You won’t find Barbenheimer here, but you will find my favorites from last year and if you haven’t seen them I hope you do soon. Hello guys, glad to be back again with a new post about one of my favorite subjects, which is movies.
“Abandon all hope you who enter here... for you stand in the presence of the MOTHERFUCKING KING!” – John Wick: Chapter 4
This is my second movie post of this year, I wish I could have written it earlier but what can you do…
Barbie might have been the highest-grossing film of 2023, but Oppenheimer beat it at the Oscars and won seven, including Best Picture of the year. I wanted to watch Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers and others but couldn’t make it.
But I was lucky enough to have watched all of the movies I’m about to recommend to you on this post on the big screen.
You will find here three of the best biopics of last year, two of which were snubbed at the Oscars, a thriller that exposes the terrible scourge of child slavery, and a wild ride that can be considered the best action movie of this decade so far.
So, without further ado, let’s begin:
5 Sound of Freedom
A controversial movie that caused a lot of fuss during the month of its premiere last year. Based on real life events, a group of children are kidnapped in Honduras with the purpose of using them as slaves. After U.S. government agent Tim Ballard rescues a boy from a sex-trafficking operation on the US-Mexico border, he learns the boy’s sister is also missing. Determined to find her at all costs, Ballard will travel to Colombia where he recruits the help of a former cartel accountant in order to set an undercover operation to free the girl from her captors.
Unfortunately, slavery is well present in our modern day times. It has been estimated that there are more slaves right now in the 21st century than ever in history. Although it’s not the first time this scourge has been taken to the screen (Rambo: Last Blood, and others have touched the subject before), this is the movie that reached the most audience. It grossed $250 million against a budget of a $14.5 million. Mel Gibson defend it, and Donald Trump hosted a private screening at one of his golf courses.
The movie in itself may not bring anything new to the table in terms of movie-making, but it’s still worth watching. It didn’t receive the best of reviews, but everyone who has seen it loved it. There are funny parts and others that are really scary, particularly those in the Colombian jungle involving guerrillas. The undercover work of the whole rescue operation is very well portrayed here as it is also the importance of family. Director Alejandro Monteverde did an ok job, and it was good to see Jim Caviezel after so many years disappeared from our screens; the same can be said of the beautiful Mira Sorvino, who after all these years still looks great. The addition of actor Bill Camp as the sidekick/comic relief was a nice one, and in some parts he really steals the show.
So, if you didn’t watch Sound Of Freedom at your local movie theater last year, watch it as soon as you can. It’s a thrilling ride that exposes a problem that we, as a society, must face and, surely, won’t let you indifferent.
Check trailer here:
Sound of Freedom - Official Trailer (2023)
4 Priscilla
Obviously a response to the flamboyant Elvis of 2022, nevertheless it’s still a good one. The seventh film written and directed by Sofia Coppola, this is story of a teenage girl who met rock god Elvis Presley while stationed at Germany for his military service. Priscilla goes to live with him at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, becomes his confidant, and the only woman Elvis ever married. Their relationship will face its ups and downs due to Elvis’ frequent travels and affaires with other women. Elvis was obsessed with virginity and it has been said that if a woman already had children he didn’t sleep with her. After Elvis and Priscilla welcome their only daughter in 1968, they will start drifting apart.
This is not the first time a movie based on Priscilla Presley’s autobiography has been adapted to screen. Although Sofia Coppola did a fine job as a director, she shied away from one key element that is missing in the climax part; there are also other inaccuracies. The movie has a nice and slow-paced flow, but it’s never boring. Much has been said in praise about the performance of newcomer Cailee Spaeny in the titular role, but I didn’t find it that much special and think she just played an ok part, nothing extraordinary.
Great production design and lightning, and we have to thanks Sofia Coppola for giving us the best soundtrack of 2023. Although she didn’t include any of the King’s songs, the ones she selected were great and fit perfectly in this period drama; my favorite was the cover of the instrumental Sleep Walk, originally by Santo & Johnny.
A movie that should receive more attention and was snubbed at the Oscars, but it is definitely worthy of your time and could be one of Sofia Coppola’s best movies since 2003’s Lost in Translation.
Check trailer:
Priscilla | Official Trailer HD | A24
3 Napoleon
In Ridley Scott’s entire filmography of more than 20 titles, there are at least three historical dramas that, while visually astonishing, they’re missing something, and Napoleon it’s not the exception. Overhyped and over promoted, Napoleon was shot in just 62 days in real locations and using more than 10 cameras to shoot impressive battles, six in total. The story focuses on the great Corsican’s rise to power as a young captain at the siege of Toulon, his victories and conquests, his coronation as Emperor, his brief exile in the island of Elba, his return to power, and his final defeat at Waterloo. Napoleon’s personal life, and particularly his relationship with Empress Joséphine, also plays a major part here.
I found the action of this movie too accelerated and sometimes the story feels a bit formulaic. But is has its good things also. The production design, sets and dressing are all excellent. The siege of Toulon was superb, the relationship between Bonaparte, Joséphine, and his family are very well captured, the Coup of 18 Brumaire that put Napoleon in power of France, and the battle of Waterloo were truly great. The music selected for this film was also really good and I enjoyed particularly listening to Luigi Boccherini’s Minuet String Quintet. Vanessa Kirby did a fine job as Empress Joséphine, and it was great to see Rupert Everett’s transformation as the Duke of Wellington, which really took me by surprise. But Joaquin Phoenix wasn’t precisely great as Napoleon and let’s just say that this is not him at his best.
It may be a somewhat soulless movie that didn’t fulfill expectations, but it is still one of the best biopics of 2023 and a movie that is worth of your time. It would have been better to see Stanley Kubrick’s unproduced script on the big screen, but what can you do.
(If you what to know more about Napoleon, check the post I wrote about him last year right here: @thereadingman/the-3-bloodiest-battles-napoleon)
Check trailer:
NAPOLEON - Official Trailer (HD)
2 John Wick: Chapter 4
After surviving several shots and falling from the rooftop of the Continental Hotel, assassin and fugitive John Wick must overcome new obstacles, a friend turned into a foe, and a powerful new villain with in order to break free from the High Table.
Director Chad Stahelski really outdid himself with this fourth installment, accomplishing incredible action sequences, fight choreographies, and stunts that are just mind-blowing. A very well done production design and great new locations in Paris and Berlin serve perfectly to push this story further. The score was also a nice addition, and it’s worth noticing a cool French cover of The Rolling Stones’ classic Paint it Black. Art also has its place here featuring Eugène Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People together with other great paintings; and if you pay attention you will catch a glimpse of The Incredulity of Saint Thomas by Caravaggio. But if there is one thing that exceeds expectations in this movie is the beautiful and mesmerizing cinematography. I love the use of the colors red and yellow and the candles in the church sequence. This cinematography should have had its place at the Academy Awards nominations.
There is also a great ensemble cast here, where else will you find a movie that boasts of having Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, Donnie Yen, Scott Adkins, and the great Hiroyuki Sanada together? All of whom played their parts to perfection. And in this fourth part, Keanu Reeves gave what could be considered his best performance as the relentless assassin John Wick. The movie also features the biggest stair fall ever shot on film; John Wick falls 222 steps just to have to get up again and make his way back to the top, in what could be a nod to the myth of Sisyphus.
On the downside, the movie it’s a bit too long and a couple of fight sequences leave you exhausted, do we really need to see 30 minutes of fighting? There is also the convoluted lore of a fictional universe that can get really frustrating for the casual viewer. At the end it doesn’t have anything profound to say or a deep message, it’s just an action movie, although a very-well made one, and an instant classic of the action genre. For many this is the best of the series, but I would dare to say the first one of 2014 is still the best. Probably the best action movie of this decade and one of the best fourth part movies ever made. So, if you haven’t seen it yet, what are you waiting for?
Check trailer here:
John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023 Movie) Official Trailer
1 The Iron Claw
From the moment I saw the trailer of this movie I knew it was going to be a good one. Based on the legendary Von Erich family of professional wrestling, the story focuses on the life of Kevin Von Erich, his relationship with his fellow wrestling brothers, and the presence of his domineering father. The four brothers struggle and help each other to make their dreams come true, but from an early age one catastrophe will follow another in what will be known as the The Von Erich Curse.
Like all biopics and movies based on real-life events, The Iron Claw script took some liberties and changed a few things, but it’s nothing to worry about. Nice production design for a period film and cinematography; the soundtrack, it’s also a nice one, but they could have chosen another song instead of the super well-known The Reaper by Blue Öyster Cult. Although the movie doesn’t reach the greatest of heights it is still a very good one, it’s one of the best ever produced by A24 and a somewhat instant classic families will enjoy in the future.
A powerful masculine drama, and one of the best portrayals of brotherhood ever put on screen. Zac Effron gave an intense career defining performance for the ages; plus, he also developed one of the best physiques ever seen in 21st century movie history. It was a total lack of respect not having him nominated for an Academy Award. So, watch The Iron Claw because it is a great movie you will love.
Check trailer here:
The Iron Claw | Official Trailer HD
Conclusion
Guys, I hope you have liked this post as much as I liked writing it. I will try to write more about movies this year, so stay tuned.
Cinema is one great art form that encapsulates all kinds of other arts and media; it has also been scientifically proven that going to the movies is good for your health and even improves your memory.
So, tell me what do you think of this post, have you seen any of these movies? Which one caught your attention the most? What is your favorite movie of 2023? Let me know in the comment section.
Since you’re here, check now:
@thereadingman/10-great-old-movies-i
(Image at the beginning via: whatculture.com)
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Until Next Time
Take care
Orlando Caine.