Welcome to Scribeing Cinema with Shane! What do cinephiles love to do most? Rank all things movies and that is what we will do in this series. Favorite actors… filmmakers… genres… narratives… you got it here! Time to highlight my top 10 most anticipated films for the rest of 2023…
1. Killers of the Flower Moon
It is Scorsese. He is still at the top of his game. He is tackling a classic genre of American cinema (The Western) which has never been done before. But this is a revisionist western that is a harrowing look at the evils perpetrated on Native Americans. This is also the story of the dawn of the FBI. This is a fascinating story that needs to be told. DiCaprio and DeNiro are in the SAME Scorsese movie. Killers of the Flower Moon is the perfect storm of a film that has “Film of the Year” and “Best Picture” written all over it. And just you wait…Lily Gladstone will be a star after this one.
2. Drive-Away Dolls
Wait…what is this film? The trailer just dropped recently, and Drive-Away Dolls looks like a sharp and fun crime romp with an impressive cast of characters circling its two impressive leading women. But why is it more important than that? This is the solo feature debut post break up of one half of cinema’s greatest brother writer/directors, Ethan Coen. The Coens are my favorite filmmakers, and this is incredibly exciting to see Ethan out on his own and delivering what seems like the perfect combination of Coen crime thriller and silly comedic romps. Get ready to watch Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Pedro Pascal, Annie Gonzales, Matt Damon, Beanie Feldstein, Colman Domingo, and Bill Camp steal the fall.
3. Oppenheimer
7…21…23. The days are numbered as the wait for Christopher Nolan’s latest film is nearing. This is Nolan’s first biopic, and he certainly wants that golden statuette. Who would be the ideal choice to focus on? The father of destruction and the atomic bomb. Oppenheimer has one of the most impressive casts ever put to screen. But it is the long overdue leading film role for Cillian Murphy that will certainly blow audiences away. Or…it might be the craziest practical explosions that any filmmaker has put on screen. Nolan has created a biopic unmatched in visuals, atmosphere, and overall craft. Those who have seen it describe it as a true horror film. Bring on the horrors and let’s see what Nolan will do next.
4. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part I
Is Mission: Impossible one of the greatest action franchises of all time? With each new entry, that resume keeps getting better and better. The early reviews put Dead Reckoning towards the top of any action film and that is exciting. The pure spectacle that Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie put on display must be seen specifically in a theater like IMAX or Dolby. Ethan Hunt is going on his most dangerous and dark mission yet with a world under fire of AI. Relatable, exciting, and incredible cinema await audiences come July.
5. Barbie
Is this really happening? In a world where we have a great movie based on LEGO, this is possible. But what is most exciting about Barbie is that the incredible talent of Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach are behind it. But not just that, look at the impressive cast that is filling the screen. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling to name the most obvious. The humor sounds so clever and funny. The visuals are so vibrant and exciting. We are prepared for a self-aware and complex comedy that will delight audiences throughout the summer. Not to mention the impressive soundtrack that is a who’s who of today’s brightest musical talents. This just might be one of the most unique experiences in cinemas this year.
6. Next Goal Wins
Can we just keep getting quirky heavy comedies from Taika Waititi moving forward? I love his stamp on Thor but more JoJo Rabbit and Hunt for the Wilderpeople that better. That is what makes Next Goal Wins so much more exciting. This tale of a terrible Samoan soccer team made up of the most rag-tag crew of players on the island. This crazy tale has Waititi written all over it. Putting Michael Fassbender as their reluctant coach is just the delicious icing on top of the cake. Prepare for plenty of silliness, heart, and inspiration when you head out to the theaters for this one.
7. Bottoms
Who is THE young director to watch out for today? Emma Seligman. Her debut feature Shiva Baby was an utter surprise that delivered so much discomfort, laughs, and emotion. With her latest film, Bottoms, we are hoping she offers up plenty of the same. Her friend and star Rachel Sennott teams up with Ayo Edebiri for this high school comedy about a pair of queer friends who start, of all things, a fight club to get laid. This is promising to be an unexpectedly hilarious and poignant ride from a fantastic young director.
8. Poor Things
How could you not be excited for the latest from Greek auteur Yorgos Lanthimos? Once you watch the trailer, you will be especially excited for this surrealist and fantastical drama. Poor Things’ visual palette looks like it is ripped right from a Terry Gilliam romp and Lanthimos is surely ready to explore that dream-like reality in spades. This Frankenstein-esque science fiction wonder looks to blow minds and impresses with its talented cast. Lanthimos has even said already that Emma Stone’s performance is unbelievable. That bold will for audiences looking to experience this wonder.
9. Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
What is one of the most under-appreciated animated films of the new century? Chicken Run. Aardman is one of the most consistently fantastic studios in the world of animation and they look to impress again with this long-gestating sequel. 20-plus years after the first one dazzled with its cast, claymation, and The Great Escape references, we get the Dawn of the Nugget. There is a new cast, but we pick up this wonderful post-escape story as these chickens (and a rooster) are ready to live a whole new world out in the wild. Just imagine the possibilities.
10. Napoleon
WAIT…are we really getting a new film about Napoleon Bonaparte? There have been plenty of directors who struggled to create this biopic including the likes of Stanley Kubrick. But it is Ridley Scott who has finally made it come to life. But who can fill the hat and uniform of such a towering figure of history? Napoleon will be anchored by one of the most talented actors in the world, Joaquin Phoenix. His skills promise to impress as we are treated to what will be a performance and period piece to remember.
