Every Film I’ve Watched in 2023: April
Greetings friends! This is a record of every film I’ve watched in 2023, including rewatches, repeats and first viewings. Each film is accompanied by how / where I watched it, and my thoughts in 100 words or less. Welcome to part 4: April.
49. The Adam Project (2022)
Where? - Netflix [first viewing]
Thoughts - This is the type of film I would’ve loved as a kid. It’s creative, it’s funny in places, and there’s cool sci-fi spectacle and time travel shenanigans. However, it wasn’t enough to win me over as an adult. It’s fairly easy to follow, doesn’t break any new ground and doesn’t have an emotional hook. That being said, it was harmless fun. Between this and Free Guy, I think Shawn Levy has a good eye for visual storytelling and executing vibrant action sequences. Also, seeing Ryan Reynolds and Mark Ruffalo together was fun. There’s enough for a passing grade.
50. Jungle Cruise (2021)
Where? - Disney Plus [first viewing]
Thoughts - Considering this is based on a Disneyland ride, it could have been worse. However, it wasn’t particularly good either. Between the iffy CGI animals and mostly flat characters, it’s difficult to find anything engaging. There’s one surprisingly heartfelt scene with The Rock and Jack Whitehall, but beyond that nothing grabbed my attention. It clearly wants to be a fun adventure but does nothing to make that vision happen. Crucially, the story feels like it’s being improvised as the film plays out, with absurd twists and reveals which shouldn’t have made it past the writers room. Ultimately, it’s best left forgotten.
51. Goodfellas (1990)
Where? - Amazon Prime [rewatch]
Thoughts - I’m going to make two statements which I mean sincerely. Goodfellas is not only the best Scorsese film, but it’s one of the best gangster films. Obviously, it has a killer soundtrack and three powerhouse performances from Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, but the driving force is the writing. It’s a fascinating true story which is brilliantly told, spanning decades and juggling various moving parts and characters, but it still has ample room for emotions and subtlety. Goodfellas has immense style and gritty drama, but it also has an emotional throughline many gangster films lack. It’s genius.
52. Don’t Look Up (2021)
Where? - Netflix [first viewing]
Thoughts - I understand why people liked this, but I wasn’t totally sold on it. It’s clearly conscious of current affairs, discussing social media, celebrity culture, conspiracy theories, denying science, election campaigns founded on a single topic etc. However, the film runs out of steam and doesn’t have enough substance to fill the runtime. Also, it resonates among people who are already aligned with its views and politics, but it doesn’t make much impact beyond that. It’s a shame because the film is funny at times, I’m onboard with the messages and Adam McKay is a clever filmmaker. I just wanted more.
53. The Super Mario Bros Movie (2023)
Where? - Cinema screening [first viewing]
Thoughts - I had a lot of fun with this film, and it was better than I was expecting. In terms of visuals, it looks fantastic. This was clearly crafted by people who are passionate about the source material, and their vision of iconic Mario imagery is terrific. Despite concerns, the voice acting is solid across the board. Charlie Day is fantastic as Luigi, and Jack Black steals the show as Bowser. Ultimately, it’s not particularly deep or meaningful like a Pixar film, but it’s harmless fun. We’re clearly not supposed to take it too seriously, so I can overlook any issues.
54. Bronson (2008)
Where? - Amazon Prime [rewatch]
Thoughts - Bronson showcases the better side of Nic Winding Refn’s filmmaking. It’s gritty and unpleasant as you might expect, but it’s also more cohesive and disciplined than films like The Neon Demon or Only God Forgives. Making a film that doesn’t have its head up its own arse is hugely beneficial. Bronson makes a wild story accessible and strangely captivating, blending real events and Bronson’s own theatrical narration as a fantastically creative way to tell the story. Tom Hardy’s performance is so fantastic I struggle to adequately describe it. I have my reservations about Nic Winding Refn, but Bronson is terrific.
55. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
Where? - Amazon Prime [rewatch]
Thoughts - I’m really glad this film holds up. It’s a clever and sharp gangster comedy, which was made on a comparatively small budget. Even though the plot is convoluted and there’s various moving parts, the story never trips over itself. It offers a range of eccentric characters, with solid performances all around and a wealth of quotable moments. This is a level of filmmaking I really appreciate from Guy Ritchie, which we’ve sadly lost in recent years. It’s not Ritchie’s best work, but it’s a great feature debut and is still the inspiration for countless other films.
56. The Suicide Squad (2021)
Where? - Blu Ray [rewatch]
Thoughts - This is one of the best comic book films from recent years. It’s fun, fresh and exciting, and actually understands the premise of The Suicide Squad. The R-rating isn’t a gimmick, this was clearly intended for a mature audience. The absurd violence and profanity add to the batshit crazy tone and atmosphere, which befits the team. There are various bizarre characters featured, with fantastic performances from Margot Robbie, Dave Dastmalchian, John Cena and Daniela Melchior. It truly feels like a comic book come to life, and it’s a perfect antidote for the wider superhero fatigue Marvel have largely caused.
57. Molly’s Game (2017)
Where? - Netflix [first viewing]
Thoughts - I had a fantastic time with Molly’s Game. It brings a fascinating true story to life in a impressively vibrant and captivating way. It’s absolutely an Aaron Sorkin film, because there’s intense verbal sparring and characters consistently fire off words like machine gun bullets, but it’s executed to a high standard. More importantly, Sorkin’s sharp writing suits the story and real-life figures, so his articulate and intellectual style never feels misjudged or distracting. The beating heart of Molly’s Game is Jessica Chastain, who delivers yet another spectacular performance. This was absolutely brilliant, and I was completely blown away.
58. Tetris (2023)
Where? - Apple TV+ [first viewing]
Thoughts - Taron Egerton once again proves he’s a fantastic actor, and he can still shine even if the overall film isn’t great. In the case of Tetris, it’s an interesting story and the film is informative, but there’s a sense the filmmakers are overcompensating. There are times when they take creative liberties to make the story more dramatic and exciting, which was distracting. Tetris achieves significantly more when it’s being subtle. It didn’t need a fictitious car chase or added fluff to make it more dramatic. Overall, despite being a niche subject, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
59. Boogie Nights (1997)
Where? - DVD [rewatch]
Thoughts - One of Paul Thomas Anderson’s best films, and one of the best films ever made. A sprawling epic which features numerous colourful characters, captures the 1970s and 1980s in glorious detail, and explores heavy themes like fame, greed, art, and the human desire for purpose. There’s serious acting talent across the board, including Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, Don Cheadle and a strong central performance from Mark Wahlberg. Boogie Nights isn’t exploitative, immature or disrespectful in its exploration of the adult film industry, but offers a comprehensive insight into both the good times and bad. It’s a masterpiece.
60. The Borderlands (2013)
Where? - DVD [rewatch]
Thoughts - This remains one of the scariest films I’ve ever seen, and I love it. A homegrown British horror, which is a masterclass in how to creatively use the ‘found footage’ style to construct tension and strike overwhelming fear into the audience. Accompanying this style is a razor-sharp screenplay, which explores morality and faith with genuine insight, and takes the characters on an intense journey. The third act is absolutely terrifying, and there’s a reason I couldn’t sleep after the first time I watched it. The Borderlands is phenomenal, a truly great modern horror and a hidden gem.
61. The Gentlemen (2020)
Where? - Netflix [first viewing]
Thoughts - I wanted this to be good, because it’s the type of film Guy Ritchie used to be brilliant at making. Sadly, no such luck. Despite a star-studded cast, exaggerated characters, a ludicrous plot and self-referential humour, I found myself incredibly bored. It’s unfocused and sloppy, and it’s trying too hard to be as sharp as previous Guy Ritchie films. It’s trying too hard to do something which films like Snatch seemed to achieve effortlessly. It’s a shame because actors like Colin Farrell are brilliant, but the script holds them back. This was disappointing and it made me sad.
62. Made in Dagenham (2010)
Where? - DVD [rewatch]
Thoughts - I absolutely love this film. It’s fun and entertaining, but also sincere and informative. There are great performances from numerous people, but Sally Hawkins absolutely carries the film. Most importantly, Made in Dagenham is sure of itself. It knows what messages it’s trying to convey, it knows how to deliver those messages, and it succeeds in every conceivable way. The film’s tone and voice are absolutely crystal clear, and it has the confidence to shout. Every time I watch this film I have tears of joy streaming down my face and I find myself involuntarily clapping. It is wonderful.
63. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Where? - Netflix [rewatch]
Thoughts - This isn’t the best David Fincher film, nor is it the best adaptation of Stieg Larson’s work, but it’s fine. If there’s going to be a pointless American remake of a Swedish film, based on the work of a Swedish novelist, then I’d rather Fincher do something semi-interesting than see it completely butchered. It’s not totally engaging, the gritty unpleasantness is turned up to eleven, and ultimately it loses the spark of the book and the original film. Fincher’s style is meticulous as usual, there’s good performances sprinkled in, but there’s still something missing, which leaves it feeling flimsy.
64. Burn After Reading (2008)
Where? - DVD [rewatch]
Thoughts - I have a soft spot for this film. Even though it’s not the Coen Brothers at their best, and it’s mostly just silly moments which are flimsily connected, I like it. Even when the Coens are taking things easy, they still know how to have fun. It’s important not to take it too seriously. If you compare this to their more serious work, like Fargo or No Country for Old Men, then of course it doesn’t hold up. But it wasn’t supposed to be compared. It’s just whacky fun, with some big Hollywood names along for the ride. Case closed.
Favourite new film of the month
Molly’s Game
Thank you for checking out part 4, hopefully you’ll find yourself back here soon for part 5! If you’ve enjoyed this article, please check out my other recent articles:
