Every Film I’ve Watched in 2023: March
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 3: March.
31. Boiling Point (2021)
How? - Netflix [first viewing]
Thoughts - This had me absolutely shaken. The writing is razor sharp, and on a technical level it’s phenomenal. One of the only times the technique of filming to look like one continuous take has ever truly serviced the story and been so brilliantly executed. This approach isn’t a hollow gimmick for Boiling Point, because it perfectly suits the tone and places the audience in a volatile, claustrophobic environment which reaches new levels of emotion and tension. The cast are fantastic across the board, and Stephen Graham continues to prove he’s one of the best actors working today. I loved this film.
32. Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
How? - Amazon Prime [first viewing]
Thoughts - After how fantastic Wonder Woman was, I was incredibly disappointed with this sequel. It’s a standard of writing and filmmaking I’d expect over twenty years ago. It’s heavy-handed, bombastic to the point of silliness, cheesy in all the wrong ways, and it doesn’t have anything meaningful to say. There’s far too much happening and it’s all painfully undercooked. This may as well have been stick figure drawings on a page, based on how devoid of emotion and substance it was. Sadly, not even the talents of Kristen Wiig, Chris Pine and Pedro Pascal could save this.
33. Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022)
How? - Amazon Prime [first viewing]
Thoughts - I absolutely loved this film. It’s incredibly well written, with a perfect blend of comedy and sincerity. Daryl McCormack gives a great performance, and Emma Thompson was as amazing as ever, giving further evidence she is a national treasure. Even though this film jumps headfirst into heavy themes, like aging, life, love, family and regrets, it’s still an overwhelmingly positive film. It’s a powerful exploration of topics like body positivity and sex positivity, and it maintains a sense of curiosity, openness and respect throughout. This was a really special film, and a true insight into complicated parts of human nature.
34. 50/50 (2011)
How? - Amazon Prime [rewatch]
Thoughts - I don’t mind this film, but I’m not totally sold on it. The concept is really engaging, but the film doesn’t fully capitalise on it, and instead focuses on easy punchlines which can be found in a thousand other comedies. Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivers one of his best performances, and the supporting cast are solid. Seth Rogen is also present, but he plays the usual Seth Rogen type character which was typical of the time. It’s a shame, because there’s some great emotional moments which unfortunately get lost in the mix of increasingly exhausting sex and weed jokes.
35. Nightcrawler (2014)
How? - Netflix [rewatch]
Thoughts - Jake Gyllenhaal often takes the spotlight when Nightcrawler is discussed, which is understandable given how great his performance is, but the film has so much more to offer. The screenplay and story are terrific and disciplined, running like intricate clockwork. It’s thoroughly engaging, placing the audience on the frontline of a dark, complex occupation. At times it reminds me of David Fincher’s films. There’s a focus on detail and obsession, combined with a gritty and tense atmosphere. However, it never feels like a Fincher copy, it’s still a unique film. Also, we can’t forget about how amazing Riz Ahmed is.
36. Empire of Light (2022)
How? - Disney Plus [first viewing]
Thoughts - I wanted to like this more than I did. The cast are fantastic, with an outstanding performance from Olivia Coleman. Unfortunately, the film is confused and inconsistent, seemingly relying on Coleman’s performance to do the heavily lifting. Ultimately, it tries to tell several stories without fully focusing on any of them. However, Roger Deakins worked his magic, as the cinematography elevates what is otherwise a two-dimensional experience. I really enjoyed the scenes of Toby Jones explaining the art of celluloid film projection, and I could easily watch an entire film focused solely on that premise. Sadly, no such luck.
37. Free Guy (2021)
How? - Disney Plus [first viewing]
Thoughts - In terms of visuals and entertainment, there’s a lot to appreciate. This was clearly created by people who understand and appreciate video games, evidenced by the fantastic worldbuilding. However, there’s some meta gags which caused me to roll my eyes, a cringe-worthy and distracting performance from Taika Waititi, and a sense of familiarity throughout. Free Guy isn’t totally original, covering themes and character beats from The Matrix, The Truman Show, The Lego Movie and Ready Player One. But, if you don’t think about it too much, this is harmless fun and offers more good things than bad.
38. The Power of the Dog (2021)
How? - Netflix [first viewing]
Thoughts - Knowing how strong a contender this was for the 2022 awards season, I was a bit disappointed. The prospect of a psychological western is great, however the film didn’t totally grab me. Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Kirsten Dunst all deliver fantastic performances, although they are overshadowed by a stunning and transformative performance from Benedict Cumberbatch. I just wish there was an actual story, rather than a series of largely forgettable character moments, stretched over a painfully long runtime. The true hero of the film is Jonny Greenwood, whose score absolutely carries the film from start to finish.
39. Deadpool (2016)
How? - Disney Plus [rewatch]
Thoughts - A fresh and exciting R-rated comic book film, with a perfect lead performance from Ryan Reynolds. This still feels fresh and subversive, and only gets funnier as the popularity of comic book movies continues to grow. I really admire how bombastic and fun Deadpool is, without resorting to cheap thrills or jokes. The screenplay is sharp and funny, and the R-rated violence is creative and stylish. As a fan of Deadpool comic books, it makes me incredibly happy to see such an accurate depiction of the character, and a story and tone which perfectly match.
