March Wrapped - 2023 Month X Month
March is over which means another month of movies and shows 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.
8. 65 (2023)
65 is not a “Bad” film, it’s a totally serviceable programmer that would’ve been right at home in the late 90s or early aughts. But, therein lies the problem; we’ve seen all of these beats before, two lone survivors bound together by tragedy or circumstance, forced to fend for themselves in the face of incredible odds blah ba blah blah blah. Throw in elements of the most zeitgeisty of subgenres (Lone Wolf & Cub) and a few dinos and this should have been a fun afternoon at the movies; but frankly I left bored and underwhelmed, not what you want from a 93 minute movie. -NB
7. Argentina, 1985 (2022)
The event itself is incredibly interesting but the narrative delivery of this court drama is all too familiar. With that in mind, Ricardo Darín shows up well, making this movie a worthy watch.
-SM
6. The Bad Batch, Season 2 (2023)
The latest season of ‘The Bad Batch’ loses some of the allure and excitement of the first season but still delivers on its core concepts and themes proving to be an enjoyable extension of the Clone Wars show that came before. Fans will love it, new watchers may find the show a tad slow. -SM
5. Creed III (2023)
Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut does something I kind of thought was impossible; 9 films deep into one of the most beloved and well established franchises in movie history, he evolves and elevates. His approach to the boxing scenes alone make this a must see and an instant franchise highlight, but it’s the performances he gets from his supporting players that really help this one punch a little above its weight class. -NB
4. Scream IV (2023)
I am a little weary each time a new scream movie comes out. Not once has this franchise put out a bad film and I'm always waiting for the shoe to drop. I'll keep waiting because Scream VI is a fantastic time that uses a new setting well, giving us one of the tensest installments while providing fans with the meta-comedy and scary moments that hooked us in the first place. The turn is one of the weaker of the franchise but the rest of the movie hits its mark so well that it's easy to overlook the ham-fisted reveal. -SM
3. Swarm (2023)
The elevator pitch for Swarm (Beyonce Stan Goes Too Far) is so concise and compelling, some viewers may be in for a bit of whiplash when they’re actually in it. This is one of the boldest / wildest limited series in recent memory and I would of course expect nothing less from the 1st Post-Atlanta Project from Donald Glover and Janine Nabers. Swarm will not be for everyone, and has already spawned its fair share of discourse and thinkpieces. Tonally I found it had a lot in common with one of my favorite films of the last few years, the equally polarizing Titane from Julia Ducournau. One thing that it seems all viewers CAN agree on is the absolute tour de force performance at the center of the series from the incomparable Dominique Fishback.
-NB
2. John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
It is absolutely incredible how this franchise pushes out the same premise over and over, and yet, manages to deliver something fresh and elevated with each installment. John Wick 4 keeps in the tradition and gives us some of the best action sequences in recent memory and though there are some pacing issues, overall it's a fun and exciting outing.
-SM
1. The Last of Us, Season 1 (2023)
A decade ago I had my world rocked by one of the most enthralling and emotionally literate stories I’d ever experienced, and it just so happened to be in a video game. The Last of Us set a new standard for narrative storytelling in games that still resonates today; and here nearly a decade later The Last of Us Season 1 has set the New Gold Standard for Game to TV/Film Adaptations. I’ll never be able to fully separate my feelings for the show being informed by my time with the games, but after seeing everything this incredible team accomplished with Season 1, I’m just as excited for (and totally dreading) everything yet to come.
-NB