OSCARS 2024 - Pre-Show Thoughts & Predictions

 

OSCARS 2024 Thoughts and Predictions: 

What a great year 2023 was for movies. I say that with it being March of 2024, where, at least as of now, it's hard to see this year matching last year's crazy highs of awesome film releases (the epic, just-released Dune Pt. 2 notwithstanding. So I go into this year's Oscars feeling uncharacteristically good about the whole thing. Up and down the ballot, every category is filled with so much greatness that there are few scenarios where I'd be actively upset about a given winner. It's an embarrassment of riches this year. I mean, every year I talk about my big Oscar hope being that the ceremony helps spread the love for all of the great movies released in a given year, and for the art of cinema in general. And I think this year's ceremony is poised to do that. The nominees run the gamut from big, broad-appealing blockbusters like Oppenheimer and Barbie to smaller films like American Fiction and Past Lives. But even this year's nominated blockbusters are artful, cerebral, bold movies that are anything but standard. The miracle of Oppenheimer is that a heavy, lengthy, morally complex tale of a dark chapter in American history became a mega-blockbuster (thank you Christopher Nolan). And the miracle of Barbie is that a movie based on a toy became one of the most slyly subversive satires we've seen from a big studio ... ever (thank you Greta Gerwig). Honestly, just invoking the names of Nolan and Gerwig gets me excited about the movies. The talented creative forces behind this year's nominees are a star-studded mix of familiar and new names - people that are long-deserving of awards love and others who are likely going to be Oscar fixtures for years to come.

The Oscars are still far from perfect. There's still major genre bias that all but ignores a film like the spectacular Godzilla Minus One except in certain categories like Visual FX. Comedy is still a total no-go come awards season, even in a year that we saw great ones like the hilarious Bottoms. And awards-season campaigns from big studios still carry way too much weight, and too often great indie films like Blackberry get overlooked because a smaller studio like IFC just doesn't have the marketing muscle to compete with the major players.

All that said, I hope this year's Oscars - and future Oscar ceremonies as well - can serve as annual reminders to the masses that there is great cinema out there worth supporting. Great movies that are worth going to the theater to see. Great longform stories that are far more nurturing for one's soul than endless, mindless scrolling through social media. 

Ever since 2020, I've felt a renewed appreciation for seeing movies in the theater, on the big screen. And I think a lot of others feel the same. Witness the applause at my local AMC whenever the Nicole Kidman ad plays. It's an in-joke for us AMC A-Listers, sure - but it's also a sign that for those of us who are passionate about movies, the theater really has become a kind of holy temple for us in these crazy, uncertain times. There's nothing better than being in that big, dark room as the lights go down - surrounded by fellow fans ready to see if the movie about to play will deliver the goods. 

So let's celebrate that this year. Forget the celebrity, the red carpets, the studio campaigns, etc. Make the Oscars a celebration of great movies - period.

And with that said, as is tradition ... here are my Top 10 OSCAR SNUBS for this year:

1.) Air for Best Picture

- In any other year, Air would be an Oscar favorite - and it seemed like it would be upon release last summer. But for whatever reason, the movie's awards momentum completely fizzled after a month or two. But Air is a classic American tale, a dramatic, inspiring, feel-good story that was one of my favorites of 2023.

2.) Godzilla Minus One for Best Picture

 - Godzilla Minus One had no chance of being nominated for Best Picture. But it shoulda' been a contender. The movie came out of nowhere at the end of last year and quickly gained huge word of mouth buzz. Deservedly, because it was absolutely awesome. One of the best blockbusters in modern history should have been acknowledged for the best that it is.

 3.) Leonardo DiCaprio for Best Actor for Killers of the Flower Moon

- Leo is so good in everything, but it's a bit baffling why he wasn't nominated for arguably one of his most interesting roles to date - as the dense, bumbling, easily-manipulated, morally-grey lead in Martin Scorsese's masterful Killers of the Flower Moon.

4.) Glenn Howerton for Best Supporting Actor for Blackberry

- If you know, you know. Blackberry was the low-key, underseen masterpiece of 2023. But it was so good, so hilarious, and so deserving of more Oscar love than what it got (none). Glenn Howerton killed it in this one. Give him his props!

5.) Fantasia Barrino for Best Actress for The Color Purple

- Fantasia was dynamite in The Color Purple, and it was pretty surprising that she didn't get a Best Actress nom. She tore the house down with some of her big musical numbers, bringing my entire theater to applause. 
 
6.) Margot Robbie for Best Actress for Barbie

- I didn't necessarily think Robbie was a lock for Barbie, per se. But what's crazy to me is that Margot Robbie was snubbed LAST YEAR for her tour de force performance in Babylon, and then again this year for the massive cultural sensation that is Barbie. Weird.

 7.) Sandra Hüller for Best Supporting Actress for The Zone of Interest

 - I know no one wants to double-dip when it comes to multiple noms for one actor across two films. But as good as Sandra Huller was in Anatomy of a Fall (for which she is nominated) ... she may have been even better in the harrowing The Zone of Interest? It's an amazing performance that will stand the test of time.

8.) Rosamund Pike for Best Supporting Actress for Saltburn

-  Saltburn got left out of this year's Oscar race, which is strange to me since Emerald Fennell's previous feature Promising Young Woman was a multi-category nominee. But if there was once Saltburn snub that really stung, it was for the always fantastic Rosamund Pike. She crushed it in Saltburn.

9.) Air for Best Original Screenplay

- Going back to Air for a moment, this was a Black List screenplay that was absolutely top-tier. In fact, upon re-watching the movie several months back, I was struck by just how great the dialogue is, how well-drawn the characters are, and how the overall pacing is so spot-on. This was a hell of a screenplay.

10.) How to Blow Up a Pipeline for ... anything

- Another movie that just didn't get a real awards push, but should have. How to Blow Up a Pipeline was easily one of my Top 10 of 2023 - an edge-of-your-seat thriller that felt urgent and of-the-moment. I was floored by this film and I think you just might be too. So give it a watch and wonder why it didn't get any Oscar attention.

 

Okay, on with the show. Here they are, my ...

 

 
2024 OSCAR PICKS AND PREDICTIONS:

 

BEST PICTURE:

Should and Will Win: Oppenheimer

- Oppenheimer is this year's megaton awards-season movie, and the one that's going to take home a lot of big prizes at this year's Oscars - no question. And I'm sure some are salty about that - no one likes to see one film dominate all others. But I'm okay with it in this case, because Oppenheimer was in my view simply that good. One of the best films that Christopher Nolan has ever directed and one of the most powerful experiences I've ever had in a movie theater. It did blockbuster box office despite being a smart, challenging film. It looked amazing and had a stacked cast that crushed it top to bottom. This was the Best Picture of 2023 and this will win Best Picture of 2023. 

BEST ACTOR:

Should Win: Colman Domingo (Rustin)

- I know I'm probably in the minority on this, but my favorite leading actor performance of 2023 was Colman Domingo in Rustin. This was big, theatrical, grade-A acting and another feather in the cap of the ultra-talented Domingo - who had a killer year between this and The Color Purple. He was unforgettable playing real-life civil rights leader Bayard Rustin.

Will Win: Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers)

- This one is actually a bit of a toss-up, as Cillian Murphy has seemingly been gaining momentum for Oppenheimer. That said, I'll still place my bet on the great Paul Giamatti, a longtime favorite who feels overdue for a big awards win. Giamatti has endeared himself to voters this awards season, and he delivered one of his best-ever performances in the charming The Holdovers.

BEST ACTRESS:

Should Win: Emma Stone (Poor Things)

- This category is absolutely loaded with great performances this year, and I wouldn't really be upset by any of the nominees winning. Sandra Huller? Amazing. Annette Benning? So great. But my personal pick is Emma Stone in Poor Things, which to me was one of the best and most next-level acting performances I've seen in a long time. Taking the character of Bella Baxter through a rapid-fire mental evolution from infant to adult - no easy feat. But Stone pulls it off in astonishing fashion. Between Poor Things and The Curse, she was an absolute MVP of 2023.

Will Win: Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon)

- I also really loved Lily Gladstone in Killers of the Flower Moon - an outstanding, understated, searing performance. To me ... it was a supporting role though. So I sort of hesitate to give her the nod. But, there's no doubt that a Gladstone win would carry with it a lot of weight and meaning, and really help to underline the tragedies depicted in KoTFM that still reverberate today. I think she'll edge out Stone to win.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:

Should Win: Robert De Niro (Killers of the Flower Moon)

- De Niro is a huge underdog in this year's race for whatever reason ... but to me, his turn in Killers was one of this best acting performances in decades. This was De Niro at the height of his powers, crafting a cunning, manipulative villain for the ages in a performance that was funny, scary, and 100% awards-worthy.

Will Win: Robert Downey Jr. (Oppenheimer)

 - RDJ is almost unrecognizable in Oppenheimer, but that may in part because we've become so used to seeing him in Tony Stark mode. I think the stark contrast (!) between his iconic MCU role and his performance in Oppenheimer will work in Downey Jr's favor - as will the general love for Oppenheimer overall. 

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

Should Win: Jodie Foster (Nyad)

- Of the nominees (no Sandra Huller for Zone of Interest, alas), Jodie Foster's emotional turn in Nyad was, I think, my favorite. Foster's had an incredible (don't call it a) comeback of late, also killing it in True Detective: Night Country. But it was her supporting turn in Nyad that really reminded me just how great of an actor she can be.

Will Win: Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers)

 - If there's one acting category you can 100% bet on this year, this is it. Randolph is taking it, without a doubt. And when she does, I will be happy for her. She's excellent in The Holdovers in a truly breakout role, holding her own with an icon like Paul Giamatti and delivering a ton of humor and heart. I hope we see a lot more great parts for her in the years to come.

BEST DIRECTOR:

Should and Will Win: Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer)

- Christopher Nolan is one of the great directors of the modern movie era - a titanic creative force who gave us films like Memento, Inception, and The Dark Knight. And yet, he's never won an Oscar ... until now. Nolan is all but a lock to win here, and it will be well-deserved. Oppenheimer was in theory his "small" movie, but Nolan doesn't really do small. He directs the film with his usual thunderous force and creates a film both epic and intimate, filled with scenes and moments that will forever be etched into my brain. 

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:

Should Win: Past Lives

- Past Lives was one of my favorite films of 2023 - and while it's unlikely to win a lot of Oscars this year, I'd love to see it take home the award for Best Original Screenplay. The movie is uniquely structured and packed with emotion. It's a story that deserves to win awards.

Will Win: Anatomy of a Fall

- That said, Anatomy of a Fall is the more "writerly" movie, and I think it will take this one. The film is full of colorful dialogue, courtroom drama, and well-executed twists and turns. So I predict it takes the prize.

 

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:

Should and Will Win: Oppenheimer.

- This category is an embarrassment of riches this year, and I wouldn't be mad if the wonderfully-written American Fiction, or Barbie, or Poor Things, or Zone of Interest were to win. But Oppenheimer is that movie, and Oppenheimer has an undeniable (the favorite term of screenwriters everywhere) screenplay that is, in and of itself, a pretty remarkable work (seriously, give it a look!).

 

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE:

Should Win: Spider-Man: Across The Spiderverse

- The previous Spider-Man animated film deservedly won Best Animated Movie a few years back - and for a while I thought its sequel was a lock to win as well. And it still might! But, I predict that Academy members will pass on honoring the trilogy's middle chapter - as undeniably amazing as it is - in order to give the gold to one of the all-time greats in the field of animation ...

Will Win: The Boy and the Heron

- Because yeah, if The Boy and the Heron really is the final film of the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, then it does seem a fitting moment to honor one of the pioneers of Japanese animation / anime. For me, this film was a visually-stunning if not somewhat confusing odyssey - but look, Spiderverse had a moment and will have more. For now, I'm cool with this one going to Miyazaki.

 

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE:

Should and Will Win: The Zone of Interest

- I've seen a few of this year's international nominees, and I loved 'em all. Perfect Days didn't really get a release until early 2024, but what a phenomenal film that will surely rank highly on my Best of the Year list this year. And Society of the Snow, available on Netflix, is an absolute barn-burner as well. A must-watch! That being said, The Zone of Interest was in my Top 5 of 2023 and it's a harrowing, all-timer of a movie that will be watched and studied and debated for years and years to come. It's a masterpiece. A stunning examination of the banality of evil as relates to the Holocaust, The Zone of Interest should and will win this award. Plus, let's be real: it's pretty much an unwritten rule of the Oscars that any International film also nominated for Best Picture will win the former.
 

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS:

Should and Will Win: Godzilla Minus One

- All hail the great Godzilla Minus One. This one needs to win, and if it doesn't ... I'll be mad. An epic thrill-ride of a film, Godzilla Minus One didn't just have great visuals - but it used them in an ingenious and memorable fashion. Give it to Godzilla.


