After barely surviving a mandatory shutdown in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, the executive class running some of the largest film studios in the world decided that they weren’t quite ridiculously rich enough yet and furthermore they hadn’t taken enough liberties – financial, creative and moral – with those employed by them.

And so the actors and writers collectively said no and downed tools for five months in a dispute over pay (including residual payments in the age of streaming), working conditions, and especially the increasing threat of artificial intelligence being used to not only write screenplays based on algorithms but to steal the likenesses of actors (living and dead) and store them in perpetuity without just compensation.

With Hollywood productions quiet for half the year and none of the “talent” allowed to promote those movies that were completed prior to the strikes, we ended up with a more limited and less enthusiastically received slate of major releases. Not even superhero movies or franchise sequels fronted by Harrison Ford and Tom Cruise were guaranteed hits anymore.

Despite all this, 2023 ended up being a pretty good year for cinema, with plenty of examples of not only memorable blockbusters but of distinct filmmakers leaving their mark and under-represented communities providing vibrancy and freshness to a myriad of new stories. Based upon UK release dates, these are my 10 Best Films of 2023.

Follow me @SSPThinksFilm on X (Twitter).

10. You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah

You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah Review

2023 has been a great year for films about how Gen-Z processes their major life experiences, and this delightful, hilarious little film starring most of the Sandler clan (including Adam as an adorably schlubby dad) is up there with the very best.

As she approaches her her 13th birthday and the Jewish coming-of-age ritual, Stacy Friedman (Sunny Sandler) is determined to make her Bat Mitzvah the most perfect and memorable of her peer group, including that of BFF Lydia (Samantha Lorraine). But things get a lot more complicated as hormones, teenage crushes and petty but damaging psychological manipulation via social media enter the mix.

Five years ago, Bo Burnham made his memorable feature debut with Eighth Grade and told one of the most connective, visceral stories about becoming a teenager in years. Sammi Cohen’s film has the same aim but demonstrates how seismically culture has changed in just half a decade, all through a Jewish cultural lens. There may have never been a more challenging time to be growing up in an always-online age, and Alison Peck’s insightful script in addition to the across-the-board wonderfully naturalistic performances help to make this an unexpectedly profound crowd-pleaser.

9. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 Review

#JusticeforJamesGunn incarnate, the final chapter of the unlikeliest a-hole superhero team’s story shatters expectations and satisfyingly delivers on almost every level.

After years of defending the countless worlds together, the Guardians team has reached a precarious place. Their leader Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) has slumped into a depressed, alcoholic stupor after losing the love of his life Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), and Rocket’s (Bradley Cooper) past as a bio-engineered test subject comes back to haunt him in a very real way. Can the team come together one last time and save the galaxy, and themselves?

Marvel is seen as a pretty risk-averse studio and certainly much of their recent output has been received with a shrug from many viewers, but Guardians Vol 3 shows what happens when one of the best directors they partnered with is left to finish the story he wanted to tell. The action has never been more polished and visually dazzling, the performances from people and animated raccoons alike so honest and full of pain, Gunn’s love of animals so prominent as the team go up against a truly detestable figure who causes pain for the hell of it.

Recommended for you: MCU Marvel Cinematic Universe Movies Ranked

From Carrie (1976) to Doctor Sleep (2019), dozens of directors have been inspired by King’s weird and terrifying stories. In this Top List, we have delved into the deep back catalogue of King film adaptations to select the Top 5 Scariest Stephen King Adaptations of All Time.

Because this is a scariest and not a best list, much celebrated King adaptations like The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile will not be included.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and be sure to follow us on Twitter.

5. 1922 (2017)

Dir. Zak Hilditch

Coming in at number five on this list is a good old fashioned haunting story, based on King’s novella of the same name published in the collection “Full Dark, No Stars” in 2010. This unnerving story, released by Netflix, follows Wilf (Thomas Jane) as he plans to get his son, Henry, involved in the murder of his wife Arlette over her wanting to sell their farm. The murder goes well, but the men start to grow apart as Henry attempts to start a new life with his girlfriend and Wilf spirals into insanity, plagued by the rats that are feeding on his wife’s corpse.

The slow-burning nature of this film builds tension, and despite the fate of Wilf being almost inevitable from the start, his spiral makes it almost impossible to look away.

With King’s signature subtle supernatural flare, this film makes for an incredibly creepy watch.

4. Misery (1990)

Dir. Rob Reiner

As Stephen King adaptations became increasingly popular throughout the 80s, it was clear that when the author published “Misery” in 1987, it wouldn’t take long for it to be made into a film.

This Columbia Pictures adaptation centres on famed writer Paul Sheldon (James Caan); best known for his novels about a character named “Misery Chastain”. After writing the final instalment of his series, he crashes his car on the way back to New York and is taken in by a nurse called Annie (Kathy Bates). He is bedridden, and Annie, who claims to be his number one fan, nurses him back to health. He allows her to read the new book and after she finds out the ending, she begins to show how easily obsession can become insanity.

