jon's blog: December 2022

Well well well it's the end of the year again, so here's the annual movie dump all at once. These lists are getting weirder because with all the disease and variants out there I've found myself getting personally weirder and isolateder. The result is hardly any new movies, but a lot of oldies. Also, the ol' movie podcast makes a lot of decisions about what I watch. Speaking of, here's something new this year. If I discussed any of these movies on my podcast Yours, Mine, & Theirs, I've left a little note that says "YM&T" followed by the podcast number. You can find them all over here: Yours, Mine, & Theirs.

As usual, please read and comment. Also as usual, please remember these lists are so ridiculously subjective and the numbers themselves mean very little. Go ahead and make your own list of 165 or so movies before blaming me for ordering them wrong. You may find pretty quickly that even saying one movie is better than another is sort of a silly no-win concept right from the start.

Anyway here's the content data in the usual four sections.

Top 27 Movies of 2022!

27. Moonfall
The moon is gonna hit Earth! People can use the moon's gravity to jump higher in the meantime! This could have been so okay and passable! Just get one lousy community college creative writing teacher to punch up the groany lines! Stop using tropey placeholders as the final product! If nothing else, lean into the cliches more! YM&T#77: In the Moon for Smiles

26. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Nicolas Cage plays himself in what many consider a dream come true of Nicolas Cage content, but I view as an embarrassing act of demeaning exploitation from an Oscar-winner. I disagree that this is the best time to "go full Cage." I prefer my Nicolas Cage resembling someone somewhat human. On the bright side my recent viewing provided a Triviaspotting answer to Javi's three favorite movies, so that's neato. One more bright side: Pedro Pascal is honestly pretty funny and great to hang around. YM&T#96: BRRRookelas Coppola

25. The Gray Man
Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans team up with the Avengers directors to bring soulless action to Netflix. Maybe just too excessive silly. Looks like we're into Bourne parody now.

24. Falling for Christmas
Lindsay Lohan is back and stricken with amnesia in a Hallmark-as-hell Netflix Christmas movie. It's as dumb as I thought but at least not as boring as I thought. Strangely there are parts where Lohan's face looks as sincere as it did in Mean Girls and then other parts where it's especially stiff and plasticky. Good job adorable little girl (Olivia Perez) for smiling so big so much. Poor little girl is probably in smiley face recovery now. Wait until you're older to get botox Olivia! Hey as for the movie, it was filmed here in Utah, so more skiing scenes next time!

23. Thor: Love and Thunder
Thor is back and he's a little jealous of his old Princess Amidala girlfriend's newfound powers! Black and white works for Marvel. Or at least black and white with some glinty yellow sparks. Pretty Frank Miller-y. Too bad the jokes elicit polite smiles rather than genuine laughter. Maybe it's time to cut the comedy a bit and make Thor a semi-serious demigod. Also, what I was hoping for (but don't deserve of course because I don't actually make movies) is way more of the plot revolving around Natalie Portman's POV. Her transformation is the most interesting thing, but it's offscreen.

22. The Tinder Swindler
Documentary about a guy who uses dating apps to scam money off of women. Interesting and enraging. There's gotta be lots of stuff they skip at the end though. It's suddenly abrupt with the end and seems like whatever was excised would be the most interesting part. Unless it's not at all and that's why it's not shown.

21. Nanny
Free Sundance screening! An immigrant nanny experiences horror, but is a bit too undocumented to safely get help. Anna Diop is sooo good, but the first half plays sooo standard independent movie where something's not quite right behind everyone's smiles and we recognize it immediately but we gotta wait an hour for the movie to get as weird as we know it's gonna get. It takes a bit to connect the supernatural to the themes and it's almost too late, but it gets there.

20. Everything Everywhere All at Once
Fun fun fun but also I've had so many multiverses lately. Okay so I've been mulling on this one for like half the year now. I've decided I shouldn't feel bad for not flipping out over this as much as the rest of the normal populace apparently has. I commend it, but this goofy meditation of humanity set within a wacky interdimensional setting with multiple versions of our characters leaves me more than a little bit annoyed with its humorous insistence. When everything is possible, it's just too easy to be taken out of it by the skit-level jokes rather than any true randomness. When the movie attempts true heart and warmth, I just can't play along because it's been so incessantly loud with announcing its jokes.

19. Amsterdam

The front bit plays like a lifeless table read shortly after the role of Taylor Swift's lifetime (getting pushed in the street and run over). The main players go on and on about being friends but I don't really feel it. I usually don’t say this, but maybe more Nazis should have been more prominent throughout that very saggy middle rather than lurking. It ends interestingly and expectantly that kindness needs to win over cruelty. Make the right cool friends, people. Maybe it’s the easiest way to avoid that darn fascism hole.

18. Deep Water
Ben Affleck and justifiably current Hollywood obsession Ana de Armas are in like the weirdest, sexiest, obsessivest, dangerousest marriage in history. In the meantime everyone she flirts with winds up dead. The irony is it's perhaps not that deep. But still fun. Like 80s fun. No actually maybe it is deep. It's just really uncomplicated. I love the lack of twists.

17. Men
Jessie Buckley needs a break from men so she goes to a remote cottage where everyone has the same face. Wow what a brave and bold Rory Kinnear performance (the guy who plays everybody). No spoilers, but by the end he's really really really on display in a weird and gross way only Alex Garland (they guy who made Ex Machina) can bring. Okay but seriously it's not until those final few minutes that I developed any real appreciation for this thing. Up until then (and in the weeks before I even saw the movie), I thought it was just a straight, frank, needed (but boring nonetheless) indictment of men's power. By the end I think it's far more a lament of men's shame and strange dumb helplessness — and the fact that shame and dumb helplessness are the only things men can reproduce.

16. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
This is a biopic of Weird Al Yankovic that is only true about like three things: 1) Yankovic bought an accordion from a traveling salesman, 2) Madonna came up with the title "Like a Surgeon", and 3) Yankovic developed a career of recording and performing music. Toward the end I'm like ohhhhh it's fitting that it's a parody film about a parody musician. Nice move buuuuut not nearly as fun as UHF and hey suppose I'm actually curious about Weird Al facts? I'll wait around for the gritty reboot I suppose as my need for legit Weird Al data overpowers the amount of crazy laughs in the movie. In the meantime I'll memory bank that scene with his mom's fat suit (which as you know is neck only).

15. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Sam Raimi directs his Evil Dead to the Marvel Universe! Hesitant going in, considering our current state of multiversteria, but this might be my favorite multiverse so far. Perhaps limiting the universes to like maybe three is a good idea to cut the fatigue before it happens. Probably more so it's a good idea to bring in a surprising pile of Deadites to defiantly stand as a hilariously contrasting concept to this whole alt dimensions thing. Also, a new heroine named "America" is a fun thing. Now they can say such fun and on the nose lines like "America sure is in trouble."

