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My Favorite Films of the year!

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NEW TOYS

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My 12 favorite films of 2022. One great film for each month of the year.

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Let’s put a smile on that face.

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OCULARSTORM CENTRAL turned 9 today!

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I would watch the hell outta this!

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MY TOP 12 FILMS OF 2019!

Why 12? One great film for every month. You’ll find a large variation in the films I selected. From blockbusters to art house hits. It’s simple, the films on the list resonated deeply and stayed with me for weeks and months. Here we go:

1. JOKER

‪The film that stunned the world and became the billion dollar clown. The cinematography, the acting and the screenplay are all stellar. It’s no fluke that JOKER became a cultural phenomenon. It tapped into the seething cauldron of anger that exists between the haves and have-nots. It takes place in a nebulous version of the 80’s but it could be about the One Percenters of today who greedily take everything and leave scraps for the rest of society. The Joker is everything you heard & more. It’s an indictment of the mental health system in America & an argument for how your parents & environment can make or break you. Joaquin Phoenix is ASTONISHING & Oscar bound. Be forewarned, the violence is brutal & sudden. This is the best film of the year‬. Would love to see this version of Joker go up against the next iteration of Batman. It would be the Atomic Bomb of superhero vs supervillain confrontations.

2. ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

‪Brad Pitt is a magnificent unstoppable beast in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. He is the quintessential laid back California dude. His performance can only be described as effortless. Oscar will recognize him. Leo is poignant as the eternally optimistic fading star. I could’ve spent 10 hrs luxuriating in the world of this film. A wonderful look back at a bygone era. That ending was a total WOWZA. Very moving. Adore this film‬ so damn much.

3. STAR WARS THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

‪I grew up with this Saga. It’s hugely influential and I will always have a soft spot for the adventures that take place in Galaxy far, far away. Don’t listen to the naysayers and go in with childlike wonder and you’ll realize StarWars The Rise of Skywalker is Babu Frik-en Awesome! It’s everything you want from the end of the entire series. Hugely satisfying & emotional with non-stop action. Wept openly when a familiar hero showed up. Palpatine was a pure horror movie monster. Loved the culmination of the Rey/Kylo dyad. I want to say more but won’t get into spoiler territory. This is a great Christmas film to see with family on the biggest screen possible. Wowza!‬

4. PARASITE

‪Bong Joon Ho’s PARASITE is stunning and absolutely bonkers. I don’t want to spoil to much but this is one of the most original films of the year. Layered storytelling with compelling characters who insinuate themselves into others lives to a frightening degree. I’ve already said too much. See it! This film is definitely Oscar bound.

5. KNIVES OUT

‪KNIVES OUT is damn spectacular! The film is an extraordinary modern take on the whodunit genre. It’s CLUE for the new generation. It’s also a biting satire of the upper class. I didn’t want it to end. One of the year’s very best. What a fantastic megastar cast. Daniel Craig is sensational. Ana De Armas is tremendous. Captain America is the ultimate lovable douchebag. The film is both hilarious and suspenseful. It’s so well-written with plenty of twists. Stay away from spoilers. This is pure entertainment!

6. AVENGERS ENDGAME

‪Avengers Endgame is a satisfying, epic finale to the most ambitious movie series ever made. Way more somber & morose than anticipated. Reminded me very much of a DCEU film in many ways. Epic in both scale and emotion. Tony’s final words will echo through eternity in the world of comic book films. It broke every record imaginable and deserves all the accolades. Deserves a best picture nomination but I won’t hold my breath.

7. MIDSOMMAR

‪Midsommar is Nick Cage’s Wicker Man on meth with a steroid chaser. And yes, both films have someone wearing a bear costume. The craft on display is next level; shots, editing, cinematography are all top notch. Such a disturbing film. Florence Pugh gives a powerful performance. ‬This film stayed with me for weeks after I saw it. It does what all great films do: It casts a spell and bewitches you.

