Oscar’s Preview (kind of)
The Oscars are coming up! (March 10th) I’m not a movie buff or a cinephile, but I like watching the occasional “film”. Since it is impossible (or I just don’t want to) to watch all the best pictures on the Oscars list of nominations here are the 10 “best pictures'” I saw in 2023.
Hot Fuzz
Hilarious premise, excellent physical comedy, wit at every turn, and plenty of morons that make you glad you are who you are.
Shrek 2
This movie will chuck you in a time machine. Did you know it debuted in 2004? Shrek 2 is better than the first Shrek. People would have forgotten about Shrek 1 if it wasn’t for Shrek 2. Donkey is an all time character and the fairy godmother still gives me nightmares.
Grand Budapest Hotel
I’m not a Wes Anderson fan boy, but this is a captivating movie. It’s just fun. The characters are goofy, the side quests are necessary, and the setting is so fake that you want to go there immediately.
Fargo
This might be the best movie of all time. Besides the satisfying benefit of your accent being changed for the week following a viewing, this movie makes you check your credit score and sends you off to repay any debts you might owe. Bring a blanket because this movie is COLD. And please, for the love of god, no fiscal reward is worth organizing the kidnapping of your own wife.
The Menu
I mentioned this movie in one of the first blogs I ever posted, and my opinion still stands. This movie might be full of tropes and a few mediocre actors, but you’ll enjoy it nonetheless. Give it a try on a night when you’ve already eaten dinner.
Surf’s Up
This is the perfect movie. Conflict, drama, animals doing stuff that humans should do, surfing, insecure villains. I watched this movie on a lazy afternoon and paused it to use the restroom, when I did, there was only 30 minutes left! A nice and tidy hour and a half of can’t miss action! Chicken Joe might be the greatest character of all time.
The Last Waltz
Such a banger. If you haven’t seen it, you’re doing it wrong. Listen to the instructions in the opening credits and crank the stereo. Pour yourself a bevvy of choice and let Levon Helm and Co. rock you into a stupor. Sure, the interview cutaways might be a little awkward and make you wish they would stick to the music. But it’s fascinating to see musicians at the height of their powers in an off stage setting. The music is incredible, the guests are hilarious and noteworthy. This is appointment television every year, whether it’s around Thanksgiving or not.
Wet Hot American Summer
A timeless classic. I remember laughing so hard I cried the first time I saw this during my schooling days. I was amazed by the comedic style, the awkwardness, the dialogue, the courage to be weird. My favorite scene is when they get back from their quick journey to “town” where they galavant and shoot heroin etc. When they get back they all have to go in separate directions to work. Two of the guys go off in one direction, and the feeble Alan says “wait up” and follows them. But they don’t go anywhere far, they just run to the nearest building and stand with their faces right against the outer wall. The camera stands still on this action and everyone who has ever watched this movie says the same thing. “What the fuck was that?” So good.
Stand By Me
A delightful coming of age story based on a Steven King novella. The only thing that is unbecoming about this movie is that they decided to change the setting of the story from Maine to Oregon. They kept all the town names and other landmarks of Maine are mentioned including the TOGUS VA Medical Center in Augusta. Why the change? Anyways, the story follows a pack of best friends as they search for a dead body. It explores themes of adolescent friendship, grief, absent parents, fading friendships, standing up for yourself. In the final scene of the movie, the adult version of the main character played by Richard Dreyfuss concludes his writing of a novel that embodies the plot of the movie with these words, “I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?”
Tear alert. Thank you once again Stephen King.
Office Space
Clever, depressing, character driven, bountifully quotable, boring at times in the best way. I think they manage to do office comedy better than…”The Office”.
“Yeahhhhh, that’d be greeaaaat.”
