The Mid-Year Review: Highs and Lows from 2023 So Far
We’ve reached the midpoint of 2023, so we’re taking a look back at the sweet and sour of the year so far.
🍊 Sweet 🍊
Reality
A riveting slow-burn docudrama with an impressive performance by Sydney Sweeney. Classified documents are so hot right now. —Chad Comello
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
Really creative use of Fox’s memoirs, TV and movie appearances, and reenactments to tell his life story. He’s still funny as hell despite the effects of Parkinson’s. —Chad Comello
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret
Wonderfully sweet and quietly radical, just like Judy Blume herself. The most commanding and lovable kid actor since Mara Wilson. Stacked soundtrack (Cat Stevens’ “The Wind” always makes me cry a little). —Kevin Prchal
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Doesn’t quite hit the narrative highs that the original did, but as a visual experience, it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. More Hobie, please! —Kevin Prchal
Past Lives
Easily one of my favorites of the year so far. A lovely, thought-provoking film that asks more questions than it answers and is highlighted by fantastic character work and dialogue. —Natalie Pohorski
🍋 Sour 🍋
John Wick 4
If you gave me a controller to hold onto throughout this movie, eventually my brain would have been tricked into thinking I was playing a video game. Stylized to a fault and violent in a way only gun-shooting gamers could ignore. Not for me. —Kevin Prchal
Beau Is Afraid
The first 45 minutes may have been masterful, but unfortunately the plot and execution devolved exponentially from there. It was also entirely male ego-focused so it was hard to find anything to relate to or connect with (as a woman). I expected more from Ari Aster and Joaquin Phoenix. —Natalie Pohorski
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Mario is 25 years old!? And has Daddy issues!? Didn't hate it (I'm a sucker for a dose of nostalgia), but this was a weird experience for me. —Kevin Prchal