My Favorite Movies of 2023

It’s 2024 and my new movie list is already underway. 

Since I’m not a movie critic (although I share my views), I don’t make it a point to watch every motion picture. 

I didn’t go to the theaters in 2023. I’ve only gone once since the pandemic and that was “Bros” in October 2022. 

There were three movies I wanted to see. Two were over three hours long (no, thank you), so I’ll see “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Oppenheimer” this year at home! (So, those will likely be on my 2024 list). 

The other, “All of Us Strangers”, only played in the largest metro cities in late December for Oscar consideration. It’s expanding now, but probably won’t play in Decatur, but I’ll see it eventually. 

So, before I share my 20 favorite movies I saw in 2023, here are my favorites over the past few years.

2022 “House of Gucci”; 2021 “Promising Young Woman”; 2020 “Parasite”; 2019 “The Farewell”; 2018 “Call Me By Your Name”; 2017 “Lion”; 2016 “Goodnight Mommy”; 2015 “Lilting”; 2014 “Bridegroom”; 2013 “Out in the Dark”; 2012 “Weekend”; 2011 “Children of God”; and 2010 “The Kids Are All Right”. 

As we kick off my countdown for 2023, there are two things to note: (1) my favorites may not be the “best” from critics’ list — for me, it’s more of did it touch me, did I enjoy it and would I watch it again. And, (2) some may be from the year before, but I didn’t see them until the following year. So, you’ll see some that were award-winning movies in early 2023 that came out in late 2022.

Let the countdown begin. As Casey Kasem used to say, “The hits don’t stop ’til we get to the top!”

“TRIANGLE OF SADNESS”

BOX OFFICE: $32.9 MILLION

“KNOCK AT THE CABIN”

BOX OFFICE: $54.8 MILLION

“THE MOTHER”

BOX OFFICE: NETFLIX EXCLUSIVE

“WOMEN TALKING”

BOX OFFICE: $9.3 MILLION

“MAY DECEMBER”

BOX OFFICE: $786,772

“MAFIA MAMMA”

BOX OFFICE: $7 MILLION

“NUOVO OLIMPO”

BOX OFFICE: NETFLIX

“MAESTRO”

BOX OFFICE: $458,000

“LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND”

BOX OFFICE: NETFLIX EXCLUSIVE

“SPOILER ALERT”

BOX OFFICE: $1.4 MILLION

Before we begin the top ten, I started watching two movies and didn’t even want to finish them, so “The Pale Blue Eye” and “Babylon” would rank as my two least favorite movies. In all fairness, both my have improved, but… 

With that being said, the least favorite movie I watched was “Shotgun Wedding”. 

It saddens me because I love Jennifer Lopez (notice she was at #18) and was at #6 in 2019 with “Hustlers”. And, Josh Duhamel is so hot. But, neither of them could save this disaster.

“I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY”

BOX OFFICE: $59.8 MILLION

“THE WHALE”

BOX OFFICE: $54.9 MILLION

“NYAD”

BOX OFFICE: $16,056/NETFLIX EXCLUSIVE

“THE PEOPLE WE HATE AT THE WEDDING”

BOX OFFICE: AMAZON PRIME VIDEO EXCLUSIVE

“FAIR PLAY”

BOX OFFICE: NETFLIX EXCLUSIVE

Missing out on the countdown this year were the other movies I watched: #21 “Boston Strangler”; #22 “Till”; #23 “Violent Night”; #24 “80 For Brady”; #25 “Cocaine Bear”; #26 “Barbie”; #27 “The Killer”; #28 “Rustin”; #29 “A Haunting in Venice”; #30 “Candy Cane Lane”; #31″ El Conde”; #32 “Reptile”; #33 “Bones And All”; #34 “The Hammer” (sorry, Reba!); #35 “Me3gan”; #36 “You People; and #37 “Shotgun Wedding”.

“ALL’S QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT”

BOX OFFICE: NETFLIX EXCLUSIVE

“TAR”

BOX OFFICE: $29.2 MILLION

“SALTBURN”

BOX OFFICE: $21.3 MILLION

Back in 2002, Sophie Ellis-Bextor crashed into the Top Ten on many music charts around the world with “Murder On The Dancefloor”. But, not in the U.S. 

However, I bought her CD, “Read My Lips”, and have enjoyed the song and the album for the past two decades. 

Now, thanks to a very revealing (and stimulating) placement in “Saltburn”, we may have our chance here in the U.S. This week, “Murder” moves up from #98 to #58 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Come on radio, make it a hit. 

Here’s the original — Barry Keoghan not included!

“RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE”

BOX OFFICE: AMAZON PRIME VIDEO EXCLUSIVE

“THE MENU”

BOX OFFICE: $79.6 MILLION

So, how many did you see? What was your favorite of 2023?

Anthony

Random Friday Thoughts — August 4, 2023

August is here and that means fall is just around the corner. Oh wait, decorations are already in stores, so I must be right.

Thank you for taking the time to check out my thoughts. You can definitely disagree, just do it diplomatically.

RETIRE NOW & LIVE YOUR LIVE!

I’m a realist! I’m no longer a “spring chicken” and for the first time in my life, I’m starting to think about retirement. (It’s still years away!)

While I love being a television meteorologist, I also think about what life will be like to enjoy not working and having fewer responsibilities!

With that in mind, I want to talk about politicians not knowing when to leave the party before death takes them out of the game and I’m being non-partisan here.

With recent meltdowns of 81-year-old Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and 90-year-old U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein of California making news, it’s time for them to retire and spend time with their families.

Seriously, these are people making laws that affect all of us and they need to be mentally competent!

And, it doesn’t stop there. Both front runners for the next presidential race will be 81 (President Joe Biden) and 78 (Donald Trump) on Election Day 2024!

WORST KEPT SECRET EVER & I’M VERY HAPPY

Rumors have been swirling since last November that iconic superstar Kylie Minogue would be doing a Las Vegas residency.

In May, Kylie announced her new album “Tension” would arrive in September. It features “Padam Padam”, her first hit in America in almost 20 years.

One song stood out when the track listing of the new album was revealed. The song “Vegas High” confirmed to me she’d be doing a Vegas residency.

Late last week, the worst kept secret became official. Kylie announced her residency at the Venetian Resort as the Voltaire nightclub’s first act.

It’s being billed as “More Than Just A Residency” with Kylie performing most weekends in November, December, and January!

“VEGAS HIGH” — I’M READY!

In that announcement, we got a first listen to “Vegas High”. For years now, I’ve been wanting to see Kylie — it’s the last concert on my bucket list!

I’m so ready to buy my ticket and head to Vegas.

The last time I was there was in September 2021. I went twice that summer once the pandemic eased a bit when vaccines became available. (I didn’t visit Vegas in 2022 because I made the mistake of visiting Atlantic City, New Jersey instead!).

Anyways, back to Vegas. Seeing Kylie would be my first concert since the pandemic.

In December 2019, I saw Paula Abdul and it was a great time. It was also during that visit that I last ate at the Wicked Spoon, my favorite dining experience in Vegas.

So, I’ve already got my trip planned, I just don’t know the dates yet — win big on the slots, bottomless mimosa brunch at the Wicked Spoon, see Kylie and maybe another show, and come home to my crazy pug, Xanadu!

JACKIE KENNEDY & CLINT HILL

Secret Service agent Clint Hill was on First Lady Jackie Kennedy’s detail on that fateful day in November 1963 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

He worked for five presidents from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Gerald Ford.

Once he retired from the Secret Service in the mid-1970s, he kept his silence about the Kennedy assassination.

However, he started writing books with Lisa McCubbin (now his wife) in 2012. He’s now written four books.

I went on a Clint Hill reading spree, but I didn’t read them in order. I’d highly recommend them all. They’re very informative and easy to read. If you want gossip and dirt, you won’t find it.

I read them in this order: “Five Presidents: My Extraordinary Journey with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford” (2016); Five Days in November (2013); “Mrs. Kennedy and Me” (2012), and “My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy” (2022).

Some stories overlap, but you still learn new things.

“THE DIPLOMAT”

Now that Hollywood writers and actors are on strike, we have the chance to binge watch shows we’ve been wanting to check out.

I just finished the first season of “The Diplomat” on Netflix with Keri Russell (“The Americans”). She picked up an Emmy nomination in the Best Actress Drama category.

Kate Wyler (Russell) and her husband, Hal (Rufus Sewell) are both career diplomats. She is sent to U.K. to smooth over an international crises –a British aircraft carrier was bombed in the Persian Gulf killing 41 service members. Iran is the main suspect.

What she doesn’t know is that she was chosen instead of her husband because the American president is wanting Kate’s profile raised because he’s going to replace his vice-president with her.

And, I absolutely loved every scene with the very stunning and sexy Austin Dennison, the U.K. Foreign Secretary (David Gyasi) and his sister, Cecilia (T’Nia Miller).

Oh, by the way, who tailors his suits? Peachy! 🙂

“The Diplomat” was renewed for a second season.

GRADE: B

“THE NIGHT AGENT”

This was a very enjoyable and action-packed political thriller.

Sexy Gabriel Basso was easy to watch over the ten episodes and the show has a great creative force behind it, Shawn Ryan (“The Shield”).

Basso plays Peter Sutherland, Jr., an FBI agent working at the White House as a Night Action telephone operator. He answers the phone for “Night Agents” — undercover agents and spies for the government.

One night a call comes in that exposes a major conspiracy inside the White House.

“The Night Agent” was renewed for a second season.

GRADE: B+

“NOT THAT FANCY”

Just in time for my birthday in early October, Reba McEntire will be releasing her new book, “Not That Fancy: Simple Lessons on Living, Loving, Eating, and Dusting Off Your Boots” (October 6th). An album will accompany that book.

The album will be acoustic versions of some Reba’s biggest hits.

It’ll also feature 3 new classic stripped-down songs that have never been released. It’ll also feature a brand new song, “Seven Minutes in Heaven.”

Since I didn’t buy Reba’s 2021 triple CD “Revived Remixed Revisited”, maybe I’ll get this one.

I really wish Reba would release a new CD of all new music.

However, after country radio totally ignored her incredible Grammy Award-nominated, “Stronger Than The Truth” album in 2019, why would she put out another album of new material — except for fans!

“THE HAMMER”

I should have seen the red flags flying when “A Lifetime Original Movie” popped up on the screen.

While I enjoyed Reba on season three of ABC’s “Big Sky” as Sunny Barnes, this one is worth skipping — unless you just want to see Reba and Melissa Peterman (Barbara Jean on the “Reba” TV series).

GRADE: C

THAT’S IT

With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!

Anthony