Issue #75: Out With A Bang 🧨💥
Ringing in 2023 with... more lists
Well babes we made it. End of 2022! What a year. After this issue, we’ll be taking a break for the holidays until the new year. Then we’ll be back —(hope)fully invigorated by our time off and heading right into year two of our Sundance coverage (let’s goooo)!
To round out the new year with some schmaltzy newsletter business: We’re at almost 500 subscribers now (Arrested Development narrator voice: Tell your friends to hit subscribe), and man we are just so grateful for you guys hanging around and yelling about movies right along with us. When we started this project, it was a whole different time in the pandemic and we were just broke little grad school babies. Now our lives look different, but it’s incredible to still get to do the critical work we love — both together, and with you.
And with that, we bid you adieu with even more films we think you should make time for in the near future; some recommendations straight from our screener catchup binges to your inbox. Happy holidays folks, and happy movie yelling to us all!
Cate’s Ones To Watch
The Banshees of Inisherin: A deliciously dark story of existential dread and the aftermath of the fracturing of a friendship. Nothing could have prepared me for the turn this takes at the midpoint.
Bros: It’s a shame that the promotional rollout for this movie was such a mess, because it’s a genuinely sweet, extremely funny romcom about two men with commitment issues. I hadn’t laughed that hard in ages.
Cha Cha Real Smooth: A favourite from Sundance, this movie moved me deeply, and found me just when I needed to reflect on its message.
Everything Everywhere All At Once: I’ve seen this movie around four times, and there never stops being new things to explore, discover or appreciate about this expertly crafted film.
Matilda the Musical: An impeccably produced musical that somehow balances the tonal dissonance of severe child abuse with a new, instantly iconic camp villainess.
Nope: I’ve come to the conclusion that this is the best of Jordan Peele’s directorial efforts — pending a rewatch of Get Out. Creepy, strange and genuinely unnerving, with a well-earned slice of Keke Palmer energy.
Not Okay: A bit of a wildcard, this story about a wannabe influencer and her mounting lies, nailed the landing better than most of the prestige fare that’s attempted to confront the entitlement of white supremacy.
Orphan: First Kill: Julia Stiles — welcome back, bitch. If you loved her arc in Dexter, this movie will be EXTREMELY your shit. Think Ready or Not meets Chuckie.
Pinocchio: Nothing like the tale you think you know, Del Toro takes his familiar gothic style and transports us to fascist Italy in service of a stunningly rendered production. Take the time to watch Netflix’s accompanying “Making Of” documentary. It is awesome in the true sense of the world what the creative labour of people working in tandem can achieve.
Resurrection: Another top contender out of Sundance, this may be the scariest movie I’ve seen in years. Tim Roth is terrifying as an abusive man doling out “kindnesses” with the gentle touch of a bag of nails.
I Wanna Dance With Somebody: An extremely entertaining film if not a very well-crafted one. If your motivation to see this is your love of Whitney’s music, you will have the time of your life.
Zosha’s Ones To Watch
Athena - If I had seen this when I was making my last list this would be on there; holy shit what an incredible movie just firing on every single cylinder.
Avatar: The Way of Water - Listen: story, bleh; visuals, hell yeh — in other words, it’s classic Jimmy C! You should go.
Baby Assassins - Lazy, emo teenage assassins need love (and healthcare) too.
Benediction - A film that didn’t do a ton for me during the fest I saw it at, but nonetheless certain scenes linger around my mind like an old perfume.
Emily the Criminal - Just nasty and gnarly and letting Aubrey Plaza do her work. White Lotus season 2 take note!
Fire Island - Remaking Pride and Prejudice should always look (and feel) this easy. Bros fuck off.
Fire of Love - Lovely and striking, this documentary is about two volcanic scientists in love with each other and their work is charmingly captivating.
Prey: What if Predator but again, in the past, and pretty solid?
Tár: A movie a friend told me I would think about every single day, and — with so much to unspool, meme, and trace through — they were right.
Top Gun: Maverick: Say what you will about Scientology’s Tom Cruise, but the man knows how to make a stunt picture.
Assorted Internet Detritus
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Zosha + Cate <3
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happy to see love for Resurrection!