Ed's Top 10 (plus) Films Of 2023

By Little Eddie O'Hare

Greetings Wicked Theory readers! My Buddy Bill has been gracious enough to once again let me post my
top ten movies list here this year. I saw 220 new films over the past 12 months. Below are my top ten
(16 if you count the honorable mentions).
 

Quick note up front: THESE ARE MY OPINIONS! There were many other movies that I enjoyed this year. The ones on this list hit me in the feels. So here it is. 

First, Honorable Mentions:

 
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (Paramount Pictures) dir. Christopher McQuarrie,
runtime 2h 43m – Available on Paramount+
John Wick: Chapter 4 (Lionsgate) dir. Chad Stahelski, runtime 2h 49m – Available on Starz
Creed III (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) dir. Michael B. Jordan, runtime 1h 56m – Available on Amazon Prime
Poor Things (Searchlight Pictures) dir. Yorgos Lanthimos, runtime 2h 21m – Available in Theaters
The Holdovers (Focus Features) dir. Alexander Payne, runtime 2h 13m – Available on Peacock
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Nickelodeon Movies) dir. Jeff Rowe and Kyler Spears,
runtime 1h 39m – Available on Paramount+

And now the Top Ten:

#10 - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 (Marvel
Studios)
Dir. James Gunn, runtime 2h 30m – Available on Disney+
This year was widely considered a low point for superhero cinema. However, there were a few bright spots. James Gunn and Marvel not only made us care about a talking raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper); they made us cry a river of tears for the scruffy, little guy. The Guardians movies have always been about forming unconventional families. This installment takes that idea to a new level, challenging our heroes to stick together and be there for their grumpiest member when his horrific past comes back with a vengeance. This is a triumphant end to the strongest sci-fi trilogy of the 21 st century so far.

#9 - Anatomy of a Fall (Neon)
Dir. Justine Triet, runtime 2h 30m – Available on Video On-Demand
I abhor the phrase “they don’t make movies like this anymore.” Mainly because I feel like I hear
someone say that every week. However, it was quite refreshing to see a courtroom drama play out on a big screen for a change. This French import features an author (Sandra Hüller) on trial for the murder of her husband. We hear the story from every angle and the film strives to keep the truth unclear. Law & Order fans should note that the French judicial system is very different from America and it can be tricky figuring which side has the upper hand. I found myself wanting to scream at the prosecutor that “She is not a murderer! She’s just German!” There are some breathtaking landscapes of the snow and the Alps in this film. Plus, the writing and performances leaves one pondering heavily on the nature of love and
trust.

#8 - Maestro (Netflix)
Dir. Bradley Cooper, runtime 2h 9m – Available on Netflix
Maestro is a “Great Man” movie and Director/Star Bradley Cooper emphasizes that by making incredibly BOLD choices! Every millimeter of every frame is meticulously considered in an effort to knock the viewers’ shoulders to the back of their seats. Cooper wants watching the film to be just as awe-inspiring as listening to Leonard Bernstein’s music. Despite all the bombast, Cary Mulligan’s performance as Bernstein’s wife, Felicia, grounds the movie so it never feels over-the-top.

#7 - Killers of the Flower Moon (Paramount
Pictures)
Dir. Martin Scorsese, runtime 3h 26m – Available on Video On-Demand
I know. I know. 3 and a half hours. This is a mini-series and not a movie. Well, it was in theaters and I held my bladder long enough to sit through the whole thing (barely). More importantly, this film is
directed by Martin Scorsese and he has not lost a step. We see how a generation of Native women in Osage County, Oklahoma were systematically killed for their oil shares. At the outset, you may think the highlight of the film is the long-awaited team-up of Scorsese favorite leads DeNiro and DiCaprio. However, Lily Gladstone steals this film and really drives home the impact of the victims in a way that has gotten lost in the glitz of some of Marty’s previous works.

#6 - 10 Days of a Good Man (Netflix)
Dir. Uluç Bayraktar, runtime 2h 4m – Available on Netflix
I really tried to branch out and watch more independent and international movies this year and this Turkish mystery was a jewel I never would have seen in past years. Nejat Isler plays Sadik, a private eye who wishes he was Phillip Marlowe. After being hired to find a missing person, Sadik quickly finds himself in over his head with the wrong kind of people. This movie is a warm blanket I could curl up with any day. It has all the style and wit of classic noirs, the edge of ‘70s crime thrillers and sophistication of a modern romance. It is the first film in a trilogy and I am anxiously awaiting the final installment next year.

#5 Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
(Columbia Pictures)
Dir. Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers & Justin K. Thompson, runtime 2h 20m – Available on Netflix
Into the Spider-Verse felt like a revolution in animation and Across the Spider-Verse takes things to a whole new level. The mix of animation styles works even better. I feel as though an entire college course could be taught just on the use of color in this movie. That said, what really make movie gel is the characters. If you build heroes as strong as Miles and Gwen, the audience will stay with you, no matter how complex the story gets.

#4 - Godzilla Minus One (Toho International)
Dir. Takashi Yamazaki, runtime 2h 5m – Available in Theaters
I have a confession to make. For years, I thought the American versions of Godzilla were boring because they spent too much time with the human characters, when all we wanted to see was the big monsters fight. This film proved me wrong. It showed me that the American versions of Godzilla are boring because they find convoluted ways to make the Monster the hero, when instead the Green Guy should be treated like a horror villain. The simplicity of this story makes for the most emotional impact. Ryunosuke Kamiki plays Koichi Shikishima, a Kamikaze pilot who failed to complete his mission in the war and is helpless to stop Godzilla’s destruction. Do not scoff at the fact that this is a monster movie. This is about the real price of war and the struggle to overcome personal trauma.

#3 - Oppenheimer (Universal Pictures)
Dir. Christopher Nolan, runtime 3h – Available on Video On-Demand
Pretty much every established prestige filmmaker put out a movie in 2023. Christopher Nolan led the
charge with his take on the “Great Man” story. Nolan used his signature narrative structure to go back and forth in J. Robert Oppenheimer’s life to show how he helped create the first weapon of mass-destruction and dealt with the consequences of his creation. The film has a way of effortlessly moving from naturalistic moments to lyrical ones that makes the viewer feel the real weight of Oppenheimer’s genius, as well as the closed-mindedness of his rivals.

#2 - Sisu (Lionsgate)
Dir. Jalmari Helander, runtime 1h 31m – Available on Starz
Finland, 1944. An old man digs up a bunch of gold and the only thing standing between him and the
nearest bank is a whole army of Nazis. This year had a running theme of killing Nazis. I feel like I saw about dozen movies that all revolved around killing Nazis. Sisu was far and away the most intense and violent of the bunch. Watching this film was one of my most therapeutic cinematic experiences of the last decade. I can’t think of many things more inspiring than watching a man who has just set himself on fire swim underneath a row boat, tip it over, slice open the neck of the Nazi that falls out of the boat and suck in the air from that Nazi’s exposed windpipe so he can continue to swim underwater and kill more Nazis. Please seek this out.

#1 The Iron Claw (A24)
Dir. Sean Durkin, runtime 2h 10m – Available in Theaters
The Iron Claw is inspired by the true story of the Von-Erichs, a family of wrestlers from Texas whose immense talent became overshadowed by a mountain of personal tragedies. While Fritz (Holt McCallany) is a demanding father, I do not think it is fair to say he is the villain of this story. The love between all the brothers (Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson & Stanley Simons) is palpable. Durkin finds a new way to show wrestling on screen that puts you right in the action and really translates the appeal of the sport to the uninitiated. While this may seem like a real downer, Efron’s performance lifts up the whole movie and should inspire us all to have the courage to carry on.

 

Another great year of film and looking forward to 2024!

Ed's Top 10 Movies For 2022

By Little Eddie O'Hare

 

Greetings Wicked Theory readers! My Buddy Bill has been gracious enough to let me post my top ten movies list here this year. I saw 112 new films over the past 12 months. Below are my top ten (16 if you count the honorable mentions).

Quick note up front: THESE ARE MY OPINIONS! There were many other movies that I enjoyed this year. The ones on this list hit me in the feels.

 

So here it is. First, Honorable Mentions:

RRR (Raftar Creations) dir. S.S. Rajamouli, runtime 3h 7m – Available on Netflix

Tár (Focus Features) dir. Todd Field, runtime 3h 7m – Available on Theaters and on Video On-Demand

All Quiet on the Western Front (Netflix) dir. Edward Berger, runtime 2h 28m – Available on Netflix

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel Studios) dir. Ryan Coogler, runtime 2h 41m – Available in Theaters

Nope (Universal Pictures) dir. Jordan Peele, runtime 2h 10m – Available on Peacock

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix) dir. Rian Johnson, runtime 2h 19m – Available on Netflix

 

And now the Top Ten:

#10 - Troll (Netflix)

Dir. Roar Uthaug, runtime 1h 41m – Available on Netflix

This is Denmark’s stab at a Kaiju movie and boy, does it deliver. Most Godzilla movies leave me bored with the pesky humans and anxious for the big guy to show up again. Troll, on the other hand, has much more engaging human characters with real personalities and motivations for an audience to invest in. Finally, the creature effects were top notch and the reveal of the Troll was truly awe-inspiring.

 

#9 - The Northman (Focus Features)

Dir. Robert Eggers, runtime 2h 17m – Available on Peacock

Alexander Skarsgård stars in this fever dream of a movie about a Viking bent on revenge. While this story feels like it could have been adapted from ancient poetry, it offers different viewpoints of the narrative that make it feel modern and realistic. Plus, the music and visual ambience are moving enough to inspire one to tear off their shirt and run into the night wielding an axe!

 

#8 - Bullet Train (Columbia Pictures)

Dir. David Leitch, runtime 2h 7m – Available on Netflix

I would swear Guy Ritchie made this movie. It has all the visual flair, quirky characters and fast-paced dialogue of Snatch but with a more international cast and David Leitch (Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2) takes it to the next level with top-notch fighting and stunt work.  

 

#7 - Avatar: The Way of Water (20th Century Studios)

Dir. James Cameron, runtime 3h 12m – Available in Theaters

Never underestimate Big Jim. Many fanboys (myself included) have written off Avatar over the years but I’m willing to admit when I’m wrong. The Way of Water, like its predecessor, offers an immersive experience that should be viewed in 3-D on the largest screen available. Also, the family aspect of the film brings in great new characters and makes the story even more engaging than the first film.

#6 - Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (The Roku Channel)

Dir. Eric Appel, runtime 1h 48m – Available on The Roku Channel

Yes, I know it is shocking. “Ed, how in Hell could a fake biopic about a parody musician rank higher on your list than Avatar 2?” Weird is a rare breed of movie… Rarer than the White Stagg. It is a truly silly farce that harkens back to the great Zucker brothers’ comedies of the 1980s that does not bother with sentimentality and focuses solely on delivering as many jokes per square inch as possible. It is, pound-for-pound, the funniest movie I have seen in a decade. I hope to see more like it in the not-too-distant future.

 

#5 Prey (20th Century Studios)

Dir. Dan Trachtenberg, runtime 1h 40m – Available on Hulu

Predator, much like its cousins Alien and Terminator, is a seminal action franchise of the 1980s that has suffered a slow death as each new installment became bloated and convoluted. Prey is a refreshing turn in the other direction. Trachtenberg gets back to basics and takes us back in time to the 18^th century American frontier, where a young Comanche girl discovers something dangerous hunting in the forest. It is a simple story told with killer suspense and effects.

 

#4 - Top Gun: Maverick (Paramount Pictures)

Dir. Joseph Kosinski, runtime 2h 10m – Available on Paramount+

Tom Cruise saved movie theaters this past summer. I can’t think of this movie without smiling. Pure Adventure.

 

#3 - The Fabelmans (Universal Pictures)

Dir. Steven Spielberg, runtime 2h 31m – Available in Theaters and on Video On-Demand

Over the past few years, it seems like every big-name director has decided to make a semi-autobiographical film about a young version of themselves falling in love with movies. It should be no surprise that Steven Spielberg has directed the best example of these films. The coming-of-age story is paired with a heartbreaking narrative of a loving family that slowly grows apart.

 

#2 - The Batman (DC Entertainment)

Dir. Matt Reeves, runtime 2h 56m – Available on HBO Max

How do you make a Batman movie feel fresh and unique again? Well Matt Reeves decided to get back to basics and really focus on the caped crusader’s detective skills. This film has the big, giant effects extravaganza finale we have come to expect from superhero fair, but everything that comes before that feels like a ‘40s noir. The rain, the street lights… I also loved how Reeves built the world out and included many classic villains as supporting characters. The sequence where the Batmobile chases down the Penguin has to be my favorite cinematic moment of the year.

 

#1 Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24)

Dir. Dan Kwan & Daniel Scheinert, runtime 2h 19m – Available on Showtime

The title says it all, really. This movie has the whole package. It uses high concept genre conventions to tell a deeply emotional story about family, love and the choices we make in life. Michelle Yeoh delivers a knockout performance and shows us that bravery comes in all shapes and sizes.

 

Li'l Eddie's Top 10 Movies of 2019

 By Ed O'Hare

Hey everybody, it’s that time again! I had another fun year at the movies and went to great pains using overly complicated methods (shout out to tabroom.com) to arrive at my annual list of favorite movies this year. I sat down and watched 84 new films over the past 12 months. Below are my top ten (16 if you count the honorable mentions).

Quick notes up front: I did my best to see most of the major 2019 releases but some did fall through the cracks. The only major awards contender that I have not caught yet is 1917 (which has only been in limited release since Christmas day). More importantly THESE ARE MY OPINIONS! There were many other movies that I enjoyed this year. The ones on this list hit me in the feels.

So here it is. First, Honorable Mentions:

Dolemite is My Name (Netflix)

The Amazing Johnathan Documentary (Hulu)

Bombshell (Lionsgate)

The Farewell (A24)

Ford v. Ferrari (20th Century Fox)

Screwball (Greenwich Entertainment)

And now the Top Ten:

10. Little Women (Columbia Pictures)

Writer/Director Greta Gerwig does a superb job of telling a classic story in a fresh and modern way. Fans of the Louisa May Alcott novel (like my mother and sister) get treated to the same story but rather than telling it chronologically, Gerwig toggles back and forth between the girls’ childhood and young adulthood. This changed my perspective on some characters and helped me appreciate the gravity of their choices in life. Plus this film looks gorgeous and Timothée Chalamet is so natural it is infuriating.


9. Parasite (Neon)

Do not try and guess where this film is going. You will risk giving yourself a concussion. This film from South Korea has much to say about class and trust but also superbly employs elements of horror and con-men stories that make it a very fun ride. In the end my real takeaway was “Close your windows.”


8. Knives Out (Lionsgate)

There really is nothing like a great “Whodunnit.” Knives Out breathes life into an old, tired genre. Writer/Director Rian Johnson acknowledges that the key to these types of movies is not the story but the characters. Each member of this fully-loaded cast is funnier and crazier than the last. Ana de Armas really grounds the movie playing a home nurse who finds herself out of her depth. Also, Daniel Craig is hanging up his Licence to Kill in 2020, but I hope this is not the last that we have seen of him as detective Benoit Blanc.


7. The Lighthouse (A24)

Look no further for a descent into madness. There is a moment when Willem Defoe’s old sea hag tells Robert Pattinson’s character “If I tells ye to yank out every single nail from every moulderin’ nail-hole and suck off every spec of rust till all them nails sparkle like a sperm whale’s pecker, and then carpenter the whole light station back together from scrap -- and then -- do it all over again -- you’ll do it!” Need I really say more?


6. Avengers: Endgame (Marvel Studios)

Coincidentally, Infinity War also took the number 6 slot on my list last year. Ending a franchise is challenging, but this film is trying to be the culmination of about a half-dozen franchises at once. This is an admirable feat of storytelling and can arguably be seen as the absolute Apex of Hollywood filmmaking.


5. The Biggest Little Farm (Neon)

This is probably the most surprising entry on the list. I had no idea how enchanted I would be by this documentary, which can currently be streamed on Hulu. It follows this couple with a crazy idea to start their own farm and their seven year journey is beautifully captured with some of the best cinematography I have seen in years. If you are feeling a lack of hope and inspiration in your life, give this a whirl and you will not be disappointed.


4. Uncut Gems (A24)

Just when you think you have seen every possible New York story that cinema has to offer, this movie shows up. Adam Sandler’s performance as a crooked diamond merchant with a dangerous gambling problem is horrifying. Yet somehow I found myself rooting for this truly bold idiot.

3. SHAZAM! (DC Entertainment)

Alright, you got me. There is definitely personal bias in this choice. SHAZAM! or the original Captain Marvel is my favorite superhero and I have been pining for this movie since I was 4 years old. This movie contains all of the heart, humor and spectacle that I enjoy in DC TV every week. I also think it is worth noting that this is a kids movie that does not talk down to the viewer, has real stakes and even a couple of scary moments. I sincerely hope DC Movies use this as their bellwether going forward


2. Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood (Columbia Pictures)

We got to see a true master at work this year. I have heard Quentin Tarantino talk in interviews before about how he used to go back to movies all the time to hang out with the characters again. This movie is nothing if it is not a great hang. We get to take our time and get to know these characters as if they were old friends. There is a banging action sequence at the end and we get all the fun stuff we expect from Tarantino but the extra sentimental touches really make this film stand out.


1. Jojo Rabbit (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

A ten year old boy in 1940s Germany, who loves being a Hitler youth so much that Adolf Hitler is his imaginary friend, discovers that his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their house. How is that for a premise? This film stopped me in my tracks to the point where I feel that everyone should be required to view it in order to participate in society. It teaches us how easily people can be influenced by the status quo but when push comes to shove, good people can always do the right thing.