It may have taken a while for me to announce it, but another National Poetry Writing Month has come to an end! This year was a little more stressful than years past, since I didn’t have many reviews already done ahead of time, leading to repeated instances of posting right around midnight. I hope I can plan better next year and just focus on the poems each day and be already done with the film reviews, which are an extra self-assigned obligation for the blog.
Nevertheless, I appreciated the opportunity to once again stretch my writing muscles with the daily poem prompts from the NaPoWriMo website. It was also a welcome opportunity to work through the backlog of movies I’ve seen in the last few years and just haven’t had the time or inspiration to review. I enjoy finding a movie that complements the prompt, which often results in poems I never would have come up with on my own. As a recap, here is a list of the posts from NaPoWriMo 2023:
A big thank you to everyone who read, liked, and commented throughout April! I haven’t been as interactive as I’d like with my fellow NaPoWriMo participants, but I really appreciate everyone who takes the time to visit my little corner of the blogosphere. I’ll still be keeping up with my usual schedule of poems and reviews (which will hopefully be a little more frequent) until next year brings that same creative rush of NaPoWriMo. Happy writing in the meantime!
It’s that time once again, when I look through the long list of intriguing or recommended films I’ve been putting off watching and select twelve for the year ahead. My seventh year of this Blindspot series may be starting a little late, but I am determined this time to finish all of these movies before 2023 is over. It helps that I don’t have a trilogy like last year.
As with every Blindspot selection, I’ve tried to combine a mixture of various years and genres. I can blame my own project of writing a musical for why I’ve included three musical films on the list, but they all promise to be quite different. (Believe me, I was tempted to include more.) In addition, we have an old Italian classic, sci-fi both absurdist and epic, a horror favorite, a romantic sports comedy, a star-studded ensemble piece, and one of the last Studio Ghibli films I have yet to see. Time will tell if any of these movies end up being new favorites, but I can’t wait to find out.
In alphabetical order, my Blindspot picks for 2023 are:
I’m thrilled to have finally finished my sixth year of this Blindspot series, even if this collection of cinema ended up spilling over into 2023. Overall, I think it was a largely positive year, with all twelve films being worth the watch and the top two being new entries for my Top 365 List. Going in, I never would have guessed this worst-to-best ranking, so it’s proof that a good Blindspot list should always have surprises. Now to pick out a new list for 2023…
It’s time once again for the official update of THE LIST, my personal top 365 list of favorite movies. I always come back to this list because it’s what started this blog in the first place, with my first year being a countdown of the original Top 365 films. This is now the ninth annual revision, which blows my mind, and there have been quite a few additions and removals over the years, as well as exceptions to group film series and similar films together. Now I’ve added the latest thirteen films seen during 2022 (in bold in the list below), including classics, modern blockbusters, and two Blindspots, which I covered in my previous blogiversary post. Nothing quite cracked the top 100, but it’s still a pretty good showing for these new additions.
As I always reiterate, this is a list of personal favorites that will no doubt clash with other opinions and best-of lists, and there’s plenty of room for it to change in the future. As it is, there was some significant shuffling of the order in some cases, and it was mainly films that I haven’t seen in a while that suffered a fall. The biggest boost went to Scrooged, rising from #342 to #249, thanks to a recent viewing and my decision to pair it with Spirited. Other gainers include Arrival, Galaxy Quest, and Altantis: The Lost Empire. On the other hand, Superman and The Ultimate Gift were demoted a bit, while the biggest loser was Captain Phillips, falling from #255 right off the list entirely; like Dunkirk last year, it’s still a great film, just not the most rewatchable.
The hardest part of these updates is choosing which films lose their place on the list, which pains me when they are still films I love. But the old must make way for the new, and this year’s losses include The Majestic, Captain Phillips, News of the World, Baby Boom, The Last Days (or Los Ultimos Días), Judas and the Black Messiah, Coma, The Nativity Story, and the trilogy of Thor, Thor: The Dark World, and Thor: Ragnarok. The last ones were a surprise, since I like the Thor films more than most, but last year’s Love and Thunder left enough of a bad taste in my mouth that I’ve replaced the god of thunder with Black Panther, whose sequel raised my opinion of the original. I still enjoy and recommend these eleven cut films and consider them favorites nonetheless.