BEST DOCUMENTARY:

- Should and Will Win: 20 Days in Mariupol

 

BEST FILM EDITING:

- Should and Will Win: Oppenheimer

 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:
 

- Should and Will Win: Oppenheimer

 

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN:

Should Win: Poor Things

- It's a toss-up for me (and probably for Academy voters) between Poor Things and Barbie. Personally, I give the edge to Poor Things imaginative sets and unique visual style. But ...

Will Win: Barbie

- Because Barbie was so unexpectedly great as a whole, and because the filmmakers did indeed to a pretty amazing job bringing the pink-hued world of Barbie to surreal life ... I think Barbie takes it.

BEST ANIMATED FILM SHORT:

- Should Win: ???
- Will Win: Pachyderme

 

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT:

- Should Win: ???
- Will Win: The ABCs of Book Banning

 

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT:

- Should Win: ???
- Will Win: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar

- I did watch Wes Anderson's short Henry Sugar (currently on Netflix) and thought it was an interesting if perhaps slightly indulgent showcase of the director's quirky style (I much preferred Anderson's longform 2023 film, Asteroid City, which unfortunately was shut out of any Oscar noms). But I think the Anderson and Netflix of it all will propel the Benedict Cumberbatch-starring Sugar to Oscar gold.

 

BEST COSTUME DESIGN:

- Should and Will Win: Poor Things

- Another toss-up with Barbie, I think. But Poor Things eye-catching costume design - a huge part of establishing the film's dark, strange, storybook world - should win out.

 

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING:

- Should and Will Win: Poor Things

- Again, it's hard to say, and you never know because Oppenheimer's overall momentum could end up extending to even a category like this one. But man, as with costume design, Poor Things had such memorable style and makeup - from Emma Stone's various looks to Willem Dafoe's scarred Dr. Frankenstein-esque mad scientist. 

 

BEST SOUND:

Should Win: The Zone of Interest

- I actually am really rooting for Zone of Interest to win this one, because as amazing as the sound was in Oppenheimer, Zone of Interest is a movie ABOUT sound. The entire film is built around juxtaposition, and so much of that comes from the contrast of ordinary images with horrifying sounds occurring in the background. Some of the most memorable use of specific sounds I've ever seen in a film.

Will Win: Oppenheimer

- So maybe, because of above, Zone of Interest does indeed win here? Maybe. But I'd still bet on Oppenheimer - because yes, the movie has some of the most memorable snap, crackles, and pops I've ever heard - burned into my brain for sure. But also, again, Oppenheimer is the 500 lb gorilla of this year's Oscar race.

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE:

- Should Win: TIE:Oppenheimer and Killers of the Flower Moon

- Two amazing scores. Ludwig Göransson killed it with Oppenheimer, and the late great Robbie Robertson (of The Band) provided a very memorable score for Killers of the Flower Moon. A toss-up for me.

- Will Win: Oppenheimer

- But again ... Oppenheimer's got the momentum. Hard to bet against it.

 

BEST ORIGINAL SONG:

- Should Win:  “I’m Just Ken" (Barbie)

- The actual best song from Barbie!

- Will Win: “What Was I Made For?” (Barbie)

- The song that will win an Oscar from Barbie, because it's more serious or something.

And there we go. Like I said, I'm a huge fan of almost every nominated film this year. So all I can really say is please, do yourself a favor an go watch 'em. American Fiction, Past Lives, Perfect Days, The Zone of Interest, Barbie, Oppenheimer, Killers of the Flower Moon, Poor Things, Rustin, Nyad, Godzilla Minus One - all incredible, all well worth your time.

Celebrate film!

THE BEST OF 2023 - The Best MOVIES Of The Year

 

 THE YEAR IN MOVIES - 2023

In the end, 2023 was a pretty amazing year for movies. Putting together this year's list, I really struggled - because there were probably about 35 to 40 movies this year that I genuinely loved and in another year might crack my Top 10. In the last few weeks alone, I feel like I've seen one amazing film after another. 

 

So why is it that people increasingly tell me things like "I've never even heard of that movie"-? Someone recently even questioned whether all of the movies I post on social media about are real. Why is there this seeming vast disconnect between the films that us film-nerds obsess about (mostly, I'd add, mainstream fare released in theaters or on streaming by major studios) and what is even on the average person's radar these days? Why is it that, except in the case of a "Barbieheimer" like cultural event, the mainstream increasingly seems oblivious to what should be relatively pervasive pop-culture?

 

The fact is, we have a major problem here. And this isn't just about movies either. It's a vast deterioration of our media landscape that makes it so nobody knows anything (which, it has been said, has long been true of the movie business ... but I digress). Seriously though, the same lack of information that keeps people uninformed or misinformed about current events is also a big issue when it comes to movies and other pop-culture. Everyone now lives in their own little internet and social media bubbles. People don't really see ads except ones that are hyper-targeted based on algorithms. People don't really read actual publications anymore. They don't click into websites based on general interests and browse around for new reviews. They watch what Netflix tells them to - again, algorithmic and hyper-targeted. There's little curation. There are few real experts. Movie criticism has been reduced to two-sentence "this rules" or "this sucks" Beavis & Butthead style discourse. Hot takes and "well, actually" discourse-drivers are rewarded. 

 

So we are inevitably headed for another awards season where there are constant cries of "I don't care, I haven't heard of these movies." And that's a shame. Because I am here, right now, telling you about these great movies. I may be yelling into a void. I may be fighting a fight I cannot win. But in many ways, the point of these blogs has not been merely to preach to the choir, but to try to share my love of movies and pop-culture with a broader audience of friends and family and random internet followers. Because I believe the world would be a better and smarter and more fun place if people cared, paid attention, and allowed themselves to be told great stories.

 

That is why it never fails to make me smile when I go to the movies, of late, and experience the hardcore film fan audiences we get here in Burbank cheer and clap at the AMC Nicole Kidman intro. Yes, it's an ad for AMC. But there's something to it. We're here in the theater - a place many don't care to go to. A place many people don't see the value in. A place that plays art that many don't care to experience. But a place that for us - it's home. It's church/synagogue/mosque/temple. It's a place where we gather to see what our best storytellers have to tell us. It's a place where views are altered, empathy is sewn, knowledge is gained, and lives are changed. I'm not just talking about these big Oscar bait movies either. I put equal value in the solemn treatise that is Oppenheimer as I do the mega-blockbuster-action of Godzilla Minus One or the raunchy hilarity of Bottoms. And I get it, having a not-great theater experience is the worst. Cell phones, crying toddlers, people loudly munching on popcorn, people not caring about safety during an ongoing pandemic. The worst. But a good theater, with a great screen, and a smart crowd - nothing beats it. And I hope everyone has had or will have that experience. When it's pitch black save for the screen. When the only noise from the crowd is laughing and cheering and genuine reaction. When there are zero distractions and you're completely immersed in a story. That's the best. 