14. Violent Night
David Harbour plays a tired ex-warrior version of Santa Claus who pops down the chimney of a house being robbed by Hans Gruber worshippers. Santa messes them up in bloodilicious ways. Finally I find Santa relatable. YM&T#103: Christmas Lows (and Highs)

13. The Batman
Robert Pattinson takes his turn with the standard-issue Batman costume. It's long, but the length is fine for what's accomplished: a gripping story with the inevitable deconstructive follow-up. It's good, but unfortunately a drop in the ocean of Batman content. It gets the Batman boost, but it's not gonna last through the years because of its involvement in endless franchise bootments. Colin Farrell plays Penguin and it's so nice to finally see him without all his usual prettyboy makeup.

12. Deadstream
This gimmicky Shudder exclusive finds the most annoying punchable semi-influencer manipulated into spending time in the hauntedest of all houses. Much of our viewing is accentuated by the periphery emojis and comments of his live viewers Like Host a couple of years ago, this sucker really delivers on the gimmick and really delivers despite the gimmick. Like any good Vlogger, I love and hate this guy. I'm delighted and sympathetic too.

11. Nope
Jordan Peele brings my most anticipated movie of the year and I find myself totally not getting it. I'm wrong with my non-analysis. This movie means so much I'm sure, but unlike Us, I'm just not as excited to analyze. Weird how I find myself looking forward to Jordan Peele movies like I used to look forward to M. Knight Shyamalan and now here's Peele's third movie and it's Signs. Talk to me about this next year when I've seen it again.

10. Elvis
Ever hear of this guy Elvis Presley? Well here's Baz Luhrmann's book report on him. I'm surprised by Elvis in a way I thought I wouldn't be. Only thing I heard beforehand is just how Luhrmanny this thing is and I'm like will it be Luhrmanny ENOUGH where I'm not all annoyed at the Luhrmannyness of it all and I can actually lean into the Luhrmannyness. Wow it turns out that after like 90 minutes of full-Luhrmann, he actually takes a breather and lets Austin Butler yell at the plastic puddle of Tom Hanks for a while. It's most welcome after so much Luhrmannyness. Also, I weirdly enjoy the spectacle of the Vegas period over the Memphis period. Unsure if it's because I'm now so old or because I'm now so fat, but going in I definitely expected the Memphis period to outshine the Vegas period. It's nice to be wrong with expectations.

9. Cha Cha Real Smooth
Actor/director Cooper Rafe is back with another quarter-life crisis meditation while romancing Dakota Johnson and befriending her adorkable autistic daughter (Vanessa Burghardt). I have just a touch of the same anxiety, depression, and autism of the three main characters. Cooper Rafe totally gives his all and let's hope his energy lasts into his 30s too. Dakota Johnson totally knows how to sit in a chair ridiculously seductively with the best of them but I wish she could match Rafe's energy just a bit. She's cute and fun but tends to look supremely drowsy. Get some sleep Dakota! Oh and also the fiancé guy (Raúl Castillo) could use way more caffeine too. Anyway, here's to fearing what's best! Mega apologies for misspelling Raiffe's name. Still unsure about it. Raiff. Now I'm sure.

8. Do Revenge
Stranger Things' (and Ethan Hawke's) Maya Hawke and Riverdale's Camila Mendes pull a Strangers on a Train by switching their intended high school victims. Maya Hawke has this uncanny ability to stare into space and be three steps ahead and yet completely blank at the same time. The movie takes full advantage of that brainwork ambiguity. There's a spectacular downward spiral to this movie that unfortunately does not land at all and is really off-putting, but perhaps I'm just more comfortable near the bottom of a spiral.

7. Jackass Forever
Good clean fun! Erm, actually at least three individually opposite things from good and clean and fun. Do you even want to know what happens in this? Well here's a hint. One time they put someone in a completely dark room filled with snakes and mousetraps. Johnny Knoxville has white hair now, so the stunts are kind of more cringey seeing the elderly exploited like this. These days I watch through my fingers.

6. Confess, Fletch
There's something not quiiiite right about Jon Hamm as Fletch that I can't put my finger on. It's like Chevy Chase is a jerk playing a dork while Hamm is a dork playing a jerk or something. The mix is the correct ratio, just mixed in the wrong order or something. Regardless, the banter is there, and they do the very very smart thing of giving each character a charismatic comedic presence to provide more to Hamm to work with than just eyerolls. Also noble to present-day this. Going back to the eighties would have been nice too, but we've already been there. Of course it may have specifically been to have Fletch inception us all into giving the same Letterboxd star rating as all of Fletch's Uber drivers ("five stars!"). This didn't quite work for my rating, so sorry Fletch! Could def watch again though!

5. Bodies Bodies Bodies
Pete Davidson and a bunch of young people speaking youngspeak gather in a house to wait out a hurricane and when the power goes out they start becoming the title. I'm not as young as I used to be so it would be easy for me NOT to understand all these zillenniels' shifting to supreme passive aggression in the midst of a murder spree, but darn it I actually still somehow relate somehow. Oh btw, watch out for Rachel Sennott in future stuff. Funny girl. Future star.

4. RRR
This Indian import features a pair of real-life Indian historical characters (N.T. Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan Teja) smashed together into something loud, absurd, and heavily mythological. It's all over the map in tone. Despite the bonkers CG effects and Avengers-like powers of the characters, it strangely doesn't have tone problems as a result, but rather tone solutions. YM&T#96: BRRRookelas Coppola

3. Babylon
Okay so I'm currently a little unsteady on this because I'm so used to Damien Chazelle being so dang darn precise in his filmmaking. This thing seems guided by a drug-fueled emotional breakdown rather than precision. After about 12 hours of mulling, I'm not sure, but I think the emotional culmination is 40% love letter to the silver screen and 60% cynicism about the very value of movies themselves. One character says something like "I think the cameras are facing the wrong way." As Babylon points out, people die making movies -- quite literally and seemingly quite needlessly. There's a reason filmmakers love movies about filmmaking. There's a weird insecure need to justify their existence, as well as our love for them. Funny to see film's value questioned way back in the 1920s. The insecurity is eternal.

2. Top Gun: Maverick
Tom Cruise is still a pilot in what may possibly be mostly a death dream as a result of ejecting out of a plane going 10 times the speed of sound and then somehow surviving. Some important things: 1. There was enough nostalgia from the very first second with that initial deep bell note 2. It's about time an entire movie got made entirely about the Star Wars Death Star trench sequence 3. Surely Glen Powell (Hangman) got cast on punchable face alone — like his headshot was passed all around the studio by some PA assigned to ask everyone "hey how much you wanna punch this guy?" 4. I love how the Monica Barbaro pilot character holds her own with all the male pilots and she's not stuck in some kind of romance, but hey she should have kissed Miles Teller at the end and then immediately after that Glen Powell should have kissed Miles Teller too 5. Unimportant, but I need a number 5 — is the "Warlock" character because "Merlin" from the first movie wasn't available? Anyway, you've all seen it. Better than expected, huh?

