movies

Top 5 Movies of 2022

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I love movies. Which may mean I was a litte generous with my ratings this year. Out of the 35 2022 releases I watched, I gave 16 of them 4 stars or higher. Here are my top five:

  1. EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE Title lives up to its name. Kick-ass martial arts, absurdist comedy, thought-provoking “what is reality,” and also one of the sweetest and sincere love stories.

  2. DECISION TO LEAVE I was captivated by the well-constructed visuals and rhythmic reveals. We watch as seeds of curiosity mature into obsession and bloom into love. Park Chan-wook earned a spot as one of my favorite directors.

  3. MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON Delightful. Adorable. Lovely.

  4. RRR Loved this revolutionary buddy comedy! The exaggerated, comical graphic core of Kill Bill or Django Unchained + “No Way” physical movement of The Matrix or Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon + the scale of an extravagant Tollywood production + a dash of corny wild animal CGI.

  5. THE NORTHMAN Primal, sinewy, gnarly 10th century action epic.

You can check out the full ranking on my Letterboxd ranking.

Top 5 Moviegoing Experiences

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I was recently inspired by Filmspotting's Top 5 Moviegoing Experiences episode.

#5 SHADOW - 2019

Whenever one of my children asks, “Hey, Dad, you want to go see a movie?” My answer is, “YES!” It’s just that Henry is really the only one that ever asks. Last year, he suggested a palace intrigue plot set in third century China playing at the Screenland. “Oh, hell yes!” The stunning black and white movie played on one of the smaller, newer screens. The fight sequences where incredible! When we left the theater, it was raining outside similar to how it was in a pivotal scene in the movie. I raved about the movie to everyone, and saw it again at Alamo a few months later.

#4 THREE AMIGOS - 1986/2015

I first saw the Three Amigos at the Petite 3 Cinema in Kirksville. I remember laughing louder and more than many other theater goers that night. The Petite 3 is also where I remember being deeply moved by Platoon (1986) and crying at Beaches (1988).

But the screening I loved the most was at the Alamo Drafthouse Three Amigos Movie Party in 2015. Everyone was given a cap gun and when guns fired on the screen, we shot ours in the air. Hooting, hollering and shooting while sipping a beer and eating a big-ass burger is my kind of evening. Ahh… the sweet smokey smell from the caps.

#3 E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL - 1982

My grandparents took my sister and me to see E.T. They rarely went to the movies, so that was treat number one. But what really sticks with me is how much the following exchange tickled my grandfather.

Elliott: He's a man from outer space and we're taking him to his spaceship.

Greg: Well, can't he just beam up?

Elliott: This is reality, Greg.

I can still hear him say, “This is reality,” while shaking his head and smiling.

#2 SPLASH - 1984

First date with my very special lady friend. She called and invited me to see Splash at the dollar show. I wasn’t the first one she called, or the second. But I was ready when I got the call.

Her side of the story —> yeah, I asked him, but he said, “Okay, but only if you go to this church youth group with me first.” True story.

#1 STAR WARS - 1977

Mark Nelson, my best friend up the street, called and asked if I wanted to go see “Star Wars.” I hadn’t heard of it, and with the word “War” in the title, I thought it was some dumb army movie. My mom said she thought I would like it and encouraged me to go. I was 9 years old, had super-low expectations, and was BLOWN AWAY! Imaginary light saber battles and moments of concentration harnessing the Force for the next 43 years.