 

Especially for me, this year. I couldn't do a lot. Long COVID prevented me from traveling or doing a lot of socializing beyond very small gatherings. But I could go to the theater. I saw over 70 movies in the theater this year and it was always a highlight of my week - even if at times I had to fight off bouts of lightheadedness. It was a weird thing, because the lightheadedness would get worse when I was distracted and unfocused. But when a movie hooked me, when I was solely focused on the screen - I was good. I was in it. 

 

I don't know how to fix our broken media and communications. All I know is that I can do my very small part. I can try to share with you the art that I loved in the year that was. So please, go watch these movies. You can see every single one of them right this second, if you want - whether in a theater, or at home via streaming or digital rental. It's better than scrolling mindlessly on your phone, trust me. 

There is so much to talk about here so I won't delay any further. Here we go. Happy New Year and may the best be still to come!

 

DANNY'S BEST MOVIES OF 2023:


1.) Oppenheimer

- I've been a huge Christopher Nolan fan since Memento blew me away when I saw it in college. So I always go into his movies with high expectations. But Nolan outdid himself with this one - crafting a biopic as only Nolan can: ultra-intense, gripping, and with thunderous non-stop momentum for all three hours of its running time. Nolan does an amazing job of capturing the moral complexities of the man and of the age he lived in - and makes clear that these complexities and the inevitable failings that come from them are fated to haunt the human race's past, present, and future. Oppenheimer is a fascinating portrait of a man and in turn of a country and its values - one that raises so many questions and does not provide easy answers. Those looking for a simple "good" or "bad" judgement will not find it here. But again, even in this "small" story by Nolan standards, the writer-director is dealing with the biggest of cosmic questions about a human being's capacity to use knowledge for good, versus the constant temptation to use it for power and ego and politics and short-term gain - no matter the long-term consequences. The cast here is incredible. Cillian Murphy delivers an all-timer leading man performance. Robert Downey Jr. reminds us what he is capable of as an actor and absolutely crushes it. Emily Blunt is a scene-stealer. Matt Damon continues his hot streak. And there are fantastic turns up and down the cast, even in very small roles. Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Jason Clarke, Rami Malek, Kenneth Branagh ... and the list goes on. The film left me unsettled and contemplative in the best of ways.


2.) Godzilla Minus One

- Godzilla Minus One seriously gave me that same feeling of utter exhilaration and emotion I had as a kid when I saw Independence Day for the first time. Except this was on another level. Awe-inspiring, profound, precise, soaring, sweeping. A triumph in every way. The characters, the drama, the stakes, the incredible score, the big moments that make you want to pump your fist in the air and force you to wipe away tears from your eyes. A giant monster movie that left me a mess of emotions, and that had me hanging on every action beat a la Top Gun Maverick. Hollywood take note - this is pure movie magic - this is how it’s done!


3.) The Zone of Interest

- A harrowing, disturbing, but incredibly powerful reminder of the banality of evil. Director Jonathan Glazer shows a masterful talent for immersive storytelling and poignant juxtaposition. Rarely have the horrors of the Holocaust been shown as this chillingly mundane. An absolute must-see if you can stomach it. This one will stick with me forever.

 

4.) Poor Things

- Poor Things is easily my favorite film from Yorgos Lanthimos to date. A darkly hilarious, visually dazzling take on the Frankenstein myth featuring a one of a kind lead performance from Emma Stone (not to mention incredible supporting turns from Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, and more). A wonderfully strange film with a lot to say about the human condition and a strongly beating heart.


5.) Killers of the Flower Moon

- Another Scorsese masterpiece. Martin Scorsese brings some of his classic crime storytelling to a new and fascinating and vitally relevant setting. DiCaprio, De Niro (in an all-timer performance), Lily Gladstone (who needs an Oscar nomination for this), and the entire supporting cast absolutely crush it. Entertaining, engrossing, thought-provoking, and man - it hits hard.

 

6.) Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

- A completely wild ride. Visually stunning, with so many amazing artistic styles and homages. As someone mildly obsessed with comic book art and its history, there were so many moments that made me smile and cheer. But the movie was also wonderfully-written, with some of the best superhero storytelling we've ever seen on the big screen. Somehow, the movie manages to tell a sprawling sci-fi epic that also gives us any number of emotionally-charged character moments. As amazing and near-perfect of a film as Into The Spider-Verse was, this one is just about its equal, and on some levels exceeds it. Bring on Pt 2!


7.) Air

- I loved Air way more than expected. A phenomenal film filled w/great performances - it surprised me with how many interesting things it had to say and how much emotion it got from me. As someone who's worked at a desk job in the corporate side of the entertainment industry for a long time, I found Air to be really affecting. Many of us have jobs where we're in the orbit of greatness but don't get to BE great. This film is a tribute to that drive to do something meaningful even within those confines.

 

8.) Barbie

- Barbie was kind of remarkable. A wildly ambitious and incredibly funny movie that I can't believe was actually made. It's what happens when brilliant film nerds get free reign to take a beloved cultural institution and create a biting, heady, philosophical satire out of it. So many great scenes, moments, and lines of dialogue. As a writer I'm kind of humbled by what Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach were able to do here. And the cast - just amazing top to bottom. Margot Robbie kills it, Ryan Gosling is freaking hilarious, and the supporting cast - from Kate McKinnon to Michael Cera to Will Ferrell to America Ferrera - are all excellent. Greta Gerwig, again, crushes it behind the camera. A true superstar.


9.) John Wick 4

- Awesome. Keanu Reeves is so good at making every one liner sing. He's just the best at what he does. That said, what a supporting cast of badass actors he gets to work with in this one. Lance Reddick (RIP), Ian McShane. Donnie Yen is absolutely iconic here. Bill Skarsgård is fantastic. Laurence Fishbourne, Hiroyuki Sanada, Rina Sawayama, Shamier Anderson, Scott Adkins. This movie just works masterfully from a storytelling standpoint, building its central conflict one brick at a time ... until you as a viewer simply can't wait to see Wick's final showdown and to find out how this epic story could possibly end. As in the first John Wick, there's an underlying emotional intensity to the fight scenes that give them that extra something special. A new action movie classic.

 

10.) How to Blow Up a Pipeline

- An absolute stunner of a film. Aside from the important issues it raises about the state of the world we live in today, it’s also just a hell of a heist movie - with some of the best “gathering the team” bits I've ever witnessed in a movie. It's a thought-provoking, harrowing, nail-biting thriller - that left me more so on the edge of my seat than any other film this year. An under-seen gem that deserves more attention and awards-season love. Make an effort to check it out!


