Sunday, March 17, 2024

2024 Movie List - The Top 25 Movies of the Year So Far

THE STANDOUTS (2) - This should go without saying, but these are all must-sees.

Dune: Part Two ***1/2
The Truth vs. Alex Jones ***1/2

THE GOOD (5) - These represent quality filmmaking all around.

Love Lies Bleeding ***
Lover, Stalker, Killer ***
Self Reliance **1/2
Snack Shack **1/2
Damsel **1/2

THE GOOD... BUT SHOULD'VE BEEN BETTERS (3) - Why weren't these good movies better? I don't really know. But they should've been. Hence, the name of this section.

Red Rooms **1/2
How to Have Sex **1/2
Sometimes I Think About Dying **1/2

THE GUILTY PLEASURES (6) - These are movies that I shouldn't like but I do, for one reason or another. I only feel ashamed because the Internet tells me I'm supposed to.

Land of Bad ***
The Beekeeper **1/2
DogMan **1/2
Prey **1/2
The Underdoggs **1/2
Cult Killer **

THE UNDERWHELMING DISAPPOINTMENTS (7) - Chalk it up to expectations but these movies just didn't cut it for me.

Argylle **
Ricky Stanicky **
The Seeding **
I.S.S. **
He Went That Way **
Limbo **
Lift *1/2

THE BAD (2) - For better or worse, I just don't know what these movies were thinking.

Drive-Away Dolls *1/2
Night Swim *

IN PROGRESS (0) - I started watching these but I never quite finished. Make of that what you will... but not always. Sometimes, it's just a matter of viewing circumstances.

EMBARGOED (4) - Silence is golden... for now.

Blood for Dust
Femme
Late Night With the Devil
Sleeping Dogs

DON'T FORGET (4) - I first saw these 2023 movies a while back. This list is for me, so I don't forget them.

Jamojaya ***1/2
Woman of the Hour ***1/2
Hit Man ***
Knox Goes Away **1/2

OOPS, I MISSED (30): About Dry Grasses, Adam the First, The American Society of Magical Negroes, American Star, Arthur the King, Bob Marley: One Love, The Book of Clarence, The Bricklayer, Cold Copy, The First Omen, Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive, The Greatest Hits, Imaginary, Io Capitano, It Ends With Us, Kung Fu Panda 4, Lights Out, Lisa Frankenstein, Madame Web, Mean Girls, Miller's Girl, Monolith, Ordinary Angels, Remembering Gene Wilder, Role Play, Scrambled, Spaceman, The Taste of Things, Totem, What About Love, Which Brings Me to You

COMING SOON (12): Abigail, Asphalt City, Challengers, Civil War, The Fall Guy, Founders Day, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Immaculate, I Saw the TV Glow, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, Monkey Man

Sunday, December 31, 2023

2023 Movie List - The Top 225 of the Year So Far


THE STANDOUTS (18) - This should go without saying, but these are all must-sees.

Jamojaya ***1/2
Society of the Snow ***1/2
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie ***1/2
Woman of the Hour ***1/2
Nyad ***1/2
Past Lives ***1/2
Memory ***1/2
Air ***1/2
BlackBerry ***
The Iron Claw ***
American Fiction ***
The Holdovers ***
The Beasts ***
Flora and Son ***
Theater Camp ***
Reality ***
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One ***
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse ***

THE GOOD (51) - These represent quality filmmaking all around.

A Thousand and One ***
Flamin' Hot ***
Hit Man ***
Fair Play ***
Reptile ***
The Killer ***
Guy Ritchie's The Covenant ***
Joy Ride ***
You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah ***
Elemental ***
All of Us Strangers ***
You Hurt My Feelings ***
Somewhere in Queens ***
The Teachers' Lounge ***
Sick of Myself ***
Dream Scenario ***
The Equalizer 3 ***
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem ***
Talk to Me ***
The Jewel Thief ***
Sympathy for the Devil ***
The Burial ***
El Conde ***
Passages ***
Kandahar ***
Good Boy ***
Sharper ***
Bruiser ***
I Got a Monster ***
Are You There God? It's Me Margaret ***
Tetris ***
When Evil Lurks ***
The Boogeyman ***
About My Father ***
The Marsh King's Daughter ***
You People ***
Creed III ***
Pamela: A Love Story ***
Missing ***
Extraction 2 ***
The Pez Outlaw ***
The Super Mario Bros. Movie ***
Cat Person ***
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny **1/2
Godzilla Minus One **1/2
Albert Brooks: Defending My Life **1/2
The Little Mermaid **1/2
Champions **1/2
My Animal **1/2
Always, Lola **1/2
This Place Rules **1/2

THE GOOD... BUT SHOULD'VE BEEN BETTERS (33) - Why weren't these good movies better? I don't really know. But they should've been. Hence, the name of this section.

Oppenheimer ***
Anatomy of a Fall ***
Killers of the Flower Moon **1/2
Magazine Dreams **1/2
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 **1/2
No Hard Feelings **1/2
Next Goal Wins **1/2
May December **1/2
Rustin **1/2
R.M.N. **1/2
Origin **1/2
The Flash **1/2
Luther: The Fallen Sun **1/2
To Catch a Killer **1/2
Knox Goes Away **1/2
Butcher's Crossing **1/2
Sly **1/2
Finestkind **1/2
Holiday **1/2
Inside **1/2
I Like Movies **1/2
Magic Mike's Last Dance **1/2
The Boys in the Boat **1/2
Big George Foreman **1/2
Glitch: The Rise & Fall of HQ Trivia **1/2
Landscape With Invisible Hand **1/2
The Integrity of Joseph Chambers **1/2
Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre **1/2
Barber **1/2
The Dive **1/2
Paint **1/2
Rotting in the Sun **1/2
BS High **1/2

THE GUILTY PLEASURES (40)- These are movies that I shouldn't like but I do, for one reason or another. I only feel ashamed because the Internet tells me I'm supposed to.