40. Deadpool 2 (2018)
How? - Disney Plus [rewatch]
Thoughts - Instead of being clever and fun like Deadpool, the sequel is bigger, flashier and more expensive, but significantly lower quality. Uninspired jabs at DC, lazy meta gags, and a paper-thin subplot about “family” which was seemingly lifted straight from a Fast & Furious film. It takes everything good about Deadpool, dumbs it down and turns the dial to eleven. Deadpool and Cable are fantastic, and I could watch Zazie Beetz play Domino for hours, but these characters deserve much more than the low-hanging fruit which accounts for 90% of Deadpool 2. It’s really not my cup of tea.
41. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
How? - Disney Plus [rewatch, obviously]
Thoughts - I still get a feeling of child-like excitement when I watch this. It takes me right back to watching a fuzzy VHS copy on repeat as a child. In the grand scheme it’s not the flashiest of Star Wars films, but it’s still one of the best. Without this we don’t get to any other Star Wars project, and it establishes some of the key characters and themes which define Star Wars. It also remains an admirable feat of filmmaking, to bring an ambitious and unabashed space opera to life, which still holds strong today.
42. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
How? - Disney Plus [rewatch]
Thoughts - What is there to say? It’s one of the greatest films of all time, one of the best Star Wars films, a classic example of how to make a truly great sequel, and it’s so damn enjoyable. The stakes feel high, there’s a sense of dread and tension as events play out, the story is adventurous and exciting, and the characters are developed in a really meaningful way. Also, the set design and visual effects are fantastic, to the point where Empire looks better than many contemporary films. This is top tier Star Wars, and it is glorious.
43. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
How? - Disney Plus [rewatch]
Thoughts - Considering the immense pressure after Empire, Return of the Jedi holds up really well. It’s an expansion of the galaxy and mythos, it builds on the characters, and it brings the trilogy to a satisfying conclusion. Sure, there’s some goofiness sprinkled in, but there’s also solid action, intense character beats and a fantastic visual spectacle. More than anything this film balances light and dark brilliantly. The Empire’s presence looms heavy throughout the film, as does Luke Skywalker’s inner turmoil, but there’s also a fantastic sense of hope and victory. Any complaints, keep them to yourself.
44. Horrible Bosses (2011)
How? - Amazon Prime [rewatch]
Thoughts - As far as contemporary comedies go, this is pretty decent. It isn’t totally original, nor is it subtle in its nods and winks to existing films, but it’s silly and fun. It’s crude in places and the plot is ludicrous, but it’s still entertaining. The dark comedy style is upheld throughout, and the cast all have a lot of fun with their whacky characters. Colin Farrell in particular deserves a lot of credit because his performance is wild and hilarious in all the right ways. The presence of Kevin Spacey is an annoyance in a film which otherwise is enjoyable.
45. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
Where? - Disney Plus [rewatch]
Thoughts - I’ll always have fond memories because this was the first new Star Wars film I’d seen in the cinema for ten years. It was new and exciting, and it made the future of the franchise seem hopeful. However, in hindsight, Force Awakens played it too safe. It essentially retells A New Hope rather than an original story, offers a new generation of characters who are underdeveloped and underused, and ultimately sets up interesting plot points which go nowhere. This is a Star Wars greatest hits road trip, cashing in on nostalgia rather than offering a fresh new chapter.
46. Ghost Town (2008)
Where? - Netflix [rewatch]
Thoughts - The concept of Ghost Town is fairly solid, but the execution isn’t great. The story runs out of steam halfway through, leaving it to fall into predictable and heavy-handed emotional territory. From there, we see the standard routine of forcing an unlikable protagonist into a place where they’re supposedly likable before the end credits hit. It’s not a routine which often works, and it certainly doesn’t work here. Crucially, the more you think about the story, the creepier it gets.
47. Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
Where? - Disney Plus [rewatch]
Thoughts - This is not only a great Star Wars film, but it’s easily the best of the sequels. It takes the franchise in a new direction, making brave choices to inject fresh life and originality into the story and universe. Although it’s not flawless, it’s brilliantly written, stylish and exciting, and it builds on the characters in a meaningful way. And despite treading new ground, it’s still consistent with the wider themes of Star Wars. Based on how good this film is, we would be in a much better place if Rian Johnson had made the entire sequel trilogy.
48. Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Where? - Disney Plus [rewatch]
Thoughts - I genuinely find it difficult to talk about this film. I deliberately hadn’t watched this since seeing it in the cinema in December 2019, having been left severely disappointed, upset and bored. Sadly, my second viewing wasn’t better. It’s a total mess, crammed with unbelievably stupid writing and lifeless fan service. Undermining and ignoring The Last Jedi was a ludicrous decision, as was underwriting every character, not explaining any parts of the tedious story, and resurrecting Palpatine just so J.J. Abrams could lazily retell Return of the Jedi. This isn’t a victory lap, it’s a funeral procession.
Favourite new film of the month
Boiling Point and Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
Thank you for checking out part 3, hopefully you’ll find yourself back here soon for part 4! If you’ve enjoyed this article, please check out my other recent articles:
