What to watch and why: Favorite Films 2023 from Ron Wells #Oscars

Oscars 2024

“Here’s my yearly list,” says Ron Wells of the films he’s watched in the past year just in time for the Oscars tonight; find all the nominees here. “I thought it was a pretty good year with something worth watching in almost all of the films listed below (key words: almost all).” Continue reading for Ron’s Favorite Films of 2023 in order with his favorite first and working done the list with his comments, links to his reviews, a few trailers,  and my thoughts in italics. 

• Oppenheimer: what a remarkable job by Cillian Murphy, and the other actors were right there with him. I’ve watched this film twice. I need to read American Prometheus (the basis for the film). The opening says it all: “Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to man. For this he was chained to a rock and tortured for eternity.” Oppenheimer: “I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” A chilling film, and a reminder of what we might return to if we lose democracy in the upcoming election. Up for a ton of awards including Best Picture.
  
  

Past Lives

• Past  Lives  (Some Subtitles): Probably no film will linger with me longer than Past Lives. Read Ron’s full review here. As I wrote earlier: There are no villains here. There are no quick jumps nor machinations to move viewers one way or another, though different time periods are represented. There are no easy answers. Song has even brought the Korean concept of In-yun— providence or fate—into the discussion and its possible ramifications on all three characters. Loved this film…I loved loved loved this film also. I watched on a plane flying from SFO to Lisbon, and it’s deep, and resonant, and beautifully done.
  
  
• 20 Days in Mariupol  (Documentary): Courageous filmmakers/journalists document the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This film will make you hate Putin even more than you already do.
  
  

• Barbie: I liked Barbie a lot. I even watched it twice; the second time with subtitles so I could see the dialogue. From the opening allusion to 2001: A Space Odyssey, and the clever dialogue throughout the film, I really enjoyed this movie. A former high school student of mine and her girlfriends said it was empowering to see the Barbies outwit the Kens. Thus, something for everyone. Except the woman who told me she walked out early in the film because she found it offensive…..This film is a kick, an instant cult classic, and a film for the ages which testifies to what this age is about… and how we got here in a funny yet surprisingly deep way. This film should have been nominated for more Oscars.
  
  

Perfect Days

• Perfect Days (Foreign/Subtitled): Wim Wenders: Director/Writer. Koji Yakusho: Lead Actor. It is the moments in life that matter, if we understand and seek the sunlight amidst the routines of daily life. Add to this the joys of art, such as music and books, to bring balance and contentedness. The songs heard in the film were carefully chosen and perfect. This movie isn’t for everyone, but many days later I still think about how insightful and uplifting it was; that is its enduring power for me. Read Ron’s review here. Wim Wenders is my favorite film maker and I hope to see this film in a theater, but my local theaters rarely play these kinds of films. Guess I’ll have to fly to Europe to see it…Read my Jungian analysis of Wenders Wings of Desire here.  
  
  
• The Eternal Memory (Documentary, Subtitled): A wife documents her husband’s growing battle with Alzheimers, while still flashing back to their past together and the love they have shared. Beautiful and heartbreaking.
  
  
• The Boy and the Heron (Foreign, Animated. Subtitled or Dubbed): Hayao Miyazaki, at age 82, has made yet another stunningly beautiful film. He may have tried to squeeze too many themes into this work, but it is a pure joy to look at and then try to figure out where he’s going with the story. I see this film and think about what art can be.
  
  
• Beyond Utopia (Documentary)
  
  

• Killers of the Flower Moon: I really wanted to like Killers of the Flower Moon. It was good, expertly made, but….it just left me cold. Can’t really explain why. I found Lily’s Gladstone’s work here a tour tour de force. I was challenged by her complicated relationship with her husband, and could understand the conflicts there they had and shared, and how difficult it must have been to face that the drugs he was injecting her with were healing her, killing her, and taking away her pain.
  
  

• Anatomy of a Fall:  On my list but just haven’t been in a place (emotionally) where I could watch it.
  
  

• American Fiction: Really want to see this one!
  
  
• It Ain’t Over (Documentary)
  
  

• The Zone of Interest:  Another film I want to watch but need to be in the right frame of mind…
  
  

• Full Time: Next time I fly to France… if not sooner I want to see this film. 
  
  
• Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Documentary): I’m not a big fan of her songs, but she’s a hell of a performer. I think it’s a great thing that so many people, especially young people, enjoy her music. I’m not a Swiftie; who knows if this film will ever cross my radar. I only know one of her songs. I did watch a few videos one time but I don’t get it. This Gen Ver says “shake it off.”
  
  
• The Holdovers: Really want to see this one!
  
  
• Marisol
  
  
• How to Blow Up a Pipeline
  
  
• Four Daughters (Documentary, Subtitled)
  
  
• Poor Things: Ok, here goes my two cents on this take-off on Frankenstein, which the critics seem to love. Good acting. Interesting set design and look. But, a theme about female empowerment? Really? This was the most bizarre movie I’ve seen in decades. I guess I didn’t understand the part where a woman needs to work in a Paris brothel to really learn about life. Nor did I understand any of the comedic elements in this film. As men and women were leaving the theater after this movie was over, they were talking about how extremely disappointed they were. I couldn’t agree more. In my mind, Mary Shelley is rolling over in her grave….I heard such mixed reviews and I think Ron makes good points here but I still really want to see it — in a theater preferably! 

Movies Ron has not seen yet but intends to with my notes in italics:

Maestro: While Ron may not have seen this yet, I have! So much smoking! I knew nothing about Leonard Bernstein so this biopic was a fascinating look at his life– but even more importantly, the life of his wife.

Godzilla Minus One: I haven’t seen it but my friends who have raved which has made me curious but not enough to seek it out.

Napoleon: I’m looking forward to watching this… maybe on my next flight to France to get in the mood…

Ferrari: Right now I could take or leave this film, but if someone wants to watch it with me, I would. 

“To be honest,” says Ron,  “I’ve read far more books this year than I’ve seen movies. I suppose one changes as one gets older.”

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