God Is a Bullet ***
Gran Turismo ***
Saw X ***
Strays ***
Blue Beetle ***
The Wrath of Becky ***
Bobcat Moretti ***
Cocaine Bear ***
Old Dads ***
Transfusion ***
M3GAN ***
The Mother **1/2
The Family Plan **1/2
Sound of Freedom **1/2
The Passenger **1/2
Fast Charlie **1/2
Manodrome **1/2
River Wild **1/2
80 for Brady **1/2
Anyone But You **1/2
Thanksgiving **1/2
Quiz Lady **1/2
V/H/S/85 **1/2
The Out-Laws **1/2
Fast X **1/2
Plane **1/2
Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire **1/2
Silent Night **1/2
House Party **1/2
Pet Sematary: Bloodlines **1/2
Shotgun Wedding **1/2
Inside Man **1/2
We Have a Ghost **1/2
The Price We Pay **1/2
The Machine **1/2
Family Switch **1/2
Retribution **
Night of the Hunted **
King of Killers **
Meg 2: The Trench **

THE UNDERWHELMING DISAPPOINTMENTS (69) - Chalk it up to expectations but these movies just didn't cut it for me.

Barbie **1/2
Saltburn **1/2
Royal Hotel **1/2
Maestro **1/2
Ferrari **1/2
Napoleon **1/2
The Creator **1/2
Asteroid City **1/2
Dumb Money **1/2
Eileen **1/2
The Zone of Interest **1/2
Poor Things **1/2
The Color Purple **1/2
The Last Voyage of the Demeter **1/2
No One Will Save You **1/2
Knock at the Cabin **1/2
Pain Hustlers **1/2
Shortcomings **1/2
Master Gardener **1/2
Boston Strangler **1/2
The Lesson **1/2
Rye Lane **1/2
Renfield **
John Wick: Chapter 4 **
Heart of Stone **
Evil Dead Rise **
Biosphere **
White Men Can't Jump **
A Lot of Nothing **
Leave the World Behind **
Sanctuary **
The Pope's Exorcist **
Maggie Moore(s) **
Fremont **
Foe **
Daddio **
Share? **
Boy Kills World **
Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain **
It Lives Inside **
Totally Killer **
Murder Mystery 2 **
65**
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania **
AUM: The Cult at the End of the World **
The Tutor **
Your Lucky Day **
The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial **
Wonka **
Haunted Mansion **
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts **
Candy Cane Lane **
The Beanie Bubble **
Buddy Games: Spring Awakening **
Hell of a Summer **
Bad Behaviour **
Trader **
The Good Mother **
Justice **
Victim/Suspect **
Scream VI *1/2
Infinity Pool *1/2
The Marvels *1/2
The Exorcist: Believer *1/2
It's a Wonderful Knife *1/2
The Old Way*1/2
American Outlaws *1/2
Naga *1/2
Cobweb *1/2

THE BAD (14) - For better or worse, I just don't know what these movies were thinking.

Showing Up *1/2
Beau Is Afraid *
They Cloned Tyrone *
Bottoms *
Five Nights at Freddy's *
Hypnotic *
Dark Harvest *
Dicks: The Musical *
Mother, Couch!*
All Fun and Games *
Malum *
Skinamarink *
The Tank 1/2*
Children of the Corn 1/2*

IN PROGRESS (8) - I started watching these but I never quite finished. Make of that what you will... but not always. Sometimes, it's just a matter of viewing circumstances.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (30 minutes)
Fingernails (45 minutes)
A Haunting in Venice (20 minutes)
Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls (30 minutes)
Pacifiction (45 minutes)
PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie (45 minutes)
The Pigeon Tunnel (25 minutes)
Priscilla (35 minutes)

EMBARGOED (0) - Silence is golden... for now.

DON'T FORGET (5) - I first saw these 2023 movies a while back. This list is for me, so I don't forget them.

How to Blow Up a Pipeline ***
Sisu ***
Palm Trees and Powerlines ***
Sick ***
The Blackening **

OOPS, I MISSED (118): 97 Minutes, The Adults, Afire, All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt, American Symphony, The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster, Anselm, Aporia, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, The Artifice Girl, Assassin Club, The Baker, Birth/Rebirth, Black Ice, Book Club: The Next Chapter, The Boy and the Heron, Brother, Cassandro, Chevalier, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, La Chimera, Chupa, Comandante, Consecration, Corner Office, The Country Club, Coup de Chance, Dante and Aristotle Discover the Secrets of the Universe, The Delinquents, Devil's Peak, Divinity, Earth Mama, Emily, The Engineer, The Eternal Memory, Exp4ndables, Fallen Leaves, Fancy Dance, Final Cut, Fool's Paradise, Four Daughters, Freelance, Freud's Last Session, Frybread Face and Me, Genie, Ghosted, Godland, God's Time, Golda, Good Burger 2, A Good Person, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Influencer, Insidious: The Red Door, Judy Blume Forever, Jules, The Kill Room, Kokomo City, Land of Gold, Last Stop Larrimah, The League, Leo, Linoleum, The Locksmith, Mafia Mamma, Marlowe, Maximum Truth, Medusa Deluxe, Menus Plaisirs - Les Troisgros, A Million Miles Away, Migration, The Mission, Monica, Monster, Moving On, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose, Nimona, The Nun II, Occupied City, Office Race, On a Wing and a Prayer, One Day as a Lion, The Origin of Evil, The Outwaters, Padre Pio, Perfect Days, Play Dead, The Pod Generation, Polite Society, Prisoner's Daughter, The Promised Land, Quasi, Rare Objects, Reggie, Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce, The Retirement Plan, Robot Dreams, Scrapper, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, She Came to Me, Sheroes, Spinning Gold, Spy Kids: Armageddon, The Starling Girl, Suitable Flesh, Surrounded, The Taste of Things, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, Trolls Band Together, The Unknown Country, Unwelcome, Vacation Friends 2, What Happens Later, Who Done It: The Clue Documentary, Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey, Wish, Zombie Town

COMING SOON (0):

The InSneider's Top 10 Movies and TV Shows of 2023

You know the drill. This Top 10 is my ever-evolving personal list of favorites in both film and television. I also included my Worst 10 films of the year, plus lists of my most anticipated movies and shows in 2023. Enjoy!