JUST MISSED THE CUT:


11.) Past Lives

- Some truly breathtaking filmmaking by writer/director Celine Song. A powerful look at missed and not-quite-missed connections that feels particularly relevant and resonant in the social media age. And one of the best (almost) last lines of any movie in a while.
 
 
12.) American Fiction

- What an amazing, affecting, hilarious, brilliant film. Every cast member is top-tier, but shout out to Jeffrey Wright - one of the best in the biz - for delivering yet another incredible performance. The more I think about this one the more it hits - as it works on so many levels. And man, some of the scenes satirizing Hollywood … too close to home, man. Too close.
 
 
13.) Blackberry
 
- Blackberry needs to be seen by more people. It's uproariously funny at times and just a fantastically told story of a truly crazy tech industry rise and fall. Great cast too - Jay Baruchel, Glenn Howerton (get this man an Oscar nom - he's incredible here!), and Matt Johnson are all excellent. I think this will go down as one of the best “capitalism run amok” movies ever.

 

14.) Saltburn

- What an absolutely wild ride. Emerald Fennell follows up on Promising Young Woman with what is, IMO, an even stronger film. She absolutely dazzles with her direction in this one. And her script contains some incredible lines - delivered by an excellent top-to-bottom cast, each member of which knows exactly what movie they're in. Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Richard E Grant, and the great Rosamund Pike are all fantastic in this. Wickedly funny, wonderfully twisty, and genuinely shocking (caveat: not for the easily offended).


15.) The Holdovers

- A really smart, funny, nostalgic, sweet, heartfelt, impeccably-directed film from Alexander Payne - with a number of great performances, including one of Paul Giamatti's career-best. This one grew on me over time the more I thought about it, and I think it's a film that many will revisit over and over again because of its big heart and lovable characters. Fellow New Englanders will especially appreciate this one.


THE NEXT BEST:

 

16.) Blue Beetle

- AWESOME, and I don’t say that lightly. This film had so much heart, such great storytelling, and so many fun DC Comics nods. The cast is fantastic and every character gets their moment to shine.
And man, there were a few moments that made me, a kid who used to endlessly draw The Blue Beetle and his gadgets, nerd out so much. It’s one of the best DC movies of the modern era if not THE best, and legit one of my favorite superhero movies ever!


17.) Bottoms

- One of the freshest, funniest comedy movies I’ve seen in years. A dash of American Pie, a bit of Booksmart, a little of Daria, some Anchorman-esque absurdity, and some Fight Club thrown in for good measure. Our theater was roaring with laughter for the entire runtime. Between this & Shiva Baby, Emma Seligman is now officially one of my favorite writers and directors. Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott rule in this as well.


18.) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

- Mutant Mayhem expertly remixes TMNT lore to feel fresh and new and of-the-moment, but does so in a way that clearly comes from a place of love for the original comics and cartoons. At the same time, the movie brilliantly retools the Turtles' origins and character dynamics for a new generation. This movie is funny, smart, and action-packed - filled with gorgeous, stylized animation that is absolutely eye-meltingly cool. The script, the fantastic voice acting, the animation - all come together to create a new TMNT classic that will have you raising your fist and yelling "cowabunga!"


19.) Rustin

- What a fantastic film and what an incredible lead performance from the great Colman Domingo. Went in knowing little about the story of Bayard Rustin and his role in the battle for Civil Rights, but so glad I’ve now learned more about him. A powerful, inspirational movie (produced by the Obamas!) that I hope gets some Oscar love

 

20.) The Color Purple

- A showstopper. Fantastic performances all around (Fantasia, Taraji P Henson, Danielle Brooks, Halle Bailey, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins), a few songs that totally bring the house down, and a lot of big emotional beats that absolutely hit. A crowd-pleaser that had our audience clapping, cheering, and throwing their hands in the air.


21.) Master Gardener

- A fascinating closer to the legendary Paul Schrader's recent thematic trilogy (after First Reformed and The Card Counter), this one gets into the proverbial weeds on some very thorny subject matter, with mesmerizing & thought-provoking results. A memorable performance from Joel Egerton anchors it. A haunting film that I haven't stopped thinking about.


22.) Eileen

- A stylish 60's-set thriller that evokes movies of that era, this one has killer performances from Thomasin McKenzie, Anne Hathaway, and the great Shea Whigham at his Whigham-ist. Also a GREAT New England movie that will ring very true for anyone who's lived there. A top notch, dark-and-grimy, retro pulp noir film. Amazing score too.


23.) Next Goal Wins

- If you’ve enjoyed Taika Waititi comedies in the past (and I definitely have), you will probably really dig this. Michael Fassbender with a game lead performance, and lots of fun supporting performances as well. An interesting and funny look at American Samoa culture as well. A low-key sports underdog story that scores.


24.) Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 1

- In a summer of IP-mining, over-reliant-on-soulless-CGI action movies filled with generic action scenes ... seeing the best in the biz return to do their thing was downright chill-inducing.
Christopher McQuarrie - now on his third MI movie - is plain and simply The Man. He and Tom Cruise just plain *get* how to deliver big, audience-pleasing moments and heart-pounding, visceral action scenes like few others. Dead Reckoning is chock full of applause-worthy reveals, edge of your seat action, and good old fashioned movie magic.


25.) Nyad

- This riveting sports comeback story - sort of the swimmer's version of Rocky Balboa - features a towering, awards-worthy lead performance from Annette Bening. Amazing work from Jodie Foster as well. An inspirational based-on-a-true-story sports/survival epic that will leave you cheering.



MORE GREAT FILMS OF 2023:


26.) May December

-  May December is one of those melodramas that plays out, very entertainingly, in the manner of a horror movie. Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore each crank it up to 11, and Charles Melton stuns as the beating heart of the film. And that score! A sort of deconstructed retro 90’s thriller vibe. A fascinating film from Todd Haynes.


27.) Polite Society

- Every so often there’s a movie that you see and just have to shout about its awesomeness to the rooftops. So … POLITE SOCIETY! A soon to be cult classic with echoes of Scott Pilgrim, Attack the Block … It's a highly entertaining, uniquely original movie about friendship, family, sisterhood, and kicking ass.


28.) All Of Us Strangers
 

- I'll admit: I was completely, emotionally devastated after seeing All Of Us Strangers. A powerful, haunting film about love and loss - filled with scenes that tug on your heartstrings and don't let go. Andrew Scott is always so great, but he really shines in this. Paul Mescal as well. And the vivid, dream-like direction really pulls you in as well.