I had thought last year would offer me more time for writing and reviewing, but, between working on my musical and bouts of writer’s block, that wasn’t the case. As much as I would like to increase output, I’m content to keep the schedule loose, so I don’t get tired of blogging, as many other bloggers have in recent years. This is meant to be a fun outlet, right? Anyway, there are still plenty of movies and reviews I have in the works, and lots of promising new releases in the year ahead. So once again, I thank all who read, like, comment, follow, and generally join me in my love of film and poetry. I wish a happy 2023 to all of you and many great movie experiences to come!
Where has 2022 gone? It seems like the last year was even shorter than the previous one. Perhaps the pandemic initiated some kind of temporal contraction, causing time to pass faster even when we’re not having fun. Or maybe I’m just getting older. Either way, it’s been an enjoyable year nonetheless, allowing me to settle into my software position and take on more of a leadership role. In addition, the absence of school allowed me to finally start on a new project that I might as well announce here: I’m working on a musical! At least, I’m writing the lyrics while a friend of mine does the music. It’s still developing and is based on the work of one of my favorite poets, so I look forward to when we’re ready to share it with the world. I’ll certainly be posting on this blog for any musical lovers like me out there.
Unfortunately, working on that meant that I drifted away from blogging for much of the year. I was surprised at how few posts I’d done in 2022, but I still managed to find enough new favorite films for my annual Top Twelve list (plus one). They’ll be added to THE LIST of my top 365 movies soon enough. Interestingly, none of 2021’s Best Picture nominees made the cut, though some came close, and instead this list of the best films I saw in the last year is an eclectic mix of new and old.
Before we get to the main list, I feel it’s only right to give a nod to some worthy movies viewed in the last year that I wish I could add if only it didn’t mean bumping off others I love more. Among these quality List Runners-Up, I’d recommend CODA, Belfast, Werewolves Within, Walk the Line, West Side Story (2021), Nope, Chef, King Richard, Better Off Dead, See How They Run, Avatar: The Way of Water, The Bad Guys, and Father Stu (which had been List-Worthy but got edged out by the others below). Just as I mentioned the stage recording of Hamilton last year, I’ll also give a shout-out to the filmed version of Come From Away, which would probably top this list if only I could count it as a “movie.” Somehow, filmed stage performances just feel like they’re in a separate category, but I still would encourage everyone to go watch it.
Please let me know what your favorite films of the last year were. I’m sure there are plenty I missed, for which I’ll have to play catch up, as usual. Without further ado, time to get to my Top Twelve!
12. A Chorus Line (1985)
Part of writing a musical has been getting acquainted with the multitude of musicals I had never sought out before, including this game-changing meta narrative based on the 1975 hit show. Featuring an ensemble of mostly unfamiliar faces, it’s a glimpse into the joys and struggles of theater performers trying to stand out enough to be worthy of a simple chorus line. While many considered it a failure compared to its acclaimed stage version, I have nothing to compare it to and so found the film to be an excellent peek into why dancers do what they do.
11. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
Everyone loved the first Black Panther, while I liked it but didn’t feel the same passion others did. However, my opinion has grown with further watches and the sad passing of Chadwick Boseman, and this sequel furthers my admiration for this corner of the MCU. Wakanda Forever may be a bit overstuffed, but it’s an exciting and poignant sequel to a hard-to-follow blockbuster.
There is no shortage of Holocaust movies, but some just hit harder than others. Following the increasingly desperate life of pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman, this film showed the heartache and upheaval of World War II Poland, revealing the daily strain of survival even outside the concentration camps. Standing above the stigma of its director, The Pianist is a historic must-see and gave Adrian Brody the role of a lifetime.
This year had some especially strong Blindspots, and Short Term 12 was one of the best. This low-key drama about a group home for troubled teens boasted bravura performances from its young cast of soon-to-be stars and a wonderfully nuanced screenplay that should have won an Oscar. Painful and beautiful in equal measure, it’s an affecting portrait of trauma being gradually overcome.
8. Spirited (2022)
I’m not the biggest fan of Will Ferrell or Ryan Reynolds, so I was dubious about them starring in this modern riff on Scrooged. But the fact it was a Pasek and Paul musical gave me hope. I was relieved then that this high-energy Christmas Carol update is a toe-tapping joy and a likely Christmas classic, in my house at least.
7. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
Knives Out was a tough act to follow, but writer-director Rian Johnson managed to create a worthy successor in Glass Onion. With its trenchant wit aimed at many modern targets from out-of-touch billionaires to two-faced politicians, this second Benoit Blanc outing is fast-paced entertainment that once again proves the mystery genre is far from dead.
When I finally bit the bullet and signed up for Apple TV+, Wolfwalkers was one of the first of its exclusives I sought out. Cartoon Saloon’s best film to date, this animated tale steeped in Irish folklore treads some familiar ground plot-wise but more than makes up for it with stunning animation and sincere heart. And a well-chosen Aurora song doesn’t hurt.
Although I opted to not make Gattaca one of my Blindspots in 2022, I ended up watching it anyway and was floored by its profound dive into a dystopia where genetics determine exactly how far society allows one to go. Choosing thought-provoking themes over sci-fi action, it serves as a prescient warning that will certainly become even more timely in the future.
I had low expectations for this oldest of my Blindspots, but it ended up being my favorite of them all. A genuine classic of the highest order, National Velvet is a near-perfect family film, with a very young Elizabeth Taylor winning over everyone around her with her passion for her beloved horse, including me.
Since I was never that enamored of the first Top Gun, this long-awaited sequel continued the trend of surpassing expectations. A summer blockbuster through and through, Tom Cruise’s return to the cockpit added expected thrills and unforeseen depth to his role as the titular hotshot. It was the rare exciting and satisfying follow-up that managed to blow past the original.
What is this, the third musical on the list? Largely ignored in the last awards season, Peter Dinklage’s turn as Cyrano de Bergerac deserved better, considering its brilliant acting and sumptuous staging. A far more understated musical than others, its soundtrack was as intoxicating as Cyrano’s romantic banter, and I kept coming back to songs like “Every Letter” and “I Want More.” I wish Hollywood would make more like this.
While Dr. Strange’s foray into the multiverse may have been disappointing, the adventures of Shang-Chi’s aunt seemed to win over everyone who saw it. This madcap fever dream of a film gave Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan their best roles in years and felt like a new milestone of creativity that few other films could match. As I stated in my review, much of Everything Everywhere All at Once doesn’t really jive with my Christian worldview, but its endorsement of kindness and connection in the midst of chaos still rings true. It remains the funniest, weirdest, and most original film I saw all year, so it had to snag the top spot.
And the thirteenth list addition that still deserves a mention:
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)
And that’s another blog year in the books. As always, here are my own unofficial awards for the List-Worthy films:
Best opening scene: A Chorus Line
Best final scene: Spirited
Coolest scene: Everything Everywhere All at Once
Biggest emotional impact: Short Term 12
Oldest film: National Velvet (1944)
Most recent film: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
Longest film: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (161 minutes)
Shortest film: Short Term 12 (96 minutes)
Best soundtrack: Cyrano (though some more listens to Spirited may be in order)
Best score: Gattaca
Best special effects: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Most mind-bending: Everything Everywhere All at Once
Thank you to everyone who has read, liked, and commented on this blog over the last nine years. It’s been a wild ride, but even if it slows, I hope to keep it going for years to come! My updated Top 365 LIST will come out in the next few days, and I still have some 2022 Blindspot posts to finish as well, plus reviews for some of the films in this list, but then I’m on to a new year of movies and poetry. Thanks again to all, and I hope everyone has a very Happy New Year!
To end things off, here’s a cinematic montage for the films of 2022. Years are usually better in retrospect, aren’t they?
Yes, this Top Twelve song list for 2021 is certainly overdue, but it’s still earlier than the list for 2020 last year, so it’s not that bad. Maybe I can actually get 2022’s posted in January, when I typically have in the past. My top movie lists are still pending, but I like summing up the previous year with a song list, sort of the soundtrack of the latest snippet of my life. While 2020 and 2021 were awful years in so many ways, they delivered top-tier music to keep us dancing and tapping our feet through the tears, so to speak. Many creatives used the pandemic shutdowns to dedicate time to their next projects, and they gifted us with so many outstanding songs that I struggled greatly trying to pare down the field to a mere twelve.
I’ve stated this before, but every year for me seems to stand out in retrospect based on a particular artist or artists that I discovered for the first time, one of those “where-have-you-been-all-my-life” moments as I binge their whole discography at once. Here’s my running list since I first started these music countdowns:
2016 – Florence and the Machine 2017 – Kygo 2018 – Aurora, Chvrches, RUFUS DU SOL, and Tom Odell 2019 – Saint Motel, TWRP, Kensington, Sigma, Kaiser Chiefs, etc. 2020 – Mika, Sparks, and The Orion Experience
The number of “discoveries” has grown as I’ve become more exploratory in my music listening. And 2021 was no different as I found an intense admiration for Marina (and the Diamonds), Orangestar, Autoheart, and The Birthday Massacre, all of whom released new music last year, much to my delight. While a few of my Top Twelve below made it on the charts, they once again don’t seem to match the mainstream musical tastes of the rest of the world (not much rap, you might notice). I don’t mind that, but I do wish these awesome songs and artists would get the acclaim and attention they deserve.
So it’s time to dive into the list (and the usual overabundance of runners-up). Please let me know what you think and feel free to recommend other songs I might have missed. There are usually a few I discover too late and wish could have made it on here, so I’m always on the lookout. Now to bring on the music!
12. “Snake Oil Baptism” – Diablo Swing Orchestra
I may have been going through an experimental phase when I discovered Diablo Swing Orchestra, an avant-garde metal band from Sweden (where so many of my favorite artists seem to originate). While not the weirdest song on the album Swagger & Stroll Down the Rabbit Hole, “Snake Oil Baptism” leaves the biggest impression with its huge rock choir and shifting rhythms, including a definite Led Zeppelin influence. It feels like it should be in the soundtrack of a movie’s most awesome scene. Special mention for “The Sound of an Unconditional Surrender” and “Out Came the Hummingbirds.”
11. “Dreams of You” – The Birthday Massacre
I wouldn’t have expected myself to become a fan of a dark wave gothic rock band from Canada called The Birthday Massacre, but here we are. While some of their songs go a little too hard for me, most have an enchantingly dreamy quality that I love, like headbanging in the star-kissed twilight. An early release from their 2022 album Fascination, “Dreams of You” fits that atmospheric mold perfectly, with synths and drums creating a magical soundscape. And between you and me, it’s likely another song from Fascination will make it on the 2022 list.
10. “Wild Hearts” – Keith Urban
The video may be from 2022, but Keith Urban’s “Wild Hearts” was a high point for 2021’s country scene. Granted, I’m not a huge country fan, but this infectiously catchy, feel-good anthem hits all the right inspirational notes. Definitely perfect road-trip music.
9. “Highly Emotional People” – Marina
Now to swing from hard rock to tender pop. Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land isn’t my favorite Marina album, but “Highly Emotional People” is an achingly beautiful meditation on the human need to express emotions, ranking among her most heartfelt songs. “Flowers” and “Goodbye” are similarly gorgeous entries that outshine the more bombastic singles.
8. “Butter” – BTS
It feels odd that I was never that impressed by BTS when they were growing into a Korean phenom, but their English-language songs have been genuine slam dunks breaking into American radio. “Dynamite” made it onto my 2020 list, and now “Butter” has done the same, both of them dance-worthy summer jams that are hard to resist. Special mention for “Permission to Dance” as well.
7. “One Night in Tokyo” – Beast in Black
Scandinavia, you’ve done it again. A Finnish heavy metal band called Beast in Black is also not what I would expect to be a favorite of mine, but boy, do they deliver the jams. Yannis Papadopoulos’ vocals are second to none, and the instrumental section at the two-minute mark is peak head-banging music for me. I assumed “Moonlight Rendezvous” would make it on the list when I first heard it, but “One Night in Tokyo” blew all others away.
6. “Can You Handle My Love??” – Walk the Moon
And a hearty welcome back to Walk the Moon, who placed #2 on my 2017 list and #8 on the 2019 list. I don’t know how they do it, but they always manage to come up with tunes that refuse to let me sit still. “Can You Handle My Love??” is a toe-tapping banger that should have been all over the radio, and I love how the heavy piano is complemented by the drums. Incidentally, this would be my VC’s #1 song. Special mention for “Win Anyway.”
5. “Surges” – Orangestar
There is something special about this short, fast-paced Japanese song that I can’t quite pin down. I’ve already mentioned how I love a heavy-handed piano, but beyond that, it just packs such energy and optimism into such a small runtime that I find it spectacular. After discovering this song, I must have listened to it a hundred times in the following week and never grew tired of it (I am not exaggerating). Despite being a Calorie Mate commercial, the accompanying animated “music video” is also brilliant and rather cathartic after all the COVID lockdowns.
Am I cheating here by including both a tie and a second appearance of BTS? Probably but I’ll allow it. 😉 Although Coldplay is one of my favorite bands, this is the first time they’ve appeared on my yearly song list (though they did get their own list), and they went full sci-fi with the latest album Music of the Spheres. The spacy grandeur of “Coloratura” or the digitized Latin chant of “Infinity Sign” affirm why Coldplay is amazing, but I have to go with the singles. “Higher Power” has a steadily growing energy that never disappoints, while “My Universe” is simply their best song in years, buoyed further by the cross-cultural message shared with BTS. As Chris Martin sings, “I’m happy I’m alive at the same time as you.”
3. “Feel Good” – Saint Motel
And a warm welcome back to Saint Motel, who placed at #6 in the 2020 list and #5 in 2019. They are a prime example of a band that should be HUGE, but I’m glad to be among their devoted fans. Although the full Original Motion Picture Soundtrack album was released last year, it was eclipsed for me by “Feel Good,” a stand-alone single written for the Netflix film Yes Day. Infectiously upbeat, it lives up to its name in all the best ways. Special mention for “It’s All Happening.”
2. “Into the Woods” – Autoheart
Autoheart is the musical discovery from last year that gladdens my heart the most. This British group became an instant favorite as I listened to their past piano-heavy masterpieces, sometimes haunting, sometimes quirky, and the Hellbent album was my favorite of last year. “Into the Woods” has a poignant, immersive melody, with its repeated insistence of “I feel fine” evoking a relatable denial and desperation. “I’m hopeful, I’m certain / I won’t be always hurting” – just gorgeous. Special mentions for “Older”, “Time Machine”, and “I Know That He Loves Me.”
1. “Heat Above” – Greta Van Fleet
It takes something special to outrank the previous few songs on this list, and “Heat Above” is special. Considering how often Greta Van Fleet is compared with Led Zeppelin in style and vocals, I would consider this their “Stairway to Heaven.” It feels BIG, like the kind of song that will (or should) become a rock staple in years to come. Josh Kiszka’s voice once again nails the Robert Plant-esque screams while the synth organ and timpani lend it the sound of a rock opera high point. Simply marvelous! Special mention for “Age of the Machine” and “My Way, Soon.”
There you have it, my favorite songs of 2021, however unconventional they may be. Obviously, this list is based on my own personal tastes, but hopefully there are some out there who might agree that these songs are awesome. Whether you do or not, let me know what your list would look like. The year 2021 may have continued the rather terrible trend that 2020 started, but at least we had some outstanding music to lift our spirits. As always, below is my long list of runners-up, continuing the countdown in order (#13, #14, etc.), so hopefully you’ll find some new favorites among my list as well.