8. THE IRISHMAN

‪The Irishmen is Scorsese making the anti-Scorsese film. This is the ugly, seedy, quietly decrepit side of the Mafia. Gone is the thrill of being a MobStar. Replaced by old guys who are falling apart & willing to turn on each other on a dime. Pacino is glorious as Hoffa. Deniro is stellar.‬ This genuinely feels like the end of an era. Grew up watching these guys take over the world and now they’re feeble powerless men with broken souls. A tragic tale and Scorsese’s final word on the underworld universe that made him and his crew famous.

9. SHAZAM

Shazam is pure joy injected straight into your heartmeat. An ode to 80’s films like Goonies, Monster Squad, Big & The Golden Child. Zachary Levi delivers a delightful performance as do the kids & family. Fantastic action, great villain. Top notch VFX and heart. This film has so much damn heart. The Foster family and the message about how a good family gives you strength, confidence and morality is spot on and perfect for the times. It’s the quintessential family film of the year. The post credit scene is “super” AWESOME.‬

10. 1917

‪I implore you to see 1917 on the biggest screen possible & eschew the screeners. You will be dropped into a harrowing, hellish warzone. This film makes you feel like you were there. They should just give the cinematography Oscar to Deakins now. The one takes will go down as legend (I know it’s supposed to be one continuous take but I spotted at least 3 digital cuts. Still an impressive feat). Such a High-anxiety Wowza film. ‪We are inundated with explosions in movies but 1917 has an explosion that’s absolutely terrifying in its realism and verisimilitude. Made me jump out of my seat. This is one of the best films of the year. Filled with Indelible images. What an achievement by Sam Mendes.‬

11. DR SLEEP

Doctor Sleep is an audacious, sparawling horror film with multiple storylines that payed great homage to both the Shining & its sequel. One of the best & scariest films you’ll see this year. It had a scene that pushed the envelope of child violence that had me squirming in my seat. Ewan is stellar as adult Danny Torrance & newcomer Keliegh Currran gives one of the great child performances of all time. There’s a flying sequence that may be the most original moment of flight ever committed on film. Outdoes any Superman flight scene. This is one of the most terrifying films I’ve seen this year. A great time at the movies. Highly recommended.

12. JOJO RABBIT

‪I was profoundly moved by JOJO RABBIT a beautiful, bittersweet comedy about love, empathy and overcoming hate that is driven by fear and lies. Scarlett Johansson is positively luminous in the film. The boy is incredible. This film should not work & yet it had me in tears. A beautifully directed film and one of the best of the year.

Special mention to GLASS, ROCKETMAN, AD ASTRA, HUSTLERS, READY OR NOT, CRAWL, ESCAPE ROOM & BATTLE ANGEL ALITA. All hugely entertaining big screen experiences.

Happy 2020 Folks!

Be good to one another. Be kind. Be driven.

Your Friend, D.

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As a full-fledged Sicilian how could I resist not getting this? #Coppola wine is totally on brand for me. https://www.instagram.com/p/BuZ7fztBvrOxJSZBYRBNJF_5PmfDa66Q-OTgnE0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=laj9nhynsh8r

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MY TOP 12 FILMS OF 2018!

It was a stacked year in films. So many great works of art for us movie nerds to enjoy. I can’t remember the last time I had this much trouble putting a list together. Without further ado, here are my Top 12 Films of the year. Why 12? One great film for each month of the calendar year.

12) REVENGE

‪Revenge... whoa. Powerhouse movie with a starmaker role for Matilda Lutz. This is the Lara Croft movie we deserve. She’s Rambo, Ripley & Croft rolled into one. Beautiful cinematography with a lead that’s infinitely easy on the eyes. The sound design is top notch. This film completely subverts the male gaze with a brutally satisfying ending. Loved it. Wowza.‬

11) A QUIET PLACE

A QUIET PLACE is a horror masterpiece & master class in building tension. Can’t remember the last time I was so stressed during a film. Ironically the sound went out in the last 5 minutes at our screening. Thought it was a bold move showing the final moments from the deaf girl’s POV‬. Turns out I was wrong. But it made for a Trippy viewing experience.

10) SPIDERMAN into the Spiderverse is the most ambitious deep dive comicbook film ever made. Stunning animation. Resonant, emotional story about how anyone can wear the mask and be the hero the world needs. It’s about a group of misfit outcasts that come together to save each other & the world (or in this case, multiple worlds). It’s so complicated that it shouldn’t work and yet it does... like gangbusters. Nicholas Cage is hilarious & a standout as Spiderman Noir. Aunt May is a badass & Miles Morales is a fantastic Spidey for the new generation. Dad-Bod Spidey played by Jake Johnson might be my favorite Web slinger of all time. Deserves the Oscar for best animated film of the year by leaps & bounds. Saw it in MX4D & it was a thrilling experience.

9) ‪BLACK PANTHER

One of the most important films of the year. A groundbreaking experience that shows how much representation matters. Loved this film so much. Someone needs to arrest Michael B. Jordan for grand larceny because he straight- up stole the Black Panther! Badass James Bond meets the Lion King mixed in the Marvel hit blender. Great time at the movies. Loved the beautiful world of Wakanda.‬

8) AVENGERS INFINITY WAR

Avengers Infinity War did something that no other Marvel movie ever did. It made me weep uncontrollably. These were not happy nerd tears. It was profound nerd sadness at the loss of a favorite character. A big popcorn film with heartbreaking stakes & shattering consequences. Go in knowing nothing & see on the biggest screen. Approaches masterpiece level.‬ ‪Brolin’s mocap work as Thanos is staggering. He’s majestic, regal, brutal, cold, logical. Best Marvel villain EVER. The VFX on Thanos are bleeding edge. Floored. Spiderman, IronMan & DrStrange dynamic was perfect. The ending is outstanding. Such a great big summer film.‬

7) GREEN BOOK

Green Book is one of the very best films of the year. Viggo is fantastic as a gumba who learns to see the world in a whole new light. Mahershala is dignity personified. Watching their uneasy friendship blossom during a road trip thru the racist south was funny, poignant & delightful. We adored this film & didn’t want it to end.

6) BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

Bohemian Rhapsody is wildly entertaining with an Academy Award Level performance by Rami Malek. It’s a wonderfully directed film with HUGE showstopping moments & a strong emotional core. Freddy Mercury is legend & this film does him justice. One of the best times you’ll have at the movies this year. See it in IMAX if possible. Wowza!

5) AQUAMAN

Aquaman is outstanding! Eye-popping world-building with never before seen images that will forever be burned in my mind. Mamoa owns the screen. He’s a muscular comic book drawing come to life. Kidman is the film’s beating heart & secret weapon. It’s like Tron underwater meets Raiders of the Lost Ark with a touch of Pacific Rim Kaiju action. Visually stunning & one of the best films of the year. It’s a billion dollar beast that deserves every damn penny it’s earning at the box office.

4) READY PLAYER ONE

READY PLAYER ONE is astonishing. One of the rare times where you can say the film is significantly better than the book. This is classic Spielberg magic. Don’t want to get too spoilerish but it was nice seeing Kubrick on the big screen again. Instantly iconic scene. Wowza! ‪I haven’t felt a magical cinematic experience like this since seeing AVATAR. ReadyPlayerOne is bursting at the seams with emotion & eye popping visuals. See it on the biggest screen possible‬

3) MISSION IMPOSSIBLE FALLOUT

Mission Impossible Fallout was freakin Incredible. Best pure action film of the past 5 years. Tom Cruise is a GOD. Cavill a force of nature. The nightclub scene & subsequent bathroom burly brawl was bone-crunchingly awesome. The Halo jump is legendary. I don’t know how Cruise tops this. I feel like we are going to see him die onscreen one day. But I hope not. Huge recommend. WOWZA.‬

2) UPGRADE

Upgrade is my favorite Sci-fi film of the year & came damn close to being my number one choice. The best true portrayal of cyberpunk I’ve ever seen. Great direction. Great writing. Top notch, brutal action. Pitch black ending. Logan Marshall Green is a star. I need a sequel.

1) A STAR IS BORN

A Star is Born is flat-out stunning. An emotional wallop, in which Lady Gaga gives the performance of a lifetime. It’s almost not fair how talented Bradley Cooper is. As a First time director, he sings, plays guitar and speaks French (unrelated but cool). No movie made me feel as much as ASIB. I love how Lady Gaga has Bradley’s back throughout the film, no matter how much of an asshole he becomes. She stands firmly beside him. Reminded me so much of my Wife. Competition is closed. It will win everything at the Oscars.‬ Went with my Girls and we adored every damn minute.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

SEARCHING: A fantastic thriller filled with twists & turns. Best use of screenlife filmmaking I’ve ever seen.

GAME NIGHT: Best comedy of the year. Tightly written & directed with a slickness that elevates it into the upper echelon of the genre.

HEREDITARY: A film that blends satanism, mental health issues & a ghost story to terrifying effect. Toni Collette gives an astonishing performance.

FIRST MAN: Damian Chazelle puts us on the moon from a harrowing first person perspective. Gosling is fantastic in a quiet role about a man who pushes himself to great lengths and to the moon in order to conquer his grief.

MANDY: Heavy Metal meets Mad Max in Hell. Nicholas Cage gives another otherworldly Performance for the ages.

A SIMPLE FAVOR: Blake Lively is the Joker & Anna Kendrick is Batman in this Gone Girl for Millenials. Brilliant film with twists you’ll never see coming.

THE HATE YOU GIVE: ‪This film joins the pantheon of classic movies about the African American Experience like BOYS IN THE HOOD, MENACE 2 SOCIETY & Straight outta Compton. Powerful, harrowing, timely. One of the very best films of the year. Amandla Stenberg is a bonafide Star.

ROMA: Beautifully shot slice of life film that made me feel like I was walking through Mexico in 1971.

VICE: ‪Christian Bale gives a positively satanic performance in VICE by playing a man who is literally heartless. Loved the fakout moment in the middle. Felt like I was watching the birth of evil. Dick & his mercenary wife, played deliciously by Amy Adams, did so much damage to this country.‬ This is horror film disguised as a genial comedy.

Be good to one another. Be kind. Be driven.

Your Friend, D.

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#MarkWhitaker our new attorney general is a comic book villain. For those wondering, the cartoon photo is from the book President Lex Luthor. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp_IsBDh8BnQPz7NYL6aPZ6gqVe-uuGhLADhcs0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=cnb59xc3tr0k

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#Halloween is a powerhouse film & worthy sequel to one of my favorite horror films of all time. Got emotional seeing a broken Laurie Strode still dealing with massive emotional trauma. It was tense, terrifying & incredibly well-directed. The score was perfect. The Shape was menacing. Such a great time at the movies. WOWZA. https://www.instagram.com/p/BpWAXRAgVZgqpvgbL5fwnVEaahrcYKwx-h1DQw0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=im87vh0j98ix

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LOVED everything about #DCTitans. The directing, the score & #Robin was a stone-cold badass. Best onscreen Robin ever put on film. Hyper-violent, mature, dark & emotional. Raven was great. Starfire was a standout. Can’t wait for the next episode. I’m all the win! https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo3PdslgOkINct3_5HjX7BXGdrP5IRex9qw6x00/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1lmqueze6gkm3

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This is freakin’ amazing. #Joker https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo1JbRpg3qbFyMVyUB61G92izOYbOR8I_57phI0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1vfwlfn72h4cj

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Is there such a thing as too damn cool? I give you exhibit A.

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Official. #CR7 #Juventus

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SE7EN #Juventus #champions #scudetto

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OG World’s Finest. How cool would this have been?! #batmanvsuperman