January Wrapped - 2023 Month X Month
January has come and gone and we’ve been busy catching up on all there is to see. So here is our ranking of least favorite to most of the “new-ish” releases that you may or may not want to check out.
10. The Whale (2022)
As someone who is deeply excited about the success, Brendan Fraser is seeing, 'The Whale' is a misstep. This movie has its flaws but performances certainly aren't one of them. Fraser is in top form and Hong Chau absolutely shines. However, even with strong performances, 'The Whale' suffers from a lack of self-awareness, telling the audience to show empathy for our main character while dehumanizing him in the same breath. The film uses fatness for shock value, building the very same barriers the story wants the audience to feel are being broken down.
If you are looking for a movie that tackles themes around self-worth, grief, trauma, familial struggles, and giving insight into the queer experience, there are other movies (released this year even) that have greater success in that mission.
-SM
9. The Martha Mitchell Effect (2022) Nominated for Best Documentary Short
'The Martha Mitchell Effect' is certainly an interesting look at the unfortunately common practice of discrediting women to maintain proximity to power. The editing of past footage helps create an engaging watch but one that, though enjoyable, seems to lack impact.
-SM
8. Night Ride (2020)
Nominated for Best Short (Live Action) at the 2023 Academy Awards, Night Ride presents us with a 15-minute vignette that begs us to reflect on how we stand up for each other. It's an interesting balance for this story of prejudice to have an overall hopeful feel but Tveiten has found a way to make it work with help from Sigrid Kandal Husjord who delivers a sweet and thoughtful performance.
-SM
7. M3GAN (2023)
This a perfect example of a movie that is greater than the sum of its parts.
Is it predictable? Yes.
Is it slow at times? Yes.
Is it treading on the familiar territory? Yes
And yet with all that, 'M3GAN' balances the line between showmanship and obnoxiousness wonderfully. It's over the top and ridiculous but has such self-awareness that it leans into the absurdity and allows the audience to do the same, making it a fun time that doesn't overstay its welcome.
-SM
6. Haulout (2022) Nominated for Best Documentary Short
'Haulout' is beautifully constructed. Simple in its delivery but incredibly effective, the crew behind this documentary short have found a very clever way to show us the effects of climate change through a very specific lens and it works well.
-SM
5. The Elephant Whisperers (2022) Nominated for Best Documentary Short
Not only are we presented with just stunning landscape photography as the setting for our tale, but the story acts as a valuable reminder of how community and connection can be truly lifesaving. 'The Elephant Whispers' is a beautifully touching experience.
-SM
4. Skinamarink (2023)
The debut feature from YouTuber/Nightmare Fueler Kyle Edward Ball has made quite a splash since its trailer premiered in late 2022. Skinamarink follows two siblings, Kevin & Kaylee, as they awake in their childhood home to find that their father, along with all of the windows and doors in the house, have disappeared; and things only get stranger from there. It’s a 100 minute endurance test of a film, Arthouse Horror with a CAPITAL A. Some will find this experimental approach (long stretches of atmospheric darkness and ambient silence, occasionally interrupted by a shocking visual or auditory jump scare) exhausting or boring. I personally found the film supremely effective, and rather unshakeable, even as I sit here weeks after my theatrical screening.
Skinamarink is certainly not for everyone, and I don’t want to overhype it as the 2nd coming of The Blair Witch Project, as many have, but for a particular type of horror fan, this one will hit you right where you live. It’s been a resounding success for Ball (the film has already grossed well over $1mil on a $15,000 budget) and a huge win for such a unique and original feature. See it for yourself and glimpse the darkness when Skinamarink Premieres on Shudder February 2nd!
-NB
3. Infinity Pool (2023)
It's easy at first glance to chalk up Infinity Pool to only a striking and wild exercise in hedonism and violence, but as you sit with it longer and explore the world that steps just outside of our own, we start to reflect on our own humanity and what we're willing to sacrifice for what we think we want.
Mia Goth proves, once again, that she's a force to be reckoned with while Brandon Cronenberg continues to provide awe-striking visual horror. 'Infinity Pool' plunges us into a world of debauchery while simultaneously questioning and condemning that exact world along the way. And I think it works.
-SM
2. Copenhagen Cowboy (2023) Mini Series
I won’t say much here because I’d rather shamelessly plug The ARK of E Podcast’s New Limited Series Re-Winding Refn where you can learn much more about NWR and his latest streaming opus. BUT, what I will say is Copenhagen Cowboy is yet another moody, violent, and visually rapturous outing from one of our favorite auteurs. It certainly won’t win him any new converts, but for the already well initiated, well it’s like fucking catnip. ps If you’ve already made it through the 6 Episodes and need some help or just want another taste, Netflix has just released Copenhagen Cowboy : Nightcall, a super fun short doc that takes a look behind the scenes at the wonderfully weird world Refn has created.
-NB
1. Women Talking (2022)
With the help of strong performances from one of the best ensembles of the year, Sarah Polley provides us with a poignant and effective story. It's heartbreaking, uncomfortable, and for many, all too familiar. This story is filled with abuse and trauma, which can prove to be a lot, but Polley does a phenomenal job of navigating those experiences and conversations with tact. That being said, this discomfort is important, not necessarily for those who are in the meeting, but for those who are taking and re-reading the minutes in the future.
-SM