“Next to Me”, “I Don’t Wanna Leave”, and “See You Again” – RUFUS DU SOL
“Follow the Light” and “Breakdown” – Dirty Loops & Cory Wong
“Night Eyes” and “Cosmicandy Girl” – The Orion Experience
“Run” and “Sunshine” – OneRepublic
“Summerland”, “What’s Wrong”, and “Hot Tea” – half alive
“Hate Myself” – Dodie
“Get Better” and “U&ME” – alt-J
“Mirror” – Sigrid
“Quiet Town” and “West Hills” – The Killers
“Christmas Truce” and “Steel Commanders” – Sabaton
“One Last Kiss” – Hikaru Utada
“Love Dies Young”, “Waiting on a War”, “Cloudspotter”, and “Holding Poison” – Foo Fighters
“Avid” – Hiroyuki Sawano (closing song for the anime 86 Eighty-Six)
“Heathens” and “Cure for Me” – Aurora
“Bitter Taste” – Billy Idol
“Stop Making This Hurt” – Bleachers
“I NEED YOU” – Jon Batiste
“Worry No More” – Amos Lee
“Be Bold!” and “Ai wo, Ima” – BRADIO
“Loretta” and “Juban District” – Ginger Root
“One Mississippi” – Kane Brown
“Easy on Me” and “I Drink Wine” – Adele
“Typhoons”, “Trouble’s Coming”, and “Oblivion” – Royal Blood
“See You Again”, “Lovers”, and “Easy Way Out” – Roosevelt
“Lose Your Head” and “Call Your Friends” – London Grammar
“Blossoms” and “Secret Worlds” – The Amazing Devil
“Back to Oz” and “Cimmerian Shade” – Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine
“Airplane Song” and “Being Alone” – DJ Sabrina the Teenage DJ
“Back from the Dead” and “RATA-TATA” – Royal Republic
“Beautiful Mistakes” – Maroon 5
“Last Dance” – Stefania (Greece’s Eurovision entry)
“Visiting Hours”, “Bad Habits”, and “Shivers” – Ed Sheeran
“My Poor Heart” and “Numbers” – Andrew Belle
“Maps” – Lesley Roy (Ireland’s Eurovision entry)
“He Said She Said”, “Killer”, and “How Not to Drown” – CHVRCHES
“Diamond Ring” – Jonah Nilsson, feat. Steve Vai
“Ghost of My Past”, feat. Emily Falvey, and “Elevate” – Vicetone
“Army of One” and “Behind Your Walls” – The Offspring
“Good 4 You” – Olivia Rodrigo
“End of Me” – Billy Talent, feat. Rivers Cuomo
“South Side”, feat. Foster the People, and “R U High”, feat. Mallrat – The Knocks
“Wake Me Up” – FOALS
“Searching for My Love” – Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
“Put on a Smile” and “Skate” – Silk Sonic
“Don’t Say That” – iamnotshane
“Bright Blue Sky” and “Polygon” – TWRP
“Don’t Shut Me Down” and “I Still Believe in You” – ABBA
“Ghost” and “Bit of Good (Bit of Bad)” – Star-Lord Band
“Out of Time” – Diviners, BUNT., Tom Bailey
“Voices” – Tusse (Sweden’s Eurovision entry)
“Good in Red” – The Midnight
“The Maze”, feat. Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, and “Raising Hell”, feat. Ben Harper – Tom Morello
“Tout l’Univers” – Gjon’s Tears (Switzerland’s Eurovision entry)
“Cornflower Blue” – Flower Face
“Destroyer” and “Phantom” – Of Monsters and Men
“Lose You Again” and “Tears That Never Dry” – Tom Odell
“Stronger” – Sam Feldt, feat. Kesha
“Musician” – Porter Robinson
“Home” – Walk Off the Earth (from the soundtrack of Blade Runner: Black Lotus)
“Superhuman” – Tritonal & Codeko
“Do Better” – Feint
“Embers” – James Newman (UK’s Eurovision entry)
“How High” – The Record Company
“The Tipping Point” – Tears for Fears
“Billy Goodbye” – Franz Ferdinand
“Cool Enough” – Almost Monday
“Discoteque” – The Roop (Lithuania’s Eurovision entry)
“Friendless” – Nathan Wagner
“Killing Me” – Chung Ha
“Hold No Grudge”, “Helen of Troy”, and “Solar Power” – Lorde
“The Ride” – RAFAL (Poland’s Eurovision entry)
And like I usually do with these music posts, I’ll end with a short tribute to the many musical artists we lost in 2021, including Phil Spector, Jimmie Rodgers, Mary Wilson of The Supremes, Bunny Wailer, DMX, Joe Long of The Four Seasons, Lloyd Price, Samuel E. Wright, Robby Steinhardt of Kansas, Dusty Hill of ZZ Top, Dennis Thomas of Kool & the Gang, Don Everly of The Everly Brothers, Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones, Sarah Harding of Girls Aloud, Jane Powell, Leslie Bricusse, Jay Black of Jay and the Americans, Graeme Edge of The Moody Blues, Stephen Sondheim, Steve Bronski of Bronski Beat, and Michael Nesmith of The Monkees. May they all rest in peace and never be forgotten. I’ve been deep into Broadway lyrics lately, so it seems right to feature the best version of one of Sondheim’s most celebrated songs.
Once again, National Poetry Writing Month has come to an end. Looking back at all the poems and films I covered in April, it’s amazing how every post feels like I wrote it just yesterday, yet here I am with 28 behind me, thankfully clearing much of my backlog of watched movies that I might not have ever gotten to review otherwise. True, I unfortunately missed a couple days, just like last year, but I’m still very pleased with how well I was able to keep up. (While I was finally free of school this year, I didn’t have any reviews pre-written before April started, which has helped me in the past, so it felt like the daily posts took up more time than usual.) And I had the special thrill of being featured on the NaPoWriMo website, which hasn’t happened since 2016!
I’m actually relieved to be on the other side of April and free to work on another writing project that’s been on semi-hold for the last month. Still, it’s always satisfying to stretch my poetic muscles alongside a slew of other poets here in cyberspace. Big thanks to the NaPoWriMo website for all the prompts and to everyone who wrote, read, liked, followed, and commented throughout the month! And here’s a recap of all the films/poems covered in NaPoWriMo 2022:
It’s time once again for year 6 of the Blindspot series! I don’t know who started this idea for movie blogs, but I’ve enjoyed the annual incentive to clear out a little more of my ever-growing to-watch list. And at least this year, without school and interviewing, I can hopefully return to the intention of watching one pick a month.
I always try to choose an eclectic mix of films I’ve been meaning to see, often long-delayed recommendations from family and fellow bloggers. This time around, I’ve included a cult musical, a sports classic, a horror comedy, a critically acclaimed dystopia, a few dramatic ensembles, a Chinese import, and a couple underseen comedies. I even bent the rules to include a trilogy of Indian classics as one pick. I can’t wait to see what these potential favorites have in store.
In alphabetical order, the Blindspot picks for 2022 are:
For my fifth year of the Blindspot series, I was relieved to wrap it up (barely) before the end of the year. You would think one movie a month wouldn’t be so hard to fit in, but college inevitably put me behind, only starting on these in April and having to play catch-up in the last few months. Now that that I’ve seen all these films for the first time, I can close out 2021’s Blindspots with my annual ranking before announcing the 2022 list tomorrow.
Like 2020, only one film ended up becoming an instant favorite and winning entry onto my Top 365 movie list. Even so, I still consider this an excellent selection of cinema, with even my bottom-ranked picks having their good points. I’m glad to have finally crossed these films off my to-watch list, especially so I can move on to the next batch.
Modern “realistic” Godzilla thriller where bureaucracy is just as much a problem as the monster; special effects are both good and not quite good enough.
A little later than I usually like, but here is my start-of-2022 update to THE LIST, my top 365 movie list that first got me started blogging eight years ago and has been revised every year since. Of course, there are technically more than 365 since I group most film series together, as well as a few other pairs of similar films that equate to a tie. Now added are the 15 films listed in my Blogiversary post that I watched for the first time last year and are listed in bold below. Nothing was able to crack the Top 100 this time around, but you’ll find both high and low rankers, including Blindspots and Oscar winners. As always, these are my personal and subjective favorites that can easily change with time, and I welcome both agreement and disagreement.
Not that I expect anyone to notice, but there was some shuffling of the order for several films already on the list. The biggest rise went to the MCU’s Spider-Man series, thanks to the boost of No Way Home bringing it from #213 to #113, and other risers include Treasure Planet, Doc Hollywood, and To Sir, with Love (RIP Sidney Poitier). In contrast, Rogue One and Cars lost some ground, but the biggest loss was suffered by Dunkirk, falling from #293 right off the list entirely. (Still a great film, just not one I’ve had much inclination to see again.) It’s almost become a joke that I always leave Psycho at #365 every year, so I just decided to raise it up a few spots since it’s clearly not going anywhere.
The last few months have been a whirlwind, but I’m finally through with interviews and intense studying. With hopefully more time to relax, I should be able to seek out some great old and new films in the coming year and get back to compiling more lists as well. Thanks again to all readers, likers, followers, commenters, and lovers of film and/or poetry! I truly hope and pray 2022 will be a better year overall than the last two, but either way, we’ll always have movies.
Rhyme and Reason 