My year in film

The last week of the year

I kind of love the week between Christmas and New Years. Time slows down. The past few years I have spent the week alone for the majority of the time, going on random side quests to spend time with any friends who are still in town. I pretend to work. Some years I’ll pay a visit to the local mountain town Idyllwild where my longtime roommate/friend and his family rent a cabin every year. For the rest of the time I sit on my couch, think about the year, what it meant to me, how it fits into my bigger picture.

Then I think about what I dream to do next year and make lists and commitments and plans for myself that will inevitably be broken or forgotten.

Then I think about how silly it is to compartmentalize life into 365 day blocks. I wonder if its more helpful or hurtful for people think that way. Is more time wasted trying to fit plans into boxes? Or is the structure helpful to keep people on a similar trajectory. Its hard to say.

Listen to Nicole Kidman and buy AMC stock

This year, in July, I had a conversation with my roommates girlfriend about movies. The move in Hollywood towards television series had been giving her anxiety. The feeling of constantly chasing the newest shows and “powering through” the 80 hours of content they offered, felt like a never-ending, always losing battle. I was in the middle of “Better Call Saul” at the time; and got this gut feeling to cut myself off.

Now, I have many things to say about our relationship with television, movies, and art, but thats not what I want to talk about today. I just want to say that at that the point I had this mind-blowing thought: “I miss movies”.

And so I began watching more of them for the rest of the year. And it was awesome. Oh, how I’ve missed cinema, the THEATRE, the 2-hour story. Glorius in its format, shape, taste, aesthetic, I don’t know if i’ll ever turn back. People say Cinema is dead, well then bury me with it.

My top 5

I didn’t spend 2023 watching 2023 films alone, I reeled back and forth through time, experiencing classics I’d missed, sleepers long forgotten, along with some newer modern hits. So to wrap up the year I figured I’d tell you a little about what I’ve been watching and why I think it could be worth your time too! Here is my top 5 of the year:

1.) Amelie

Are you like me, and remember being creeped out by the cover of this movie while walking through Blockbuster as a kid? Well, listen to your parents and don’t judge a film by its cover because this might be my favorite movie of all time. I resisted this movie for so long because of that, and watching it reminded me that the best way to watch movies is impartially, without trailer, without marketing, totally detached from expectation.

A love story on its surface, but so much more, this film highlights humanity at its finest. It is about caring for others in pursuit of a better humanity and a better self. It is about seeing the potential in all of us, even the most wicked; and rejecting the complaceny and stagnation of “normality”. The film is artsy and creative in every direction, and warm visually. Its the cinematic equivalent of receiving a giant hug. I couldn’t recommend a film more than this one.

2.) Past Lives

Rarely does a film ooze with such authenticity the way Past Lives accomplishes in doing. It is a film so raw and delicate that it actually feels like you are a bystander in the night eavesdropping on a relationship. The writing stands out above all as raw, unpolished, honest, imperfect, and thoughtful. The long drawn shots, the dialogue with long suspensful pause, the editorial pace, each adding its own layer of authenticity, making it impossible not to connect with the difficult humanity unfolding.

The direction they chose to end in is so in tune with the rest of the film, you have to expect it, and yet you so don’t want it to be true. It stands true to life in that, we only get to live and remember this one experience. As much as we’d like to optimize everything, the truth is the cards will fall where they fall and sometimes that’s it. To try to reverse that is to try to peek your head into an another universe or a past life. Another 5/5

3.) Mulholland Drive

In case you thought I only liked love stories, then check this one out. This movie gifted me two sleepless nights and couple of wasted days at work.

After watching Mulholland Drive, I felt I’d been lured into a trap while the movie feasted on my remains. Finishing this movie kind of feels like waking up suddently in the morning at 3am, confused and thirsty, restless maybe for a few more hours, and can’t remember what you were dreaming about.

I won’t even describe what its about, but it definitely taught me about a different way to tell stories. It was my first David Lynch movie, and honestly, idk if i’m even ready for another one.

If you don’t like movies that you can’t piece together afterwards, then avoid this one. If you enjoy the gray areas of truth, then dive in.

4.) Emily the Criminal

Thank god the world has blessed us with Aubrey Plaza. Plaza is so good it hurts, and after this and White Lotus I only want more and more from her.

This movie is so good because the stakes are sitting at eye level. You’ll watch this and think, “damn, this could totally happen to me or someone i know”. Her experience feels like its right behind some familiar door that I fortunately haven’t had to open. But her pain stings and I feel it myself and for all my millennial friends. Its a crime/drama and its full of that dry, sassy Plaza goodness.

I think its a sleeper pick, because I haven’t heard many people talk about it. And I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.

5.) The Boy and the Heron

I won’t lie, I just left the theatre from watching this like an hour ago. And to be honest this pick might not stand the test of a sleepful night and some serious thought. But something in my gut is telling me it belongs here. A fan of Miyazaki since being absolutely terrified by “Spirited Away” in the 3rd grade; I anticipate a growing love for this one. With no shortage of imaginition, Miyazaki once again gives us a playground for all our wildest ideas and reflections to play in. What is a lasting legacy? How do you live? How should we cope with loss? Do we even have a choice? Why are there a bunch of knife-wielding parakeets in my kitchen? Stuff like that.

Its kind of a slew of ideas and thoughts, a bit of a fever dream, but it feels truthful to his [Miyasaki’s] reality. As always, the animation feels tailored to the story and the experience, truly cutting the edge of animated pictures. It sets itself above any of the disney pixar money-saving ai generated crap we get from the US.

Happy New Year

So that’s it. Those are my TOP 5 movies I saw in 2023. If you have any disagreements or recommendations for next year please let me know! Thanks for reading and see you in 2024!