VIEWPOINT
By Zach Church, Current Staff
Turns out they still make movies like they used to.
2023 was a wonderful year for the film industry. Moviegoers began to return to cinemas following the COVID-19 pandemic and were treated to the latest films from acclaimed directors such as Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” and Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Franchises such as John Wick, Spider-Man and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles got highly acclaimed new installments. Video game adaptations such as “The Super Mario Brothers Movie” and “Five Nights at Freddy’s” were big hits with their fanbases, and Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” became not only a cultural phenomenon but the highest-grossing film of the year.
There were so many good movies this year that some were bound to be seen more than others, but it doesn’t mean these lesser-known films should be overlooked. Here are four great films from 2023 that you might have missed.
Asteroid City
Throughout the year, film director Wes Anderson saw a huge spike in popularity. This was largely due to a TikTok trend involving people mimicking Wes Anderon’s signature style. Anderson, known for films such as “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” released his latest feature film at the peak of his popularity. Set in 1955, “Asteroid City” focuses on what happens to the residents of a desert town when they witness the impossible, and the government prevents them from leaving the town’s small borders. Part of the fun of the film involves not knowing much before watching, making the experience of unpacking the movie’s multiple layers even more memorable. All the staples of Wes Anderson films are here, from the star-studded cast featuring names such as Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks and Jason Schwartzman to the incredibly well-framed, symmetrical shots that fans of Anderson have come to expect. This sci-fi comedy is a film that will have you thinking about it for a long time after you watch it and should be regarded as one of the year’s best.
(“Asteroid City” is rated PG-13 and available to purchase physically and digitally. It is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.)
The Holdovers
This year at the Telluride Film Festival, moviegoers were introduced to an instant Christmas classic. “The Holdovers” follows three distinct characters: Paul, a teacher with a lazy eye; Angus, a student with mental illness stuck at the school over Christmas break; and Mary, the school’s cook who is grieving her son’s loss in the Vietnam War. One can infer that the film covers some fairly heavy subjects, but it manages to balance drama with comedy exceptionally well. The film uses its 1970s setting almost too well–it almost feels like a product of the time itself, a simpler time when every movie wasn’t part of a multimedia franchise, when films like this were truly mainstream. Director Alexander Payne is able to use this to his advantage with his use of minimalist editing techniques and amazingly developed characters. The tone of the film is perhaps the best aspect; Payne’s latest feature is immediately nostalgic and welcoming. “The Holdovers” is a truly heartfelt movie that will continue to be enjoyed for generations.
(“The Holdovers” is rated R and currently playing in theaters. It is also available to purchase digitally.)
Suzume
“Your Name” director Makoto Shinkai’s latest film follows a girl named Suzume and her friend Souta who team up to prevent threats from a supernatural world. Things only get stranger when a mysterious cat appears and turns Souta into a three-legged chair. As the threat of disaster looms, will Suzume and the newly chair-fied Souta be able to save Japan? Watch this film to find out! “Suzume” has lovable characters and stunning animation, and it does a fantastic job handling themes of acceptance and grief. While some of the film’s dramatic moments can be serious, it leaves plenty of room to be lighthearted and fun. “Suzume” is one of the year’s best films and is a great watch for the whole family.
(“Suzume” is rated PG and now streaming on Crunchyroll.)
And the King Said, What a Fantastic Machine
At first, Axel Danielson and Maximilien Van Aertryck’s “And the King Said, What a Fantastic Machine” doesn’t seem like anything out of the ordinary. A simple documentary about the camera, explaining the creation of the first photograph and the science behind it. However, things quickly change when the meaning of the title is revealed. In 1902, French filmmaker Georges Méliès produced a film of the coronation of King Edward VII. This film didn’t feature the king and wasn’t even filmed in London; the entire film was a staged production made in advance. Méliès then released this mockup short film on the same day the king was crowned. King Edward eventually saw the short and said, “What a fantastic machine the camera is.” The second part of the king’s quote gives way to the rest of the film: “It even found a way to record parts of the ceremony that didn’t take place.” “Fantastic Machine” then reveals its true message. While the camera has been capturing wonderful images since its inception, it has also been used to manipulate our society. This documentary, which uses exclusively archival footage taken from sources such as the internet, begins to creatively critique our society and the things we do knowing there are cameras all around us. Ruben Östlund, a Swedish director whose film “Triangle Of Sadness” was nominated for Best Picture at the 95th Academy Awards, served as executive producer of this project, and his style of social criticism is very similar to that being presented within this documentary. “And the King Said, What a Fantastic Machine” is a unique documentary that deserves to be seen by anyone remotely interested in it.
(“And the King Said, What a Fantastic Machine” is unrated and currently not being distributed.)
(Top image created by Zach Church, Current Staff. Other images are official publicity material.)
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