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 — February 24, 2023

Happy last Friday of February! I hope you have a fantastic weekend and thank you for checking out my random thoughts.

PRAYING FOR PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER

As I put this week’s thoughts together, it was a wait and see on how I was to write this first entry and how it would change.

Last weekend, it was announced that my idol President Jimmy Carter was entering home hospice after a series of short hospital stays.

I’m fortunate to have meet President Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter in Plains, Georgia, in July 2017.

Once I got back home, I sent a photo of the three of us together along with an anniversary card.

Weeks later, I was pleasantly surprised to get the photo back signed by both of them!

In 2016, while visiting Atlanta, I took a tour of The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum.

There was a message board where you could leave a note for the Carters.

While I’ll be saddened when the time comes, I know that he had a long, amazing, and accomplished life.

At 98, he is the longest living U.S. president is history — a record that’ll be hard to beat.

I FEAR FOR OUR FUTURE!

Last week, I said that Olivia Newton-John was probably rolling over in her grave, this week it’s Whitney Houston! She did sing on her #1 1985 hit, “Greatest Love of All”, “I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way”.

I was just reminded of and I’m still amazed at a survey I saw last fall. It found that 3 in 4 college students were not prepared to clean on their own upon arriving to campus!

Seriously!!!!!! Do they think dorms come with maids and butlers?

“THE BEAR”

If you’re a fan of the Food Network or intrigued by the cutthroat world of the restaurant business, you’ll really enjoy the Hulu series, “The Bear”.

For the longest time, I didn’t even give it a second thought because of the name. I didn’t realize it was about cooking and food.

It’s incredible!

I absolutely love Jeremy Allen White’s intensity as “Carmy”, a New York City chef that comes back to Chicago to run his late brother’s restaurant that’s about to go under.

White won the Critics’ Choice Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Comedy. I expect the same when the Emmy Awards are announced.

My other favorite character is Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri), an inexperienced chef with her own demons, but she wants to learn.

While the first season is eight episodes long, the second season, which is expected in mid-2023, is ten episodes.

GRADE: A-

NEW OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN MUSIC

I’m looking forward to the first release of music from Olivia Newton-John following her death last August.

“Just The Two of Us: The Duets Collection Volume One” will be released May 5, 2023.

While two of the singles were released before Olivia died (one with her daughter, Chloe Lattanzi and one with Paul Anka), the third release is a remake of “Jolene” with Dolly Parton.

Other duet artists included on Volume One are Mariah Carey (“Hopelessly Devoted To You”), Jim Brickman (“I Honestly Love You”), Jon Secada, Richard Marx, David Foster, and Barry Gibb.

Although I can’t wait to get the CD, I’ll probably won’t watch the video again because it saddens me.

I know that Olivia was fighting for her life while this was being recorded and that’s evident with her sitting down while doing her vocals.

And, then there’s the pained look on her face at the end of the video as the camera moves away!

REMEMBERING BURT BACHARACH

Legendary musical composer, songwriter, producer, and pianist Burt Bacharach passed away earlier this month at the age of 94.

In his long career, more than a thousand different artists recorded his music.

He was nominated for six Oscars and won three and he also won six Grammy Awards.

Some of his #1 songs were “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” (B. J. Thomas), “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” by Christopher Cross, and “On My Own” (Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald).

That one was my 18th favorite song of my first 35 years (1964-1999).

In 1963, he also co-wrote, “(They Long To Be) Close To You”, which would top the charts in 1970 for the Carpenters.

As you know, I love Karen Carpenter and feel a close connection to her since we both dealt with eating disorders.

It’s hard to believe that she died 40 years ago this month!

“VIOLENT NIGHT“

Christmas was two months ago, but I recently watched this holiday movie because it’s now on Peacock.

A group of bad guys are going to rob a very rich and vile family of a hidden and illegal fortune on Christmas Eve.

It just so happens that Santa Claus (David Harbour of “Stranger Things”) happens to be there at the same time.

This Santa is over Christmas and is very bitter about the holiday.

There are three really great kills (spoiler alert: ice skates and a snow blower are involved in two of them) and I won’t even tease the final one. 🙂

I’m glad I watched the movie, yet I’ll never watch it again.

The $20 million movie made $76.3 million and a sequel is already in the works.

GRADE: B-

THAT’S IT

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

Anthony