It’s that time of the year when you either get optimistic for the upcoming new year or spiral into a neurotic reflection of the past year. I experienced a lot of changes along with many disappointments during 2023. I finally graduated college, took on a new internship, started therapy, and traveled extensively. Unfortunately, I’m still working the same warehouse job in the same hometown of Lancaster with the same minimal social circle. It’s frustrating comparing myself to the person over a year ago because, at first glance, little has changed.

At 25 years old, I’m young enough to turn myself around but old enough to feel like a stranger to my generation/peers. That outsider-ness sometimes makes life very lonely, even if there are people out there trying to reach me. It’s not a radical assertion to say the internet, social media, and the pandemic have isolated us from our common neighbor. The dwindling opportunities for socialization and community primarily fall upon church (house of worship) attendance or barhopping/clubbing. Religion has rightfully pushed many people away, while the bars often give way to cliques and immediate, half-drunken judgments rather than meaningful connections.

Though the loss of third places has been long documented for years (see Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam), the pandemic made their absence more widely noticed. And while it is not a sincere social space where you converse with others, the movie theater has become that space for me. I don’t have the money or energy to see every new movie released each weekend. However, when I have a free weeknight and desperately want out of my apartment, I go to the movies. The movie theater was my confidant, teacher, and healer this year.

I watched 24 movies this year, and I want to provide my opinion on them. Personal writing has been a struggle for me this year, but making a movie roundup is relatively easy. Unlike many doomerists, I saw plenty of solid films released to theaters. Perhaps we should lower our expectations, as we often judge an outcome or a piece of art with our immediate enjoyment before reflecting on its intentions and our biases. Therefore, instead of just giving a brief review of each film like most roundup lists do, I want to explore what I learned from each movie, even those that I didn’t particularly enjoy. The following list goes from worst to best.

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23. Exorcist Believer

• Paying lip service to a movement or theme (like feminism or community solidarity) doesn’t mean you contributed thoughtfully. Instead, you’ve cheapened them to shallow dog whistles.
• Diversity doesn’t mean thoughtlessly including as many identities as possible in one project but creating more projects that explore specific identities and their intersection with society.

Review: My biggest (movie) disappointment of 2023. The Exorcist is among my favorite films, but this sequel doesn’t understand why the original is so good. I’m no longer religious, but Catholicism is central to this series. The utilization of other Christian denominations was incredibly superficial, and Ellen Burstyn was wasted.

22: Evil Dead Rise

• Just because something doesn’t align with your tastes doesn’t mean it’s bad.
• There are people who feel more like an outsider than yourself.

Review: I’m not a massive Evil Dead fan, but it fits nicely into the franchise. Alyssa Sutherland’s performance as the main deadite is a standout.

21: No One Will Save You

• You ultimately must be your own rescuer and advocate. You must make your voice and dreams known rather than rely on others (or the system) to support you naturally. 
• Sometimes artistic choices (and life choices) don’t work out, but it’s okay because you tried it. It is better to try and fail than never experiment.

Review: Good direction and acting, but nothing particularly memorable. The “creative choice” of having no dialogue mostly works beside a few scenes.

20: Napoleon

• We should reconsider the historical “greats”. You don’t become powerful and noteworthy without being somewhat of an asshole or coming from privilege. 
• It’s far easier to deal with physical confrontation than relational confrontation.

Review: A pretty standard Oscar-baity biopic that doesn’t really explain the historical context of its events. The scenes between Napoleon and Josephine are far more interesting than the battle scenes.

19: Creed III

• You are not responsible for all the bad things that happen in another person’s life. Don’t diminish your struggles and triumphs.
• However, understand the privileges that awarded your success and that many lack those avenues to success.

Review: Probably the weakest of the Creed movies, but I’m glad to see the Rocky movies take a new direction.

18. They Cloned Tyrone

• America created the ghetto and systematically maintained its existence.
• The drug dealer, the pimp, and the prostitute are more threatened by the white middle class rather than the reverse.

Review: A fun little Twilight Zone-style allegory with fun characters. 

17: Godzilla Minus One

• Love for one’s country isn’t jingoistic adherence to its government or culture. It’s love and compassion for your community and criticizing/challenging its flaws. 
• When you’ve hit rock bottom, things can still get worse. But keep fighting.
•   Don’t feel guilty for wanting to enjoy all life has to offer.

Review: A little overhyped for a non-Godzilla fan, but overall, it is better than most blockbusters today. I’ll take the post-WW2 commentary and characters over the monster action.

16: Asteroid City

• Life isn’t a screenplay. We can’t always explain how events and life experiences influence our lives. It’s just life.

Review: Another Wes Anderson movie. Not his best, not his worst, but enjoyable nonetheless.

15. Saltburn

• Are you spiteful or jealous of those better off than you? 
• Don’t just use topical issues; actually say something about it.

Review: Mostly a style-over-substance movie. The class-disparity theme doesn’t say much in the end. Some “shocking moments” are warranted, while others are self-indulgent. Barry Keoghan and Rosamund Pike should both be nominated, though.

14: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

• Imperfection is a feature of life, not a problem.
• Even positive, fundamental relationships may need to end for real positive change.

Review: A satisfyingly small but emotional end to Marvel’s best film series. There’s real passion and creativity from the filmmakers and cast. Give me more intimate, wacky stories like this over crossovers requiring viewing homework.

13: Wham! (Documentary)

• Be honest about who you are, and support others to be themselves.

 Review: I knew little about Wham! or George Michael before watching this documentary. I may not have come out of the film obsessed with their music, but I appreciate the 80s time capsule they captured. The film interweaves old footage with a 90s interview, making it far more authentic than most by-the-number music documentaries.

12: TMNT: Mutant Mayhem

• It’s okay to have fun.
• Ugly things still deserve love and compassion because we all have ugly parts.

Review: For being a very casual TMNT fan, I had a fantastic time with friends watching this movie. Mainstream animated films are finally taking creative swings, and I just loved the grimy, fun style of this movie. The characters who inhabit the NYC streets of this movie are purposely ugly yet lovable, and there’s a ton of 90s influence (especially with the music). This movie’s story isn’t revolutionary but delivers some much-needed heart. I had a great time with my buddies, and the style was right up my alley. 

11: Oppenheimer

• Those in power will abandon you once you’ve outlived your usefulness.
• It’s far easier to be doom and gloom, (and celebrated for it) than positive these days.

Review: Like many film bros, I was a Christopher Nolan shill at one point. Nowadays, I can respect his filmmaking but disagree with his ultimate statement in each film. Though the first half of this film is quite intense with the bomb’s creation, I was more engrossed in the second half‘s coverage of the security hearing. Still, I think Nolan unnecessarily ends the film quite bleakly and maybe cuts Oppenheimer more slack than he deserves. Also, both Robert Downey Jr. and Cillian Murphy should be nominated.

10: Barbie

• Some people will just be angry no matter what.
• Your career, social circle, or interests don’t make you who you are.
• Replacing a hierarchical system with another won’t improve things.

Review: The worldwide love of the Barbie movie is justified. It was probably the funniest movie I saw this year while including some essential feminist and existential themes you wouldn’t expect in a traditional blockbuster. It may be a giant commercial and marketing shift for a mass-produced toy. But then again, why can’t a movie be both entertaining and cathartic?

9: Talk to Me

• You can empathize with people going through trauma, but ultimately, they must take responsibility for their choices and impact on others.

Review: I’ve encountered the Philipou brothers’ YouTube page several times over the years but never particularly enjoyed their videos. Here, they made a much quieter and more thoughtful horror movie than I expected. Its montage scene and ending turn this into a new horror classic, in my opinion. While most horror films share themes of trauma nowadays, this provides an honest look and criticism of its effects on addiction.

8. Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie

• Keep pushing forward because life keeps going on.
• Don’t take yourself too seriously.

Review: This isn’t the first nor last time Michael J. Fox will share his struggles with Parkinson’s, but it had some fascinating editing. While the film contains traditional interviews and reenactments, the documentary occasionally splices Fox’s recollections with scenes from his filmography that mirror the story he’s telling. It works tremendously well despite knowing the actual context of those scenes.  Throughout all his interviews, Fox remains humble and humorous, never inviting pity or worship. I may not have sought this movie if this were another public figure, but Fox is a personal exception.

7: A Thousand and One

• You can’t ever imagine what some people must struggle through in life.
• I should consider the problematic nature of my poverty fetish.
• God bless mothers.

Review: I only discovered this movie’s existence after it appeared in reviews by both the New York Times and The New Yorker. Though it reminds me a lot of Moonlight, this film entirely focuses on the fraught relationship between the single mother and her son. The film also highlights New York’s ongoing gentrification without calling attention to this theme. Teyana Taylor’s performance has not been discussed as much as it deserves because she should nominated, in my opinion. A twist in the final few minutes left me floored and had recontextualized everything. This movie deserves more attention. Seek it out.

6: The Boy and the Heron

• Things may not be passed on to the next generation, and that’s okay. They deserve to make their own decisions.
• See both the beauty and horror in life. We can’t appreciate/abhor one without the other.

Review: I’ve only seen a couple of Miyazake’s films, but I can understand the man’s legacy in animation. As expected, the animation is both beautiful and unsettling at times, which helps foreign audiences connect with the unexplainable fantasy world he creates. It’s not my favorite of his, but the ultimate message on how to live and how to leave the world is a refreshing antithesis to nostalgia. Instead of holding on to what we’ve created, let the new generation chart their own course.

5: Poor Things

• The only way to truly understand existence is to experience all the world’s wonders, horrors, hypocrisies, and kindnesses.
• Explore life like a scientist. Experiment and question the systems society has instilled. 
• People we love may make choices we disagree with but do not believe you know better about themselves than they do.

Review: For many, this movie is far too weird and twisted. Others, like myself, will find the beauty in its monstrousness. The film is gorgeous yet simultaneously offputting. The innovative camera shots, victorian/gothic art direction, and tense editing made me uneasy. At first, I feared the film was weird for weird’s sake. But the film soon asks some insightful questions on the study of philosophy and the structure of sex work. Emma Stone is absolutely Oscar-worthy, while every line out of Mark Gruffalo had me howling with laughter. If someone is bored with “today’s movies,” show them this. 

4: Killers of the Flower Moon

• People may think they do things out of love, but that doesn’t justify their horrible actions.
• When do we share the stories of others, and when do we let them share it themselves? Unfortunately, it requires someone powerful to advocate for the overlooked.

Review: Though I find Scorcese’s gangster/crime movies repetitive, I typically love his more divergent films. Silence, Hugo, Taxi Driver, Cape Fear, and The Last Temptation of Christ interest me far more than The Wolf of Wall Street, Goodfellas, or The Irishman. Killers of the Flower Moon is up there as one of his bests. Scorcese often uses unlikeable protagonists, but this was the first time where I felt their humanity never invited empathy. Though Dicaprio and DeNiro are exceptional, Lily Gladstone gave the best performance I’ve seen all year. Her presence is always felt without demanding attention from bombastic actions. And while the Osage people deserve a version of this movie created by an Osage filmmaker, I can’t condemn the film released. I think he addresses this dilemma in the final few moments with the radio show scene. I’m just glad these tragic, true stories are reaching the public consciousness. America has done too fine a job of covering up our atrocities.

3: Past Lives

• You can’t obsess over what could have been. This is life now.
• Every decision and choice will come with joys and pains. Part of life is learning to live with those consequences and still recognizing you made the decisions you did for a reason.
• Share uncomfortable, painful truths. 

Review: For being a foreign language romantic drama, I don’t think I heard more hype for a movie this year than Past Lives. After months and months of waiting for it to hit streaming or appear in a nearby theater, I finally watched it on Prime. And yeah, it’s excellent and heartbreakingly honest. There’s so much empathy in this movie for all its characters. People who are clearly flawed but self-aware. As someone who regrets the past few years and constantly ruminates on “what could have been,” this movie hit me hard. It’s easily the best screenplay I’ve seen all year.

2: The Holdovers

• The younger and older generations have little to learn from each other. Empathy for those we already judge.
• You’re not owed anything. Recognize and appreciate your privileges.
• Stop worrying and feeling ashamed of what you could’ve achieved. Enjoy life now.
• It’s okay to slow down and just vibe.

Review: This is such an “old man” movie, and I loved it. The 70s setting and style at an East Coast prep school perfectly fit my personal tastes. It’s a perfect feel-good Christmas movie that’s neither schmaltzy nor sentimental but still warms the heart. It won’t make everyone’s favorite lists, but that’s alright. Take your parents and grandparents to see it, and you’ll all have a good time.

1: Across the Spiderverse

• Don’t let societal structures and expectations dictate your life. “Do your own thing”.
• Don’t accept no-win scenarios.
• Stop seeking approval and belonging from people who don’t accept you. Some friends won’t have your back, while a stranger may.
• Embrace individuality and diversity. Every person brings something important to this world.

Review: Now, I’m pretty biased as both a massive Spider-Man fan and a fan of the first film, which is one of my favorites. Once again, the animation is revolutionary, surpassing the high standard set by the first film. Surprisingly, its story functions on so many different levels. A blockbuster, animated superhero movie somehow tackles identity, free will, black solidarity, systematic oppression, totalitarianism, parenthood, etc., seamlessly and entertainingly. I could write about this movie for months, but plenty of people have already done so. Even if you’re not into superheroes or “kids movies,” check this out. Everyone can find something to latch onto in this movie.

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And that’s my list. These films ranged in tones, styles, and outlooks, but I consistently came out of each learning I needed to love myself more and take personal risks going forward. It’s a brand new year and time for me to move on. Move on from bad friendships, move on from past mistakes, move on from world expectations, move on from outdated systems. It may be an obvious, often-said message, but one we often overlook in today’s world. We’re scared of the unexplainable around us and want to latch onto some answer. The horrors of war, climate change, and inequality are absurd features of existence we don’t know how to fix. We seek validation or model our routines off our revered peers of others. The unknown is terrifying, but the world continues to spin. You won’t die answering all the difficult questions of the world or leaving a utopia/dystopia for the next generation. But you experienced it. Take advantage of all the experiences and stories you can. 

Thanks for reading, and happy New Year everyone. I hope 2024 adds a few stories to your life catalog.