What sets this film apart from the others on this list and many of Stephen King’s stories is that it doesn’t involve so much as a hint of the supernatural. This is a very real story of something that could viably happen to anyone if they were in the wrong place at the wrong time, making this not only one of the most iconic King adaptations ever made but possibly the most realistically scary film on this list.

Recommended for you: 10 Best Horror Movies of the 90s

About Schmidt (2002)
Director:  Alexander Payne
Screenwriters: Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor.
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Kathy Bates, Hope Davis, Dermot Mulroney,

Comedy drama About Schmidt is director Alexander Payne’s third feature film, following on from the critically adored and criminally underseen Election released three years prior. The film sees the lauded filmmaker team up with legendary character actor Jack Nicholson, who leads the cast as the titular Warren Schmidt.

Upon release, About Schmidt was met with a sizeable degree of acclaim, with some deeming it one of 2003’s very best. The Guardian awarded the film 5 stars and claimed it was one of Nicholson’s finest performances, while Empire labelled it “superb” and Total Film described it as “hilarious”. It was, at the time, by far Payne’s biggest hit at the box office, grossing over $100 million and finding itself in awards conversations, particularly for Nicholson’s performance (although Payne and frequent co-writer Jim Taylor did land nominations at the Golden Globes for Best Screenplay).

We are introduced to recently retired Warren Schmidt as he encounters an existential crisis, fearing that his time has not amounted to much and his life is somewhat mundane. Following the death of his wife, he takes his camper-van across the US to rediscover places from his past and journey to his daughter’s wedding. Along the way we are treated to an assortment of Warren’s inner monologues as he recounts his life story and dissatisfaction to a foster child in Tanzania that he has been sending money to. The monologues offer some of the film’s most humourous moments and allow Schmidt’s cynicism to creep in.

Schmidt is in keeping with many of the characters within Payne’s work. He is a difficult to approach individual who becomes more likeable and sympathetic as the film winds its course, the main success in this reoccurring trend throughout Payne’s filmography being that the characters are at different stages in life, so aside from being difficult there aren’t many similarities between Election’s Tracy Flick, Schmidt or Sideways’ Miles, and it is remarkable how Payne gives these characters so much depth within relatively brisk runtimes.

Nicholson’s lead performance is without question one of the film’s strongest points; it is so far removed from his traditional roles as villains or troubled individuals in the likes of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Batman or The Shining. It feels truly refreshing to see him shine in a relatively downplayed and introspective role without much scenery chewing. His comedic timing, which had previously seen him on Oscar winning form in As Good As It Gets, is tremendous, the lead actor blending drama and comedy to perfection, creating some top notch chemistry with the rest of the cast (particularly Kathy Bates and Hope Davis as his daughter Jeannie) in the process.

The relationship Schmidt has with Jeannie, and Warren’s dissatisfaction with her fiancé Randall, gives the film a strong and empathetic emotional core, their relationships being entirely believable. Strained relationships between parents and children is a recurring motif in Payne’s films, with this topic also on display in The Descendants and Nebraska, though this 2002 release was arguably the first major thematic exploration of this type for this noteworthy filmmaker. Kathy Bates, as Randall’s mother, also performs exceptionally, her casting offering the chance for two acclaimed veterans to bounce off each other, with both earning Oscar nominations and Bates making the most of a relatively slight role.

In some ways, About Schmidt acts as a stepping stone for the career of writer-director Alexander Payne, as he would return in some fashion to road trip movies with both Sideways and Nebraska to very high acclaim. While strong in its own right, About Schmidt’s main problem is falling between arguably Payne’s two most acclaimed releases: Election and Sideways. For this reason, it is a curious film within his canon of work. It is perhaps a shame that its awards nominations were predominantly focused on Nicholson’s performance as the script is as sharp as one may expect and laced with depth.

About Schmidt is not quite Alexander Payne’s finest work, but it is certainly worth investing in, with the standout aspect being a stellar late career performance from Jack Nicholson who imbues our hero with a sense of remorse and regret as well as moments of humour. The chemistry with the rest of the leads is top notch and there are spins on traditional road trip movies and family dramas. Sitting where it does in Payne’s canon, About Schmidt is perhaps eclipsed by the films that followed, but it stands on its own two feet as a fine piece of work and a brilliant collaboration between one of America’s finest actors and one of its most acclaimed contemporary filmmakers.

20/24

Whether you’re an NFL (National Football League) fan or not, it’s hard to argue the rise in popularity American Football has had across the globe, and specifically in the UK, in recent years – let’s not go into detail about whether it should be called “football” or not.

With no less than four NFL regular season games scheduled to take place in England next year, awareness for the sport is at an all-time high and there’s no game on the NFL calendar bigger or more important than The Super Bowl.

But before Super Bowl 53 airs on February 3rd. join me as we start all the way back at our own twenty-five-yard line and drive down the field, counting down some of the best American Football films to get you in the Super Bowl mood.

Grab a beer, take a bite of that hotdog and raise some foam fingers, because these are the Top 5 American Football Films of All Time.

5. Varsity Blues (1999)

Kicking off our countdown in the number 5 spot is Varsity Blues.

This one just edged out Draft Day with Kevin Costner to take the lowest spot on this very exclusive list.