 

29.) Scream 6

- The latest Scream film built on its predecessor and was an absolute blast and an awesome audience movie. Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera once again make for a great pair of leads, but every character is used well and has their killer moment. I really hope this isn't the end for them and the "Core Four," but we shall see. This was a fantastic entry in a franchise that I've really grown to love.


30.) Dream Scenario

- Nic Cage seemingly channels the star of one of my favorite TV series of 2023 - Paul T. Goldman - in an insane film that is, given that comparison, about as crazy and cringe-y and entertaining as you might expect. Such a spot-on satire of modern social-media-celeb culture that it's almost painful. So yeah, I really dug it.


31.) Wonka

- Wonka surprised me. It's a fun, imaginative take on the character with a lot of laughs, a lot of heart, and supremely catchy songs throughout (yes, this is a musical). Timothee Chalomet is very good as Willy Wonka, but he is bolstered by an absolutely fantastic supporting cast. Hugh Grant, Olivia Colman, Jim Carter, Rowan Atkinson, Rich Fulcher, and many others are so great and really help to elevate the film. It's also visually really eye-popping, with a cool steampunk aesthetic and a lot of creative set-pieces. I have a feeling a generation of kids is going to look back on this one as a beloved childhood favorite.


32.) Sisu

- Well, this movie just flat-out owns. A classic WW2 one-man revenge film filled with spectacle and violence and one of my favorite action tropes - the old man who still kicks unholy amounts of ass. Every beat is perfectly executed for maximum awesomeness. Good stuff.


33.) The Iron Claw

-  I'm a lifelong wrestling fan and the story of the legendary Von Erich family was familiar to me - but even so, it hits hard. When you're a kid these guys are real life superheroes, so seeing their struggles, even now, is particularly affecting. Excellent performances all around - with IMO the highlight being the great and perpetually underrated Holt McCallany as the Von Erich patriarch. A tough watch, but ultimately a tale of perseverance.

 

34.) Theater Camp

-  Theater Camp was hilarious. Shades of Christopher Guest's mockumentary classics. Great cast. Jimmy Tatro from American Vandal. Molly Gordon, Ben Platt, Ayo Edebiri. All the kid actors are really good too. I wasn't a theater kid (though I did briefly do tech crew in high school) but was a longtime camp counselor, so a lot of the jokes felt spot on.


35.) Anatomy of a Fall

- Such a fascinating and riveting film  - this story of a perplexing murder trial provokes a lot of questions without easy answers. But one thing is for sure: having seen this and The Zone of Interest in 2023, Sandra Hüller is undoubtedly one of the best actors on the planet. She's remarkable in this movie. This is a gripping character study that begs to be discussed.


36.) Priscilla

- Sofia Coppola crafts a fascinating, mesmerizing portrait of a girl caught up in a whirlwind of celebrity, swept up in something equal parts alluring and sinister. The two lead performances from Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi are outstanding. A really interesting companion piece to the Austin Butler Elvis movie, though this one is much more damning of the relationship he shared with Priscilla.


37.) Dungeons & Dragons

- I was sort of blown away by how good this movie was. Made with clear passion. A very smart, very funny script. Great cast. Inventive visuals and action sequences, with super fun creature design to boot. And real emotion too! I mean, that ending! A straight-up excellent fantasy movie.


38.) Elemental

- The latest from Pixar really surprised me. The trailers looked generic, but this was a very sweet and affecting modern romance movie that was also one of the most visually dazzling animated films I’ve seen - filled with well-realized and easy to root for characters. There were definitely a lot of sobs in our theater.


39.) Creed 3

- I enjoyed this one a ton, and I think it sits highly in the Creed / Rocky canon. Michael B. Jordan was fantastic both in front of the camera and behind it - I mean, this is a pretty amazing directorial debut, and there were a lot of visual flourishes I enjoyed (not the least of which were the riveting and hard-hitting fight scenes). This one had some nice echoes to Rocky movies of the past, while also giving Adonis Creed a truly standalone film that helps cement the Creed cinematic legacy.

 

40.) Origin

- A powerful and extremely timely film by the great Ava DuVernay. An emotional examination of the ways that hate/bigotry have been manufactured across time and place to benefit those in power and manipulate the masses. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (coming off her great recent turn in Justified: City Primeval) is a force in this one as the lead. 


41.) Of An Age

- Of An Age is a breakout film for director Goran Stolevski. It's filled with raw and real-feeling performances, and a sense of nonstop energy and propulsion for what is ultimately a very intimate and personal story about missed connections and love, loss, and regret. I'm excited to see what Stolevski does next.


42.) The Boy and the Heron

- In 2023, I got to have my first-ever big-screen Miyazaki film experience with The Boy and the Heron. And I'm glad I did. The animation and visual imagination in this one is 100% worth beholding on the biggest screen possible. This film is a strange, surreal, dreamlike journey. At times baffling, at times soaring. But I’m glad Miyazaki’s still out there making these films. No one does it like him.


43.) No Hard Feelings

- No Hard Feelings was was a lot of fun, and the jokes very much landed. On one hand, it had a sort of nostalgic, old-school studio comedy feel. On the other hand, it took a well worn premise and gave it a very current, Millennial vs. Gen Z spin. Both leads (Jennifer Lawrence and Andrew Barth Feldman) were great, and the movie was ultimately surprisingly sweet in a way that the trailers didn't necessarily indicate.


44.) Beau Is Afraid

- I saw Beau Is Afraid in IMAX, and it was a one of a kind experience. I loved it. I hated it. But I've thought about it frequently since. I had to put it on this list. I mean, I love a good surrealist nightmare of a film, and this is certainly, if nothing else, an uncompromised vision of nightmarish, darkly hilarious (at times) weirdness. Parts of it are breathtaking, parts of it feel frustratingly self-indulgent. But it's a film like no other and one that will stick with me forever. I kind of want to watch it again.


45.) Asteroid City

- A really funny, really interesting addition to the Wes Anderson filmography, that felt like Anderson’s subversion of 1950’s Rockwellian Americana - with just a dash of X-Files-esque “truth is out there” pondering by way of Darin Morgan. There are a lot of memorable moments and performances in this one (from an absolutely all-star cast) - it's strange and enjoyable and well worth checking out if you’re an Anderson fan.

46.) Society of the Snow

- A harrowing true-life survival epic, Society of the Snow is a true journey. Director J.A. Bayona crafts a visually-striking and viscerally engaging film that remains engrossing from start to finish. It's an endurance test, but the kind that affects you to your core and makes you feel like you survived something life-changing right alongside the movie's characters. 

