I wish that I could get annual best-of lists from my homies and pretty much, all of my acquaintances and fellow artists. I would hope that these lists would not be limited to the usual genres of things that can be listened to or watched or read. I mean, I LOVE the best-of season. The time of year when “critics” release their lists of their favorites from the past twelve months. However, I want people’s highly subjective and specific lists. Best words of wisdom they have received? The best ideas? Best kicks this year? No category is too idiosyncratic.
I just can’t get enough of the off kilter, strange and thought provoking. If you want weird in this post-peak culture, Noah Hawley killed with Legion. David Lynch ran rings around the status quo with Twin Peaks: The Return. Lindelof riffed on Alan Moore’s ideas with The Watchmen and approached a level of bizarre and baroque. I hope this kind continues to be made. This is the kind of stuff that truly never could have existed in previous eras. 2023 had some real WEIRD to it- see below.
Best Films of 2023
Godzilla Minus One
It’s hands down without a doubt the best Godzilla film I’ve ever seen, and honestly was the best film I’ve seen this year in a theatre. Point blank, It is the best Godzilla has ever looked in a Japanese film. I’m glad Ryunosuke Kamiki is getting some Oscar love. I was in pain with him. I’m glad it ended the way it did, but there were a couple of ways it could have gone and I wouldn’t have been surprised, or really even disappointed with any of them. And the title well … I think it’s a colloquialism, but the idea is that Japan, immediately post-WWII, is so broken and unmoored from its own historical trajectory that as a society it’s at a terrible disadvantage to deal with any more tragedy. IOW, they’re not starting from zero, but from -1.
Talk to Me
A new modern horror classic. Talk to Me has a stellar set-up with a very charming cast. It’s also more creepy than scary, I’m always wishing for more dread and tension. Still a quality horror movie I liked the final shot A LOT. I cannot wait to see what RackaRacka does next.
Infinity Pool
If you liked Antiviral and loved Possessor then Brandon Croenberg’s Infinity Pool is a must-see. The film itself is blood-drenched Borges mixed with an especially nasty comedy of manners. Mia Goth has mastered the art of disconcerting, auto-critical sex appeal. She makes the most of her unusual eyebrowless facial geometry. Infinity Pool plays with gore and suspense in a way that ought to let the arthouse audience and the grindhouse audience harmoniously cohabit the theater in sicko solidarity. So much of what I love about David Cronenberg’s stuff is the restraint, even at its nastiest. Brandon’s stuff might seem a little too gratuitous sometimes. However, how awful it all feels, and how intently Cronenberg studies the reactions of his characters is A+.
Honorable mentions: Past Lives, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Barbenheimer, TMNT: Mutant Mayhem.
Special Shout Out:
They Cloned Tyrone- A cool concept and the creators just ran with it! It’s like Blacksploitation and Blade Runner had a baby. More. Of. This.
Best TV/Streaming of 2023 … New
I’m A Virgo
I’m glad this got made and even gladder (i.e. the glad-est) that Boots Riley is continuing to prosper (and uplifting a whole crew with him!). Sorry To Bother You was a delightfully weird trip that just gets better with every rewatch. I’m A Virgo continues the over the top gonzo that Riley excels at. I hope he makes enough movies/TV that people catch up later. A real voice.
The Last of Us
The tale of Bill and Frank was easily the most beautiful and heartbreaking piece of genre this year. Possibly many years. I don’t think that would have worked if anyone but Pedro Pascal was playing Joel. As it stood, for me, I was with him the whole way, and not only did I understand his actions, but fully applauded what he told Ellie.
Poker Face
I think Rian Johnson has found his niche. Poker Face is stellar, despite a few plot-holes here and there amidst the mysteries. I’m eager to see the new nemesis Charlie will be facing off against next season since I don’t normally think of that actor as the villainous type. Side note: Natasha Lyonne’s Old Navy commercials are squandering some of the good will she’s built up. Easy now Columbo.
Mrs Davis
The final episode was so powerful and I think about it regularly. I enjoyed it immensely, especially just how unafraid it was to run with a crazy plot. The mix of action, comedy and drama (well, not that much…but there was some!) was so well done. Reminded me of Preacher. Not too many shows can hit all those different notes.
Scavengers Reign
Easily one of the most interesting and strangest Sci-Fi stories I’ve ever seen, with the most believable (and truly alien) alien planet ever rendered. A real mind altering take on alien life. Creeped me out more than any big budget live action movie/show has done since I was a kid. It feels like Alien. There’s bio-horror, there’s body horror, there’s isolation. Unearthly in amazing ways.
Honorable Mention(s): Beef & One Piece
Returning …
What We Do In The Shadows
This season of WWDITS was its absolute best. Really, there wasn’t a bad episode in the bunch. Also, the Guillermo frogs are my favorite sight gag of any show all year. Sad to see it go with Season Six. That said, I am open to a Jackie Daytona spinoff.