The story tells of reluctant second-string quarterback (the guy that throws the ball) Jonathon “Mox” Moxon who’s more concerned about getting into a good college than winning football games for abusive coach Jon Voight, before being forced to lead the team to victory when their star player goes down with an injury.

The story isn’t going to win awards for originality, but a likable cast comprising of a young Paul Walker and Amy Smart, as well as turn of the century heartthrob James Van Der Beek, all bring just enough charm to the screen to make you root for the characters. Despite the film sometimes playing more like a cautionary tale about the dangers of addiction and excess, rather than a straight-up sports drama, the film still manages to have fun with its characters and deliver an entertaining if not by-the-numbers football flick.

A quick pass to an open receiver and we make it to mid-field for the number two pick…

4. The Waterboy (1998)

Adam Sandler has had a pretty hit or miss relationship with the box office over the years, but one of his earlier and more successful outings was the 1998 sports comedy, The Waterboy.

In The Waterboy, Sandler plays Bobby Boucher, a simple and over-sheltered momma’s boy who finds himself venting his repressed anger issues as a linebacker (a defensive player/tackler) in Henry Winkler’s underperforming Louisiana Mud Dog’s.

Is it silly? Yes.

Is it clever? No.

But does it have some funny moments and some great comedic performances, such as that by Kathy Bates as Bobby’s overbearing mother and Henry Winkler as the cowardly coach Klein. You also get a nice cameo from pro wrestler The Big Show as Bobby’s hero, Captain Insano.

As a cure for some of the more serious American Football films out there that tend to take themselves a little too seriously, The Waterboy is a perfectly fun departure. If you’re looking for an accurate portrayal of American football, then you’d better move along. This is straight up Adam Sandler slapstick, with heaps of pratfalls and gross-out gags to spare.

If you don’t like it then Bobby will undoubtedly tell his momma on you!

Continuing to drive down the field into opponent’s territory, we come to number three on the list…

3. The Blind Side (2009)

Sandra Bullock won the Oscar for her performance as Leigh Anne Tuohy in this film based on the real-life story of pro footballer Michael Oher. The story recounts the inspiring tale of an underprivileged black boy taken in by a wealthy family and later adopted, who finds his calling as a football player, all the while receiving the education and love that had previously been denied to him.

Focusing less on the football aspects and more on the personal struggles of its characters, The Blind Side is an inspirational tale of overcoming the odds. It’s a heartfelt film with solid performances, earning it a solid 3rd spot on this list.

As our running back breaks a tackle and makes his way to the opponents ten-yard line, we come to…

2. Remember the Titans (2000)

Just missing out on the top spot, Remember the Titans is another film based on true events. Denzel Washington plays the tough-loving Herman Boone who is tasked with coaching the formerly all-white T. C. Williams High School football team as it integrates the new black students. Having to deal with more than simply winning football games, the players and local residents must first overcome the sudden race issues thrust upon their humble town. Suffice it to say, they learn to accept each other, becoming brothers on and off the field and finishing their season 13-0 (a feat that actually happened, despite the film’s many liberties taken in regard to actual events.)

Along the way there are plenty of gags, feel-good moments and toe-tapping montages to keep the film from getting too bogged down in politics, not to mention all the mushy “can’t we all just get along” spiel that a Disney film is bound to have in droves.

With a star-studded cast featuring veteran actor Will Patton alongside future stars Ryan Gosling, Hayden Panettiere, Kate Bosworth and Donal Faison, as well as a soulful soundtrack worthy of any CD collection, Remember the Titans is a must-see movie for any fan of American football.

With the clock counting down, we plant our feet, throw the ball to the endzone and…

1. The Replacements (2000)

Touchdown!

Which means only one thing; we’ve reached my number one American football film of all time.

Yes, long before he was busy combatting evil as Constantine and executing bad guy’s John Wick style, Keanu Reeves played all-American quarterback Shane Falco in The Replacements; a film that is (very) loosely based on the events of the 1987 NFL players strike.

When players across the league go on strike over pay issues, interim coach Jimmy McGinty (Gene Hackman) is tasked with drafting a bunch of Average Joes to fill in for the Washington Sentinels and finish out the last four games of the season. It’s a quintessential underdog story, but one that paves the way for a tonne of fun and laugh-out-loud moments throughout. A memorable scene in a jail cell where the team comes together to dance to Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” is a personal favourite to many.

Joining Keanu as the rag-tag replacement players are Jon Favreau playing a slightly unhinged SWAT member intent on tackling anyone and anything to the ground (including his own teammates) and Rhys Ifans as a foul-mouthed, chain-smoking striker out of Cardiff. You also get standout performances from Orlando Jones as a prima donna receiver, as well as Sumo wrestler Ace Yonamine as an offensive tackle content on stuffing his face with hard boiled eggs before a game.

Amusing characters, terrific soundtrack and an overall sense of fun earn this film the number one spot on this list.

So there you have it, the top 5 American Football films of all time (and just in time for the Super Bowl!)

All that’s left to do now is heat-up some nachos, put on a pot of coffee, and get ready for kick-off!

By Craig Sheldon

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