1. Glass Onion
Benoit Blanc is back! Seems just a little bit less subtle than the last one, so we'll see if it improves with age (as the last one did quite well). I've always been a fan of Rian Johnson, but he's generally getting more and more thrilling with his storytelling. I think we can stand to have him do an entire career of Blanc mysteries because they're always so devoted to the mystery genre while always finding new ways to twist the fun. But also how did they release this perfectly timed with the Musk implosion? That's Benoit Blanc's greatest feat. Still though, if the movie gets better with age it'll be because it's probably more about the criticism of the masses' inaction rather than merely solely jabbing at the unlikable billionaire.

The 97 Old Movies I Watched That I'd Never Seen Before!

97. Confidence (2003)
Oh whoops I forgot to log this one! Ummmm, I think I forgot I watched it while I was watching it. I think it's a dumb, thinks-it's-smart sort of team confidence movie that's super bro-ey that crosses into misogyny. If I remember right.

96. The Lords of Flatbush (1974)
Sylvester Stallone, Henry Winkler, and two other dudes are greasy gang members in New York's past or somewhere. Raise your egg creams to the Lords! Those girl-harassin', pants-messin', sex-cryin delinquents! The movie needs a sound guy because they all sound like Charlie Brown's parents. YM&T#85: New Josh City

95. Across the Universe (2007)
Watch now as a beautiful gang of people awkwardly vamp in front of like 400 Beatles songs! Whoever thought I'd get sick of Beatles songs? Well the overstuffing of dull plot sure helps.YM&T#91: Dear Evan Rachel Wood

94. The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
So yeah finally saw this and it's weird that for the last 20 years all those soulless action sci-fi movies I thought were homaging the original Matrix, were actually simply duplicating every bit of this. We're out of the actual Matrix here and oh man I miss it so badddd! Instead the middle hour is lots of army talk and senate talk and all the extras are doing the talk. Talky talky then shooty shooty to boredom.

93. Yellowstone (1936)
Old murder mystery set near one of Yellowstone's deadliest geysers. The two leads' love burned hot, but there's nothing more cold-blooded than a geyser! Also lots of people hanging out in Yellowstone National Park in suits and ties? What a time to be alive. Discussed on Yours, Mine,& Theirs #95: The Geyser Bloodbath

92. Citizen X (1995)
Pretty anti-Soviet propaganda, but not quite overt enough to be laugh-out-loud. I think this may have been made by HBO back in the day when it was convenient to tread on Soviet stuff.

91. Don't Look Up (2021)
Adam McKay's smug screed against everyone else he considers intellectually inferior. We've been non-stop joking on not believing in science for the better part of a decade now and I wish the jokes were funnier now. They mostly just make me drowsy. I don't know how we're still propelled by scorn, cuz it's still not working.

90. Casa De Mi Padre (2012)
Will Ferrell stars in a Mexican soap opera movie back when we just drew a premise out of a hat and then pointed a camera at Will Ferrell. Mexico es el bueno-estico! Funny parts, but also so self-aware to the point of absolute pointlessness. YM&T#85: New Josh City

89. Messiah of Evil (1973)
When I was a kid I saw a horror movie with a woman with bleeding eyes wandering the hallway. Always creeped me out. I saw the poster for this movie showing a woman with bleeding eyes so I half-watched the whole thing. Turns out they're not the same movie. On to the next movie with a woman with bleeding eyes on the poster!

88. King Richard (2021)
He gets hit in the head a lot. I watched this as part of Oscar homework the night before the big event and I'll say there's something just a liiiitle off about that lead actor.

87. Innocent Blood (1996)
A sex-positive vampire looks for love, but accidentally infects the mob with her dangerous vampirism. My theory is that they wanted to make a European-influenced erotic vampire film, but Robert Loggia overpowered the entire production.

86. Victoria (2015)
Victoria gets caught up in crime in the course of a crazy night and a single take. One thing about one-shots that have frustrated me in the past: they tend to be so compressed I don't believe the actors are living in a real world. One thing I learned while watching Victoria: it feels mostly like stalling if you don't get on with it.

85. Carrie (1976)
Sissy Spacek can't handle the prom or her evil telekinetic powers! I find it weird that Stephen King apparently thinks this is one of the best adaptations of his work. Seems the characters aren't really existing, but rather shuffling slowly toward the nonsensical plot point we all know to the slow beat of the infuriating 70s-equivalent Lifetime movie score. YM&T#100: We've Always Been Here

84. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
First, we did the multiple dimension thing with Into the Spiderverse. Second, sorry but I just don't think the multiple dimension thing is my thing. It's especially not my thing when it's more about the meta-winking of bringing in characters more identified as different Hollywood studio characters rather than any kind of believable literal multiverse characters. Also it doesn't help that these characters interact with each other as if they're in a cutesy Fallon skit. Hey we're all pumped right now because our synapses from different comic book decades are linking up, but mark my words, we'll remember this in a few years as a ridiculous ungrounded gimmick.

83. Fat City (1972)
Stacy Keach and Jeff Bridges bond over their various levels of amateur boxing. Stacy Keach… not that fat. Actually more engaging and strangely more attractive than that young Bridges guy. Gotta hand it to Susan Tyrrell for being unique (but we gotta admit her acting is unique in a bad way).

82. Your Friends & Neighbors (1998)
Neil LaBute continues his vicious nineties streak of exposing the worst of everyday people. Everybody starts so miserable and unfulfilled, so where they end up feels insignificant.

81. Arthur Christmas (2011)
This cartoon explains how the Santa corporation delivers all those gifts (millions of elf slaves). Arthur Claus (not Christmas? apparently Father Christmas in England is a name of the past but there's still a remnant in this movie's title) tells the corporation the individual kids matter, so we join him in his journey to deliver a single gift. "'Tis I, Arthur, king of the Christmas." There are just so too many Christmas characters. YM&T#103: Christmas Lows (and Highs)

80. Ride the Eagle (2021)
Well this Jake Johnson guy might be the only guy I enjoy seeing this frustrated alone in a cabin so great casting to complement a rather sparse premise.

79. Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
Sergio Leone's western masterpiece that I didn't appreciate nearly as much as The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. The three macho spinning gears could use a bit of oil in their interactions to get me to better believe the intentions and plot. Poor, beautiful, and vibrant Claudia Cardinale is unfairly left in the dust. YM&T#88: Clean Houses

78. Rumor Has It... (2005)
Jennifer Aniston gets caught up in an affair with Kevin Costner who is either her father or he's Dustin Hoffman's character in The Graduate. Favorable because I love Aniston (my favorite Friend), but disfavorable because this is peak Aniston obnoxiousness. She's Woody Allen levels of neurotic and it's confusing to see her pursued by at least three different men. Well, according to the premise I suppose everyone's just acting out a sort of adult film incest fantasy plot. The Nellie McKay songs are great!

77. Savannah Smiles (1982)
An adorable girl is accidentally kidnapped and the crooks get Stockholm syndrome. Not really a spoiler (because of the G rating), but I'm amazed this doesn't end with at least a four-body bloodbath. YM&T#77: In the Moon for Smiles

76. Cat People (1942)
A man marries a woman who goes frigid because she might turn into a cat when aroused. Sure it's about deep psychological relationships, but still I felt like Milhouse whining "but when are we gonna get to the cat people?!" YM&T#99: She/Her/Us/(Cat)

75. Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
Barbara Stanwyk is in over her head when she fakes through a news story regarding her cooking and man expertise. Stanwyk is a fly on the seat of her pants mess, but she's also so neurotic and uncool about it. Also she's not good at most things except for beaming at Dennis Jones. That's her greatest talent and pretty essential for these banter-y pre-Hallmark kinds of holiday things.

74. Persuasion (2007)
Sally Hawkins plays the Jane Austen heroine who must somehow "persuasion" a man into her love. Okay so this is hardly a spoiler because you KNOW Anne and Wentworth kiss in this, but can you believe their kiss? She just Run Lola Runned all over Bath and when she winds up in his arms she's all out of breath and sweaty and he makes NO EFFORT to lean down and kiss her even though it's like a 15-inch difference. She has to like, awkwardly kiss him on a hop. YM&T#82: Fanny and Balls

73. 10 Rillington Place (1971)
The millionaire from Jurassic Park slowly murders his neighbors. More like 10 KILLINGS in this place! It's gross and disturbing and worst of all it's drawn-out disturbing and that doesn't mean I have to enjoy it. Presented in spectacular PG! Or its strange British 60s equivalent. YM&T#97: Murdery-ho Neighborino!

72. It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947)
It's Christmas and a fun group of people find a way to squat in a mansion while the owner is at his summer home. Look I'm all for stealing rich people's houses, but the main squatter is strangely on a condescending power trip.

71. Free Guy (2021)
Nice to know the real-world romance and scary office drama is still way more exciting than all the violence that can be packed into a dedicated gaming hard drive. Ryan Reynolds should not have pulled out a light saber at the end when one of the points of the movie is originality (or so I thought).

70. Red Sun (1971)
Wow. Charles Bronson, Toshiro Mifune, and Alain Delon chase each other over the American West. USA! Japan! France! Which nation will win? Well definitely not the Comanche nation that's for sure. YM&T#88: Clean Houses

69. Jagged Edge (1985)
Thrills in and out of the courtroom are always fun but I'd believe it all a bit better if they switched places on the casting of Jeff Bridges and Peter Coyote. Also maybe someone more naive than Glenn Close maybe.

68. I Could Go on Singing (1963)
Judy Garland does a massive singing comeback as a flawed character with too much stake in being a singer. The first expense is her long lost son. He's eager enough to become a son and fan, but ultimately waaay too British for Garland. YM&T#89: Judy G(Rich)ar(d)land Movies

67. Halloween Kills (2021)
Does some interesting stuff regarding the dangers of angry, reactionary thinking, but also gives the character of Michael Myers a bit too much credit for masterminding such a feeling. My MM will always be a thoughtless and soulless killing machine, thank you. ALSO, a couple of the victims have Halloween costumes in this. Just once I would love it if EVERY SINGLE VICTIM in a Halloween movie had a completely ridiculous costume on, ESPECIALLY during the serious parts where like the whole town is together sincerely arguing about the right thing to do, going too far, etc.

66. Depeche Mode: Live in Berlin (2014)
Way too much Delta Machine, but also maybe I've been too rough on Delta Machine over the years (but also there are at least five more songs that are just in my blood that should be played in Berlin rather than Delta Machine). My favorite song is here -- "Halo." It's an interesting arrangement, but not as good as its original track 4 spot on Violator. YM&T#101: J.B.eche Mode 101

65. First Love (2019)
Takashi Miike directs something a bit less horrifying than usual by dipping his foot in crime romance. By the book but feels like they just don't make ‘em like this like they used to. Everyone's cool in crime until they're hysteric.

64. Jeremiah Johnson (1972)
Unsurprised by his living in the mountains. Much more surprised by his living on liver. Turns out it's hard to just take the space of the natives without a few toes being stepped on and the horrifying murder spree downslide. YM&T#93: Grizzly Gann

63. Dear Evan Hansen (2021)
Doesn't completely work for me but giving a positive review sort of in spite of the accusation that this thing is an offensive work. It's not as if the protagonist's imperfection and conflict are the movie's message. Haven't seen the play, but I can tell the story is made for the intimacy of the stage rather than the impersonal cinematic display. YM&T#91: Dear Evan Rachel Wood

62. The Alpinist (2021)
I think I've finally come to terms with free-climbers. It's the ultimate usage of personal freedom to take such risks while propelling increased ability in a very specific craft. I'm still not convinced filmmakers should seek them out as subjects though. At one point one character says something like "we consider them heroes if they make it to the top, but idiots if they die trying." Maybe both labels shouldn't be applied and let them live their lives without judgment. Avalanches apparently have little to do with human decision. Also, while I don't prefer the outside, films like this feel like a bit of indoor fresh air so that's actually a reason.

61. Harlan County U.S.A. (1976)
I'm lousy at following union procedure and concessions and compensation and all that. I'm fortunate to not need to deal with that kind of stuff (I think). These people compelled into such situations make some mighty fine and sincere speeches like it's nothin'. The action is a bit trickier, but still very possible. The production designer may have added too much dirt though.

60. The Crying Game (1992)
An IRA guy gets too close to the life of his prisoner. The character hiding the thingy is kind of the only one that acts normal.

59. The Power of the Dog (2021)
I watched this because it's nominated for all the Oscars! Cumberbatch is a cowboy!

58. The Gentlemen (2019)
Guy Ritchie does his Guy Ritchie thing with Matthew McConaughey trying to do the drug thing in London. Hugh Grant's second life as a sleazy narrator makes this movie not bad at all (for a Guy Ritchie movie).

57. Murphy's Law (1986)
Charles Bronson is a craggy cop. Sure he gets kicked in the groin a lot, but a car blows up every time he shoots his gun so don't count him out! YM&T#88: Clean Houses

56. Paris, Texas (1984)
Harry Dean Stanton begins to overcome a traumatic relationship. It's a somber sequel to an over-the-top drama that was never made. It's post-drama. It's the slow and maybe wrong healing that must come after far more cinematic scenes.

55. A Star is Born (1954)
Judy Garland is the star and James Mason is the black hole. Also prepare yourself for a good chunk of the story being told through postcards. YM&T#89: Judy G(Rich)ar(d)land Movies

54. The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
James Stewart secretly romances Margaret Sullavan while she's lost in the whimsy of anonymous love letters. Nice to see a movie acknowledge our true selves is our everyday interactions rather than the stuff we quote in texts and stuff.

53. His Name is Green Flake (2020)
There's a guy in this that I think is a composite character encompassing all the bigotry of 19th century Mormonism/America. Good to have that for us to chew on, but maybe bad to seemingly communicate all that bigotry was conducted by just one guy and not, I assume, many many many guys. Good flick though.

52. Love & Mercy (2014)
Paul Dano is young Brian Wilson while John Cusack is the older one. Solves the biopic problem of covering too much life so the story is watered down. Also solves the problem of the single-event biopic problem where it's not exhaustive enough. The solution? What if TWO events with TWO actors? Weirdly more into the Dano emotion rather than the Cusack, even though the Cusack is the actual tension what with the stuff I didn't know. Also, Brian, consider some lower registers in the ol' voice.

51. Gymkata (1985)
Kurt Thomas is a dorky secret agent with gymnastics skills and the strange ability to have all the bad guys run into his feet. Sooooo dumb, but alas, sooooo not boring. He kills with a high bar, a floor routine, and of course a pommel horse. One more star if only he were to do the same with suspended rings. YM&T#101: J.B.eche Mode 101

50. Victor/Victoria (1982)
Julie Andrews cheats the drag scene with her femininity by becoming a very convincing drag queen. Not totally sure how that 1930s Paris scene has the foreknowledge to dig a David Bowie impersonator so much, but hey everyone is happy and gay. Andrews maybe lay off a bit of the vibrato next time you drag. Alex Karras wins the charisma award this time I think.

49. Torn (2021)
I'm obviously more partial to the version of this story where that guy gets sucked into the computer and makes walls with his light cycle, but alas, this documentary is about a kid climbing to the same spot his dad died. Anyway I sucked something a little personal from this, but it's through a little effort. This is a wildly personal story from the director. He seems to be the only one scandalized by the idea his mom married his dad's friend though. Everyone else involved has calmly accepted the situation as the most natural way of calmly moving on. Max Lowe's anxiety is what's mostly on display.

48. The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
Although I think I like it much more than the new Spider-Man, it still suffers from the same meta sledgehammer that insists on reminding it's a movie we're watching rather than its own story. On the bright side, it really leans into what was really great about the first Matrix — all the weird uncertainty before all the commercial action.

47. Titanic (1997)
Never seen this before but only about 15% was unfamiliar. The Kathy Bates stuff is biggest delightful surprise. Still, it could also use some more aliens or terminators or abysses. YM&T#83: Titanic and Then Two Other Movies, But Mostly Titanic

46. The Ants and the Grasshopper (2021)
A small village African woman journeys to America to convince us that climate change is real and affecting her home. This documentary brings the usual ounce of hope with a pound of dread that come with environmental documentaries. Still it's nice that some people are innovating in the world and certain societal collapses may force us into such innovation.

45. North Shore (1987)
Nia Peeples is so over surfing that she falls for an Arizonian. There's this guy Turtle who speaks way too surfy so I get why the Arizonian is so attractive to her. YM&T#77: One Katie Summer

44. Bullitt (1968)
His name: Bullitt. His job: Cop. His tool: Gun. His other tools: MORE BULLETS! YM&T#85: New Josh City

43. Babes in Arms (1939)
It's up to Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland to put on the show their deadbeat artist parents can only dream of. This movie may have invented teenagers. Also teenagers who transform into wheels. See www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-n_DzFFTm4. Seriously there's a girl who turns into a wheel and rolls around. YM&T#89: Judy G(Rich)ar(d)land Movies

42. The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
Would you believe I never watched this until now? I must admit, the dialogue-heavy scenes are boringer than I have been led to believe (and for the last 20 or so years I've heard they are pretty boring), but the action is crisp like magic lettuce out the decades-refrigerator. Well, mostly that freeway scene, but it carries most of the other scenes and even a few scenes from other, unrelated movies. Why haven't we as a film society put more importance on making action as clear and smooth and unbroken as this?

41. The Last Picture Show (1971)
Jeff Bridges and others hang out in a 50s town and their bored and disillusioned. There is a lot of weird clunky editing around action shots that Bogdanovich really bettered in his next movie (What's Up Doc?). Also, this movie put me in a 30-hour funk.

40. Grizzly Man (2005)
Documentary of the most annoying man who hangs out with some bears. Liked a lot despite being completely unsurprised by what happens to him. YM&T#93: Grizzly Gann

39. Back to the Beach (1987)
Hey a surprising amount of fun has-been energy in this Annette Funicello retro surf movie. Well, Bob Denver seems a little depressed, but lots of good vibes everywhere else. YM&T#77: One Katie Summer

38. Onibaba (1964)
It's medieval Japan and desperate women lose their souls through crime and seduction. Eventually supernatural forces manifest themselves. Slow burn existential vibes. Good drum beat. Pretty cool.

37. Experiment in Terror (1962)
A hot hostage under the thumb of a creepy home invader is forced to rob her own bank. Deeply disturbingly gross villain, especially for the time I think. The G-men, though, while professionals, are literally sleep-inducing. A fun Halloween-adjacent fright, however my viewing was after a long week and even Lee Remick's startled, fearful face couldn't keep me awake. Totally my fault though.

36. Headhunters (2011)
Headhunter def. 1- corporate executive in charge of seeking out other corporate positions Headhunter def. 2- A MAN WHO HUNTS HEADS! YM&T#79: To Eric Is Human

35. Memories of Murder (2003)
It's a crime spree in Korea and the stumped detectives are no Harry Callahans. Very very good and poignant and also a surprising amount of flying leg kicks.

34. The Towering Inferno (1974)
Star-studded 70s ensemble is stuck in a Titanic-like building that can't possibly start on fire. OR CAN IT? Here's where we see Steve McQueen actually pass up Paul Newman in age. Also the elevator dings and a guy on fire runs out. YM&T#78: Cassandron't

33. Belfast (2021)
This one is also nominated for Oscars! There's color in the reflection of Dench's glasses!

32. In the Company of Men (1997)
Neil LaBute starts his criticism of humanity with his first-time movie direction. One guy is a basic alpha male villain, while another guy is a surprisingly early look at the more subtle disturbed beta incel. We have vocabulary words for this now so it's easier to pass the characterization test. Reminds me a bit of the two types of men in Promising Young Woman, the ones that lose any civilized sense when they feel cornered.

31. Quadrophenia (1979)
A mod puts 20 mirrors on his scooter and punches out a bunch of rockers. Strangely The Who is far from prominent in this The Who-produced (I think?) musical movie. Rebellion is its own crippling set of conformity. YM&T#81: You Really Got Miki

30. West Side Story (2021)
Vibrant and audibly-pleasing to the max, but I must admit the love story feels triter and selfisher than it did in the 60s. Or possibly I'm now so old that young love always seems trite and selfish.

29. King Creole (1958)
Elvis Presley gets caught up in rival clubs in New Orleans. Maybe perplexing to cast Elvis in this thing, but it's the king's best work (acting-wise). The two love interests are equally flawed and weird in opposite directions, and Walter Matthau is the least cuddly ever. A welcome entry for Mr. Presley! I guest-discussed this on The Cultworthy Classic Podcast #37.

28. City Lights (1931)
Charlie Chaplain gets deep in the city boxing scene trying to help some blind flower lady. Rocky I AND Rocky II ripped this off and still didn't come close to this exquisite boxing choreography. YM&T#83: Titanic and Then Two Other Movies, But Mostly Titanic

27. Vampyr (1932)
Fyr reyl you'll feyr fyr your lyfe. A guy takes an unadvised journey toward the European vampire pandemic. Dracula's not around, so it's almost like a sort of whodunit. YM&T#98: Suckiest Bunch of Sucks That Ever Sucked

26. Saturday Night Fever (1977)
John Travolta does everything poorly so he overcompensates by being the best dancer of 1977. So very gross and grimy for most of it, which really enhances the glitz of the disco scenes. I've never seen Travolta's eyes process his character's situation in real-time the way he does here. What happened, man? You used to be cool.

25. CODA (2021)
Oscar favorite from last year has a hearing girl breaking away from her mostly deaf family. Silence is its own sort of beauty. Also the Sing Street kid kinda sucks as an American — being all lame and music-failing now and whatnot.

24. Maria Full of Grace (2004)
… and vinegar! It's what's inside that counts. A woman walks a dangerous plank by drug muling into The United States. YM&T#94: Melissa Merica

23. Shaft (1971)
He's a black private dick and you know the rest of the song. Shaft's love prowess is probably his best asset, because promiscuity has its advantages if you're shot in a nearby neighborhood and need a place to heal up.

22. Citizen Ruth (1996)
Laura Dern and her unborn are in the middle of a tug-of-war between the right and left in what's apparently a big issue in this country. A well-intentioned assortment of insanity. Ruth, you may be all huffy, but you're a great wildcard. YM&T#94: Melissa Merica

21. Big Wednesday (1978)
To surf or to Vietnam? Three surfers bond and disbond over time. Here's to walkin' up and down the board, gettin' sober on the waves, and friends when you got nothin'. YM&T#77: One Katie Summer

20. Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
This is the infamous Halloween entry that departs from the Michael Myers story. I think this could have been a charming start to something weird and special. I did not see a techno-anarchist CEO with an army of goo-filled Land of Oz robots deciding to melt bug- and snake-filled masks to to the children's populace coming at all. I'd love to see what mondo bizarreness lies in wait for Halloween IV: Tentacles in a Forest.

19. The Tribe (2014)
Support Ukraine by watching this crazy Ukrainian movie pretty much told entirely in un-subtitled Ukrainian sign language. The kids get in deep with some shady shady stuff. I don't know what was said, but the silence draws me to the screen. Also, I guess they go to school for like ten minutes a semester.

18. Nightmare Alley (2021)
Bradley Cooper is a circus mentalist faced with the more lucrative racket of psychology. Cate Blanchett vamps into the second half with a 40s femme vibe that's ridiculous in my favorite way. She acts as expected by her appearance, beyond real world logic. Not only does this not annoy me, I actually didn't notice the absurdity of her actions. Anyway, old-timey psych games are always fun.

17. Weathering with You (2019)
This lovely romp from the team that brought us the spectacular Your Name. finds some kids with the ability to manipulate the weather. Interesting take on climate change. Kids deserve to enjoy this earth, even if that means it falls out from the rest of us. We've only ourselves to blame. YM&T#83: Titanic and Then Two Other Movies, But Mostly Titanic

16. The Night Before (2015)
Seth Rogen excels at the acting challenge of drug upon drug upon drug. The sincere feels are snowplowed by inappropriateness, but it does make me want to find some sentimental New York single vibes. YM&T#103: Christmas Lows (and Highs)

15. Brief Encounter (1945)
There's stillness in a painting and the sort of flickering film stillness of Celia Johnson with the world's burdens weighing her face down.

14. Next of Kin (1982)
Cult cool Australian horror flick with a woman in a haunted nursing home. Crikey that's bloody brilliant camera work. Also the synthy score. These unseen sights and unheard sounds (until now) are so great and surprising for a Halloween quickie.

13. Licorice Pizza (2021)
The 70s really existed! They were really brown and yellow and there's a vague familiarity there. Young love is quite something, but it's hardly got the back and forth accelerating momentum of young jealousy. The downhill truck scene is some of the tensest I've been.

12. The Worst Person in the World (2021)
Strangely titled, and deeply sad, this Norwegian movie involves a young woman's inability to make the pieces fit with love and career. One of her sad lovers has a few deep thoughts in the midst of facing mortality. I was expecting much funnier, but this rawness and realness keeps longer.

11. Raise the Red Lantern (1991)
A new bride (of four) enters the home of her new husband and falls into the terrible competitive prison of sister wives. Identify the patriarchy! (If not necessarily down with the patriarchy.) YM&T#95: The Geyser Bloodbath

10. The Lost Daughter (2021)
Olivia Colman flashes back to herself (Jessie Buckley) and her decision to live life non-family. Weird but not asking to be weird. Creepy but only for the alert. Props to Colman for exhibiting my kinda paranoia.

9. The Wailing (2016)
It's Korea and there's a mysterious and dramatic sickness that's maybe a bit more intentional than random. An obnoxious pile-up of Christian symbolism, character misdirection, and an impending zombie plague, but saved by the idea that maybe despair is the only answer to the universe's cruelty. YM&T#101: J.B.eche Mode 101

8. Walkabout (1971)
Jenny Agutter walks into the Outback rather than back to civilization with the help of an Aboriginal boy. She witnesses the two worlds grate up against each other. Turns out civilization causes strife, anxiety, and so very much PTSD. YM&T#81: You Really Got Miki

7. Mansfield Park (1999)
This intriguing Jane Austen story features a near-miss for our heroine when her snubbed potential man turns out to be a huge gigantic jerk. Did he become a jerk from lack of love though? Personally, I think he's on the level. Oh what could have been? Half-love? Or perhaps a sort of dignity to believing in a mutually beneficial type of love that will never happen. YM&T#82: Fanny and Balls

6. The Blob (1988)
For an amorphous pink puppet, that title character is a lot of fun to watch people run from. This feels equally 50s and 80s somehow. Wow way more fun than expected.

5. Christine (1983)
Look sometimes cars are just evil okay? Once we understand that, we just gotta accept that the 50s were real real cool okay? Also, maybe all those weird false idol gods from The Old Testament would have done a lot more awesome damage if they just had wheels (yeah, my theory is Christine is like some kind of old-timey demigod idol thing — and also just evil — whatever, this movie sort of rules). YM&T#100: We've Always Been Here

4. Paddington 2 (2017)
Despite not seeing the first movie, the praise for this movie is real. It's effortless charm that's impossible to pull off, but somehow they did it. If we are kind and polite, the world will be right. Especially in prison. YM&T#80: Telecinema

3. In the Mood for Love (2000)
I can think of at least two things wrong with that title. Two neighbors commit to a spiteful chastity and deep friendship when their partners have an affair with one another. Also, both of them are the two hottest people in the world so their arrangement is all the more impressive and sad. YM&T#77: In the Moon for Smiles

2. Barfi! (2012)
Life is Barfiful. This quirky Indian movie has the worst title and the worst poster ever and it promises wackiness in a whimsical title character, so it has EVERYTHING going against it. Eventually it sorts itself out and tells a subtle and meaningful love story in a way I've never seen. It finds beauty in things very uncinematic. YM&T#94: Melissa Merica

1. The Abyss (1989)
Hey Armageddon, THESE folks are MY heroic oil drillers that save Earth from alien destruction. YM&T#81: You Really Got Miki

The 42 Movies I'd Already Seen That I Watched Again!

42. Empire Records (1995)
The Empire strikes back… AT THE MAN! Many find this mid-90s teenfest an icon of inclusion — a manifesto to all the forgotten teens of the world to let them know they have a place in the world. For me it's a nightmare community of snobs, mostly about exclusion. How very 90s. I sort of respect Empire Records for making me feel something, but that something is being haunted by the characters of Empire Records. YM&T#84: Classes of ‘92, ‘95, and ‘99

41. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
She's staking out a new clique! Kristy Swanson is totally my Buffy, but the rest of the production is lifeless. Not even undead. This was a sad rewatch. I always thought I was so cool for saying I prefer the movie to the TV show, but it turns out neither are as great as they should be. YM&T#84: Classes of ‘92, ‘95, and ‘99

40. The Amityville Horror (1979)
Beware of the most boring haunting on the east coast. YM&T#92: The Ammon Tully Horror

39. She's All That (1999)
Don't drag Lanie into the prom queen game! Contrary to what this movie says, nobody cares about prom queen campaigns! YM&T#84: Classes of ‘92, ‘95, and ‘99

38. The Faculty (1998)

Why is Usher on the poster? Is this another weird alien trick? Anyway there are fun homages to The Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and there are fun copies of The Invasion of the Body Snatchers. This feels more of a copy even though it’s got the great POV of 90s kids. I had a hard time as a kid in the 90s though soooo... Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #99: She/Her/Us/(Cat)

37. The Journey of Natty Gann (1985)
The future Mrs. Patton Oswalt train rides her way across America in the early 1900s. Way to go with the labor commentary Natty! Also, you sure make living the urchin life and traveling across a continent look easy. YM&T#93: Grizzly Gann

36. Summer Rental (1985)
Weirdly just like One Crazy Summer. Kind of just a shred of a through line, but fulfills my desire to see beach life during February, when I watched it. This is EXACTLY why I watched One Crazy Summer last year (not realizing I'd watch it again this year) and that one also ends with a regatta race. There's something about regatta races to assuage those winter blues.

35. The 'Burbs (1989)
Sounds like a Hitchcock title, huh? No not The Birds, The ‘Burbs, you know, Rear Window. It's a more ensemble-driven Rear Window. Also a charming conclusion to the decade's Satanic Panic. YM&T#97: Murdery-ho Neighborino!

34. Clue (1985)
A mild enjoyable comedy with maybe too much death! I prefer the first ending of the three. Discussed on #90 Yours, Mine, & Theirs LIVE!

33. Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid (1975)
The animation is grainy and dim, but I gotta give high marks to any children's movie with enough audacity to encourage suicide like this thing.

32. One Crazy Summer (1986)
But was it their ONLY crazy summer? See Summer Rental, but more manic and enjoyable. YM&T#102: Save Our Podcast?

31. Frailty (2001)
He's made a list, he's checked it twice, he already knows who's DEMON or nice! Bill Paxton is on a mission from God, but it's less full of mirth than the Blues Brothers' mission from God. YM&T#79: To Eric Is Human

30. Life of Pi (2012)
Like his name, his life is irrational! I actually don't get a lot of this one but it helps to talk about it. Faith needs doubt to survive. YM&T#79: To Eric Is Human

29. Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo (1984)
If it ain't Breakin' don't fixin' it. Let this be a lesson, if you're ever stuck in your screenplay, just write "EVERYBODY BREAK DANCES" in big letters across the whole page. YM&T#102: Save Our Podcast

28. Roxanne (1987)
Been in the mood for this for a while but it's not really streaming anywhere. Katie found it on VHS(!) and we watched it that way. It's so very VHS. Besides the full screen treatment with only half of characters' faces when addressing each other, maybe there are a few more dated reasons we can't find this anymore. Steve Martin is so desperately thirsty and weird in this, but was obviously 80s-endearing. Plus, it's so weird seeing the game of written word wooing between two people who don't even know each other. Back then it was weird. Now it's positively alien to invade anyone's privacy with much more than "sup?" These aren't complaints. It's a fun time machine adventure.

27. The Little Mermaid (1989)
Don't blame Ariel. She me.

26. Big (1988)
Kinda annoyed that Josh excels at adulthood so easily with every disadvantage while I have constantly struggled with like 30 years of practice. Yeah maybe that's the point but y'know… still frustrating. YM&T#86 Direct Hers

25. The Muppet Movie (1979)
Follow all your dreams. Become famous. Make friends. Entertain the whole world. Just don't be tempted to peddle frogs' legs on the way. YM&T#80: Telecinema

24. Clueless (1995)
… but not ignorant. Good on Cher for a bit of self-evaluation and sporadic growth. YM&T#82: Fanny and Balls

23. The Blues Brothers (1980)
I can't for the life of me figure why anybody thought making this film was a good idea, but I'll always be eternally grateful they made the best car chase I've ever seen and tacked it in AFTER the plot completed. YM&T#95: The Geyser Bloodbath

22. Palm Springs (2020)
Cristin Milioti and Andy Samberg are stuck in a dreamy and nightmarish time loop. Company for the mundanity is the best.

21. Trading Places (1983)
Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy learn about the others side and manipulate frozen orange juice futures in the 80s. Weird how these 80s comedies with Elmer Bernstein scores have like, no jokes. Not really. It's mostly just some heightened characterization line deliveries. This is not a complaint. It's serious but still got Murphy/Aykroyd/Jamie Lee Curtis buoyancy. Oh and my hat goes off to Don Ameche. He could have died at any moment and was still brave enough to play the most despicable character of the 80s.

20. Rear Window (1954)
The master brought us birds, psychos, wedgies, and wet willies, but nothing can prepare us for the dreaded Rear Window! YM&T#97: Murdery-ho Neighborino!

19. The Fugitive (1993)
He didn't kill his wife! Fortunately that allows him time to find many other passions: seamstress, barber, custodian, prize fighter, diver, ambulance driver, ID maker, perhaps detective most of all, and of course life-saver. Hey speaking of, why is Julianne Moore SO PISSED that he saves that kid's life? Did she hate that little kid THAT much? Discussed on #90 Yours, Mine, & Theirs LIVE!

18. Vertigo (1958)
Kids these days hate it and it's even weirder and more messed up than I remember. Buuuut maybe it's considered the best (whoops not anymore -- I guess I need to see Jeanne Dielman) because the older we get, the more we realize that unsettling need to consume and control when we're traumatized and vulnerable. Discussed on #90 Yours, Mine, & Theirs LIVE!

17. Us (2019)
Jordan Peele lets us see the other versions of ourselves we don't want to see. Red is such a prantagonist, if such a thing exists. I like this movie a lot. YM&T#99: She/Her/Us/(Cat)

16. Tully (2018)
Charleze Theron gives in and gets a nanny after being overwhelmed in all things life. I viscerally feel for you Marlo. This is what having kids feels like. All that "hey kids bring my life meaning" stuff feels so much more fake. I do not have kids. YM&T#92: The Ammon Tully Horror

15. Role Models (2008)
Perfect sour and sweet Rudd.

14. Atlantics (2019)
Lovebirds in Dakar are separated by an ocean and mortality. Love and death are both often so unpredictable in IRL that we don't realize what genre we're living in until the events have passed. Pretty and haunting. Love the constant waves. YM&T#86: Direct Hers

13. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)
An Iranian vampire dispenses toothy justice in a burka. This vicious blood-sucking demon only has one weakness: a gorgeous needle drop fit for any 13-year-old to fall in love to and I am definitely here for it. YM&T#98: Suckiest Bunch of Sucks That Ever Sucked

12. RoboCop (1987)
I like it because it's a scathing takedown of the excessive violence brought about by the corporatization of this country diminishing individual rights, but I LOVE it because it's a metal zombie going around shooting everyone. YM&T#92: The Ammon Tully Horror

11. Moulin Rouge! (2001)
I can't explain how the heart and emotion rises so easily among the excess of the filmmaking. Luhrmann was randomly digging for oil and somehow struck lightning. YM&T#91: Dear Evan Rachel Wood

10. Ghostbusters (1984)
Hey Gozer is actually a god not a ghost so our boys really luck out with that win. YM&T#78: Cassandron't

9. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
To this very day whenever I participate in the national anthem I still sing "gave proof through the night that we still had a flag." YM&T#80: Telecinema

8. The Godfather (1972)
Michael's progression into a monster is the curious unfortunate result of a father's absence of neglect. YM&T#96: BRRRookelas Coppola

7. UHF (1989)
Maybe all movies should be half tiny little dumb plot and the other half just really funny nonsensical Tik-Tokesque vids. Also what's weirdest of all? Stepping aside to let Michael Richards out-weird you. YM&T#102: Save Our Podcast

6. Airplane! (1980)
"Jim never vomits at home…"

5. Point Break (1991)
Hey FBI! Hire more agents! Johnny Utah doesn't need to go on a uniformed raid at the house he's undercovering! Also though this movie rules and even the pope knows it. I usually don't like being a man, but oh my it's great to feel the testosterone practically ripping out of my veins while watching this. YM&T#86: Direct Hers

4. The Lost Boys (1987)
As far as this viewing goes, it still slaps. No, it still rocks. But I can't help wonder why Julia Roberts ran off with Jason Patric over Kiefer Sutherland. Perhaps she never saw this. Anyway, in the end they were no longer Lost Boys… they were Lost Men. YM&T#98: Suckiest Bunch of Sucks That Ever Sucked

3. The Shining (1980)
The best of its kind for the season of death. It's nonsense makes the most sense in getting under my skin and into the skin of my soul. It's a feeling, a bad one, that materializes and comes to life. YM&T#100: We've Always Been Here

2. Flash Gordon (1980)
Get me a hand-gun. No not a handgun, but a HAND-gun. One of those guns in Flash Gordon that actually shoots hands. This mostly takes place inside a lava lamp and is my favorite movie of all time. YM&T#78: Cassandron't

1. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Oh whoops now that I think about it, I guess I do love It's a Wonderful Life more than Flash Gordon. If I don't watch it every year, I die. Notes this time around: 1) Of course the Building and Loan acquires even MORE money the next day from none other than Mr. Potter who is muttering something about mysterious visitations from three fantastic spirits during the night. 2) Those two scenes of George defending his dad in front of Potter though. So great. Young George is terrified of his druggist boss Mr. Gower, but Potter, the town tyrant, is nothing to him. 3) Also worth noting George may have wound up with Violet if she weren't too lazy to hike up Mt. Bedford.

Silly Facts and Stats Nobody Cares About But Me!

Total number of movies seen: 167 (214 last year)

Total number of 2022 movies seen: 27 (26 last year)

Total number of non-2021 movies seen: 139 (a whopping 186 old movies last year)

Year of oldest movie: 1931 (City Lights)

Total number of movies seen more than once: 1 (Top Gun: Maverick)

Biggest movie-watching month: 21 in January

Smallest movie-watching month: 9 in June (weird, usually that's a good time for air conditioning)

Biggest movie-watching day: July 1st (understandably the day of our live Yours, Mine, & Theirs podcast event where we watched Vertigo, Clue, and The Fugitive back-to-back)

Most time between movies: 11 (Grizzly Man on August 1st and then Citizen Ruth on August 12th)

Movies seen at the cinema: 20 (11 last year)

jon's blog

Saturday, December 31, 2022

Movies: 2022

Top 27 Movies of 2022!

The 97 Old Movies I Watched That I'd Never Seen Before!

The 42 Movies I'd Already Seen That I Watched Again!

Silly Facts and Stats Nobody Cares About But Me!

Friday, December 23, 2022

Airing of Grievances 2022