It’s still New Year’s Eve eve here in Minnesota and I’m about to drive to my friend’s Great Gatsby-themed party in a couple of hours. Well, I’m not going to blog about my favorite movie scenes set on New Year’s Eve, as I’ve already done that here. Well, I don’t want my last post of 2023 to be a sad one (we’ll miss you, Tom Wilkinson!) … so here’s my monthly recap, and a list of favorite films #directedbywomen and some films I can’t wait to see in 2024.
DECEMBER NEW RELEASES
Jules – my review
The Lesson* – my review
Inside the Mind of a Cat (Netflix doc)
Ferrari – my review
Wonka – my review
May December
The Burial*
Zone of Interest
Blue Beetle
The Color Purple
Freud’s Last Session
Perfect Days
REWATCHES
Return to Me
Mrs Harris Goes to Paris
Barbie
The Sound of Music
December Movie of the Month
PERFECT DAYS – directed by Wim Wenders
This one happens to be the last movie I saw this month! This is a Japan-Germany co-production that follows a Tokyo toilet cleaner, Hirayama. It’s a simple, meditative piece featuring a captivating lead performance by Koji Yakusho. Most of the film follows his structured day-to-day life and his fondness for music and books… and we slowly get to know more about Hirayama and his past through a series of unexpected encounters. It’s the kind of film that would test one’s patience but ultimately it’s a rewarding experience that will make you think about it long after that poignant and sweet ending.
52 Films By Women – 2023 Challenge
Per Women In Film (WIF) organization, the basic rules are simple: watch 52 films directed by women within one year and share what you watched on social media, using the hashtag #52FilmsByWomen to spread the word, and get more people talking about the women filmmakers that don’t always get attention.
In my November recap, I said I had completed 60 films #directedbywomen. I managed to only see two additional women-directed movies in December, which brings the total yearly tally to 62! 2023 has been a strong year for women filmmakers but sadly women are still very much underrepresented in Hollywood, I mean just look at these stats.
Here are my top 10 fave movies by women – in the order of favorites:
- One Fine Morning
- The Photograph
- Carmen
- Before Now & Then
- A Million Miles Away
- The Colour Room
- The Deepest Breath
- Polite Society
- Rye Lane
- Past Lives
Stay tuned to my Top 10 of 2023 – coming later in January!
10 Most Anticipated 2024 Movies
I’ll blog more about what movies I can’t wait to see (there are surely more than just 10) but these are on the top of my list so far:
- Argylle (Feb 2)
- Bob Marley: One Love (Feb 14) – view trailer
- Dune: Part Two (Mar 1) – view trailer
- Mickey 17 (Mar 29)
- The Fall Guy (May 3)
- Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (May 24)
- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (May 24)
- Gladiator 2 (Nov 22)
- Megalopolis (TBD)
- Havoc (TBD – Netflix)
Let me make a toast to 2023 and everything to be grateful for (the good and the bad) this past year…
FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG 
Happy New Year, Ruth! Can’t believe another year has gone by, the Covid years really mess up my timing and I feel like two years of my life were wasted. Lol!
I didn’t do any traveling in December so I saw a bunch of movies. Finally caught up with Barbenheimer craze, I enjoyed both films but Oppeheimer is definitely my favorite. Only Nolan can turn a dialog driven biopic film into a box office behemoth. But my favorite film of the month is Godzilla Minue One, it put the massive budget American versions to shame.
So far, the only film that I look forward to seeing in 2024 Dune Part 2. The Fall Guy looks fun though. I used to watch the TV show version every afternoon back in the days.
Happy New Year, Ted!! I’m glad Covid is largely behind us, though on the bright side, I’m kinda glad because of Covid, most companies have switched to working-from-home mode.
I love Oppenheimer too, that’ll end up in my Top 10 for sure. I haven’t seen Godzilla Minus One though, hoping to catch that once it arrives on streaming.
Yeah, The Fall Guy w/ Lee Majors is a lot of fun. Based on the trailer, the movie adaptation looks promising too!
62 films. Excellent. 67 for me in 2023. Let’s hope 2024 is a better year. I think the film I’m most anticipated for is Furiosa and Yorgos Lanthimos’ Kind of Kindness.
Congrats on finishing really strong on 52 Films By Women w/ 67! I’m thrilled I managed to get over 60 films, let’s hope 2024 will be a better year for movies too, and more female filmmakers get their projects greenlit.
I made my 52 Films by Women goal as well! I watched 60 and I hope I can make that a higher number in 2024. You’ve now reminded me that I need to update my Must See list for the new year. I hope 2024 brings great things to you and yours!
Hey, congrats on doing a smashing job w/ the 52 Films by Women goal! I hope the number will be higher this year too, and that female representation will continually increase in Hollywood!
I’ll be dong a more comprehensive Must-See list later this month as there are surely far more than just 10 to be excited about.
Happy New Year Ruth 🙂
So many movies I have never heard of, I am so left behind with movies nowadays
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