TheInSneider's Top 10 Movies of 2023...

1. SOCIETY OF THE SNOW - Just an incredibly director survival story that, sure, we've seen done before, but not nearly as viscerally as this. JA Bayona knocks it out of the park and makes sure we remember these names long after the credits roll. One of the best plane crash sequences ever put to film.

2. STILL: A MICHAEL J. FOX MOVIE - This is a truly beautiful love story about two people who have upheld the "in sickness and in health" part of their wedding vows. Another film that speaks to the triumph of the human spirit and the will to survive. At no point does MJF wants us to take pity upon him, or think of him as a victim whose job is to suffer. We see him on his bad days here, not just when the People magazine photographer is there to shoot a two-page spread.

3. NYAD - A movie for anyone who's ever been told they're too old. too washed up, too whatever to succeed. Nyad said she was going out on her own terms. She's a fighter who embodies the human spirit and the triumph of the will. In addition to accomplishing an extraordinary physical feat, the movie lends a window into the mental strength required by Diana Nyad. 

4. (tie) PAST LIVES and MEMORY Think about it, Past Lives is a movie about someone obsessed with their past, who sets out to change their future. Memory is a movie about living in the moment, for all we have is the present. We can't change the past, and the future will be what it will be. Can you live in the now, not knowing if there will ever be a later?

5. (tie) AIR and BLACKBERRY - Paired together for obvious reasons

6. AMERICAN FICTION - I thought long and hard about whether to go with The Holdovers or American Fiction here but I went with the latter scenario because I think it succeeds on multiple levels and generally had greater degree of difficulty. Both of them are the kind of gems that could push Oppenheimer for Best Picture. Jeffrey Wright is great in this film, but Serling K. Brown is even better, and it's great to see Erika Alexander in a substantial role like this again.

7. THE HOLDOVERS - Just a warm hug of a movie led by a terrific Paul Giamatti performance that deserves to win the Oscar for Best Actot. Da'Vine Joy Randolph is the film's secret weapon and she seems like a lock to win Best Supporting Actress come March. 

8. THE IRON CLAW - A devastating film about four brothers who didn't want to disappoint their father and paid dearly, featuring a transformative Zac Efron performance and a breakout turn from newcomer Stanley Simons. 

9. THEATER CAMP - This movie is so fucking perfect, it scares the shit out of me. It is so brilliantly observed. I went to an all-boys Jewish summer camp for 12 years, so it was a little bit different, but I also went to Tisch, and that was like where all the Theater Camps across America ultimately lead. I know these people and this movie captured their essence with humor and heart. Molly Gordon is a delight, and keep an eye on Ben Platt's boyfriend TK, who steals the show here in more ways than one.

10. GOD IS A BULLET - I know everyone has been talking about The Holdovers being a throwback to another era, but this movie was a true throwback to a time when chaos reigned. This is a movie that walks the fucking walk. Maika Monroe and Karl Glusman deliver two of the most convincing performances of the year, and writer-directors Nick Cassavetes is just a madman. I can't wait to see what he does next.

Honorable Mentions: Fair Play, Flora and Son, How to Blow Up a Pipeline, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, Palm Trees and Power Lines, Reality, Reptile, Sisu, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, A Thousand and One

And now for The InSneider's Worst 10 Movies of 2023. Apologies in advance!

10. SCREAM VI

9. THE MARVELS

8. THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER

7. BEAU IS AFRAID

6. BOTTOMS

5. HYPNOTIC

4. DICKS: THE MUSICAL

3. MOTHER, COUCH!

2. SKINAMARINK

1. (tie) CHILDREN OF THE CORN and DARK HARVEST

Dishonorable Mention: Crappy Sequels - Besides the three listed above -- Scream, Captain Marvel, and The Exorcist -- who could forget Ant-Man 3, Murder Mystery 2, Meg 2: The Trench, Buddy Games: Spring Awakening, and especially John Wick: Chapter 4, which ran a jaw-dropping, ass-numbing 169 minutes. Note to John Wick -- you're not killing the Flower Moon, my guy. Move it along!

Don't forget the Top 10 Movies I Missed in 2023...

1. American Symphony
2. The Boy and the Heron
3. Afire
4. The Taste of Things
5. Perfect Days
6. Fallen Leaves
7. Godland
8. Birth/Rebirth
9. Monica
10. Nimona

And finally, my Top 24 Most Anticipated Movies of 2024. An asterisk indicates that this film also appeared on my Most Anticipated of 2023 list.

1. The Crow
2. The Order
3. Joker: Folie a Deux
4. Havoc*
5. Blitz
6. Furiosa
7. MaXXXine
8. Juror #2
9. The Substance
10. Rebel Ridge*
11. Trap a.k.a. Good Grades
12. A Quiet Place: Day One
13. Black Flies
14. Holland, Michigan
15. Longlegs
16. Rich Flu
17. The Actor
18. Carry-On
19. Freaky Tales
20. Mickey 17
21. Unfrosted
22. Greedy People
23. Gladiator 2
24. The Rule of Jenny Pen

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And now for the TELEVISION portion of this year-end list!