 
47.) A Thousand and One

- What an impressive debut from writer/director A.V. Rockwell. Loved the look of the film and its depiction of NYC through the 90's and into the 00's. It deals with a raised-on-the-streets young woman who, out of desperation, kidnaps her child from the foster care system to try to raise him on her own. A tough story, but handled with care and poignancy.

 

48.) Carmen

- Carmen was not quite like any other film I've seen. It's a visually dazzling story about star-crossed lovers on the run, and it weaves extended dance and musical sequences into its operatic narrative. Paul Mescal and Melissa Barrera are dynamic leads. A unique and mesmerizing film that deserves to find a larger audience.


 49.) Sanctuary

- A nice capper to the unofficial “Christopher Abbott in crazy, nightmarish scenarios” trilogy (see also: Possesor and Black Bear). Seriously though, Abbott and Margaret Qualley are both fantastic in this one. It's a weird, twisty, psychological thriller that keeps you on your toes. A great example of how to do a compelling movie with just two characters in a room.


TIE: 50.) Dumb Money

- A highly enjoyable (if ultimately somewhat depressing) film about our broken financial and economic systems. It’s a 2020 movie through and through - COVID is very much a part of this story, and I appreciate that. Great cast, Paul Dano kills it. Gives you a lot to chew on, as the GameStop stock story truly is crazy.


TIE 50.) Wish

- Was surprised by how much Wish worked for me. It had some really soaring and powerful musical numbers, and was a classic good vs evil fairy tale of a sort we haven’t gotten from Disney in a while.  Ultimately I found it pretty inspirational. The critics seemed to not really care for this one, but I really liked it - it's a crowd-pleaser for sure.


HONORABLE MENTIONS - OTHER RECOMMENDED MOVIES FROM THIS YEAR:

- Ferrari 

- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

- Infinity Pool

- Evil Dead Rise
- The Killer
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

- Chevalier
- Totally Killer

- Tetris

- Talk To Me

- The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial

- No One Will Save You

- They Cloned Tyrone

- Renfield

- M3GAN

- The Last Voyage of the Demeter

- Red, White & Royal Blue

- Fair Play

- The Little Mermaid

- You People

- You Hurt My Feelings

- They Cloned Tyrone

- Leave the World Behind

- Leo

- Sick 

- Dicks: The Musical

- Gran Turismo

- Cocaine Bear

- Maestro

- A Haunting in Venice 

- Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain

- Flamin' Hot 

- Fast X

- The Nun II

 

 

 INDIVIDUAL 2023 AWARDS:


BEST LEAD ACTOR:

1.) Colman Domingo - Rustin
2.) Leonardo DiCaprio - Killers of the Flower Moon
3.) Jeffrey Wright - American Fiction
4.) Paul Giammati - The Holdovers
5.) Cillian Murphy - Oppenheimer


BEST LEADING ACTRESS:

1.) Emma Stone - Poor Things
2.) Annette Benning - Nyad
3.) Sandra Hüller - Anatomy of a Fall
3.) Fantasia Barrino - The Color Purple
4.) Margot Robbie - Barbie

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:

1.) Robert De Niro - Killers of the Flower Moon

2.) Robert Downey Jr. - Oppenheimer
3.) Glenn Howerton - Blackberry
4.) Sterling K. Brown - American Fiction
5.) Mark Ruffalo - Poor Things

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

1.) Sandra Hüller - Zone of Interest
2.) Lily Gladstone - Killers of the Flower Moon
3.) Jodie Foster - Nyad

4.) Danielle Brooks - The Color Purple
5.) Rosamund Pike - Saltburn


BEST DIRECTOR:

1.) Christopher Nolan - Oppenheimer
2.) Jonathan Glazer - The Zone of Interest
3.) Martin Scorsese - Killers of the Flower Moon
4.) Yorgos Lanthimos - Poor Things
5.) Takashi Yamazaki - Godzilla Minus One


BEST SCREENPLAY:

1.) Oppenheimer
2.) Barbie
3.) American Fiction
4.) Past Lives
5.) Killers of the Flower Moon
6.) Air
7.) Godzilla Minus One
8.) The Zone of Interest
9.) Poor Things
10.) How to Blow Up a Pipeline

THE BEST OF 2023 - The Best GAMES Of The Year

  

- 2023 was a landmark year for games - but, if you weren't a games journalist paid to play games for a living - it could all feel a little overwhelming. I mean, 2023 saw the release of huge, massive, open-world adventures like Starfield, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Spider-Man 2, Baldur's Gate 3, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Cyberpunk: Phantom Liberty, and more. How could anyone possibly play through all of those games in one year's time? 

Personally, I spent a lot of time catching up in 2023. With Tears of the Kingdom set to release, I decided to finally go back and finish the previous Zelda game, Breath of the Wild. I'm still working on that ... Meanwhile, I also spent a good chunk of time playing through Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (which I did complete!), because I wanted to be all caught up for its sequel (which I'm currently in the middle of). I went through a similar exercise with one of my favorite games of recent years, Control - revisiting it so that I could play the remastered Alan Wake (which I'd never played, and is now, apparently, part of a shared universe of games from developer Remedy), so that I could play the new Alan Wake 2 (which I've yet to play, but really want to!) ... which perhaps would have made my Games of the Year list had I gotten around to it in 2023. I also played more of Spider-Man: Miles Morales so that I could eventually jump into the new Spider-Man 2. But alas ... one man can only do so much, and today's videogames are too big, too long, and too all-encompassing. It's why I still value more contained experiences (hello, Super Mario Bros. Wonder) and the indie games scene. It's a lot to simply go from one 100+ hour epic to another, ya' know?  

As for the games industry, it was another year of corporate consolidations, mass layoffs, massive leaks, and many questions about how sustainable this all is and where it's all going. The PS5 chugged along as the market leader in consoles - and I still love my oversized Sony wonderbox - even if Sony's first-party offerings seem a lot slimmer than in years (and eras) past. XBOX has been innovating with Games Pass and making moves with continued developer acquisitions. And I admit I was jealous of a few XBOX exclusives this year, notably Hi-Fi Rush (which sounds like a total blast). But Microsoft still seems to struggle with its tentpole releases having the same sort of fan appeal as Sony or Nintendo's big titles. Starfield, from Bethesda, was this year's big hope to lure new users to the XBOX ecosystem, but the lukewarm reviews kept it from being a needle-mover. As we head into 2024 though, all eyes will be on Nintendo, as their successor to the Switch is likely to be revealed soon. The Switch got a lot of playtime from me this year, but I'm definitely curious to see Nintendo games with true next-gen (or current-gen, I suppose) graphics. It's going to be interesting to see to what extent Nintendo tries to innovate with their next console vs. stay the course. Finally, it does feel like Valve's Steam Deck is continuing to change the game. It's ability to deliver high-end PC gaming on the go makes it an attractive option, and the fact that so many big games (as well as a thriving indie scene) are playable on it adds to the mass-appeal. 

