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Next Sunday is the Academy Awards. While I don’t truck with most awards shows and especially the Oscars, that doesn’t mean we can’t commemorate the films that moved us most last year. And so, here’s this week’s art question for you:
What is your favorite film of 2023 (and why)?
Typically, I would opine on my questions along with you, but I have two children at a very particular age, of a very particular disposition, who were just home for a seven-week-long summer break here in Australia. Now that they’re back in school, I’m finally getting to everything I missed. Out of what I’ve seen so far, in the theater and on screeners, I would say BARBIE, PAST LIVES, and OPPENHEIMER are currently duking it out for my final rose. The rest of the 2023 films on my to-watch list have an uphill battle on their hands.
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Oh jeez, a second comment. American Fiction is terrific. Ambitious number of current themes presented without much panic or strife. A proper roasting of the media process (books, movies) as a subplot. Acting is stellar. Subtle depictions of racism while lampooning some responses to it. It had a calm sense in the face of chaos that iI enjoyed. There’s only three meanings to the title that I’ve come up with. More of a classic movie than Oppenheimer or Astroid city ( my previous favs). Hope everyone gets a chance to view, real competence, work, style, detail and passion here.
Oppenheimer broke the most ground cinematically. I loved Asteroid City. Both seemed oddly timely with current events. There was alot to like about Killers of the Flower Moon, but really strayed from the book (origins of the FBI and development of oil on native lands). Scorsese needs to be gently told he should lean on his editor more. So, good movie, yet disappointing.
I haven’t seen a lot of the “big” films of 2023. I loved Barbie but I preferred Past Lives. For me, it was such a still and reflective film and it touched on the core of human experience. I thought it was utterly beautiful.
I also loved Asteroid City. I feel like this is a film I could come back to again and again and continue to get different shades of meaning, like good poetry. I often feel just on the edge of grasping what’s going on in a Wes Anderson film and I really like that. It’s packed full of great acting and is gorgeous to look at too. So I think that is probably my favourite film of last year.
I didn't really see many films from last year if I'm being honest, beside some franchise ones. But I did do Barbenheimer with a friend at a local smaller cinema (in Lewes if you know where that is). Both were great and while Barbie was visually (and generally) more exciting, I think Oppenheimer might take it for me as my favourite.
Asteroid City and Killers of the Flower Moon, but I have a few others I have to watch still. I felt the pacing in Killers was great and didn't feel like a three and a half hour movie.
Steal away! Sure you’ll enjoy Zone of Interest. Both book and film of Under the Skin are favourites. I’m quite pleased when a film doesn’t stick too closely to a source book and becomes its own piece of art, influenced and inspired rather than slavishly copying. Like a good cover version should.
My head chooses Zone of Interest. Completely unlike the Martin Amis novel. Completely unlike any other WW2, holocaust film. Magnificent performances by both leads, subtle unshowy and chilling. My heart chooses The Holdovers. Like a lost 70s classic. Warm, uplifting and sad in equal measure. Paul Giamatti, what an actor! My favourite of his since American Splendor.
I really enjoyed American Fiction, The Holdovers, and Oppenheimer. I haven’t seen Poor Things or Killers of the Flower Moon, The Zone of Interest, Anatomy of a Fall or Past Lives. It’s hard for me to weigh in on this because I haven’t seen all the films, but I think American Fiction was fantastic and I thought The Holdovers had the best acting.
ZONE OF INTEREST astounded me the most. It's such an arresting film, I walked out of the theater and my buddy talked about over a two hour dinner. OPPENHEIMER was a pitch-perfect production. Maybe Nolan's most accomplished
Past Lives - truly original story, beautiful writing and unique complex female lead.
Oh jeez, a second comment. American Fiction is terrific. Ambitious number of current themes presented without much panic or strife. A proper roasting of the media process (books, movies) as a subplot. Acting is stellar. Subtle depictions of racism while lampooning some responses to it. It had a calm sense in the face of chaos that iI enjoyed. There’s only three meanings to the title that I’ve come up with. More of a classic movie than Oppenheimer or Astroid city ( my previous favs). Hope everyone gets a chance to view, real competence, work, style, detail and passion here.
Oppenheimer broke the most ground cinematically. I loved Asteroid City. Both seemed oddly timely with current events. There was alot to like about Killers of the Flower Moon, but really strayed from the book (origins of the FBI and development of oil on native lands). Scorsese needs to be gently told he should lean on his editor more. So, good movie, yet disappointing.
I haven’t seen a lot of the “big” films of 2023. I loved Barbie but I preferred Past Lives. For me, it was such a still and reflective film and it touched on the core of human experience. I thought it was utterly beautiful.
I also loved Asteroid City. I feel like this is a film I could come back to again and again and continue to get different shades of meaning, like good poetry. I often feel just on the edge of grasping what’s going on in a Wes Anderson film and I really like that. It’s packed full of great acting and is gorgeous to look at too. So I think that is probably my favourite film of last year.
I didn't really see many films from last year if I'm being honest, beside some franchise ones. But I did do Barbenheimer with a friend at a local smaller cinema (in Lewes if you know where that is). Both were great and while Barbie was visually (and generally) more exciting, I think Oppenheimer might take it for me as my favourite.
I loved Past Lives but ADORED Fingernails on AppleTV+. My film of the year for sure.
Asteroid City and Killers of the Flower Moon, but I have a few others I have to watch still. I felt the pacing in Killers was great and didn't feel like a three and a half hour movie.
I watched most of the films and liked them all, but I can't bring myself to watch The Zone Of Interest at this time. Have you seen Letter to a Pig?
Steal away! Sure you’ll enjoy Zone of Interest. Both book and film of Under the Skin are favourites. I’m quite pleased when a film doesn’t stick too closely to a source book and becomes its own piece of art, influenced and inspired rather than slavishly copying. Like a good cover version should.
My head chooses Zone of Interest. Completely unlike the Martin Amis novel. Completely unlike any other WW2, holocaust film. Magnificent performances by both leads, subtle unshowy and chilling. My heart chooses The Holdovers. Like a lost 70s classic. Warm, uplifting and sad in equal measure. Paul Giamatti, what an actor! My favourite of his since American Splendor.
I really enjoyed American Fiction, The Holdovers, and Oppenheimer. I haven’t seen Poor Things or Killers of the Flower Moon, The Zone of Interest, Anatomy of a Fall or Past Lives. It’s hard for me to weigh in on this because I haven’t seen all the films, but I think American Fiction was fantastic and I thought The Holdovers had the best acting.
ZONE OF INTEREST astounded me the most. It's such an arresting film, I walked out of the theater and my buddy talked about over a two hour dinner. OPPENHEIMER was a pitch-perfect production. Maybe Nolan's most accomplished