Michael Philippou

THE MOVIE MUSINGS’ FAVOURITE FILMS OF 2023


2023 was a mixed bag. I saw 186 films during the year.
There were a lot of old films, the oldest being made in 1931 (Frankenstein).
I finally got round to watching for the first time: Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), Fellini’s La Dolce Vita (1960), De Sica’s Bicycle Thieves (1948), Brook’s The Producers (1968), Levinson’s Diner (1982) and Kurosawa’s Ran (1985) and I loved them all (except for parts of Diner).

I saw Raging Bull in 4K at the cinema and there were a tonne of rewatches, highlights being Cape Fear (1991), J.S.A. Joint Security Area (2000), Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), Wages of Fear (1953), Angel Heart (1987), The Consequences of Love (2004), Memories of Murder (2003), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), State of Grace (1990), Kundun (1997) and I saw The Wicker Man-The Final Cut (1973) in December. All in all a top film watching year.

This year my top 17 came from South Korea, Japan, Denmark, France, Finland, Ireland and the U.K., Australia and America.

The list below is in no hierarchical order of quality or preference.
They are merely in the order that I saw them throughout the year.
Each of the films I loved for different reasons and this list reflects that.

So, here goes……..


JOHN WICK 4
In March 2023 I saw John Wick 4 at a screening on a huge screen at Event Cinemas, George St in Sydney that I had been kindly invited to by Studio Canal, the Australian distributors of the film and I had SO much fun. So much so, that when it was released proper a few weeks later I went to the cinema again to revisit the ride. And at 10 minutes shy of a 3 hour running time, that’s impressive.
So good, I saw it twice.
Check my review out HERE.


MONSTER
The latest film from Japanese director, Kore-eda Hirozaku is a film about the information we receive and how we fill in the blanks to end up with a conclusion that is wrong more than it is right.
I saw it at the Sydney Film Festival and loved it. I was a big fan of the director’s previous work, Shoplifters and this one was thought provoking and moving.
Monster is beautiful, tender and unfolds with skill and depth.


REALITY
Sydney Sweeney is a top actor. As Cassie in the excellent Euphoria she manages to display an insecurity and vulnerability that we rarely see so well played and in The White Lotus Season 1 she imbues Olivia, an entitled girl, a humanity that we would not have gotten from a lesser performer. She was nominated for both of these roles at the Emmys in 2022.
In 2023, she became the brand ambassador for everyone, made this indie film (Reality) based on a play, based on the transcript of the F.B.I. interrogation of the American Intelligence Agent, Reality Leigh Winner and a Christmas rom com that is doing well at the box office.
Here, she brings a layered take in a brilliant film about truth, deception and national security. 
This is a tense thriller that runs in at 82 minutes and takes you on a journey that unearths the feelings many have about national security and what the public should be aware of. Well worth a watch.
So good I saw it twice.


COBWEB
This was a joyous farce. A film about the making of a film within the film. One of my favourite actors Song Sang-ho stars as the director Kim who dreams that his recently finished film will become a masterpiece if only he can film the ending again to make it perfect. Comic absurdity follows as he tries to navigate 1970s South Korean Government Film censors, need and emotional actors, the studio head who hasn’t given him permission to film the extra days and his own (maybe justified) insecurities.
So good I saw it twice.
Read my review HERE.


TALK TO ME
The best, most original and entertaining horror film of 2023. Made by a couple of Australian brothers, Michael and Danny Philippou AKA YouTubers, Rakka Rakka.
This film about grief and the ‘other side’ was scary, well acted and became the horror film of the year. Check my review out HERE.


SISU
Visceral, satisfying and violent. An absolute romp. 
The killing of Nazis has never been so enjoyable.


SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE
The sequel to the excellent Into the Spider-Verse brings us more, much more.
So. Many. Spider-Mens. And Women’s.
Smart, beautifully realised and maybe the best animated action film of the year.


BARBIE
I didn’t do a review of this because everyone has said EVERYTHING about it already. Brief thoughts; this film was so much more important than it seemed. A Barbie movie that very smartly and succinctly commented on feminism, the patriarchy and the status quo in a way that was never preachy, mean or lacking a massive sense of humour. Absolutely brilliant.
Maybe my favourite film of the year.
So good I saw it twice.


BOTTOMS
So much anarchic merriment. Two high school loser lesbians start a fight club to meet girls. The teen romp that we didn’t know we needed. Starring Rachel Sennott (who also co-wrote it) and Ayo Edibiri (so so good in The Bear, one of my favourite tv shows of the year), this film isn’t afraid to have heart and stupidity playing at the same time. Brilliant.


PAST LIVES
Greta Lee is wonderful. Here, she gets to play the lead in the best romantic film of the year directed by first timer, Celine Song, a film that bypasses all of the usual tropes and delivers an emotionally intelligent, honest take on a ‘could they’, ‘would they’, ‘should they’ romance.
So good I saw it twice.


TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM
I think I may have enjoyed this more than the Spider outing. But only just. I definitely laughed out loud a lot by myself in the cinema. The first Turtles film I have ever seen and the only one I need to. The voice cast has heaps of fun with the teen toitles this time actually played by teens and having actual chemistry that brings a massive heart to the film.
Jackie Chan has a blast as Splinter, Ayo Edibiri gives humour, comic timing and dimension to April O’ Neil and Ice Cube probably has the time of his life playing the villain, Superfly.
Hands down, the best needle drops of the year with M.O.P.’s Ante Up, De La Soul’s Eye Know, O.D.B.’s Shimmy Shimmy Ya and A Tribe Called Quest’s Can I Kick It?
Absolute quality.


ANATOMY OF A FALL
The best courtroom film we have seen for many years. This drama about the death of a father and husband at a chalet at the foot of the French alps that leads to the mother being accused of his murder is a masterclass in acting especially from Sandra Hüller, who is magnificent.


THE BOY AND THE HERON
When this was announced 5 years or so ago I bought the book, How Do You Live by Genzaburo Yoshino that it was going to be based on. The book is lovely and when I read that the film would be VERY loosely based on it, I was a touch disappointed but when I finally saw the film, I rejoiced. It is pure Miyazaki, his greatest hits and if it really is his final bow, it’s an incredible one.
Strange, beautiful, touching and magical. 


POOR THINGS
There are very few, if any, film-makers like Yorgos Lanthimos. He evokes Terry Gilliam’s set design and strangeness in this Emma Stone-athon. She is utterly fabulous and free in this strange Frankenstein-like tale of a young woman discovering the world and all its joys and despairs.
Who else out there would commit like Stone did? Willem Dafoe is an acting God, Facts!!!! and Mark Ruffallo gives the best man-child performance of many a year. Surreal and sublime.


GODZILLA MINUS ONE
The Zilla film I have been waiting for. Finally, they understood that the sight of Kaiju mashing up the town, city or world is nothing without the human, the acting and the heart elements.
Here, we get the Godzilla film we deserve. 


LEAVE THEM ALL BEHIND
This was a late contender as I only watched it on the 28th December and really wished that I had gone to the cinema to see it. Netflix only gave us a week to see int on the big screen, I think.
Hey Netflix. Not good enough!!! 
The film that brings ALL the conspiracy theories together and chills you to the bone. Written and directed by Mr Robot’s Sam Esmail this film is helped along by a great script, top actors; Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, Myha’la and Kevin Bacon, and a wonderfully ominous and eerie musical score by Mac Quayle. Tension at its finest. Quality apocalyptic fare.


HOLY SPIDER
A serial killer film that is brutal, gritty, tense and has something to say about society.
Set in Mashhad, a holy city in Iran and based on an actual killer from the early 2000s, this takes you on an ugly journey directed by Ali Abbas, who directed the last two episodes of the excellent video game HBO adaptation of The Last of Us earlier in the year. 
Maybe a Holy Spider/Barbie double bill?????? Holy Barber, Batman.

And that’s the list. 2023 in a bag. I missed a few, I saw a few.
Let me know your favourites in the comments. It’d be lovely to hear from you other movie lovers.

Happy 2024. May it be filled with the best of movies, joy, happiness and creative satisfaction.

TALK TO ME (2023)

Talk to Me-Australian Poster


As Philip Larkin once said:
“They fuck you up, your mum and dad…………

Sit down, let someone tie you to a chair, they light the candle, you say “Talk to Me” and the portal is opened, now you say “I let you in” and the connection is complete………but don’t forget let go of the hand and blow out the candle by 90 seconds…….or else.

The best horror film of 2023 so far. After the world premiere at Sundance Film Festival in January 2023, a bidding war began and A24 acquired the U.S. distribution rights.
A24 are the tastemakers, facts. They know a good fit when they see it.
Here be shades of Hereditary, the last horror film that truly scared me (although Barbarian did a decent job as well). 
This is the point of horror films, right?

When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces.

Zoe Terakes in Talk to Me
Zoe Terakes in Talk to Me

Twin brothers, Danny and Michael Philippou bring you a terrifying film that treads the line between convincing and the supernatural with deft and dexterity. They both direct and Danny writes alongside Bill Hinzman and Daley Pearson.
The twins started their career with the very successful youtube channel RackaRacka. They are already huge stars and the sky is seemingly the limit for these two Adeladians or Adelads or Adelarrikins (not sure if these are things but they sound good. Don’t @ me, people from Adelaide). They also crewed on the great 2014 Australian horror film, The Babadook. They seemingly love the craft and it shows.

Mark my words, this film will be in the mouths, pens and keyboards of critics as soon as it is released.
It will be in the top 3 horror films of 2023, if not number 1.

Joe Bird in Talk to Me-Pleased to meet you........
Joe Bird in Talk to Me-Pleased to meet you……..

I recently had a conversation with a friend who said he didn’t like horror films.
I hear this a lot.
People do like being scared though…..errrr rollercoasters anyone?????
I love the psychology of a well-put-together horror film, the deep diving into the unseen parts of the universal consciousness is always fascinating but not always cosy and definitely not for the faint of heart.
This is why I will always check in with the great horror films. Last year, we had the excellent X and Pearl, Barbarian, Bodies Bodies Bodies, Speak No Evil, Prey, Nope and Sissy, this year we have had M3gan, Evil Dead Rise and now to top it off we have Talk to Me.

Genre-ism is for the marketers who try and categorise so you know which rave to go to.
No matter which flavour it comes in, a well-told story is a well-told story.
There be no flavourism here.
Great films challenge you, to laugh, cry, take you on an adventure, make you metaphorically shit yourself, and in some way engage one or several of your emotions.
This is the point of art. To make you feel……something.

Talk to Me taps into your subconscious, grabs it, shakes it, and reminds you that you’re alive and It’s only a movie.
The fear of the unknown, the other side, the dead, here there be ghosts and they’re not all friendly.

The cast are uniformly all in, they deliver with so much conviction with the lioness’ share of convincingly emoting coming from the lead, Sophie Wilde. She plays Mia who is suffering from grief and the trauma of her Mother’s suicide and is brilliantly supported by Joe Bird, Alexandra Jensen, Otis Dhanji, Zoe Terakes, Chris Alosio, Alexandria Steffensen, Marcus Johnson and Ari McCarthy along with Miranda Otto bringing the movie’s matriarch to life with gusto, motherly concern and, On God, humour.

These director brothers are for sure headed for big heights, at least the offers will be forthcoming, I just hope they carry on making interesting fare and avoid the big, potentially problematic, payday directing the next Marvel film or studio tentpole fare, not that I’m not wanting them getting paid but I would really like to see something innovative that capitalises on the promise of their debut horror film that is poised to be a smash hit. 
The youtubers make a film that sits well and comfortably next to other great horror films. 

Thanks to http://www.letterboxd.com for the preview invite.
Seeing it at the VMax on George St, Sydney was such a treat. Many thanks.

Do yourself a favour, go see it at the cinema with a crowd. It’s well worth it.

And please, whatever you do…………remember to let go of the hand.

The hand in Talk to Me

95 minutes

Australian release date July 27th 2023

U.S. Release date July 28th 2023