The InSneider's Top 25 TV Shows of 2023

1. Fargo S5 (Fx/Hulu)
2. Poker Face (Peacock)
3. Shrinking (Apple TV+)
4. Ted Lasso S4 (Apple TV+)
5. The Righteous Gemstones S3 (HBO)
6. Hijack (Apple TV+)
7. Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix)
8. Mayor of Kingstown S2 (Paramount+)
9. Reacher S2 (Prime Video)
10. The Idol (HBO)
11. Winning Time S2 (HBO)
12. Dave S3 
13. The Continental (Showtime)
14. Barry S4 (HBO)
15. (tie) SNL (NBC/Peacock) and Shane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs (Netflix)
16. South Park: Joining the Panderverse (Paramount+)
17. Surviving Barstool (FX on Hulu)
18. Hunters S2 (Showtime)
19. Special Ops: Lioness (Paramount+)
20. Black Mirror S6 (Netflix)
21. (tie) American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing and Murder in Boston: Roots, Rampage & Reckoning (Netflix)
22. John Mulaney: Baby J (Netflix)
23. You S4 (Netflix)

Honorable Mention: The Curse (Showtime) - I still haven't finished The Curse, but it sure is a weird show...

And now for The Top 15 TV Shows I Either Missed or Didn't Quite Finish in 2023...

1. Reservation Dogs S3 (FX on Hulu)
2. The Bear S2 (FX on Hulu)
3. Copenhagen Cowboy (Netflix)
4. The Curse (Showtime)
5. Gen V (Prime Video)
6. Beef (Netflix)
7. Love and Death (Max)
8. Bupkis (Peacock)
9. Full Circle (Max)
10. Only Murders in the Building S3 (Hulu)
11. Secret Invasion (Disney+)
12. Dead Ringers (Prime Video)
13. That '90s Show (Netflix)
14. Dr. Death S2 (Peacock)
15. Invincible S2 (Prime Video)

Top 10 Most Anticipated New Scripted TV Shows of 2024 - Honestly, I have no idea what shows are supposed to debut this year. I could barely name 10, let alone 24...

1. True Detective: Night Country (HBO)
2. Masters of the Air (Apple)
3. The Penguin (HBO Max)
4. The Sympathizer (HBO)
5. Alex Cross (Prime Video)
6. Disclaimer (Apple TV+)
7. Ripley (Showtime)
8. Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Prime Video)
9. Fallout (Prime Video)
10. Straight Man (Peacock)

Top 10 Most Anticipated Returning TV Shows of 2024...

1. Curb Your Enthusiasm S12 (HBO)
2. Severance S2 (Apple TV+)
3. Hacks S3 (Max)
4. The Boys S4 (Prime Video)
5. Dave S4 (FX)
6. Always Sunny S17 (FX)
7. The Righteous Gemstones S4 (HBO)
8. Black Mirror S7 (Netflix)
9. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit S25 (NBC)
10. Nine Perfect Strangers (Hulu)

Monday, January 9, 2023

The InSneider's Top 10 Movies and TV Shows of 2022

You know the drill. This Top 10 is my ever-evolving personal list of favorites in both film and television. I also included my Worst 10 films of the year, plus lists of my most anticipated movies and shows in 2022. Enjoy!

TheInSneider's Top 10 Movies of 2022...

1. TOP GUN: MAVERICK

2. MY POLICEMAN

3. BROS

4. THE FABELMANS

5. SHE SAID

6. THE WHALE

7. STUTZ

8. CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH

9. THIRTEEN LIVES

10. THE INSPECTION

Honorable Mentions: All Quiet on the Western Front, Armageddon Time, Avatar: The Way of Water, Close, Empire of Light, The Good Nurse, Jackass Forever, A Man Called Otto, Spoiler Alert, X

And now for The InSneider's Worst 10 Movies of 2022. Apologies in advance!

10. THE BINGE 2: IT'S A WONDERFUL BINGE

9. ME TIME

8. AMSTERDAM

7. ON THE LINE

6. DEADSTREAM

5. MEET CUTE

4. DUAL

3. SHARP STICK

2. SOMETHING IN THE DIRT

1. ESCAPE THE FIELD

Dishonorable Mention: Comic Book Movies - Between Marvel's THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER and DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS, and to a somewhat lesser extent, DC's BLACK ADAM and Sony's MORBIUS, it was not a good year for comic book movies, though I did enjoy BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER.

Don't forget the Top 10 Movies I Missed in 2022...

1. Bardo
2. Saint Omer
3. Living
4. EO
5. All the Beauty and the Bloodshed
6. Memoria
7. We're All Going to the World's Fair
8. The Silent Twins
9. Moonage Daydream
10. A Love Song

And finally, my Top 23 Most Anticipated Movies of 2023. An asterisk indicates that this film also appeared on my Most Anticipated of 2022 list.

1. The Killer*
2. Killers of the Flower Moon*
3. Mission: Impossible 7*
4. Oppenheimer
5. Beau Is Afraid*
6. Air Jordan
7. Napoleon
8. Asteroid City*
9. Havoc
10. The Zone of Interest
11. The Bikeriders
12. Ferrari
13. The Iron Claw
14. Rebel Ridge
15. Infinity Pool*
16. Knock at the Cabin
17. Spaceman
18. The Gorge
19. Leave the World Behind
20. Creed III
21. The Super Mario Bros. Movie
22. No Hard Feelings
23. Scream VI

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And now for the TELEVISION portion of this year-end list!

The InSneider's Top 25 TV Shows of 2022

1. We Own This City (HBO)
2. Monster (Netflix)
3. The Dropout (Hulu)
4. Black Bird (Apple TV+)
5. Pam and Tommy (Hulu)
6. Severance (Apple TV+)
7. Hacks S2 (HBO Max)
8. Barry S3 (HBO)
9. Stranger Things S4 (Netflix)
10. The White Lotus S2 (HBO)
11. Euphoria S2 (HBO)
12. Winning Time (HBO)
13. We Need to Talk About Cosby (Showtime)
14. The Offer (Paramount+)
15. Tulsa King (Paramount+)
16. The Patient (FX on Hulu)
17. Super Pumped (Showtime)
18. Tokyo Vice (HBO Max)
19. The Staircase (HBO Max)
20. (tie) The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers S2 (Disney+) and The Righteous Gemstones S2 (HBO)
21. Pepsi, Where's My Jet? (Netflix)
22. Reacher (Prime Video)
23. Candy (Hulu)
24. The Afterparty (Apple TV+)
25. (tie) Under the Banner of Heaven and Impeachment: American Crime Story (FX on Hulu) 

Honorable Mention: The Rehearsal (HBO) - What a weird-ass show from Nathan Fielder. Interesting. Even fascinating at times. And definitely unforgettable. But yeah... pretty weird.

And now for The Top 15 TV Shows I Either Missed or Didn't Quite Finish in 2022...

1. Reservation Dogs S2 (FX on Hulu)
2. The Bear S1 (FX on Hulu)
3. Andor (Disney+)
4. Bad Sisters (Apple TV+)
5. Station Eleven (HBO Max)
6. Chucky S2 (USA/Peacock)
7. Welcome to Chippendales (Hulu)
8. The Old Man (FX on Hulu)
9. WeCrashed (Apple TV+)
10. Only Murders in the Building S2 (Hulu)
11. A League of Their Own (Prime Video)
12. Gaslit (Starz)
13. American Gigolo (Showtime)
14. The Sandman (Netflix)
15. The Watcher (Netflix)

Top 25 Most Anticipated New Scripted TV Shows of 2023 - It's shaping up to be another great year for television thanks to a plethora of exciting new and returning shows. An asterisk on either list below indicates this show was on last year's list as well.

1. Masters of the Air (Apple)
2. True Detective: Night Country (HBO)
3. The Idol (HBO)
4. The Penguin (HBO Max)
5. Copenhagen Cowboy (Netflix)
6. Poker Face (Peacock)
7. Gen V (Prime Video)
8. Love and Death* (HBO Max)
9. The Curse (Showtime)
10. The Sympathizer (HBO)
11. Disclaimer (Apple TV+)
12. Retreat (FX on Hulu)
13. Beef (Netflix)
14. Secret Invasion (Disney+)
15. Bupkis (Peacock) 
16. The Continental (Peacock)
17. Full Circle (HBO Max)
18. Ripley (Showtime)
19. Class of '09* (FX)
20. Fatal Attraction (Paramount+)
21. Dead Ringers (Prime Video)
22. Rabbit Hole (Paramount+)
23. Straight Man (Peacock)
24. Never Let Me Go (FX on Hulu)
25. That '90s Show (Netflix) 

Top 20 Most Anticipated Returning TV Shows of 2023...

1. Fargo S5 (FX on Hulu)
2. Barry S4 (HBO)
3. Curb Your Enthusiasm S12 (HBO)
4. Ted Lasso S3* (Apple TV+)
5. Severance S2 (Apple TV+)
6. The White Lotus S3 (HBO)
7. Winning Time S2 (HBO)
8. Dave S3* (FX on Hulu)
9. Dr. Death S2 (Peacock)
10. Hacks S3 (HBO Max)
11. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia S16 (FX on Hulu)
12. The Boys S4 (Prime Video)
13. Black Mirror S6 (Netflix)
14. Mayor of Kingstown S2 (Paramount+)
15. Invincible S2 (Prime Video)
16. You S4* (Netflix)
17. Hunters S2* (Prime Video)
18. The Righteous Gemstones S3 (HBO)
19. The Afterparty S2 (Apple TV+)
20. Perry Mason S2 (HBO)

Saturday, December 31, 2022

2022 Movie List - The Top 209 of the Year


THE STANDOUTS (16) - This should go without saying, but these are all must-sees.

Top Gun: Maverick ****
My Policeman ***1/2
Bros ***1/2 
The Fabelmans ***1/2
She Said ***1/2
The Whale ***1/2
Stutz ***1/2
Cha Cha Real Smooth ***
Thirteen Lives ***
The Inspection ***
The Good Nurse ***
All Quiet on the Western Front ***
Empire of Light ***
How to Blow Up a Pipeline ***
X ***
Sisu ***

THE GOOD (52) - These represent quality filmmaking all around.

A Man Called Otto ***
Spoiler Alert ***
Armageddon Time ***
Close ***
Avatar: The Way of Water ***
The Stranger ***
The Northman ***
Emily the Criminal ***
Palm Trees and Power Lines ***
Jackass Forever ***
Prey ***
RRR ***
Playground ***
Causeway ***
Bones and All ***
Aftersun ***
Till ***
Emancipation ***
Babylon ***
Jackass 4.5 ***
The Valet ***
Turning Red ***
The Innocents ***
Watcher ***
The Banshees of Inisherin ***
The Menu ***
Athena ***
Soft & Quiet ***
Happening ***
Sick ***
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ***
I Love My Dad ***
George Carlin's American Dream ***
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish ***
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio ***
Taurus ***
Father of the Bride ***
Dog ***
Untold: Operation Flagrant Foul ***
Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers ***
DC League of Super-Pets ***
Rise ***
Fourth of July ***
2nd Chance ***
Meet Me in the Bathroom ***
The Lost City **1/2
The Outfit **1/2
Significant Other **1/2
Fire of Love **1/2
The Redeem Team **1/2
Free Chol Soo Lee **1/2
We Are Art Through the Eyes of Annalaura **1/2

THE GOOD... BUT SHOULD'VE BEEN BETTERS (45) - Why weren't these good movies better? I don't really know. But they should've been. Hence, the name of this section.

The Batman ***
Everything Everywhere All at Once **1/2
Elvis **1/2
The Greatest Beer Run Ever **1/2
Resurrection **1/2
Hustle **1/2
Tar **1/2
The Woman King **1/2
Holy Spider **1/2
Triangle of Sadness **1/2
I Wanna Dance With Somebody **1/2
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story **1/2
Funny Pages **1/2
Fire Island **1/2
Smile **1/2
Orphan: First Kill **1/2
Barbarian **1/2
Devotion **1/2
The Forgiven **1/2
Ambulance **1/2
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent **1/2
Lightyear **1/2
Good Luck to You Leo Grande **1/2
Brian and Charles **1/2
God's Country **1/2
The Fallout **1/2
Speak No Evil **1/2
Do Revenge **1/2
Pearl **1/2
The Adam Project **1/2
Windfall **1/2
Confess, Fletch **1/2
Jerry and Marge Go Large **1/2
Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood **1/2
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On **1/2
God's Creatures **1/2
Strange World **1/2
Alice, Darling **1/2
All the Old Knives **1/2
Navalny **1/2
Alice **1/2
Kimi **1/2
892 (aka Breaking) **1/2
V/H/S 99 **1/2
Downfall: The Case Against Boeing **1/2

THE GUILTY PLEASURES (28) - These are movies that I shouldn't like but I do, for one reason or another. I only feel ashamed because the Internet tells me I'm supposed to.

Clean ***
Lou ***
Deep Water ***
Home Team ***
Fall **1/2
Clerks III **1/2
The Apology **1/2
Beast **1/2
The Gray Man **1/2
The Last Victim **1/2
Samaritan **1/2
Easter Sunday **1/2
Poker Face **1/2
Terrifier 2 **1/2
Texas Chainsaw Massacre **1/2
They/Them **1/2
Low Life **1/2
The Retaliators **1/2
Last Seen Alive **1/2
The Man From Toronto **1/2
Midnight **1/2
Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe **1/2
Hot Seat **1/2
Sex Appeal **1/2
Shut In **1/2
Gone in the Night **
Senior Year **

THE UNDERWHELMING DISAPPOINTMENTS (56) - Chalk it up to expectations but these movies just didn't cut it for me.

Nope **1/2
The Black Phone **
Scream **
Men **
Vengeance **
Bullet Train **
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery **
Fresh **
Bodies Bodies Bodies **
Death on the Nile **
Jurassic World Dominion **
Hatching **
Nitram **
Ted K **
Gentle **
Gold **
Spiderhead **
Day Shift **
Hellraiser **
Violent Night **
Ticket to Paradise **
White Noise **
The Pale Blue Eye **
Decision to Leave **
Three Thousand Years of Longing **
Women Talking **
The Wonder **
Nanny **
No Exit **
Barbarians **
Piggy **
Master **
Margaux **
The Infernal Machine **
Savage Salvation **
The Blackening **
Project Wolf Hunting **
A Wounded Fawn **
Memory **
I Came By **
See How They Run **
Don't Worry Darling **
Black Adam **
Goodnight Mommy **
When You Finish Saving the World **
Halloween Ends *1/2
Dark Glasses *1/2
Crimes of the Future *1/2
The Bubble *1/2
Morbius *1/2
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness *1/2
Thor: Love and Thunder *1/2
The Righteous *1/2
The Contractor *1/2
Emergency *1/2
Last Looks *1/2
After Yang *1/2
Blacklight *1/2

THE BAD (12) - For better or worse, I just don't know what these movies were thinking.

Firestarter *1/2
My Best Friend's Exorcism *1/2
The Binge 2: It's a Wonderful Binge *1/2
Me Time *1/2
Amsterdam *1/2
On the Line *
Deadstream *
Meet Cute *
Dual *
Sharp Stick *
Something in the Dirt (zero stars)
Escape the Field (zero stars)

IN PROGRESS (10) - I started watching these but I never quite finished. Make of that what you will... but not always. Sometimes, it's just a matter of viewing circumstances.

The Bad Guys (20 minutes)
Blonde (90 minutes)
The Bob's Burgers Movie (20 minutes)
The Estate (60 minutes)
Good Night Oppy (45 minutes)
Hocus Pocus 2 (55 minutes)
Moonfall (45 minutes)
The Munsters (20 minutes)
Spirited (50 minutes)
Wendell and Wild (30 minutes)

EMBARGOED (0) - Silence is golden... for now.

DON'T FORGET (14) - I first saw these 2022 movies a while back. This list is for me, so I don't forget them.

Dear Mr. Brody ***1/2
The Worst Person in the World ***1/2
Into the Deep ***
Pleasure ***
Catch the Fair One ***
Dinner in America ***
Ray Donovan: The Movie ***
A Hero ***
Sundown **1/2
On the Count of Three **1/2
The Survivor **
Saloum **
The Desperate Hour (fka Lakewood) **
Dashcam *1/2

OOPS, I MISSED (140): 9 Bullets, 32 Sounds, The 355, All That Breathes, All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, Alone Together, Anything's Possible, Bardo, Benediction, Big Gold Brick, Black Site, Both Sides of the Blade, Broken Soldier, Call Jane, Carmen, The Cathedral, Catherine Called Birdy, A Christmas Story Christmas, Collide, Corsage, Cow, Cursed Friends, Cyrano, Dead for a Dollar, Descendant, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Disenchanted, Don't Make Me Go, Downton Abbey: A New Era, Dreaming Walls: Inside the Chelsea Hotel, The Duke, Eight Mountains, End of the Road, Enola Holmes 2, EO, The Eternal Daughter, Facing Nolan, Falling for Christmas, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, Father Stu, Fire, Flux Gourmet, Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down, The Girl in the Picture, The Good House, Great Freedom, Here Before, Hit the Road, Hold Your Fire, Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul., Honor Society, Huda's Salon, The Immaculate Room, The Independent, The Invitation, Is That Black Enough For You?, I Want You Back, Jeepers Creepers: Reborn, Joyland, Lady Chatterley's Lover, Lamborghini: The Man Behind the Legend, The Ledge, Lingui, The Sacred Bonds, Living, A Love Song, Luck, Luckiest Girl Alive, Lyle Lyle Crocodile, Mack & Rita, Mad God, Marry Me, Medieval, Memoria, Mickey: The Story of a Mouse, Minions: The Rise of Gru, Montana Story, Moonage Daydream, Mr. Harrigan's Phone, Mr. Malcolm's List, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, Murder at Yellowstone City, Murina, Neptune Frost, No Bears, Nothing Compares, Not Okay, Official Competition, Old Man, Our Father, Panama, Pennywise: The Story of It, The People We Hate at the Wedding, Persuasion, Peter von Kant, The Phantom of the Open, Pinocchio, Poser, Prey for the Devil, The Princess, Pursuit, Raymond and Ray, Retrograde, Return to Seoul, Riotsville, U.S.A., Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie, Rogue Agent, Rosaline, Saint Omer, The Same Storm, The School for Good and Evil, Scrooge: A Christmas Carol, The Sea Beast, Secret Headquarters, Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me, Sidney, The Silent Twins, Sissy, Slumberland, Something From Tiffany's, The Son, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Spin Me Round, Sr., Stars at Noon, Studio 666, Summering, The Swimmers, Three Minutes: A Lengthening, To Leslie, Troll, Umma, Uncharted, Vortex, We're All Going to the World's Fair, What Josiah Saw, Where the Crawdads Sing, White Bird: A Wonder Story, Who Invited Them, Wyrm, You Won't Be Alone

COMING SOON (0):

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

If I Had An Oscar Ballot...

BEST PICTURE

CODA*
King Richard
Licorice Pizza
Red Rocket
Shiva Baby
Spencer
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Stillwater
Tick, Tick... Boom!
Worth

BEST DIRECTOR

Sean Baker, Red Rocket
Reinaldo Marcus Green, King Richard
Sian Heder, CODA*
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tick, Tick... Boom!
Joachim Trier, The Worst Person in the World

BEST ACTOR

Nicolas Cage, Pig
Matt Damon, Stillwater
Andrew Garfield, Tick, Tick... Boom!
Simon Rex, Red Rocket
Will Smith, King Richard*

BEST ACTRESS

Emilia Jones, CODA*
Alana Haim, Licorice Pizza
Kristen Stewart, Spencer
Rachel Sennott, Shiva Baby
Renata Reinsve, The Worst Person in the World

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Anders Danielsen Lie, The Worst Person in the World
Eugenio Derbez, CODA
Daniel Gillies, Coming Home in the Dark
Troy Kotsur, CODA*
Jared Leto, House of Gucci

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Abigail Breslin, Stillwater
Camille Cottin, Stillwater
Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard*
Gaby Hoffmann, C'mon, C'mon
Marlee Matlin, CODA

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

King Richard*
Licorice Pizza
Red Rocket
Stillwater
The Worst Person in the World

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

CODA*
Four Good Days
Small Engine Repair
Tick, Tick... Boom!
West Side Story

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Cryptozoo
Encanto
Flee*
Luca
The Mitchells vs. the Machine

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

The Alpinist
Flee
The Rescue*
Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain
Val

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

Flee
A Hero
Riders of Justice
Slalom
The Worst Person in the World*

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

The Alpinist
The Power of the Dog
Titane*
The Tragedy of Macbeth
West Side Story

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Cruella
Dune
The Harder They Fall
House of Gucci*
Spencer

BEST EDITING

Belfast*
CODA
Red Rocket
The Rescue
Shiva Baby

BEST MAKEUP/HAIRSTYLING

Cruella*
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
House of Gucci
Spencer
The Tragedy of Macbeth

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

Dune
Pig
The Power of the Dog
Rose Plays Julie*
Spencer

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

"So May We Start?" from Annette*
"Down to Joy" from Belfast
"Guns Go Bang" from The Harder They Fall
"Be Alive" from King Richard
"No Time to Die" from No Time to Die

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Dune*
House of Gucci
Licorice Pizza
Nightmare Alley
Spencer

BEST SOUND

CODA
Dune*
The Matrix Resurrections
No Time to Die
Spider-Man: No Way Home

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Dune*
Free Guy
No Time to Die
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
The Suicide Squad

BEST ENSEMBLE

CODA*
The Harder They Fall
King Richard
Red Rocket
Spider-Man: No Way Home

CODA - 6 (Picture, Director, Actress, Supporting Actor, Adapted Screenplay, Ensemble)
Dune - 3 (Production Design, Sound, Visual Effects)
King Richard - 3 (Actor, Supporting Actress, Original Screenplay)
Annette - 1 (Original Song)
Belfast - 1 (Editing)
Cruella - 1 (Makeup/Hairstyling)
Flee - 1 (Animated Feature)
House of Gucci - 1 (Costume Design)
The Rescue - 1 (Documentary Feature)
Rose Plays Julie - 1 (Original Score)
Titane - 1 (Cinematography)
The Worst Person in the World - 1 (International Feature)

Friday, December 31, 2021

The InSneider's Top 10 Films and TV Shows of 2021, Plus His Most Anticipated of 2022

You know the drill. This Top 10 is my ever-evolving personal list of favorites in both film and television. I also included my Worst 10 films of the year, plus lists of my most anticipated movies and shows in 2021. Enjoy!

TheInSneider's Top 10 Movies of 2021...

1. CODA

2. DEAR MR. BRODY

3. THE RESCUE

4. FLEE

5. TIGER

6. THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD

7. KING RICHARD

8. (tie) AFTER THE MURDER OF ALBERT LIMA and UNTOLD: CRIME & PENALTIES

9. PLEASURE

10. (tie) RUN HIDE FIGHT and COMING HOME IN THE DARK

Honorable Mentions: The Alpinist, American Skin, Copshop, Derek Del Gaudio's In & Of Itself, Luca, Old Henry, Red Rocket, Shiva Baby, Silo, Stillwater, Violation, Worth

And now for The InSneider's Worst 10 Movies of 2021. Apologies in advance!

10. THE GUILTY

9. MALIGNANT

8. CHERRY

7. THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS

6. THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW

5. SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY

4. HOME SWEET HOME ALONE

3. WILLY'S WONDERLAND

2. DEMONIC

1. REMINISCENCE

Dishonorable Mention: GUNDA - I don't know who could possibly have the patience for this dialogue-free movie, but you're better off just going to your local petting farm.

Don't forget the Top 10 Movies I Missed in 2021...

1. Drive My Car
2. Quo Vadis, Aida?
3. In the Heights
4. The Hand of God
5. Parallel Mothers
6. Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn
7. Language Lessons
8. Bergman Island
9. Benedetta
10. Sweat

And finally, my Top 22 Most Anticipated Movies of 2022. An asterisk indicates that this film also appeared on my Most Anticipated of 2021 list.

1. The Batman
2. Scream
3. Killers of the Flower Moon
4. Mission: Impossible 7*
5. The Fabelmans
6. Top Gun: Maverick*
7. The Killer
8. Nope 
9. Lightyear
10. Bullet Train
11. Untitled David O. Russell
12. Asteroid City
13. Disappointment Blvd.
14. Bros
15. Elvis
16. Babylon
17. The Northman
18. The Whale
19. She Said
20. Next Goal Wins*
21. Infinity Pool
22. Bodies Bodies Bodies

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And now for the TELEVISION portion of this year-end list!

The InSneider's Top 25 TV Shows of 2021

1. Mare of Easttown (HBO)
2. Dr. Death (Peacock)
3. Beartown (HBO)
4. Hacks (HBO Max)
5. Squid Game (Netflix)
6. The Investigation (HBO)
7. Reservation Dogs (FX on Hulu)
8. The White Lotus (HBO)
9. Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
10. The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers (Disney+)
11. Dexter: New Blood (Showtime)
12. Chucky (Syfy)
13. Dave S2 (FX on Hulu)
14. Ted Lasso S2 (Apple)
15. True Story (Netflix)
16. You S3 (Netflix)
17. Night Stalker (Netflix)
18. Invincible (Amazon)
19. The Line (Apple)
20. Narcos: Mexico S3 (Netflix) 
21. The Mosquito Coast (Apple)
22. Them (Amazon)
23. Mayor of Kingstown (Paramount+)
24. The Premise (FX on Hulu)
25. Curb Your Enthusiasm S11 (HBO)

And now for The Top 10 TV Shows I Missed in 2021...

1. The Underground Railroad (Amazon)
2. I May Destroy You (HBO)
3. Scenes From a Marriage (Netflix)
4. Maid (Netflix)
5. Master of None Presents: Moments in Love (Netflix)
6. 100 Foot Wave (HBO)
7. The Great S2 (Hulu)
8. (tie) Swagger (Apple) and Colin in Black and White (Netflix)
9. Succession S3 (HBO)
10. Brand New Cherry Flavor (Netflix)

Top 20 Most Anticipated New Scripted TV Shows of 2022 - It's shaping up to be another great year for television thanks to a plethora of exciting new and returning shows. An asterisk on either list below indicates this show was on last year's list as well.

1. Winning Time* (HBO)
2. Pam & Tommy (Hulu)
3. Monster (Netflix) 
4. Tokyo Vice* (HBO Max)
5. A League of Their Own* (Amazon)
6. Love and Death (HBO Max)
7. The Staircase (HBO Max)
8. Masters of the Air (Apple)
9. The Old Man* (FX)
10.  The Sandman* (Netflix)
11. The Dropout (Hulu)
12. The Girl From Plainville (Hulu)
13. Law & Order (NBC)
14. In With the Devil (Apple)
15. The Shining Girls (Apple)
16. Candy (Hulu)
17. Iron Mike (Hulu)
18. Outer Range (Amazon)
19. Class of '09 (FX)
20. Our Flag Means Death (HBO Max)

Top 15 Most Anticipated Returning TV Shows of 2022...

1. Barry S3* (HBO)
2. Stranger Things S4* (Netflix)
3. Euphoria S2* (HBO)
4. Ozark S4 (Netflix)
5. Ted Lasso S3 (Apple)
6. Dave S3 (FX)
7. Killing Eve S4* (Hulu)
8. Hunters S2 (Amazon)
9. Reservation Dogs S2 (FX)
10. You S4 (Netflix)
11. Hacks S2 (HBO Max)
12. The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers S2 (Disney+)
13. Only Murders in the Building S2 (Hulu)
14. Chucky S2 (Syfy)
15. (tie) Invincible S2 and The Boys S3 (Amazon)