Every Film I’ve Watched in 2023: November
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 11: November.
155. The Terminal (2004)
Where? - Netflix [rewatch]
Thoughts - I feel like people don’t talk about The Terminal often enough, which is a shame, because it’s a solid Spielberg film. I’m aware it takes a true story and gives it a glossy Hollywood treatment, but The Terminal is engaging in a way I can’t quite describe. Tom Hanks spreading kindness and positivity through the airport lifts my spirits, and I get sucked into the story every time. Even if the film is cheesy in places, and there’s a random romance thrown in which is heavy-handed, I can’t help but like it.
156. Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)
Where? - Disney Plus [rewatch]
Thoughts - I was in the mood for some childhood nostalgia, and this hit the spot. It’s a fun, family friendly comedy with a vibrant ensemble cast. Bonnie Hunt and Steve Martin are fantastic in their leading roles, bringing comedy and sincerity in ample supply. I was surprised to see Shawn Levy named as director, but it explains why Cheaper by the Dozen has so much character and energy, to the point of excess at times. If it weren’t for some emotional moments which land well, this might border on being too silly.
157. Paddington 2 (2018)
Where? - Netflix [rewatch]
Thoughts - There’s no way to overstate just how perfect Paddington 2 is. It’s a rare example of a sequel which exceeds a perfect first film. There’s a sense of whimsy and wonder, wrapped in an overwhelmingly fun story about family. The cast are amazing across the board, especially Hugh Grant, who delivers the best performance of his career. It has a wonderful blend of humour and emotion, and a magical quality which is distinctly unique to Paddington. It’s joyous, uplifting, deeply moving, and I love the central message about making the world a better place through small acts of kindness.
158. Fair Play (2023)
Where? - Netflix [first viewing]
Thoughts - I heard a buzz online about Fair Play, and I expected a gripping thriller. While the leading performances from Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich are good, I found the film itself underwhelming. It’s a good concept which explores contemporary issues, and some scenes are well written, but the overall narrative is baggy, repetitive, and doesn’t have enough momentum or substance to fill the runtime. By the end, I found the messaging was confused and contradictory. I watched a video of the writer/director explaining the ending, to see if it made more sense. It didn’t.
159. The Marvels (2023)
Where? - Cinema screening [first viewing]
Thoughts - The onslaught of vicious negativity this film received was totally unjustified. I can’t deny it has problems. The villain is completely flat, chunks of missing continuity are glazed over with flimsy recaps, and the sincere moments don’t work as well as they need to. However, as a sci-fi adventure, it’s an absolute riot. The action is creative, the visuals pop, and the trio of main characters ooze charm. The protagonists feel like the characters I know and love from the comic books, and Iman Vellani steals every scene in glorious fashion. It’s no masterpiece, but it’s really fun.
160. I am Legend (2007)
Where? - Amazon Prime [rewatch]
Thoughts - For the most part, this film still works quite well. The story is simple but engaging, the worldbuilding is solid, and the tense atmosphere is chilling. The opening act in particular is the strongest section, creating a sense of dread by withholding the ‘zombies’ from the audience. The tension starts to fade as we see more of the CGI ‘zombies’, the plot becomes progressively sillier, before a contentious ending closes the film in a baffling manner. I’m happy to admit nostalgia makes me view this through rose tinted glasses, but even the missteps this film makes aren’t too damning.
161. Ad Astra (2019)
Where? - Disney Plus [first viewing]
Thoughts - I’m no stranger to slow, ponderous sci-fi films. In fact, I’m quite fond of them. Give me a free afternoon and a copy of Silent Running and I’m beyond happy. But something about two hours of Brad Pitt mumbling in space didn’t resonate with me. Even though the film is visually impressive, and Hoyte Van Hoytema’s cinematography is stunning, I found the story to be slow and tedious. Ad Astra’s self-importance is matched only by its inconsistency, as the film can’t decide what it’s doing at any given point, or which film it’s copying at any given point.
162. Soul (2020)
Where? - Disney Plus [first viewing]
Thoughts - I liked Soul, but I didn’t love it. The visual language is offbeat and whimsical, the score is brilliant, and I like the central message of appreciating life. However, something didn’t click. The best Pixar films engage both my thoughts and my emotions, to the point of making me cry. I didn’t cry whilst watching Soul, which is odd because the messaging did strike a chord. It’s like the film had all of the key ingredients, but the recipe wasn’t quite right. It’s not a bad film by any means, there was just something missing.
163. Onward (2020)
Where? - Disney Plus [first viewing]
Thoughts - While it’s nothing ground-breaking, I had a fun time with Onward. The story is engaging and playful, and Tom Holland’s voice acting helps bring an endearing character to life. More than anything, it’s a different flavour from Pixar. Jumping into a fantasy adventure with a rich lore of mysticism was refreshing. Even if there isn’t much in terms of emotional depth, beyond a couple of poignant scenes, it maintains a solid pace and sense of fun throughout. It likely won’t hold up as one of Pixar’s strongest films, but it’s enjoyable.
164. Darkest Hour (2017)
Where? - Netflix [first viewing]
Thoughts - I like the idea of a war film which focuses on planning behind the scenes rather than extensive battlefield sequences, but something big is missing from Darkest Hour. Beyond the attention to detail in practical elements (hair, costumes, sets etc), there’s not much of a spark. The film inevitably overcompensates for a lack of substance with glossy Hollywood shots and over-dramatised scenes which feel painfully fake. Gary Oldman is terrific as Winston Churchill, but the film relies on his performance too much. Take that performance out of the equation, and we’re left with a fairly bog standard film.
165. The Favourite (2018)
Where? - Disney Plus [first viewing]
Thoughts - It’s a gorgeous costume drama, with all of the pomposity and attention to detail, but it also has a dark, satirical sense of humour. Crafting a twisted story of corruption and obsession, and a power struggle between three intimate characters, The Favourite is funny, sharp and tragic. Olivia Coleman is absolutely wonderful, with two incredible supporting performances from Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz. Robbie Ryan’s cinematography subverts period drama conventions, which disorientates the audience and reinforces the idea that the environment is skewed, as are the characters in it. From start to finish, I was completely captivated.
166. The Good Dinosaur (2015)
Where? - Disney Plus [rewatch]
Thoughts - This is definitely on the lower end of Pixar’s filmography. It’s generic and repetitive, and doesn’t offer anything new or exciting. The story reminds me of Ice Age, but it doesn’t come close to the same level of quality. While the overall story is messy and underwhelming, there are emotional moments which work, like the two protagonists using drawings on the ground to explain they’ve lost relatives. I also quite like that the film owes a debt to westerns in its landscapes, themes and musical score, even if those elements don’t shine through properly. It’s forgettable, but harmless.
167. Cars (2006)
Where? - Disney Plus [rewatch]
Thoughts - Cars is peculiar. It’s not aggressively bad, but it’s also not ground-breaking. It doesn’t feel like a product from the same imaginative Pixar that brought us Toy Story and Wall-E, but rather a Pixar (unsuccessfully) reaching for creative ideas. Despite a relatively unremarkable concept, the story isn’t without merit. It’s heavy-handed and way too long, but I like the messages of taking life a little slower, staying humble, and remembering the people who help you along the way. So, it’s a damp squib for Pixar, but it’s an enjoyable damp squib.
168. Brave (2012)
Where? - Disney Plus [rewatch]
Thoughts - Brave is an underrated Pixar film. Although at first glance it seems to have key characteristics of a typical Disney film (a far away land, a princess, a witch etc), the reason Brave works so well is because it’s not a typical fairy tale. It’s the story of a confident, strong princess defying tradition and societal expectations, whilst growing closer to her closed-minded mother. Brave has lots to offer in terms of visual spectacle and fun action, but the beating heart is that central dynamic. It’s a great film for children and adults, offering plenty of room for thought.
Favourite new film of the month
The Favourite
Thank you for checking out part 11, hopefully you’ll find yourself back here soon for the final instalment of 2023! If you’ve enjoyed this article, please check out my other recent articles:
