A lot of films from 2023 can be described as being about what happens when victims and accusers both experience a “lack of closure.” Especially when the person we’re following is pursuing that in the face of truth. With no closure (or answers), nobody is right, nobody is wrong, or at the very least, one has to learn how to process the experience of never knowing what truly happened. Same goes for the audience itself in a film like The Teacher’s Lounge, one of the better films of the year that feels less a conventional narrative and more akin to a sociological examination of human behavior.

Lots of discussions about free will are inevitable, but here God is a literal figure who may or may not play a role. The film lost me completely when the power of prayer serves as the catalyst for conflict when Kevin simply calls out for help from Him. Honestly, I’m not familiar with Angel Studios potentially due to my own religious beliefs being vastly different from the ones embraced here. Those who do strongly believe in God might have a vastly different experience if they’re ok with hamfisted dialogue about Him, being tested, etc., - for me it was tiresome and forced.

Tone management is tricky in a dark satire like this, but every laugh is earned and every emotional beat works in ways all great stories hope to achieve. I guess you can take my biases to heart: I love dreams, dreaming, analyzing them and how weird and playful they can be. Dream Scenario is weird, playful, laugh-out-loud funny and surprisingly moving by the end. Truly hoping everyone else considers it to be special and supports it: we need more films like this.

Most will anticipate what’s about to come around the corner while others could get bored and restless playing the waiting game. Warren Skeels makes his directorial feature film debut with The Man in the White Van here and it’s clear that he wants us to feel prevailing dread and a suggestion that a confrontation is imminent. We know who the villain is, we know who he wants to victimize so we’re sitting here waiting for the inevitable.

Last year’s drama, Aftersun, debuted to critical acclaim and garnered a well-deserved Oscar nomination for rising star Paul Mescal. It was my favorite film of last year so suffice to say that movies about complicated parental relationships with their lone offspring will instantly strike a chord with me. Especially when they are grounded in realism and contain multitudes of genuine vulnerability. Scrapper is definitely a higher tier example of the well-observed father/daughter dramedy done with a strong sense of emotional intelligence. It may not tug at the heartstrings in a way that leaves you wrecked by the end (see Aftersun for that), but that’s not what this story is aiming for.

Aging is an undeniable part of the human experience however, it’s not something we embrace. Jules comes at a very vulnerable time in Milton’s life when his memory may be fading. The alien creature doesn’t say a word but just the presence of something new is enough to bring him back to life while also managing to strengthen the few connections he has in his life with two acquaintances.

Here it’s about being drawn into something new and exciting (and potentially addictive) but also knowing the limitations especially at an impressionable age which is accompanied by bigger than life feelings. What happens when this kind of otherworldly power is in the hands of those whose brains aren’t fully formed yet? This is a great idea and Talk to Me never talks down to the audience, it is more than happy to be a thrill-ride while allowing the audience to think deeply about the inevitable end that comes for us all.

Oppenheimer is a film with many layers - most of which I responded to quite strongly. The final moment involving Albert Einstein is something I couldn’t shake. It led me to believe that this film could potentially have a lot to say about man’s tendency to openly adopt the death drive. Death is inevitable for us all and in some ways, war tries to justify its inevitability. It’s as if self-destruction comes with having eyes and ears. We may think life is about survival but why are those in power so drawn to the impulse to destroy those who challenge us? Our country will always retaliate and dominate - it’s practically how we were founded, it’s in our DNA. This film really does delve deep and considers the macro-level implication and the effect it has on one fragile, but brilliant mind.

Blackberry is one of the most entertaining films of 2023 so far. Why bury the lead? Yes, it helps to be a fan of the filmmaker’s previous work - his energy, the sense of freewheeling chaos taking place, but there’s also a lot of sensitivity to complicated situations whether it involves high school, bullying, the space race or now, the invention of the smart phone.

As much as I love watching a lot of movies, I’ve been more enthused to be around great passionate film lovers. I know I’m in for a wonderful experience curated by incredibly dedicated hard-working writers that always bring their A-game. Here’s a rundown of what I’ve seen so far throughout the course of three along with short reviews for nearly everything so far! Get tickets right here!

There’s so much to look forward to as always, most importantly, seeing colleagues and friends as we celebrate our love and passion for all-things movies. A lot of these are Chicago premieres and coming out early - featuring a slew of titles from independent directors that are coming off of festival screenings and a lot of buzz. I will be providing coverage of the entire event throughout and couldn’t be more excited. Last year, I did audio reviews but since I’m trying to keep up on writing - that’s the approach I’ll likely take this time. Here are some of the titles I’m excited to see - be sure to get your tickets right here, right now

Each awkward situation or character arc (including the mom’s) is captured in a way that is never cloying or eye-rolling. Some experiences truly are universal. A warm blanket of tenderness is draped over this delightful story that reveals many complicated emotions that consistently felt real. Fremon Craig definitely has captured the spirit of Blume’s work and with any luck, this will be a film for all young adults to seek out and turn into an all-time classic in the same way that Blume’s book was for previous generations. This is one of the year’s best films.

Beau is Afraid is a surreal dark comedic experiment that will certainly have its fans and may attain some level of cult status, but the majority of viewers will likely consider this to be an anomaly, granted in ways that will likely make you laugh if you have a complicated relationship with a parent.

Check out capsule reviews for these terrific new films - SHOWING UP, ENYS MEN, AIR & RYE LANE!

Once we see a figure in the distance and Robbie changes, so does the film and it becomes true horror on a level I haven’t seen in quite awhile. That being said, it is not a fun, pleasant ride to where I would want to put myself through it ever again. It plays like a dream you can’t wait to wake up from and for that reason alone, The Outwaters deserves to be recognized for its vicious, H.P Lovecraft-like descent into sheer madness.

An important subject that is explored and examined with compassion. "What we see over and over again, women have to fight for ownership over their own body" says Rosanna Arquette during the introduction, and this film highlights that fact in a way that all of us should know more about.

There are several different ways you can read Men, but the more interesting ones to me are the ones that keep Harper’s story, rather than a general commentary on men, at the core. It is certainly a story about Harper wrestling with her own demons, and the characters and apparitions in the film could be projections of invasive thoughts in her mind that won’t let her enjoy peace. They could also be various forms of her dead husband, from the subtly manipulative to the downright abusive.

Jotted down some thoughts about the 2022 Chicago Film Critics Awards Event last night. Enthusiasm and positive energy is infectious. Really, I’m just a messenger more than a creator but I do make podcasts that I’m proud of especially the ones when Sergio Mims was a guest (or any of last night’s attendees as well). And now, I know in 2023, people I respect and appreciate will be returning to talk about directors. It’ll be hard to make it all happen but I want to keep at it. I love movies, new and old. I am eternally grateful to everyone who was at the critics awards dinner who supported me and my love of podcasting through and through. I felt honored to be among such talented writers and enthusiasts who also get home from a day job and continue working hard writing reviews and producing content.

Pellington deserves a lot of praise for going back to the past and making Going All The Way the film it was always meant to be. The film originally came out to indifferent reviews in 1997 and even back then I was more mixed positive on that version than overtly negative. It’s nice to see it fully fleshed out even if the pacing is still a little off and the unnecessary voiceover is a distraction rather than an enhancement. Everything else about it though works as a time capsule and the fully realized vision of a director who deserved better with this material back then.

Every year I try to catch up on the year’s releases well-knowing I won’t get to hear everything. But I like seeing year-end lists and catching up with what music critics feel are essential listens. Then I put together my own list of favorite albums as well as a supplemental playlist of favorite songs I’ve discovered. Hopefully this will inspire you to track these artists down and support them!