absorb. (3.5*)
Close evokes emotions, but violates another principle of what makes a good movie. (2.5*)
The Quiet Girl is quite possibly the best movie of the year. (5*)
Babylon has some great moments, but is ultimately an overstuffed mess.
The Batman is one of this year’s best movies. While nominally an action film, it also is thrilling detective story, told at a human level.
Avatar: The Way of Water is a visual spectacle, a story setting up the next three sequels, and, yes, long.
Living is a remake of a 70-year-old Japanese film with the setting changed to London. The story is a classic, about a man who, told he only has six months to live, suddenly decides to do something different with his life. Nighy’s acting is “spot on”, and the film is a tearjerker, but ultimately it doesn’t present anything new.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever starts with the death of the former Black Panther and moves through nearly three hours of sometimes beautiful, sometimes action packed, scenes but with so many obligations to fulfill that it is ultimately unsatisfying.
Triangle of Sadness starts as an interesting riff on money and sexual politics, turns into a disgusting display of sophomore humor, and ends as an insult to the audience. How did this become an Oscar nominee? (1.5*)
Women Talking is exactly what the title suggests. What you get is a journey what it is like to be a woman in a man’s world, and how that is changing. It is a fascinating conversation. (4*)
The Fabelmans is a well crafted movie focusing on the roots of Steven Spielberg’s remarkably successful career. Still, it might not be for everyone. (4*)
The Whale pulls heartstrings as you navigate a week with a morbidly obese man. The movie explores themes of addiction, relationships, literature, and spirituality with an unexpectedly good performance from Brendan Fraser. (4*)
An analysis of where my 2023 Oscars predictions worked and where they didn’t and why. Some suggestions for next year.
Top Gun: Maverick is this year’s most popular movie. It tells a relatively simple story well, bursting with visual and aural excitement. First of this year’s “popcorn movies” and worth every kernel. (4*)
Elvis (4.5*) In a dazzling production full of sights and sounds, Baz Luhrmann paints the tragic story of a man who struggled to get back to his cultural roots.
Tar is movie requiring much patience and concentration, but the rewards are unique. About a female who achieves the top position in the classical music world and then falls, it is also about power, individualism, and, yes, cancel culture. My first (5*) movie of the year.
A German production, All Quiet on the Western Front re-adapts the 1928 novel of the same name, adding some distinctive scenes and commentary to the story of a young German man, and his friends, thrust onto the “Western Front” to fight the French in the final months of World War I. Accompanied by some stunning cinematography, dominating sound and music, and visceral visual effects, the film reaches new heights in presenting the horror of war. It also adds another, very important message about how events are felt differently depending on where you stand on the social ladder.
Everything Everywhere All at Once is an insane look at one woman’s romp through the multiverse as she learns what is really important about life. (4.5*)
Set during the Irish Civil War in 1923, in a very small village on an isolated island (Inisherin) off the coast of Ireland, Padraic (Colin Farrell) finds his lifelong friendship is torn when his older best friend, Colm (Brendan Gleeson) suddenly, and without apparent reason, finds him “dull” and no longer wants to be with him. The change alters both men, and the entire village, both emotionally and physically. Martin McDonagh’s carefully written and directed script is executed by an Irish-born cast with seemingly perfect chemistry. A must-see film for any adult interested in how and why relationships, of any kind, change and, sometimes, end. (4.5*) The Banshees of Inisherin
My Oscar Predictions 2023 details which movie will win each of the categories and why. I’ll revisit after the ceremony.
An Initial Ranking of all 39 2023 Oscar Nominees in Feature-Length Categories.
An Analysis of Oscar Nomination Patterns, Audience Reactions, and Critical Ratings of all 39 Nominated Feature Films.
Questa del Rio News: Questa, New Mexico.
Gringo Gazette: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Sierra County Sun: Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.