E3 ended this year, officially. I grew up reading about E3 and dreaming of going one day. And somehow, I did get to attend for several years in a row via my work - and it was always exciting and exhilarating. I get that it was becoming semi-obsolete in recent years, but still, it's kind of sad. E3, at its peak, brought with it a level of hype and fan enthusiasm that other media industries would kill for. The Game Awards have sort of taken E3's place as the source for new content reveals and such. But it's not quite the same. E3 pitted each major company against each other in real time. Show us what you've got, Sony. Nothing else can quite match that. 

Where I sometimes worry about the games industry is that it feels like it can be alienating to people who aren't the hardest of the hardcore. Like I said, the big games now are so big and so time-consuming and in many cases so complex ... that playing through them is not feasible for many. At the same time, those same games are incredibly expensive and resource and time intensive to produce. So why are these games now the bread and butter of the industry? I continue to believe that the industry needs to take a step back and assess what the consumer - across various demos and levels of dedication - really wants. And I think there should be more medium-level experiences that are fun and challenging but also easy-to-grasp and contained. Games that take the same time to play as the average Netflix TV season takes to binge-watch. 

I'm glad I'm still into games though and that I try my best to make some level of time for them. There are few activities more relaxing and mind-clearing than playing a great videogame and getting into some sort of flow state. Of feeling immersed in this other world. It's a feeling you just can't get with more passive entertainment, and it's an experience that's helped me greatly through these crazy years of the pandemic and Long COVID and <waves hands> all of this. I still believe, also, that the storytelling possibilities of games are endless. We're only just scratching the surface. And I can't wait to see where we go from here.

DANNY'S FAVORITE (NEW) GAMES OF 2023:

1.) Baldur's Gate 3

- On the surface, Baldur's Gate 3 didn't feel like "my kind of game." I've never been a CRPG player, nor a D&D player. I tend to shy away from games that feel overly complex in terms of their systems. But I got caught up in the BG3 hype and wanted to give it a go. And what's true here is that this game is ultimately made great - and accessible! - because of the writing and story. The world, the characters, the dialogue, the voice-acting - they're all so top-notch that they make you want to immerse yourself in this world and challenge yourself to learn the systems so that you can see more of this game. In that sense, it's a monumental achievement.

 

2.) Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

- I was a big fan of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and spent a lot of time earlier this year playing through it. I gave myself some breathing room, and then finally got started on its sequel, Survivor. And yeah, it pretty much rules - building on the first game's formula but with smoother controls, improved (and often mind-blowingly cool) graphics, better storytelling, and an overall more polished feel. There are still little things that annoy me (those difficult to decipher maps!), but overall this is about as good as a Star Wars game can be.

 

3.) Super Mario Bros. Wonder

- At first I was only moderately excited for this one, given that Nintendo's more modern forays into 2D Mario have been only-okay (ex: New Super Mario Bros). But, this is something different, and it's something special. Wonder took me right back to the magic of playing Super Mario World as a kid. The creativity, ingenuity, level design ... and that music! All off-the-charts good. And Elephant Mario rules.

 

4.) Metroid Prime Remastered

- I never had the chance to play Metroid Prime upon its original release, so I was eager to finally give it a whirl all these years later. And man, it still holds up! Which is saying something, because I'm not typically huge on first-person games in general. But this one has that Nintendo magic, bringing that classic Metroid exploration, sense of discovery, and foreboding alien atmosphere to glorious 3D life.

5.) Final Fantasy 16

- I grew up on Final Fantasy, and each new numbered release in the series was, for a long time, a seismic event. It's been a while since I've felt that way, but I was curious about FF16. Building off the success of recent FF spin-offs, this one eschews the series' traditional RPG trappings, instead going full Devil May Cry-style action. Somehow, it works. You still get a big, sweeping, Final Fantasy story - but paired with fast-paced hack-n'-slash combat that's a lot of fun and suitably epic-feeling. Something different and surprisingly cool from a long-running, beloved franchise.


6.) Street Fighter 6

- I've been a fan of Street Fighter since the Super Nintendo days, and it's been fun to see Capcom really revive the series over the last few years and get its newer entries back to a place of prominence and respect in the gaming world. SF6 is very, very solid. Crisp controls, fun new characters, lots of modes and customization options, nice graphics, and an overall top-tier fighting game experience. 

7.) Slay the Princess

- I'm always fascinated by the narrative possibilities of videogames. Slay the Princess is a uniquely constructed mind-trip that hearkens back to old-school text adventures, with a similarly arch sense of humor that reminded me of classics like the Zork series - while also taking a page from modern narrative faves like Disco Elysium. I don't want to say too much for fear of spoilers, but suffice it to say this is a really unique, fun, and smart narrative adventure.

8.) Sea of Stars

- If Final Fantasy 16's foray into action-based combat left you yearning for some good, ol'-fashioned JRPG adventure, then Sea of Stars had you covered (note: I didn't have a chance to play Octopath Traveler 2, another old-school RPG that got great reviews in 2023). Sea of Stars features amazing retro-style pixel art and gameplay reminiscent of classics like Chrono Trigger. Anyone feeling nostalgia for that era should 100% give it a play through.

 

9.) Super Mario RPG

- For whatever reason I never played Super Mario RPG upon its initial release, despite being a big Mario fan and a big Final Fantasy / Square fan at the time. But now, with Nintendo's new remaster, I was excited to finally check out the game. It's definitely another nostalgia rush for a simpler time - and yet, all the craftsmanship that went into the game is still very much evident. Square during that era could do no wrong, and this one, despite the cutesy characters and world, is very much a top-notch Square RPG.

10.) AEW Fight Forever

- This one got pretty middling reviews, and I can definitely acknowledge a lot of the game's flaws. The graphics feel last-generation and clunky, the controls don't always work like they're supposed to, and a lot of key wrestlers from the vast AEW roster are missing. But hey, I love wrestling games and I'm a huge fan of AEW - so I still got a lot of fun out of this one, and found it a nice change of pace from the increasingly hard-to-love WWE2K series. If you want some simple, fun wrestling action (or just really want to kick ass as Danhausen, which I do!), it's worth a look.