procrastinator’s must-see movies of 2023

So I’ve watched what I’m going to watch. I do like to see all the best pic nominees and I have accomplished that but the list of movies that people considered best of last year is pretty endless. While this list focuses more on this year’s releases than my other lists do (Books & TV) as you can see I do watch things from the previous years so figure they should also get their spotlight. This year I started tracking movies with a 5-star rating, I thougt it would help me remember and maybe compact the recency bias. But to be honest, do I remember Cha Cha Real Smoot as being all that great? No. But I gave it a high rating at the time so we’re going with it.

  1. American Fiction – I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, relationships, and look at the literary scene through the lens of ‘Black’ fiction.
  2. The Holdovers – The movie really finds a way to show the evolution from start to finish of characters and their understanding of each other with poignant moments.
  3. Sharper – I dig a good caper or con and this was a fun layer of who’s screwing who and how with a strong cast including Julianne Moore to pull it all off.
  4. Air – I almost didn’t watch this because the topic didn’t interest me but I was totally drawn into this Nike getting Michael Jordan.
  5. Nyad – Another movie I almost didn’t watch but man this story is incredible and Annette Bening pulls it off, with the also great Jodie Foster.
  6. Flora & Son – Starting with a pretty rough mother and son relationship it turns into something that’s just sweet.
  7. Beastie Boys Story (2020) – I mean this was an era, I rarely do docs but this story by remaining members Mike Diamond and Adam Horovitz of Beastie Boys along with appropriately Spike Jonze directing is a gem.
  8. How to Blow Up A Pipeline (2022) – Environmental activists bring out the heist vibe I dig as we see how they come together and their plan.
  9. Language Lessons (2021) – Natalie Morales and Mark Duplass create characters and circumstances that just brought me in as remote Spanish lessons bring them together.
  10. Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022) – Another sweet flick, an aimless guy starts hosting bar mitzvah parties and develops a relationship with a mother and daughter that turns in just enough of an untropey way.

What were your faves of last year?

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where’s my seat?

You probably know I’m a big movie fan. I grew up going to the movies and have kept the tradition alive. Fun to go with friends but also nothing better than hitting a matinee on a weekday by myself. So when the pandemic hit that tradition took a hiatus. I remember my last movie was Knives Out, not a bad movie to remember.

So not to let the pandemic take me down, I embraced streaming. Even more movies were being released on streaming. So I made it a point if I didn’t have other plans on a Saturday night to pick a movie. It made the weekend a little different. And I have enjoyed keeping that tradition up for what has turned into years.

I’d been planning to go back to the movie theater. But either there was nothing out. Or the Covid numbers got really high again. Or I just couldn’t quite fit the timing of a three-hour movie in. But yesterday I went to the movies. In the theater! We saw John Wick 4. I specifically picked a movie that I felt would benefit from the big screen. Lots of action. Kind of dark (visually and not just in tone).

Now John Wick is in fact a full three hours. So we found a time. Ordered our assigned seats ahead of time. It’s been so long that I’m really not sure whether you can just walk in these days. Bought some popcorn and settled in for a flick. Overall it was a fun movie and a good experience. But after so many Saturdays of sitting on my sofa, it makes sense that there would be some pros and cons.

  • Pro – You get to see movies as they come out, as a part of the cultural conversation.
  • Con – It is more expensive, we did matinees so it was about $15 a ticket which technically is less than an early rental which would be around $20 but if there were two of us that would be $10 each, and honestly there are so many ways to watch movies I don’t often pay to stream and if I do it’s a much lesser amount (the con of that is often I wait).
  • Pro – You do get more focus and drama by watching it in the theater.
  • Con – For a three-hour movie I don’t mind being able to pause to go to the bathroom (I also specifically didn’t drink extra water before I went), sitting in even the cushy reclined seats can get uncomfortable, and I think we got up before an after-credits scene.
  • Pro – The visuals are definitely better on a big screen, movies can be so visually dark with all of those fight scenes and keeping track of who is who it really just works better.
  • Con – I have gotten used to subtitles (which I use on probably everything except comedies and live shows) and when Lawrence Fishburn first enters (no spoilers) I honestly missed what he was saying.
  • Pro – Movie theater snacks just feel more special, grabbing that bag of popcorn was good.
  • Con – The popcorn actually wasn’t as good as I remember it and you know at home I can have whatever snacks I want.
  • Pro – I missed previews, it was fun to see the snippets for all the other movies.
  • Con – The length of time just gets ridiculous, so first I had to find a window where I could do a three-hour movie, and then I need to account for transportation and time to get snacks and sit through previews, it’s a lot.
  • Pro – I want to be able to support movies and theaters.
  • Con – I mean Covid is still a thing and so sitting in a theater with others could be, and could become, more of an issue.

So for me, I think it won’t be all or nothing. Seeing certain movies in the theater (Fast X!) and having those special occasions still feels super fun. But I am glad to have the option to flip through the latest selections in the comfort of my own home.

And John Wick btw was what one would expect, lots and lots and lots of fighting and some moments of humor. Three hours felt a little long but as they went through a few serious things in his journey it felt pretty engaging.

What’s your take on going back to theaters and have you seen anything good?

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procrastinator’s must-see movies of 2022

Prey

The Oscars are out so now it’s my turn. I have a love-hate relationship with doing this list every year. But since it’s all subjective it’s not like there’s a right answer. Standard caveats apply, here goes.

  1. Prey – This may not have been the best movie of last year but I was really won over by the prequel/reinvention in this franchise and Amber Midthunder as our protagonist.
  2. The Menu – The kind of brutal flick I can get on board with, I like some comedy with my horror, and this take on the most exclusive of restaurants hit it just right.
  3. Hit The Road – Iranian family road trip comedy-drama brought out each character and juxtaposed a family trip with a greater drama, with much success.
  4. Kimi – A Steven Soderbergh that went somewhat under the radar, Zoe Kravitz gets in a fix trying to escalate something she hears while reviewing a recording, oh yeah and she’s agoraphobic, quite the thriller.
  5. The Woman King – Badass warrior women protecting an African kingdom and each other as they battle the greater forces of slavery, engaging battles and emotional notes.
  6. Everything Everywhere All at Once – This one you’ve heard of though you may not be able to get the title right, a fun multiverse that felt both epic and personal even if it might be hard to follow.
  7. The Banshees of Inisherin – Weird is the word I find I’ve included when describing this but when these two friends’ relationship changes things go a little too far in this small Irish town.
  8. RRR – I’ve read that this might not be the best representation of Indian films but leaving that aside it was a fun epic buddy film with music, romance, and action.
  9. All Quiet on the Western Front – A brutal look at a young German volunteer for the army and the battles he faces, hard to watch but in many ways beautifully done.
  10. Hustle – Pretty formulaic but formulas work for a reason, Adam Sandler’s as a basketball scout puts it all on the line for a player with extraordinary potential.

Honorary mentions: Bros, Do Revenge, Emily the Criminal, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Good Luck to You Leo Grande, The Gray Man, Nope, Rosaline, Stay On Board: The Leo Baker Story.

For critics’ picks check out Metacritic’s roundup.

What were your faves last year?

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let things stand alone

Law & Order Premiere Event

I’m the kind of person who really hates to miss the beginning of a movie. And I can’t jump into a series midway. What have I missed? What clue to the characters or situation is going to be lost on me?

So I have to say I am over all the media having to be tied into one another.

Just this week alone:

  • Law & Order – A super cross-over event (I was a little behind on this) I’ve bailed on SVU and OC but had been dabbling with the reboot of the original and one of the things I like about that show is an episode is an episode. But nooo, in a crossover event things span in this case three episodes. So I made an exception and caught all three. At least since I had watched the other shows I knew who most of the characters were but overall although they created an arc for each one there were a bunch of detectives bopping in and out of each. Preposterous. And with all of the related shows, 911s/FBIs/NCISs/CSIs/Chicago whatever, this obviously isn’t isolated.
  • The Rookie: Feds – I didn’t stick with the original The Rookie and I’m pretty sure they launched this as a backdoor pilot over there. So of course Nathan Fillion pops up as a street cop that our main protagonist has some sort of relationship with. And overall these characters all have relationships and stories that I have no idea what’s happening. And not in an of course all characters will have backstory kind of way. It made me less engaged in the characters and story. So whether your spinoff is a character taking a new journey, a sequel/prequel, or just a backdoor pilot seems like you could make it work as a standalone show.
  • Morbius – Marvel is probably the worst. The few movies I’ve liked the most are ones that stand alone. I’ve come to put up with a random guest appearance and an end cap that teases something else. But those are few and far between these days. As homework to watch the final Avengers I think you had to watch 30+ movies. And that’s not counting any series. And the bummer is that even when something is supposed to be kind of a dud like Eternals or Morbius I feel compelled to complete them.

And in addition to feeling like I have to watch every Marvel movie to understand what’s happening in any of them, I suppose I’m supposed to subscribe to Disney+ to watch all the tv shows as well. It’s just exhausting.

I’m also for the record totally over anything that’s a trilogy. The first movie or book never seems to work as a standalone event (I’m looking at you Dune movie and The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet book, so regardless of whether I would have enjoyed all three, I’m out!

I know one aspect of this strategy is giving people more of the kinds of properties that they want. But the other strategy of making you feel like you’re missing out if you don’t watch them all just seems manipulative and greedy.

Will I stop watching Marvel? Maybe not. But I am drawing the line somewhere.

Rant complete. Does this bug anyone else?

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procrastinator’s must-see movies of 2021

Together Together

This was another weird year for movies. The theaters did open back up again. But I didn’t go. Partly it was out of Covid conservativeness but I also just felt so behind that when there were windows where things felt safer, I wasn’t sure what to see. And then there were spikes again.

But I did take advantage of more movies being available to stream. And while not everything was available yet to me, I even threw down some cash (well automated charge). I did manage to see all the Oscar nominations and you’ll see that they mostly didn’t make my cut though a few did.

And for some reason I copped out this year and couldn’t bring myself to put them in fave order, maybe because there wasn’t a best standout or maybe because I was drawn to some lighter fare this year. So alphabetical it is.

  • Black Widow – As you’ll hear me say I love an origin story, it’s typically a more standalone story and gets to the psychology of the character, they managed to do that in a story even though we’ve already seen a lot of Scarlett, a few areas where I had to let it go that I couldn’t remember what was up with the greater Avengers universe.
  • Coda – Not only a beautiful look into the deaf world via the story around a ‘child of deaf adults’ but a beautiful look at family and a somewhat traditional coming of age tale that pulls off both a sweet romance and striving for triumph via the school choir.
  • Drive My Car – Admittedly I still think this story could have been shorter but I found the odd journey of this widower and his driver as they both uncover their personal stories and look for new directions to have been rewarding.
  • Everybody’s Talking About Jamie – Instead of West Side Story tune in to this musical about a 16-year-old boy’s dream to becoming a drag queen, lots of fun numbers and costumes and again a heartfelt coming of age journey for Jamie and his friends and family.
  • The Harder They Fall – The cast on this fun western from Idris Elba to Regina King to LaKeith Stanfield to… was top notch and I was with them through this action-packed brutal throwdown on the way to revenge, it might also ask bigger questions but you don’t need to ask them to enjoy the ride.
  • Pig – I’m a little bit of a sucker for Nicolas Cage but this odd tale of a truffle hunter getting back into a world he fled from to find his beloved pig somehow rides the line of him both odd and sincere.
  • Plan B – Things don’t go so well for this high school duo trying to get a morning after pill, it’s got Booksmart vibes and I mean that in the best way, while dealing with one of the serious issues of today.
  • Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – Origin story alert, what a fun trip with Simu Liu and Awkwafina, as they dig into the past and the mysteries of the martial-arts and underworld, looking forward to this next generation of Marvel heroes.
  • The Suicide Squad – I’m really not sure this should have made my list but I did a watch of Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey, and The Suicide Squad and found that they just got better with each one, and felt like it ended on a good romp with the group of supervillains.
  • Together Together – This was an incredibly sweet story about the relationship of a surrogate mother and a middle-aged man who wants a child, I love it when a more independent movie draws me in with the characters and situation.

Oh and while F9 didn’t make it on the list I did do a rewatch of all the Fast & Furious movies leading up to it, and what a ride.

What were your favorite movies from last year?

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procrastinator’s must-see movies of 2020

The Old Guard

Well, I rolled off of my catch-up for 2019 seemingly right into the pandemic. The only movie I remember seeing in a theater this last year was 2019’s Knives Out. Can that be true? Well, someday we’ll be back to feeling comfortable in theaters, until then lots of stuff available on streaming. While I was being relatively budget-conscious this year I did throw down to pay for a couple of last-minute picks because I knew I’d be doing this list but there are certainly more to be seen. For Critic’s picks, you can check out Metacritic or Rotten Tomatoes for a consensus.

  1. The Old Guard – This is the first movie I remember watching when I decided I was going to start doing a Saturday Night Movie to give some meaning to my weekends during the pandemic, and I just remember it was fun, I’m totally on board for Charlize Theron taking this immortals(?) mercenaries action series into franchise territory.
  2. Promising Young Woman – Revenge done very wrong, in this thriller masking as a comedy Carey Mulligan does a beautiful job embodying the double life of this cunning young woman so obviously broken by experiences she couldn’t avert, will she or can she get revenge?
  3. Palm Springs – You can’t shake a stick without hitting a time loop movie or tv show but this Adam Sandler and Christin Milioti showcase hit fresh notes through their chemistry and hijinks as well as the more esoteric questions.
  4. The Vast of Night – This ’50s set sci-fi/mystery has such a throwback tone but is oddly compelling as two high school kids chase the source of a mysterious audio frequency, does it get them more than they bargained for?
  5. The Half of It – This Cyrano style romance gives us a new flavor of the take as we’re as captivated by shy high schooler Ellie as her target is by her letters, as she befriends the jock she’s writing for, complications and sweetness ensue.
  6. On the Rocks – Sofia Coppola brings a fun look at a daughter, Rashida Jones, and estranged father, Bill Murray, reconnecting through her suspicions about her husband.
  7. One Night in Miami – Most of these plays turned movies feel stilted but this incredible night of icons Cassius Clay, Jim Brown, Sam Cooke, and Malcom X connecting is thoughtfully and beautifully brought to life by Regina King.
  8. Nomadland, Minari, Never Rarely Sometimes Always – These three films bring an interesting look at simpler yet not more straightforward stories of people just trying to make it.

Reply or comment to let me know what some of your favorites were?

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procrastinator’s picks – must see movies of 2019

Brittany Runs a Marathon

It’s a weird time these days but it did give me a good opportunity to play a little catch up with 2019 movies, lots of stuff is streaming and it felt like a good project. There are fun ways to make your movies a project or more of a community like Focus Features Movie Monday Livestreams or AFI Movie Club or start your own movie club and talk about it with video chat. Or just revisit some old favorites, why not re-watch all The Fast and the Furious films for example. You can also find some critics’ picks consolidated into sites like Metacritic or Rotten Tomatoes. So knowing that this list could take various shapes and there are things that I could leave on or off, here’s my ten.

  • Brittany Runs a Marathon – Our protagonist is the least likely marathon runner but her journey to get her health and her life in order is totally engaging, and you know it’s about more than the running.
  • Knives Out – This mystery/comedy is a fun romp through the dysfunctional Thrombey family and the investigation into the murder of it’s crime novelist patriarch, the entire family of suspects, with odd but compelling turns from detective and caregiver.
  • Jojo Rabbit – While the juxtaposition of comedy and the horrors of Hitler and the war might be at odds, for me it heightened the childlike POV and the unbearable.
  • Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood – Enjoyed most of the latest Tarantino with a bit of ramble through the last days of Hollywood including an odd Manson overlap and signature flair for good and for bad, and Pitt and his dog Randy were really captivating.
  • Booksmart – This coming of age comedy following two potentially too smart for their own goods BFFs through their final days of high school, has lots of hijinks but also lots of heart.
  • Parasite – Good but odd and not necessarily in the way I expected with the cryptic things I knew about these two alternate class families and their engagement.
  • Little Women – I think everyone’s got the gist of this tale but the update carried me through the family, the romance, and the tragedy.
  • The Farewell – Enjoyed the trip to China in this heartfelt family, generational, and cultural tale of a fake wedding as a means to say goodbye.
  • Uncut Gems – Tense from start to finish Adam Sandler tries to thread the needle with shady deals and bets along with managing his work and family in this gem.
  • Portrait of a Lady on Fire – The slow burn romance and the journey of the 18th century female painter commissioned to paint the portrait of a reluctant bride to be.

What were some of your favorites?

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dvdon’t


So last weekend I decided to dust off my old Heathers dvd and alas the case was empty. When I went to check my blue ray player to see if it was inside alas the drawer would not open. And after trying the recommended steps online to no avail it brings up the age old question is it time to send my player/discs the way of my cds and cd player? I downloaded the cds that I wanted and now mostly stream music, but I actually don’t have these movies in owned form anywhere. Heathers was available for view on Netflix and I could theoretically buy them via Amazon, is that what one does? What amount of money makes sense? Will those movies really always be available to me? Should I just let my remote pause whenever I run across them playing in real time?

And now although they’ve been sitting there getting dusty I’m now eager to watch each of these movies again:

  • 13 Going On 30 – Who can resist Jennifer Garner’s idealism as she tackles women’s mags in this ladies Big.
  • The Breakfast Club – My fave of this genre of film, the premise, characters, and soundtrack make it a winner (though there were a few great soundtracks in this era).
  • Bring It On – Yes it’s campy and yes its cheerleading but it’s boy meets girl and triumphing by being moral and yes it’s cheerleading.
  • The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai – I remember going to this movie when it came out and just being in wonderment that someone could make a movie this odd and this fun, and as perfect as Perfect Tommy.
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer – So the movie is a much different tone than the series which also of course became a fave but there are moments of what this could become and it was fun despite it not quite living up to that.
  • Cherish – House arrest has never been so enjoyable as Robin Tunney tries to do a little sleuthing with the help of her parole officer.
  • Clueless – This take on Emma, Alicia Silverstone triumphs in this title role in Heckerling’s period perfect coming-of-age rom com, with fun supporting cast.
  • Cruel Intentions – Another fresh take on a classic, this one Dangerous Liaisons with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillipe, Reese Witherspoon, and Selma Blair bringing a spoiled rich kids good vs evil, campy goodness.
  • Dr Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog – As a big Joss Whedon fan I was still delightfully surprised at how good this three act miniseries produced for the internet turned out to be with wonderful performances by Simon Helberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion, and Felicia Day.
  • Gidget – The original Gidget is often the movie I tout as my favorite when pressed, the period and surfing and language of it all is fun but it’s also got a strong female empowerment message for 1959.
  • Heathers – I’m still not a Winona Ryder fan but there are some roles that go beyond the person and this black comedy is so very, I endorse the move to rewatch this instead of the doomed series.
  • Josie and the Pussycats – Though this didn’t do well in the box office I still find it a completely entertaining look at culture and commercialism.
  • Pee Wee’s Big Adventure – Your pal Pee Wee was the luckiest boy in the world, at least for a bit, and his weird world brought a lot of enjoyment to kids and adults alike while it’s the series I value the most but when this movie hit the big screen it certainly brought Pee Wee to a whole new level.
  • Valley Girl – Speaking of soundtracks, this flick brought two LA worlds together Romeo and Juliet style with Nicolas Cage, in the way I always try to remember him, is totally tripendicular.

What dvds do you have still gathering dust or have you moved on to all things digital?

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procrastinator’s picks – must see movies of 2017

I had a little lapse on my end of year lists but I can’t wrap the year without a list of movies. There are always more movies than one can see and although even a not great movie is enjoyable the top ten list is sometimes a challenge. With a little last minute binging and a few undone here’s where I’m netting out.

  1. Call Me By Your Name – This wasn’t an epic film but it captured the mood of the location and the moment and the emotions in a way that sweeps you away.
  2. The Shape of Water – More on the epic side this fantastical tale of a mute woman falling for a creature held captive at an institute she works at, though for fave films check out his previous Pan’s Labyrinth.
  3. Dunkirk – Multiple point of views and timelines may add to the confusion but also add to both the intensity of the individual stories and as well as the overarching battle, you know for a historical flick.
  4. The Big Sick – This shows that romantic comedies don’t need to follow the specific formula and glad that Kumail Nanjiani and his wife Emily V. Gordon were talented enough to turn their story into one that can entertain all.
  5. Ingrid Goes West – Aubrey Plaza can maybe do no wrong and her turn as an unhinged social media stalker really works that balance of comical, sympathetic, and topical making it my indie pick of the year.
  6. Get Out – I’ve never been one to think that a good genre movie can’t be a good movie and this break out shows that you can be suspenseful and topical and fun.
  7. Logan – This one reminded me of what a good comic can be, stands on its own with a good story and lots of action (pretty brutal action), and while it sits within the X-Men series it’s sufficiently standalone which is a rare treat for comic capers these days.
  8. Baby Driver – Not without its flaws but I love a good heist film and the chase scenes and musical accompaniment was a fun romantic escape.
  9. Atomic Blonde – Good classic spy fun and seeing Charlize Theron as the smart, tough, and sexy lead as she hits Berlin in the Cold War trying to lock down a list of agents.
  10. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – This offbeat little vignette of a movie has some odd turns but the performances of McDormand and Harrelson keep you engaged as this mother fights to find her daughter’s murderer.

What were your faves from last year?

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procrastinator’s picks – must see movies of 2016

And after a little extra delay, without further ado…

  1. Moonlight – So everyone has heard of this one by now and yes it’s good, the three sections combine to tell the story of a boy to man poignantly dealing with themes of identity, sexuality, race…
  2. Manchester by the Sea – Yep it’s a bummer and yep it’s worth watching, following Casey Affleck’s broken character as he returns home to care for his nephew.
  3. 20th Century Women – This one gets my coming of age vote for this year as Annette Bening turns to those around her to help raise her son, with a nice vibe set in ’79.
  4. Deadpool – I most enjoy Marvel when it’s good story, good action, and a good dose of humor and this one does just that, leaning heavy into the humor category, fun.
  5. Hell or High Water – Getting to know the bank robber brothers and the lawmen who follow them as things go down a path that they can’t return from, it’s hard to pick someone to root against.
  6. Hunt for the Wilderpeople – I wasn’t sure what I was getting into on this odd New Zealand boy and his foster father on the run from the law in the wilderness is oddly fun and touching.
  7. La La Land – I have noted this as the most overrated film of 2016, and while I was truly put off by the casting of non song and dance peeps in the leads, as well as a few other things, this still made an enjoyable escape via homage to musicals, though something like Sing Street was almost more fun.
  8. The Nice Guys – This buddy crime thriller flick has enough heart and humor to make the ride with Gosling and Crowe on their continued failures as they try to solve the crime that is of course more complicated without killing themselves or each other a bunch of fun.
  9. Arrival – As long as I don’t think too much about the plot of this film, I really appreciate the film-making and the slant on communication and humanity through a slightly new take on alien invasion (though yes big on aliens), it kept me engaged and intrigued.
  10. Nocturnal Animals – Ok I just watched this so that might be swaying me but I feel like this movie would be worth watching just for the visuals alone, though Ford also did a nice job weaving together the present ‘success,’ the naive past, with the fictional noir.

Order as always might be someone subjective and I have missed a few of the more talked about films this year (Lion, Fences, Hidden Figures, Paterson…) so no telling is those would make my personal list. For a gander at what other films critics are talking about check out Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes.

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