The Bear
The episode “Fishes” was the most uncomfortable I’ve felt watching TV in a long time. If writing (and acting) can make me feel that level of anxiety, wondering what the what was going to happen next, and then feeling as depressed as Carmie when he learns there’s probably nothing he can do to fix it…well, wow. Just wow.
Reservation Dogs
Such a great, lovely show. “Deer Lady” was the best episode of the year and if you haven’t, it MUST be watched. Devery Jacobs was terrific in this final season and a lot about her performance throughout has really stuck with me. The whole cast was perfect, just perfect. This one will age well.
Honorable Mentions: Yellowjackets. I’m hoping for some sort of really drastic reset of everything we’ve known up until now next season, or else it’s gonna start to feel too repetitive for credulity or interest. I still love this show, and They must have some kinda Lost-esq “We have to go back!” shake up in mind. Fargo. Seeing as how the series has already given us a UFO, the judgement of God, and a centuries old sin eater … Well, an idyllic community of battered women using puppet justice isn’t even close to being too weird to be real. This season is shaping up to be a doozy.
Best Video Games of 2023
Sea of Stars
More special little 20 to 30 hour gaming experiences, please. I really enjoyed every second of Sea of Stars. I’d suggest that Sea of Stars stands in stark contrast to Chrono Trigger’s whole vibe. The latter was all about making you feel like you were on a really, really big adventure with the highest possible stakes for everything, everywhere, everywhen. It didn’t sacrifice the heart or the small moments to do so, but it wore that ambition on its sleeve. Sea of Stars is content to impress upon you that this adventure is big for the people in it, and that that’s what should matter.
Dredge
Dredge is an odd mix of things that I didn’t know I wanted. The Tetris-like cargo management, the increasing hallucinations if you stay out in the fog too long (watch out for phantom rocks!), and I personally find the core loop satisfying, even the way the boat controls. Fishing- Horror. Binge it now.
Dave the Diver
Dave the Diver initially comes off as an underwater fishing game/restaurant simulator. Then the lore and side quests kick in and well, it just gets sillier and even more weird in a good way. Plus, Dave is just such a fun character and the supporting cast is an eccentric mix of silly people. It’s got a LucasArt adventure game sensibility where no one is taking anything too seriously. Insane amount of content for the price as well. Pick it up.
Honorable Mentions: Spider-Man 2, Tron: Identity & 30XX.
Best Music of 2023
It seems that many best-of lists that are as long as your arm likely compile from paid music services that pre-select for you artists that you can “favorite” almost at random, then hear more of the same most of the time. There are bazillions of bands out there so I’m not saying this is necessarily wrong or bad, but it doesn’t necessarily throw you into the deep end of musical expression. 2023 felt like far from a vintage year for music for me, in fact for myself it was full of a lot of “good but not amazing” albums, with many underwhelming releases from artists who’s work I’ve liked more in the past. However, It’s been a strong year for leftfield, semi-chaotic, sampling-collaging hip-hop. The records listed here are special and worth checking out.
JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown – Scaring The Hoes
Mndsgn – Snaxxx
SZA- SOS
El Michels & Black Thought – Glorious Game
Kool Keith & Real Bad Man- Serpent
Honorable Mentions: billy woods & Kenny Segal- Maps, Black Milk- Everybody Good?, Oddisee- To What End, Apollo Brown & Planet Asia- Sardines, Rome Streetz & Big Ghost Ltd- Wasn’t Built In A Day, Danger Mouse & Jemini- Born Again, Madlib, Meyhem Lauren & DJ Muggs- Champagne For Breakfast and Nas – Magic 2 & 3.
Best Books of 2023
The (music) autobiography of Geddy Lee, My Effin Life, is the best rock memoir I’ve read this year. In this, he’s capturing more than music history but also the drive among many of us to bust out of the grim “high schools halls and shopping malls” of our youth. The chapters on his family history, are extraordinary. he outlines the experiences of his parents in the Nazi concentration camps during WW2. The cost to his family of being a working musician is also discussed at length. I also loved the stories of the bonds of friendship and creativity between Geddy, Alex and Neil.
Daniel Clowes’ Monica is fantastic. After the first reading I immediately started again to tie together the strands in my head. He’s just masterful in oblique, surreal, melancholic storytelling.
Not Forever, But For Now by Chuck Palahniuk stayed with me. It is an absurdist horror satire about a family of professional killers responsible for many atrocious events in recorded human history. The story is dark and gritty and best described as a fever dream. I loved it.
What are your highly specific and personal bests of 2023? Best decision? Best new dance move? Hell, best Hot Sauce? Hit me up.