Every Film I’ve Watched in 2023: July
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 7: July.
96. The Boat That Rocked (2009)
Where? - DVD [rewatch]
Thoughts - Although this isn’t the best Richard Curtis film, it’s pretty damn good. It’s got a great sense of humour, a rebellious attitude, and it’s wonderfully upbeat. There’s a fantastic ensemble cast, bringing various oddball characters to life in glorious fashion. Also, the soundtrack is immaculate, which fills the film with energy and a fantastic atmosphere. It goes a little silly towards the end, but the overall film is a good time.
97. District 9 (2009)
Where? - Netflix [rewatch]
Thoughts - Despite being older than I realised, District 9 holds up! It’s a brilliant combination of near-future science fiction and gritty body horror. This is the type of film that feels acidic, and I mean that in a good way. The gritty scenes pack a real punch, with a great mix of VFX and practical effects. At the centre of the film is a sharp screenplay and an odd yet captivating performance. I admire the attempt to ground the story in reality, mixing in real life issues and building layers of sci-fi spectacle. This is a modern classic.
98. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Where? - Blu Ray [rewatch]
Thoughts - It’s not the best Spider-Man film, and it’s not as good as Homecoming, but it’s a solid summer blockbuster. It has plenty of action, spectacle and web slinging fun. I like that it’s not set in New York, which makes the film more distinct. Tom Holland once again shines as the best live action Spider-Man, and the supporting cast are all fantastic. Crucially, this film gave us a fantastic adaptation of Mysterio. The costume looked amazing, their technology was updated for a contemporary audience in a satisfying way, and Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance was wonderfully unhinged. No complaints here!
99. Dredd (2012)
Where? - Blu Ray [rewatch]
Thoughts - People slept on this film, which is a tremendous shame because it’s awesome! It’s fast paced, gritty, and it feels like a comic book come to life. The spark of this film comes from its simplicity. It’s not trying to do anything over the top or radical, it’s just faithfully adapting the comic books and bringing the audience along for a wild ride. Karl Urban’s lead performance is terrific, and he perfectly embodies the character. Every time I watch Dredd I’m completely sucked in by the atmosphere, and I’m mesmerised by what the filmmakers achieved on such a small budget.
100. The Whale (2022)
Where? - Amazon Prime [first viewing]
Thoughts - Brendan Fraser’s performance is good, and Hong Chau’s performance is exceptional, but the positives end there. Unfortunately, The Whale is restricted by shoddy source material. The protagonist is confusing. The film wants them to be sympathetic, whilst using over-emphasised visual and audio choices to treat them like a monster. The script is annoyingly self-important, lacking insight into the literary works it references and contradicting its own messages. Rather than telling a complex, meaningful story which befits a director like Darren Aronofsky, The Whale consists of forced character moments, clouded in a synthetically dour tone, before a ludicrous conclusion.
101. Barbarian (2022)
Where? - Disney Plus [first viewing]
Thoughts - I had a fantastic time watching Barbarian. It’s a smart, refreshing horror film, which plays with tropes and genre conventions. I’m a big fan of horror, but that didn’t help while watching Barbarian, because it doesn’t play by any rule book. I felt incredibly unsettled throughout, which was a perfect blend of clever writing, unpredictable narrative choices, and a pitch perfect atmosphere right from the beginning. It’s a film which consistently takes left turns whenever you feel like you know what’s happening, which makes for an authentic experience. It’s creepy, well disciplined, delightfully disturbing, and it was a total surprise.
102. Interstellar (2014)
Where? - Blu Ray [rewatch]
Thoughts - I appreciate Interstellar more than I enjoy it. The performances across the board are phenomenal, which help bring the fantastic screenplay to life. More than anything, this is a visual treat. It’s a unique experience to see Christopher Nolan’s take on a big, bold sci-fi film, and it absolutely delivers in terms of spectacle. Even though the writing goes a little wobbly towards the end, I think the film holds up, and I admire Nolan’s consistency in trusting the audience to keep up. Nolan certainly has better films, but it’s still an enjoyable and emotional experience.
103. Inception (2010)
Where? - Blu Ray [rewatch]
Thoughts - In my eyes, this is Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece. It’s a phenomenal film. From a technical perspective it’s beyond mesmerising, and the writing is equally as impressive. The narrative structure is intelligent and exciting, the characters are compelling, the dialogue is razor sharp, and there’s a great sense of adventure. Wally Pfister’s cinematography is perfect for this film, capturing different landscapes and settings in glorious fashion. This is a masterclass in blockbuster filmmaking. It balances spectacle and substance perfectly, it doesn’t dumb things down for the audience, and most importantly it inspires thought and draws out an emotional response.
104. Tenet (2020)
Where? - Blu Ray [rewatch]
Thoughts - Having not seen this since a cinema screening in 2020, I enjoyed Tenet more the second time around. John David Washington’s central performance is captivating, with strong supporting performances from Robert Pattinson and Elizabeth Debicki. I also really like the look and feel of the film. Ludwig Göransson’s score is amazing, and Hoyte Van Hoytema’s cinematography is stunning, which both help create the right image and atmosphere for the film. There are still problems, particularly in the narrative. The concept is great, but the delivery doesn’t quite do it justice. But, this is still an enjoyable and impressive film.
