Every Film I’ve Watched in 2023: October
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 10: October.
141. Thor (2011)
Where? - Disney Plus [rewatch]
Thoughts - I’ve always considered this “low tier” for Marvel Studios, so I was hoping my thoughts had changed after years without seeing it. Turns out, it’s still as tedious as I remembered. I appreciate Asgard isn’t an easy part of Marvel lore to adapt, but the film didn’t have to be so boring, and it didn’t need to take itself so seriously. There are some good elements, like the VFX, set design and Tom Hiddelston’s performance, but sadly none of those make up for a lack of heart and warmth. It’s a slow, dreary prerequisite for Avengers Assemble, nothing more.
142. Freaky Friday (2003)
Where? - Disney Plus [rewatch]
Thoughts - I’ve got a sweet spot for this film, based on happy memories from my childhood. And why wouldn’t I like it? It’s an updated spin on a classic story, which is funny, upbeat and it doesn’t go too hard on the sloppy sentimentality. Essentially, it offers exactly what you’d expect from a Disney film of this era. It’s cheesy and harmless, and watching Jamie Lee Curtis pretend to be a stroppy teenager will never stop being entertaining.
143. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
Where? - Disney Plus [rewatch]
Thoughts - There’s nothing I can say about this film that hasn’t already been said in a thousand different ways. It’s a film which is universally ridiculed for various reasons, and I can’t disagree with any of the criticisms. However, I do get some strange sense of enjoyment from it. It’s a complete mess and I can’t take it seriously, but it’s hilarious to watch this utter bin fire misjudge everything. Hugh Jackman and Liev Schreiber are great casting choices, but the script gives them nothing to work with. Also, the way this film treats Deadpool is a crime.
144. The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021)
Where? - Disney Plus [first viewing]
Thoughts - Based on how ludicrous the true story is, I expected this to be bigger and more bombastic, but it was surprisingly restrained. In a way, this benefits the film because it means the characters take centre stage, rather than drowning itself in excess. It still informs the audience and dives deep into fascinating and problematic events, but there’s room for emotion to shine through. Jessica Chastain is absolutely fantastic, as she transforms completely into Tammy Faye, and Andrew Garfield gives a great supporting performance. The acting is ultimately better than the overall film, but it’s still worth watching.
145. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)
Where? - Blu Ray [first viewing]
Thoughts - This wasn’t quite what I was expecting. I was looking for more satire and an intense examination of Nic Cage’s mind, which the film still manages to an extent, but it’s predominantly an action comedy. I wanted this to be weird and wild, but it’s more quirky and mild. I enjoyed the film, and it definitely gave me some of what I wanted, but still felt a little confused. Ultimately, it’s a familiar formula which is elevated by the chemistry between Nic Cage and Pedro Pascal, and some sharp jokes about the film industry.
146. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Where? - Blu Ray [rewatch]
Thoughts - This is bittersweet. It’s nostalgia fuelled fun which was a great cinematic experience in 2021. Tom Holland gives his finest performance as Spidey, and Willem Dafoe’s return is a triumph. However, the film is a messy collage. The story doesn’t make sense, emotion is missing from key scenes, and the Spider-Man cameos aren’t used in a meaningful way. It was clearly rewritten around the inclusion of Tobey and Andrew, instead of their return being an organic part of the story. So, it’s enjoyable at surface level, but tears easily like wet tissue paper when looking for emotional substance.
147. Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018)
Where? - Disney Plus [first viewing]
Thoughts - I knew virtually nothing about this film or the true story which inspired it. I’m pleased to say I found myself absolutely hooked. The story was fascinating, the dialogue was sharp, and the characters were complicated and flawed. Melissa McCarthy delivers the best performance of her career so far, paired wonderfully with a contrasting performance from Richard E. Grant. It’s a story about desperation, corruption, and an unlikely friendship between two very different people. I thought it was great! It educated me, it entertained me, and it made me think about human behaviour and friendship in a new way.
148. Blade (1998)
Where? - Blu Ray [rewatch]
Thoughts - It might be one of the most ‘90s’ films I’ve ever seen, and one of the cheesiest, but I can’t deny I find it entertaining. Beyond the cheese and over emphasised style, this film actually has a lot to offer. It was a big moment for comic book films, making a success of a lesser-known comic book property during a time when comic book properties weren’t popular in Hollywood. It’s fast, bombastic, and it fully commits to its vision, despite a lack of story. Also, the blood rave scene is one of the best film openings of all time.
149. An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Where? - Amazon Prime [first viewing]
Thoughts - Despite knowing how coveted this is among horror aficionados, I was unprepared for how brilliant it is. The writing is simple but effective, combining a fish out of water narrative with old school mythology about a monstrous curse. It’s creepy and disturbing, with a pitch perfect atmosphere and pacing. Moments of body horror are sporadically weaved into a well-constructed story, so they’re punctuated for maximum impact. The werewolf transformation scene is terrifying and impressive, and the moments of violence aren’t gratuitous. The dialogue is a little dated at times, but overall this is a masterclass in horror filmmaking.
150. Blade II (2002)
Where? - Blu Ray [rewatch]
Thoughts - It might be an unpopular opinion, but I prefer Blade II to Blade. It reduces some of the cheese, then takes the best elements and repackages them in a more complete story. It’s refreshing for a sequel to head in a different direction. It’s an earlier film directed by Guillermo Del Toro, and he brings some serious style, mastering both horror spectacle and comic book action. Is it a good film by today’s standards? Probably not. But taking into account when it was made and the fact it didn’t need to be more than what it was, it holds up.
151. Blade: Trinity (2004)
Where? - Blu Ray [rewatch]
Thoughts - I don’t know how to describe Blade: Trinity. The previous two films were cheesy, but they were at least entertaining. Blade: Trinity is a jumbled mess. It dials everything up to eleven, which unfortunately means stupidity is in high demand. It feels like a typical lazy sequel, designed to cash in on a franchise’s success without servicing the audience. Also, and this is by no means an exaggeration, this film offers one of the worst depictions of Dracula in any medium. Even considering the incredibly low expectations of a vampire comic book movie, this is still a huge disappointment.
152. Sleeping with Other People (2015)
Where? - Amazon Prime [first viewing]
Thoughts - A mixed bag of a comedy film. On one hand, there’s some fun snappy dialogue and interesting character dynamics, but on the other hand, there’s tropes and stereotypes which are quite tired. I can tell this is the type of rom com which is supposed to feel fresh for a modern audience, but the jokes didn’t always land. It’s like the best parts of numerous comedies remixed and repackaged, but with less substance or edge. The concept and cast are both solid, but the delivery left a lot to be desired.
153. Talk to Me (2022)
Where? - Netflix [first viewing]
Thoughts - Potentially one of the strongest horror films released in recent years. I’m aware this will sound like false praise, but Talk to Me works so well because it feels like a complete vision. It takes a fairly simple idea and absolutely nails the execution with discipline and confidence. It’s not just about thrills and chills, because there’s various themes explored throughout and the film actually has something to say. Creeping audiences out is easily achieved, but engaging their thoughts and emotions is much harder, and yet this film manages both to a very high standard.
154. The Shining (1980)
Where? - Halloween cinema screening in Edinburgh [rewatch]
Thoughts - Despite being a massive horror fan, I’ve never been too big on The Shining. It’s not a bad film, and I can appreciate the visual language, but it doesn’t hit me like other classics do. The key aspect which is missing for me is emotional engagement. Although it’s a technical marvel, it’s a mostly hollow experience in terms of emotions, aside from Shelley Duvall’s wailing (which was largely caused by Stanley Kubrick’s problematic behaviour). Stephen King himself perfectly summarised the fundamental issue with The Shining; it was made by a man who “thinks too much and feels too little.”
Favourite new film of the month
An American Werewolf in London and Talk to Me
Thank you for checking out part 10, hopefully you’ll find yourself back here soon for part 11! If you’ve enjoyed this article, please check out my other recent articles:
