Top 10 Films of 2023

The Academy Awards transpired a week ago, so there's no better time than the present to reflect on my favorite films released last year. I believe 2023 will be remembered as a landmark year for the film industry. The box office signaled a shift in consumer preferences as bankable franchises crashed and burned, giving way to several unexpected successes. Chief among them was the Barbenheimer phenomenon that's even carried over to the Oscars. We also saw overlapping strikes from the Writers Guild and Screen Actors Guild, which hadn't happened since 1960. Fortunately, the writers and actors gained substantial ground regarding streaming residuals and AI protections. Though the strikes delayed many highly-anticipated titles to 2024 and beyond, 2023 had a treasure trove of great cinema. 

Top 10 Films of 2023

Honorable Mentions (Alphabetical order): American Fiction, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, Asteroid City, Creed III, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, The Killer, Poor Things, Priscilla, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

10. The Holdovers - Streaming on Peacock

It's been a while since a new movie entered the holiday movie rotation, but I believe The Holdovers will accomplish just that. It's comforting, cozy, and set in snowy New England. The story revolves around an unlikely group of broken people coming together during the holiday season. If that doesn't scream Christmas movie, I have no idea what would. Boasting incredible performances from Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and the fresh discovery of Dominic Sessa, The Holdovers lulled me into submission. Giamatti and Randolph have rightfully remained in the awards conversation, turning in career-best work. Simply put, The Holdovers is a hilarious and heartwarming ode to outcasts.

9. The Iron Claw

As someone who didn't follow wrestling and wasn't aware of the true story behind this film, I wasn't prepared for The Iron Claw's emotional devastation. When I thought things couldn't get worse for the Von Erich family, tragedy reared its ugly head again. But this series of unfortunate events wouldn't sting without the valiant efforts of the film's robust ensemble. Zac Efron flexed acting (and actual) muscles I had no idea were at his disposal. The role's physically transformative and emotionally taxing, but Efron sells it all. I was equally impressed with Jeremy Allen White, Holt McCallany, and Maura Tierney. Tierney, in particular, delivers one line that hits like a ton of bricks. The Iron Claw's cautionary tale about the dangers of forced legacy is incredibly moving and one you won't soon forget.

8. Past Lives - Streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime

Celine Song's directorial debut contemplates the potent idea of what could have been. Drawing from Song's personal experiences, Past Lives depicts Nora and Hae Sung, deeply connected childhood friends, reuniting after twenty years of separation. The only caveat is that Nora's now happily married. Whereas a typical romantic movie would relish in that tension, Song takes the unconventional route. The three-wheel dynamic remains intriguing but for different reasons entirely. Celine Song's rich exploration of lost love and destiny is equally heart-wrenching and thought-provoking. 

7. May December - Streaming on Netflix

"May December" refers to a romantic relationship between a young person and someone considerably older. In May December, an actress visits a couple twenty years after their scandalous affair to research them for a film about their past. Director Todd Haynes expertly mines this uncomfortable premise for plenty of dark humor and anguish. The trio of lead performances from Charles Melton, Natalie Portman, and Julianne Moore are remarkably layered and utterly fascinating. I was particularly impressed with Charles Melton, whose nuanced performance is quietly devastating and who holds his own opposite the likes of Portman and Moore. Of all the films I saw in 2023, May December is truly one-of-a-kind thanks to its bold direction, sharp script, and brilliant cast. 

6. John Wick: Chapter 4 - Streaming on Starz

I've long been a fan of this franchise and greatly appreciate how the creatives involved have successfully raised the bar with each new entry. John Wick: Chapter 4 continues that trend with nearly 3 hours of exhilarating action. This time, the globetrotting informs the action as Chad Stahelski pulls from various influences, including samurai movies, for his stunt extravaganza. Keanu Reeves as John Wick is awesome as always, and I can't help but respect the lengths he goes to for our entertainment. Above all, I was glad that John Wick: Chapter 4 found room for some emotional poignancy. 

5. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One - Streaming on Paramount+

In a world where studios have become over-reliant on green screen and digital effects as a cost-cutting measure, Tom Cruise is one of the last movie stars championing good old-fashioned authenticity. What some consider a gimmick is actually the franchise's greatest asset. A genuine sense of danger is present in the Mission: Impossible movies because Cruise faced those predicaments. Cruise always finds a way to realize the impossible, and I respect him so much for going the extra mile. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One defies all odds and continues the series' upward trajectory, excelling at everything this franchise is known for. It's action filmmaking at its finest. Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise fire on all cylinders, and I cannot wait to see what they have in store for Part Two!

4. Anatomy of a Fall

Justine Triet's Anatomy of a Fall has one of 2023's most compelling premises. A man mysteriously falls to his death, leaving his wife as the prime suspect and their blind son as the sole witness. The French court drama that follows is utterly fascinating to behold. The prosecution intrudes upon every minute detail of the family's private lives in the search for the truth. An interesting wrinkle to the film is that the circumstances of the death are left ambiguous. The court arrives at a verdict, but the truth of what happened is withheld, allowing for endless speculation. Anatomy of a Fall is thought-provoking, well crafted, and features extraordinary performances from Sandra Hüeller and Milo Machado-Graner. Justine Triet's film has dwelled with me since I first saw it, and I can't wait to revisit it.

3. Killers of the Flower Moon - Streaming on Apple TV+

Martin Scorsese is one of our greatest living filmmakers, and it's always a treat to get another movie from him, but I've especially enjoyed this late stage of his career. Scorsese's wisdom gathered from 65 years of filmmaking has permeated through his recent storytelling, and his films have become more patient and meditative. Killers of the Flower Moon continues that trend by depicting a historical injustice involving a series of murders in the Osage community motivated by greed. These events are disturbing but essential, and Scorsese handles everything very tactfully. 

2. The Boy and the Heron

The Boy and the Heron is the culmination of Hayao Miyazaki's 60-year career as an animator. Will it be his final film? Your guess is as good as mine, but Miyazaki's determined to delay his inevitable retirement at all costs. The Boy and the Heron reckons with Miyazaki's legacy as he revisits many familiar elements from the other stories he's told. The film is equally pensive and adventurous, featuring stunning animation and a transcendent score from Joe Hisaishi. The Japanese title translates to "How Do You Live?" - a question that succinctly captures the essence of the movie. 

1. Oppenheimer - Streaming on Peacock

Christopher Nolan's latest film took the world by storm and restored my hope in the future of cinema. A 3-hour, R-rated historical biopic about the creation of the atomic bomb grossed nearly $1 Billion and won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. A year ago, nobody would have guessed that would be the case. While the Barbenheimer phenomenon certainly contributed to its success, there was a genuine, sustained interest in an adult-oriented movie from a filmmaker with a strong creative vision. Oppenheimer never fizzled out, and that delights me to no end!

I attended a sold-out IMAX 70 MM showing of Oppenheimer last summer and was astounded by the innovative use of the format. The imagery on display from Hoyte van Hoytema was simultaneously intimate and grandiose. "It's paradoxical, and yet, it works," J. Robert Oppenheimer says in the film - a fitting description considering much of the film's dialogue revolves around theoretical physics and McCarthyism. Yet every second of the 3-hour runtime is captivating. Oppenheimer's security hearing is just as thrilling as the Trinity Test. Oppenheimer has a propulsive rhythm shaped by the brilliant work of editor Jennifer Lame and composer Ludwig Göransson. It's simply masterfully made. 

The cast of Oppenheimer is overflowing with A-list actors, and they're all incredible in this movie, but Cillian Murphy's central lead performance is the lynchpin of it all. The complexity of this role can't be understated. Oppenheimer's internalized despair and regret perfectly manifests itself in Murphy's gaze as he realizes the power he's unleashed upon humanity. The final shot of the film is quietly devastating. Christopher Nolan is a director whom I've greatly admired for a long time, so I don't say this lightly, but Oppenheimer is his masterpiece. 

'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One' Review

Synopsis: Ethan Hunt and the IMF team must track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity if it falls into the wrong hands. With control of the future and the fate of the world at stake, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan is forced to consider that nothing can matter more than the mission - not even the lives of those he cares about most.

Runtime: 163 minutes

MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for intense sequences of violence and action, some language, and suggestive material.)

Who should see it? Fans of Tom Cruise and the Mission: Impossible franchise.

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie with a screenplay from McQuarrie and Erik Jendresen, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One is the seventh entry in the long-running spy series. Mission: Impossible - Fallout broke a Mission: Impossible tradition as McQuarrie became the first filmmaker to return. Flashforward to today, and he is currently in production on his fourth Mission film (Dead Reckoning Part Two). While I somewhat miss the change-off, I think McQuarrie and Cruise work very well together. McQuarrie understands the ethos of Mission: Impossible.

The beating heart of McQuarrie's Mission: Impossible set pieces is that action informs character and vice-versa. Based on Ethan Hunt's response to the most harrowing circumstances, the audience understands his idealogy. Then, compelling conflict is drawn from testing these values and pushing Hunt to his limits. From the very beginning, Mission: Impossible has been about the power of choice. After all, each mission starts with the tagline, "Your mission, should you choose to accept it..." Dead Reckoning faces that dilemma head-on as Hunt and his team are up against their greatest adversary yet. Though I'm sure that sounds like a cliché buzzword, there's an elaborate shroud of mystery around this new threat who has greater ambitions than inciting a nuclear war. And I found that incredibly refreshing.

Over twenty-seven years, Mission: Impossible has steadily progressed from a series of espionage thrillers to stunt-oriented action blockbusters. Since Ghost Protocol, the marketing for each new chapter has focused on how Tom Cruise would be putting his life on the line in more insane and entertaining ways. While that trend continues in Dead Reckoning, McQuarrie also brings the franchise back to its roots. Dead Reckoning contains the relentless thrills of recent entries and the Hitchcockian intrigue of the original. McQuarrie and Cruise take everything you love about Mission: Impossible and dial it up to eleven. In many ways, it's a culmination of everything that came before it. Before proceeding, I'd be remiss not to acknowledge Lorne Balfe's propulsive and percussive score. I've obsessively listened to Balfe's Mission: Impossible - Fallout soundtrack since 2018 and was blown away by his work here. 

Concerning action, Dead Reckoning delivers the goods. The centerpiece stunt this time around involves Tom Cruise driving a motorcycle off a cliff and parachuting in to reach his objective. It's just as crazy as it sounds and will leave you holding your breath when Cruise enters freefall. Cruise also drives one-handed while handcuffed for an extended chase through the streets of Rome, engages in close-quarters combat in a narrow Venice alleyway, speed-flies through a ravine (an advanced and unpredictable form of paragliding), and fights atop a moving train in Norway (perhaps a cheeky nod to the original). Tom Cruise's commitment to practical action has always set Mission: Impossible apart in a crowded blockbuster landscape. What some consider a gimmick is actually the franchise's greatest asset.

In a world where studios have become over-reliant on green screen and digital effects as a cost-cutting measure, Tom Cruise is one of the last movie stars championing good old-fashioned authenticity. Not to say visual effects aren't used in the Mission: Impossible series and don't have their place. There's a common misconception that movies marketed around their practicality don't employ CGI (ie. Top Gun: Maverick, prior Mission entries, or any of Christopher Nolan's films). Mission: Impossible - Fallout had 1,800 vfx shots, and I wouldn't be surprised to learn Dead Reckoning had even more. But these effects aren't noticeable because they're so scarcely used and reinforce the action captured in-camera rather than replace it. A genuine sense of danger is present in the Mission movies because Cruise faced those predicaments. Cruise always finds a way to realize the impossible, and I respect him so much for going the extra mile.

At the risk of regurgitating praise for Tom Cruise, Ethan Hunt is deservedly one of his defining roles. Cruise's desire to push himself further with each new mission is readily apparent. Stuntwork aside, Cruise unleashes his dramatic chops and unrelenting intensity to great effect once more. Dead Reckoning enlists a few fresh faces, but chief among those is Hayley Atwell as Grace. Atwell quickly proves herself to be a noteworthy addition to the ensemble as a central figure with compelling characterization and great rapport opposite Cruise. She rightfully garners much of the spotlight and earns second-billing right under Cruise. I won't say any more about her character for the sake of avoiding spoilers.

Returning to aid Hunt in another rogue crusade, the dependable trio of Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg, and Ving Rhames each have their moments to shine. Par for the course, Ferguson's Ilsa Faust finds herself in the thick of the action as Pegg and Rhames lend technical assistance. Other returning characters include Vanessa Kirby's enigmatic White Widow and Henry Czerny's dubious Eugene Kittridge. Kittridge hasn't been seen since the original Mission: Impossible, so his involvement brings everything full circle in many respects. At Kittridge's disposal, Shea Whigham and Greg Tarzan Davis are other great additions to this franchise who I hope to see more of in Part Two. 

On the antagonistic front, Ethan Hunt faces a formidable and mysterious opposing force in Esai Morales' Gabriel. Gabriel is a unique villain for the series with unconventional motives and ruthless efficiency. In Gabriel's right hand, Pom Klementieff's Paris is an especially memorable henchwoman. McQuarrie cleverly ensures the conflict between Ethan and Gabriel is personal while the stakes are monumental. Audiences are clued in just enough to grasp Gabriel's objective and idealogy but McQuarrie holds back any substantial backstory to preserve the shroud of intrigue.

By now, you should know the drill. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to see Dead Reckoning on the largest screen possible. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One defies all odds and continues the series' upward trajectory, excelling at everything this franchise is known for. It's action filmmaking at its finest. Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise fire on all cylinders and I cannot wait to see what they have in store for Part Two!

Film Assessment: A+

'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' Review

 

Synopsis: Archaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary artifact that can change the course of history.

Runtime: 142 minutes

MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for sequences of violence and action, language, and smoking.)

Who should see it? Fans of Harrison Ford and Indiana Jones eager to see the final installment in the franchise.

Raiders of the Lost Ark debuted in movie theaters 42 years ago. From the creative minds of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, an iconic action hero was born. Regardless of your feelings towards Raiders, Temple of Doom, Last Crusade, or Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the character of Indiana Jones has endured and remains one of the most daring heroes to ever grace the silver screen. I'm not here to relitigate those films but think it's worth mentioning that I enjoy all four to varying degrees. Alongside Star Wars, the Indiana Jones series is another Lucasfilm franchise that meant a lot to me growing up. Needless to say, I was very excited when a fifth entry was announced. At the time, Spielberg was set to direct. It felt serendipitous that Spielberg and Harrison Ford would explore the aged archeologist in his twilight years. Though, it can certainly be argued that they'd done so already in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull... 

In the seven years since a fifth Indiana Jones movie was announced, several screenwriters came and went while Spielberg ultimately vacated the director's chair. Spielberg remained an executive producer on the project but wanted to pass the bullwhip off to another filmmaker for a fresh perspective. James Mangold was then brought on and had the unenviable task of stepping into the shoes of Steven Spielberg, not to mention bringing this beloved series to a close. To further complicate matters, Harrison Ford was 78 years old when the cameras started rolling and production found itself amidst a global pandemic. To say Dial of Destiny had a troubled production would be putting it mildly. 

Ford sustained a shoulder injury while rehearsing a fight scene, and was unable to film for three months, but Mangold persevered. Action scenes involving Indy were shot with a stunt double, and Ford's face was digitally imposed in post-production. Meanwhile, the production budget ballooned to nearly $300 M, making Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny one of the most expensive movies ever made. I preface my thoughts on Dial of Destiny with all of this because I think it's worth noting all the hurdles Mangold and his crew had to overcome. And I commend them for that. 

Unfortunately, I left the theater disappointed by Dial of Destiny. As I alluded to earlier, even the lesser Indiana Jones adventures benefited from simply having Steven Spielberg behind the camera. He's one of the greatest living filmmakers, so his direction tends to elevate even subpar scripts. I admire much of Mangold's work, and Ford v Ferrari actually gave me the confidence he'd be a natural fit for an Indiana Jones movie. Ford v Ferrari marries the sensibilities of old-school storytelling with contemporary filmmaking. With Indiana Jones, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg delivered thrilling action and adventure that harkened back to pulpy serials while pushing the boundaries of special effects. Spielberg's successor needed to follow suit if they hoped to recapture the spirt of the series.

Dial of Destiny underwhelmed me for many reasons, but the source of my disappointment can be traced back to a half-baked script and uninspired filmmaking. The ending of the film is functional, but the payoffs don't feel earned. The groundwork for a bonkers and mostly satisfying third act has been haphazardly lain. Mangold seems to be interested in the idea of Indiana Jones being past his prime, yet Indy's age is not actively an impediment to the action. It's occasionally brought up as a means of comic relief or a slight inconvenience, but Indy marches on. He rarely struggles as a result of pushing 80 years old, so the discussion around it fails to resonate as intended. He rides a horse through New York City and jumps between moving tuk-tuks in Morocco with youthful vigor. He sure doesn't seem 80!

For a series that's usually highly regarded for its craft, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is a pale imitation of everything that came before it. James Mangold is no Steven Spielberg. Nobody is. But I've seen plenty of evidence throughout Mangold's filmography that he is a talented director capable of greatness. Indiana Jones is synonymous with thrilling adventure, yet the action is dull and woefully generic. The set pieces are frenetically edited, and lack visual clarity and a sense of geography, making it very difficult to follow along. Aside from featuring a rousing John Williams score and some familiar faces, Dial of Destiny is indistinguishable from other contemporary blockbusters. 

Donning the trademark fedora for his final adventure, Harrison Ford is actually one of the film's saving graces. Despite his age, there is no question of Ford's commitment to closing out this chapter of his career. Opposite Ford as Indy's god-daughter, Phoebe Waller-Bridge brings a sardonic wit to Helena Shaw that reminded me of her character from the Prime Video series Fleabag. Unfortunately, this feels woefully out-of-place and I found the character a tad obnoxious for the first two-thirds of the movie. Her one-liners felt far too modern seeing as Dial of Destiny was set in 1969. There's also not enough attention devoted to their relationship, so the eventual resolution of that storyline feels insincere.

Among the supporting cast, Indy has plenty of new allies and adversaries portrayed by Ethann Isidore, Toby Jones, Antonio Banderas, and Mads Mikkelsen among others. Isidore's Teddy serves as this film's Short Round analog, tagging along with Helena for the adventure. Mikkelsen's Dr. Voller quickly proves himself to be a formidable antagonist, while his henchmen played by Boyd Holbrook and Olivier Richters felt destined to face off against Indiana Jones. Jones and Banderas also feel at home as friends of Indy but have little to work with. Similarly, John Rhys-Davies returns as Sallah for a glorified cameo. If you've seen the trailers, his "Give them hell, Indiana Jones!" line makes up about a quarter of his screen time, so don't expect him to stick around for long when he shows up. 

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny desperately hopes to unearth your adoration for this franchise without fully understanding why audiences gravitated to this series in the first place. This franchise has endured for over 40 years due to its ingenuity. There's a creative spark with Indiana Jones that set it apart from everything else. Dial of Destiny sorely missed the Lucas & Spielberg touch, so it's the first Indiana Jones movie that feels like it was slapped together on an assembly line. I'm not sure this one belongs in a museum. 

Film Assessment: C

Top 10 Films of 2022

The Oscars are next Sunday, so I figured now would be as good a time as any for me to share my ten favorite films from 2022. Since I didn't write any new reviews last year, my selections may surprise you... 2022 was an exceptional year for film, and I'd daresay it's the best year since 2019. I struggled to decide which films to exclude, so my honorable mentions are more crowded than usual. There were even films I adored that didn't quite make it into my honorable mentions such as Nope, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Guillermo del Toro's Pinnochio.  

As always, this list is incredibly subjective and liable to change depending on how I'm feeling when asked. There were some last-minute shake-ups and I still haven't seen every film released in 2022, but I've seen a majority of the releases I was interested in seeing. So, without further ado, enjoy my ramblings on my ten favorite films released in 2022.

Top 10 Films of 2022

Honorable Mentions (Alphabetical order): All Quiet on the Western Front, Ambulance, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, The Menu, Prey, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, RRR, Turning Red, The Whale, and The Woman King.

10. Decision to Leave - Streaming on Mubi

Park Chan-Wook's Decision to Leave impressed me on all fronts. It's an engrossing neo-noir featuring plenty of inventive filmmaking and rich performances. As the story unfolds, you'll find yourself deeply invested in the central romance and mystery, culminating in a devastating finale. I'm still baffled that it was completely shut out of the Oscars. 

9.  Top Gun: Maverick - Streaming on Paramount+

Full disclosure: I am not fond of the original Top Gun. Yet I couldn't help but be impressed by Top Gun: Maverick. At the time of release, the pandemic had crippled theatrical distribution. There were a few success stories, but studios began questioning the sustainability of traditional release models. Evidenced by its massive box office success, Top Gun: Maverick was the right movie for the right time. It was a four-quadrant legacy sequel that brought people back to the theater. What Joseph Kosinski, Tom Cruise, and the Maverick cast and crew achieved was nothing short of remarkable. The aerial photography alone makes Top Gun: Maverick worth watching multiple times. But the film offers so much more than that! In a crowded blockbuster landscape, Top Gun: Maverick set itself apart with sincerity. It delivered high-flying spectacle and an abundance of heart. Needless to say, Top Gun: Maverick took my breath away.

8. Avatar: The Way of Water

Thirteen years after the worldwide phenomenon that was Avatar, James Cameron delivered his greatly anticipated sequel. Like its predecessor, The Way of Water is making waves at the box office. It currently sits as the third highest-grossing release of all time worldwide. And Cameron's other oceanic epic Titanic is right on its heels thanks to a recent rerelease commemorating its 25th anniversary. Cameron's streak of box office mega-hits is astonishing, and it's all the more impressive that three of the top four highest-grossing films of all time were directed by him. Cameron knows what audiences want, and the unprecedented success of his latest three narrative features is a testament to that. 

In the last six months, I've experienced all three in theaters since Avatar and Titanic were rereleased in proximity to The Way of Water. Upon revisiting them, I realized that Cameron offered a unique experience for moviegoers as he pioneered new technologies that revolutionized special effects with each successive production. His films demand to be seen on the largest screen possible and his use of 3-D only makes them more immersive. Avatar: The Way of Water is no exception. Not only does it feature some of the greatest digital effects that I've ever seen... The Way of Water also took its cast of characters in exciting directions while fleshing out the world of Pandora. In Avatar: The Way of Water, it's said that the Way of Water has no beginning and no end... and neither does my adoration of this movie.

7. Tár - Streaming on Peacock  

Written and directed by Todd Field, Tár is a fascinating character study about the fictional composer Lydia Tár. Tár compelled me with its empathetic and thoughtful examination of cancel culture. Even when you disagree with the thoughts, words, and actions of Lydia Tár, you never lose sight of her humanity. Lydia Tár is a fully realized and dimensional character in large part to Cate Blanchett's dynamic performance. Additionally, there are great flourishes of creative filmmaking throughout Tár. Chief among its winning qualities are undoubtedly brilliant writing and direction.

6. The Northman - Streaming on Prime Video

The Northman is the latest film by director Robert Eggers. It is also his most mainstream and expensive release. The Viking revenge epic boasts an all-star cast, incredible action, and a riveting narrative that will bring Shakespeare to mind. But let it be known that the tale of Amleth, which The Northman loosely draws upon, actually inspired Hamlet. So this is a real "chicken and the egg" scenario. But what stood out to me about The Northman was Eggers' commitment to the Viking perspective. Where a commercialized version of this story might condemn their beliefs, Eggers embraces the lead character's thirst for revenge. The Northman has been deemed one of the most historically accurate Viking movies ever made. In abiding by these values and customs, Eggers enriches his narrative and atmosphere. 

5. Aftersun

Charlotte Wells' Aftersun was one of the most emotionally devastating movies I saw last year. It's a film with immense staying power, as I reflected on it for weeks afterward. I knew nothing about Aftersun before watching it. I never saw a trailer and didn't even read the synopsis. I watched it purely based on good old-fashioned, positive word-of-mouth. As I watched it, I tried to piece together the puzzle of this story. But it wasn't till the climax that everything clicked. Once I understood the significance of these events, it ripped my heart to shreds. Wells paints a gut-wrenching portrait of a troubled father-daughter relationship that is further elevated by exceptional and understated lead performances.

4. The Batman - Streaming on HBO Max

I am a huge fan of the Batman mythos. Considering how often the Caped Crusader has graced the silver screen, it's remarkable that writer-director Matt Reeves and actor Robert Pattinson were able to provide a fresh take. Set in Batman's second year of crimefighting, there's no need for Reeves to reiterate the Dark Knight's origin story for the thousandth time. Throughout Batman's cinematic history, his prowess as "the world's greatest detective" has rarely been the focus. With The Batman, Matt Reeves delivered a noir that tips its cowl to Alfred Hitchcock and David Fincher. It's suspenseful, thrilling, and the epitome of everything I've ever wanted to see from a Batman adaptation. 

3. Everything Everywhere All At Once - Streaming on Showtime

Chances are you've heard of Everything Everywhere All At Once by now. It's the indie film that took the world by storm. It grossed over $100 M worldwide on a $25 M budget and has garnered the most Oscar nominations of any film nominated this year with eleven nominations. As the nomination leader, it's likely the frontrunner for Best Picture. Whether that will pan out remains to be seen, but putting its reception aside, Everything Everywhere All At Once is the type of movie that will inspire others to fall in love with the process of filmmaking. It's a film that creatively deals with the multiverse in such a nuanced way, telling a beautiful story about reconciliation and the cycle of generational trauma.

Everything Everywhere All At Once is admittedly pretty weird and overstimulating, but the film wears its heart on its sleeve, so it's difficult to resist. Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, collectively known as the "Daniels," are the duo behind EEAAO. Before their unmitigated success with EEAAO, the Daniels enjoyed an eclectic career directing music videos, television episodes, and the film where Daniel Radcliffe played a farting corpse. EEAAO resonated with so many people because the Daniels' maximalist approach offers something for everyone to enjoy. There's absurd and engaging action, a touching romance, and unlimited potential for humor spread throughout the vast multiverse. Yet the story remains rooted in family drama. In this day and age, we are overwhelmed by everything vying for our attention. Everything Everywhere All At Once is a unique reflection of that experience. Not to mention how lovely it's been to see Ke-Huy Quan enjoying an overdue career resurgence thanks to his Oscar-nominated role here!

2. Babylon - Streaming on Paramount+

Damien Chazelle is a director I've greatly admired since I first saw Whiplash nearly a decade ago. Since then, Chazelle's become the youngest recipient of the Best Director Oscar and made some of my favorite recent movies. So it's no wonder I loved this one. With that being said, Babylon is the most polarizing and ambitious project of Chazelle's burgeoning career. Sure, there was a manufactured flag controversy surrounding First Man, and who can forget the Oscars fiasco when La La Land was mistakenly announced as the winner of Best Picture? But those "scandals" pale in comparison to the hellish online discourse around Babylon. Then again, what isn't controversial nowadays?

Whether it be for the lengthy three-hour runtime or the crudeness of obscenities depicted in the film, the response to Babylon was incredibly divisive. What won me over, though, was Chazelle's uncompromising approach to telling this story. We live in an age of sanitized media, so it's a miracle that Babylon made the leap from page to screen. As the credits rolled, it dawned on me that Babylon may be the last film of its kind. An auteur-driven, R-rated $80 M production unrelated to any existing franchise and completely unafraid to alienate its audience. If that proves true, Babylon sure is one hell of a last hurrah that I remain grateful to have experienced twice in cinemas. 

Chazelle's gone on record to say that he considers Babylon his love letter to cinema and hate letter to the industry surrounding it. Set in the transitionary period between silent film and talkies, Babylon explores similar subject matter as Singin' In The Rain. Chazelle confronts the unfortunate reality that in pursuit of profit and progress, Hollywood's left many talented artists in the dust. With each technological innovation, artists' livelihoods were rendered obsolete. Nevertheless, there is an upside. Celluloid ensured these artists would have enduring legacies. Damien Chazelle's sprawling Hollywood epic swings for the fences from frame one and never lets up. It's endlessly entertaining, well-crafted, full of first-rate performances, and unabashedly sincere. Who could ask for anything more?

1. The Fabelmans

Steven Spielberg is my favorite filmmaker and one of our greatest living storytellers, so naturally, the tale of his upbringing would be of great interest to me. However, I had no idea that The Fabelmans would move me on such a profound level. Considering Spielberg's filmography is an embarrassment of riches, you'd think that I would have learned not to underestimate his abilities behind the camera... Nevertheless, I wasn't prepared for him to deliver one of the best films of his career. It's certainly one of his most personal works to date. That much is indisputable. 

There is a great deal of technical mastery on display, but The Fabelmans resonated with me far beyond that. While it's unlikely any of us will go on to be the "next Spielberg," there's something universal about his story. In discussing the film with others, many have told me that they related to one of the Fabelmans in one way or another. Though I'd hardly consider myself a visionary mind on par with the likes of Spielberg, I never realized how much the two of us had in common. Aside from a fascination with cinema, we are both the eldest son of divorced parents and have three younger sisters. Our parents are similar in the sense that our fathers are more mechanically-minded and our mothers are artistically minded. We've even both achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. The similarities go on and on, but I digress.

The Fabelmans may appear to be little more than a semi-autobiographical account of Steven Spielberg's childhood and adolescence. But underneath all that, you'll discover the traces of Spielberg reckoning with the surrounding circumstances and choices that lead him to become one of mankind's most acclaimed film directors. You will even notice how aspects of Spielberg's personal life such as divorce, distanced fathers, and his Jewish heritage influenced many of his movies. There's a tinge of regret behind his pursuit of filmmaking as Spielberg contemplates the perils of art as an obsession. In the simplest of terms, The Fabelmans is a $40 million cinematic therapy session. Though referring to it as such may seem reductive, you can't deny that the result is endlessly fascinating and cathartic. I can't help but respect Spielberg for his willingness to bring the depths of his heart, soul, and memory to the big screen.