105. The Prestige (2006)
Where? - Blu Ray [rewatch]
Thoughts - I have nothing but praise for this film. The story is gripping and full of emotion, the characters are complicated, the atmosphere and tone are pitch perfect, and the whole film looks incredible. Christopher Nolan’s keen eye for detail is perfect for this story, focusing on illusions and misdirection, whilst utilising a non-linear timeline which leaves the audience room to piece the puzzle together for themselves. The cast are also brilliant, with the likes of Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Hall, Michael Caine and David Bowie all turning in fantastic performances. This is top tier Nolan, and it’s wonderful.
106. Memento (2000)
Where? - Netflix [rewatch]
Thoughts - I’ve loved Memento for years, and rewatching it only strengthens my opinion. While I thoroughly enjoy Christopher Nolan’s bold blockbusters (like Inception), I really enjoy how simple Memento is. It’s smaller, more grounded and gritty, but still has the key elements I love about Nolan’s filmmaking. In particular, the narrative structure is not only iconic, but it perfectly suits the story and central character. It’s a film which keeps you on your toes, lets the darkness slowly seep through the cracks, and doesn’t hand you every answer on a plate. It’s clever, well-disciplined, and easily one of Nolan’s best.
107. Following (1998)
Where? - Amazon Prime, rented [first viewing]
Thoughts - This was a really interesting experience. Even for his first feature film, this displayed characteristics I associate with Christopher Nolan. The ensemble of complicated characters, sharp dialogue, a non-linear timeline, and a feeling it was made by someone who loves cinema. This film carried a terrific indie spirit, using 16mm black and white film, whilst feeling raw and rough around the edges. It was darker and more disturbed than Nolan’s blockbusters, but was still strangely captivating. It’s not one of Nolan’s best works, but it was fascinating to see where he started his career.
108. Oppenheimer (2023)
Where? - Cinema screening [first viewing]
Thoughts - I don’t think I’ve recovered from Oppenheimer. It was such an intense experience. Every aspect of this film is polished and refined, so it runs like intricate clockwork. The screenplay? Razor sharp, informative and emotional. The atmosphere? Insanely tense, and it left me feeling uncomfortable / nauseous for the last hour. The performances? Fantastic across the board, with a towering performance from Cillian Murphy, who absolutely drives the film. Hoyte Van Hoytema’s cinematography? Stunning. Ludwig Göransson’s score? Amazing. Nolan’s vision, direction and narrative structure? Brilliant as always. I know it’s not perfect, but it was still a spectacular film.
109. Barbie (2023)
Where? - Cinema screening [first viewing]
Thoughts - I absolutely loved Barbie! It’s funny, creative, and it offers entertainment in overwhelming supply. The cast are all brilliant, the set and costume design are perfect, and the screenplay was absolutely fantastic. I laughed out loud throughout the entirety, in a way that no other film has caused for quite some time. Beyond that, the film also has a confident, clear voice. It’s absolutely solid in terms of themes and messages, and there were multiple points I felt like clapping and cheering. Barbie is great and everyone should see it. It’s entertaining, thought provoking, and the soundtrack is spotless.
110. People Just Do Nothing: Big in Japan (2021)
Where? - Netflix [first viewing]
Thoughts - As a fan of the TV series, I was a little sceptical. Usually a comedy series stretching into a film isn’t a good sign, especially when the characters are sent to another country. However, this film was harmless fun. It has the same great sense of humour which made the series so enjoyable, and it feels like a natural extension. It’s not all laughs, because this is a British comedy, so there’s an element of tragedy and poignancy, which helps elevate the film. It was nothing ground-breaking, but I’m relieved to say I enjoyed watching it.
111. The Iron Giant (1999)
Where? - Blu Ray [rewatch]
Thoughts - This remains one of my favourite films of all time. Watching it now takes me right back to watching it on VHS as a child, because the magic of this film hasn’t faded at all. It’s so warm and emotional, and it explores powerful themes. As a child I could enjoy the entertainment factor, and I still do now obviously, but I also cry my eyes out towards the end. This film is unbelievably well written, balancing humour and emotion better than most films. It’s just fantastic, and I’m so glad I appreciate this more as the years go by.
112. Yes Man (2008)
Where? - Amazon Prime [rewatch]
Thoughts - As harmless comedies go, this is fine. It’s light and playful, but doesn’t demand too much attention. It’s a fairly typical setup. We have a solid premise which rolls into various, random comedic bits, gets a little lost along the way, then has a frenzied panic to assemble a forced happy ending. It was a strange decision to keep Jim Carrey on a leash, but at least his performance fits in with an otherwise low energy film. If nothing else, I like the overall positive message, even if it gets a little lost in the mix.
Favourite new film of the month
Barbie and Oppenheimer
Thank you for checking out part 7, hopefully you’ll find yourself back here soon for part 8! If you’ve enjoyed this article, please check out my other recent articles:
