Weekend Watch - May 2023 Recap
May 2023 had one legitimately great blockbuster hit and some indie and documentary sleeper hits, but overall, the month feels like a letdown overall, critically speaking.
Welcome back to the Weekend Watch where each week we take a look at a new piece of film or television media and give it a rating, review, and recommendation. This week, we’ve come to the end of another month and will be recapping the best films from the month of May – the ones that have some shot of making this blog’s list of Greatest Films of All Time, categorized by likelihood (Long Shots, Possible Things, and Sure Things). Every May since 2018 has felt like a regression for the month, with weaker and weaker blockbusters and not much else. Seriously, this May had a whole week where the “biggest” film dropping was Book Club: The Next Chapter, and we all remember how that was. Yes, May 2023 had one legitimately great blockbuster hit and some indie and documentary sleeper hits, but overall, the month feels like a letdown overall, critically speaking. Let’s get into it.
Long Shots:
Victim/Suspect: Netflix’s documentary about sexual assault victims who are accused of filing false reports and prosecuted for it has hit at the right time in terms of poignancy and relevance. Unfortunately, the documentary seems to be a bit underwhelming in its technique, leaving something to be desired in tackling such an important subject. Its relevance keeps it noteworthy, but I think we can ask for better.
Showing Up: With an ever-widening release window from distributor A24, this Michelle Williams and Hong Chau-led film about a sculptor setting up a new exhibition from director Kelly Reichardt made some waves this past month. The 2022 Cannes hit has garnered praise for Williams’s performance and its simple pacing, but it’s been so under-the radar that its 47% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes is going to be difficult to overcome.
Monica: Another 2022 festival darling that finally got its wide release this month, Monica tackles the delicate issues of aging and dying parents. Trace Lysette, Patricia Clarkson, and Emily Browning all bring the right type of star-power to the film, and in a year with a limited number of female-led films compared to years past, they have the potential to break in to some awards races. For now, this film remains on the outside looking in with just vaguely positive reviews.
Wild Life: National Geographic documentaries tend to be hit or miss when it comes to widespread acclaim, but their recent partnership with Disney has merited a little bit more recognition for the company. This particular doc, about conservationists Kris and Doug Tompkins, has struck a chord with some reviewers, though not on the level of last year’s hit Fire of Love. Keep an eye on it, but don’t put it on any must-watch lists just yet.
The Starling Girl: The Sundance and SXSW hit about religious trauma and coming of age got its wide release this month, to mostly positive critical reception and mixed reviews from audiences (probably due to its religious subject matter and the endless backlash from a certain portion of the American public whenever anything releases that vaguely goes against their beliefs). Still, with such a niche topic, it’s hard to see it breaking through beyond this underground success.
Sanctuary: The Margaret Qualley dominatrix movie that has everyone (filmstagram and film Twitter) talking seems to be more of a cult classic than a true all-time great. Still, with the right press tour and a continuing control of the conversation (unlikely, given all the more memeworthy stuff coming in the next couple of months) could result in a climb to the upper echelon of films for this one.
The Little Mermaid: With the money that it’s made and the not overwhelmingly negative reviews, it’s safe to say that this live action remake from Disney will go down as one of their more successful endeavors in that field. I’d be surprised to see much else from it when awards roll around, and without that it has no real shot of achieving greatness, but you never know for sure (Cruella really did do some crazy things a few years back).
Possible Things:
BlackBerry: I don’t know why we’re getting so many movies about the invention of things this year (Flamin’ Hot comes out in June), but we are, and they seem to be doing well with audiences and critics. The Jay Baruchel and Glenn Howerton-starring film explores the creation of “the world’s first smartphone” and its inevitable demise and seems to have hit the right blend of history, drama, and comedy for some more love down the road.
Reality: Sydney Sweeney might really be her. The film about the interrogation of whistleblower Reality Winner released last Monday on Max to serious critical acclaim. Sweeney’s performance seems to be the most noteworthy piece of the film, so she’s really the one to look out for here.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: The emotional conclusion to the Guardians trilogy has been the most successful MCU film in a while, and its place as one of the highest-grossing and most beloved by audiences put it in a good place to get the hair/makeup, costume design, and visual effects nominations it needs to get the points it needs for Greatness.
You Hurt My Feelings: Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s latest team-up with director Nicole Holofcener has been hitting the right notes with critics and fans. The dramedy about an author who hears her husband giving a less-than-encouraging review of her latest book hits the right notes, and Louis-Dreyfus is again in her element working with Holofcener.
Sure Things:
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie: The Apple TV+ documentary about the life and career of Michael J. Fox is the can’t-miss film from the month of May, achieving critical and popular acclaim from just about everyone who has watched it so far. Fox’s optimism in the face of everything and the encouragement his story brings to the world and those around him makes it a truly classic documentary.
Weekend Watch - Everything Everywhere All at Once
This is the most fun I have had watching a film in theaters since Spider-Man: No Way Home, and honestly, I may have liked this one even more. Everything Everywhere All at Once has all the comedy, heartbreak, and action of a major blockbuster or MCU release while maintaining its originality.
Welcome back to the Weekend Watch where each week, we do a quick review and recommendation of a new piece of entertainment media – film, television, etc. This week, we’re taking a look at A24’s latest sci-fi outing, Everything Everywhere All at Once, which has quickly become a critical success and expanded its theatrical markets for its first three weeks in theaters and broken into the studio’s top 15 biggest box office successes.
Letter Grade: A+, next question
Should you Watch This Film? Yes, go see it in theaters while you still can!
Why?
This is the most fun I have had watching a film in theaters since Spider-Man: No Way Home, and honestly, I may have liked this one even more. This film has all the comedy, heartbreak, and action of a major blockbuster or MCU release while maintaining its originality for most of the film. There are references to other media, but they aren’t what make the film great as much as adding to an already great film. The acting from each of the film’s leads – Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, and Ke Huy Quan – as well as from most of the supporting cast runs the full range of the emotions asked for by the film’s script. They can be funny action stars, emotional family drama stars, and everything in-between. The story is very fun, diving into a new take on multiverses (very much not what the MCU seems to be doing) and using it to explore our connection to friends and family. Its theme of meaningful life vs. nihilism plays out in a powerful way on screen, offering audiences a refreshingly positive take on life and our place in this world. Full disclosure, when the official list on this site is updated next year, Everything Everywhere All at Once will be on here (barring some major review bombing). I don’t want to take away from that inevitable review, but you HAVE to go see this film in theaters as soon as possible. If you’re worried about not liking other things that A24 has put out, this film has enough fast-paced action and comedy to keep your interest. If that description has you worried that this is just another blockbuster with no heart or message, rest assured that it does in fact have both and is a fully rewarding watch throughout for both blockbuster fans and arthouse fans. This film bridges the gap between blockbuster and film connoisseur movie better than probably anything that I have seen since probably Parasite. Please go see it!