Things To Be Thankful For

Some of the best things movies have given us this year.

Thanksgiving is a time of contrasts. We’re supposed to be thankful but it’s pitch-black around noon every day. We’re supposed to have a nice meal with our family, but it often turns into a live-action Hieronymus Bosch painting. We’re told to eat everything in sight and then aren’t supposed to not take a nap. It’s confusing.

One thing that isn’t confusing, however, is that the movies have given us plenty this year. Good, bad and everything in between. This is not a ranking but just a list of things we should be thankful for, ranging from Paul Giamatti to even more Paul Giamatti. Let’s start with…

Paul Giamatti

What a king. The Holdovers, a new holiday classic, is a delight and most of that is due to Giamatti running rampant on another Alexander Payne film. Give him an Oscar, or at least a nomination. He’s able to play the asshole with a heart of gold (that we know and love) without coming off as a cliche.

Messed-Up Horror

There hasn’t been one dominant horror movie like in years past, but it’s been yet another solid year in this ridiculous genre. We have sequels like Evil Dead Rise, teen thrillers like Talk to Me, body horror like Infinity Pool and an international terror like When Evil Lurks. All range between good to very good. Thank you to the fucked-up writers capitalizing on what’s wrong with them.

Margaret Qualley in Sanctuary

I’ve said enough.

Rachel McAdams & Kelly Fremon Craig

It flew under the radar, but you should check out Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. if you have a chance. The Craig movie starring Abby Ryder Fortson as the titular Margaret and McAdams as the protagonist’s mother is a perfect encapsulation of what made the book so important. McAdams in particular really understood the assignment here and gave one of the warmest performances of the year.

The Asteroid City Alien

Maybe one of the best moments in culture this year, I wish more people had seen Asteroid City so we could discuss the alien above. The scene in which Jeff Goldblum’s extraterrestrial shows up is a gem as is Wes Anderson’s design of the character. Will save this costume for Halloween next year.

“Hey.”

One of the funnier movie moments this year is when David Fincher’s killer in The Killer looks into a mirror to reassure himself that everything will be alright. He just says “Hey” and carries on, and something about it gets me every time.

The Best Actress Race

I know we’ve got some time, but we’re setting up for a hell of a Best Actress race with Emma Stone, Margot Robbie, Lily Gladstone, Carey Mulligan, Natalie Portman, Sandra Huller, Fantasia Barrino, Greta Lee, Cailee Spaeny and Annette Bening all vying for five spots. There are still quite a few here I haven’t seen yet, but my personal favorite is probably Gladstone. Although Portman is right there as well. Need to see Poor Things soon. Or I’ll go insane.

The “Complicated” Needle Drop

Go see Bottoms, because it’s one of the funniest, if not the funniest, movies of the year. But also go see it because it has an unbelievable needle drop featuring “Complicated” by Avril Lavigne. It’s perfect.

Food

The Taste of Things is a very good French movie about cooking. But more importantly, the food in this movie looks better than anything has ever looked. The first section of the film is about the making of a meal. And goddamn. What a meal it is.

Italian Lady Bird

It’s less accessible than the Greta Gerwig movie, but a new screwed-up female protagonist trying to make something of themselves dropped. Watch Amanda.

Barbenheimer

Remember Barbenheimer? What a time. I can’t believe that happened. Everyone in the world saw two movies in quick succession. It ruled. I’ve never been more thankful.

"I don't think we're going to have enough hot dogs."

If you know, you know.

Ken

It’s insane this happened. It’s insane it was good. It’s insane Ryan Gosling signed on for this. Greta Gerwig is a genius.

Glenn Howerton in Blackberry

This is the line delivery of 2023. Good luck to everyone else for second place.

How to Blow Up a Pipeline

They blew up that pipeline. We applaud that.

Joe Biden Gets Skinamarinked

I would embed the tweet here if I could, but Elon Musk hates money, so I linked it above and here just because. The internet is rarely fun, but sometimes it is. This clip is as good as it gets.

Wins for the WGA & SAG

Easily the most important entertainment story this year, the writers and actors won their respective strikes, got real contracts and kept the industry afloat. It took plenty of hard work, picketing and chants, but they ultimately did it. The people who make the stuff we love will be able to continue to do so and be able to make a living off of it. This seems like it should be obvious, but nothing’s ever easy.