Thot Flicks & Lit Picks.
Welcome to a silly little email that covers: movies, books, and other pop culture discussions. Book recs will be spicier than the movie recs but reversing the title just doesn't sound as good ;)
2023 Favorites Round-Up: Movies
I go back and forth about whether 2023 was an excellent year for movies. When you compare it to last year, it may not be so much. HOWEVER, there were some significant movie moments in 2023 that we will be discussing for a very long time. Now, let’s dive into my list of (what I think) are the best movies of 2023.
Honorable Mentions:
The Killer
The Holdovers
Evil Dead Rise
Bottoms
The Starling Girl
10. Guardians of the Galaxy 3
Marvel has been pretty disappointing lately, but I am happy this trilogy ended like it did. This movie is surprisingly dark, and they do not try to sugarcoat anything, which can feel very out of place for a Guardians film. Conclusions have a high risk of disappointment, but I was satisfied with every character’s ending.
9. Mission Impossible- Dead Reckoning Part One
You are probably surprised to see an action film in my top ten if you know me. Yes, action movies are not for me, but there is something about the Mission Impossible films that I have a soft spot for. Almost ten films are in this series, and they rarely dip in quality. The visuals are stunning, and the fight sequences are incredible. This was a fantastic theater experience.
8. Skinamarink
The horror genre will always fascinate me because of how subjective it is. Something that could terrify one person could be a snooze-fest for someone else. Skinamarink is the perfect example of that. This film had me curling up in the fetal position on my couch while hyperventilating into my pillow. This film took me back to feeling like a helpless child who is terrified of the dark and would see mysterious figures in the shadows. Is it real? Are my eyes playing tricks on me? Skinamarink is an experimental film; there is not a lot of dialogue, and a lot of the movie is just shots that linger on a dark corner for minutes at a time. Yes, minutes. This movie will not be for everyone but if you are even the least bit curious as to what all the fuss is about, give this one a watch.
**This film deals with children in dangerous situations and may upset some viewers.
7. May December
I went into this movie thinking I’d be bored, but that was not the case. May December does an incredible job of telling a disturbing story while also making excellent commentary about how Hollywood tells disturbing stories and why they can only make it worse (particularly when children are cast in certain roles). What I love most about this film is it doesn’t have to be overly gratuitous with what is shown, yet it still feels very unsettling. You hear stories told by the characters and watch the repercussions. So, if you want to watch something that gives you that uneasy feeling of watching a horror movie without actually watching a horror movie, give this one a try. Charles Melton’s performance is worth the watch alone.
6. Scream 6
I'm late to the Scream franchise fan club by many years and with all the terrible drama surrounding Scream 7- who knows what the franchise's future holds? However, Scream 6 had no right to be as fantastic as it was. Yes, the reveals are a little lackluster, but everything up until that point was incredible. The New York setting, the opening sequence, and the increased brutality all made this a very entertaining theater experience.
5. Saltburn
The more I think about Saltburn, the more I love it. Yes, it has some…questionable…scenes, but the film is unlike anything I have watched. I’m sad Emerald Fennel is not getting the awards recognition she deserves for this film
**In case you missed it, I did a full review for this movie two posts back!
4. Past Lives
This movie feels like a poem. The plot is simple, and the dialogue can be minimal, but this film is a bittersweet delight. Past Lives is a beautiful examination of what it means to have regrets and the “What Ifs?” that keep you up at night. This is a really tender film that feels very realistic.
3. Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret
I chose this film as one of my underrated pics a few newsletters back, and yes, I am still thinking about it. This film took me back to middle school, and I hugged little Michaela. If Barbie had an emotional impact on you, give this movie a watch- you will be so glad you did.
2. Talk To Me
This movie got some hate because some people thought it was overly hyped and not scary. I, however, am not some people. I LOVE this movie. It is fast-paced, has great scares, well-developed characters and side characters, and a clever ending. This almost made my top spot, but there is one film that I cannot stop thinking about…
1. Barbie
I have no notes for Barbie; it’s perfect. The fact that Greta was able to make a movie about a popular toy and turn it into a commentary on what it means to be a woman in today’s world is mind-blowing. This movie is laugh-out-loud hilarious and had me in tears the first two times I watched it. Barbie will go down in movie history as a modern classic. I love this movie so much.
Final Thots & Prayers
As with every year, there are many popular movies I haven’t had the chance to watch that may go on this list later on. I still haven’t seen Poor Things or Iron Claw- although I have yet to actually enjoy a Yorgos film (sorry, Emma Stone, I love you). Let me know if any of your favorites made the list!
I’ll see you all next month!