This is that latest that I’ve ever published a Top 10.
Shoutout to the one person who noticed it hadn’t been published yet. You know who you are.
With that, here are my Top 10 Movies of 2023.
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30
Jan
10
Mar
It’s that time again!
The Matt, Ian, and Blake (or MIB) Awards have returned. Not be confused with the secret organization dedicated to monitoring extraterrestrial activity on Earth. Truth to be told, we weren’t sure we’d we back. But in the end, we couldn’t bring ourselves to disappoint Matt’s dad, Ian’s wife, and Morgan Johnson.
Since it’s been so long, a reminder of our mission here at the MIB Awards:
The awards never go to the right person, because there is no right person. This is important to remember as we approach the 94th Academy Awards (which for some god forsaken reason are scheduled to air the final Sunday of March). There is no mathematical equation to determine the “correct” winners. Voters cast their votes based on their own personal taste. So what is the point of predicting the winners? You’re just guessing which opinion the majority will hold. Instead, I’ve teamed up with two other close friends and cinephiles — aspiring actor and entertainer Ian Goldsmith and former Warner Bros. Studio tour guide Matt Bauerly — to name winners of our own.
31
Dec
Film critics have been sharing their own end-of-year “Best of” lists over the last couple weeks and I’ve been puzzled by some of the reactions. There’s been a lot of negativity if certain popular films don’t make the cut or if some (or many) of the choices are films outside the mainstream. Personally, I don’t get outraged or offended if someone’s “Best of” list doesn’t match my own. On the contrary, my hope is to find films that I may have missed or overlooked. If you’re reading this, I can only hope you share that sentiment. Because these may not necessarily be the “best” movies that hit theaters in the last year, but they were certainly the ones that I liked or connected with the most.
With that, here are my Top 14 Movies of 2022.
06
Mar
We’re back!
After a one-year hiatus, the Matt, Ian, and Blake (or MIB) Awards have returned. Not be confused with the secret organization dedicated to monitoring extraterrestrial activity on Earth. Truth to be told, we weren’t sure we’d we back. But in the end, we couldn’t bring ourselves to disappoint Matt’s dad, Ian’s fiancée, and Morgan Johnson.
Since it’s been so long, a reminder of our mission here at the MIB Awards:
The awards never go to the right person, because there is no right person. This is important to remember as we approach the 94th Academy Awards (which for some god forsaken reason are scheduled to air the final Sunday of March). There is no mathematical equation to determine the “correct” winners. Voters cast their votes based on their own personal taste. So what is the point of predicting the winners? You’re just guessing which opinion the majority will hold. Instead, I’ve teamed up with two other close friends and cinephiles — aspiring actor and entertainer Ian Goldsmith and former Warner Bros. Studio tour guide Matt Bauerly — to name winners of our own.
02
Jan
If you’re actually reading this introduction and haven’t already started scrolling through the list, know that I’m damn proud of you. Because this is where I offer the usual disclaimer: This is not a definitive list by any means. These may not necessarily be the “best” movies that hit theaters in the last year, but they were certainly the ones that I liked the most.
But enough preamble. Here are my Top 10 Movies of 2021.
17
Jan
First, a plea: Support your local movie theaters.
I am not ignorant to the fact that I have been incredibly fortunate during one of the most difficult years in our country’s history. As the COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the United States, amassing a domestic death toll of 335,000+ and leaving more than 10 million Americans unemployed, I have been healthy, employed, and able to work from home. I do not take that for granted. I have had my fair share of personal struggles related to the pandemic, but they pale in comparison to the dire circumstances facing others.
State and local governments have been forced to implement strict measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and that has had economic ramifications, with businesses struggling to keep their doors open and others forced to close them, either temporarily or permanently.
The theater industry is struggling. Due to public health guidelines advising against large gatherings in enclosed spaces, movie theaters have been forced to operate at reduced capacity or shut down completely. Distributors have largely opted against releasing major motion pictures until theaters are able to screen their films for full capacity audiences, fearing the loss of box office profits.
I understand there are those for whom the home viewing experience is more affordable or convenient, but personally, I don’t want to live in a world without movie theaters. The past year offered an unpleasant preview of what life would be like without the moviegoing experience, and I hated it. It was miserable. I miss settling into a seat in a darkened room with an overpriced bucket of popcorn in my lap, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to disconnect from the outside world for a couple hours and lose myself in the story about to be told on the big screen before me.
Some go to church every Sunday. I go to the movie theater. It is my cathedral.
So if you are able, please consider supporting your local movie theater. If you’re not comfortable going to the movie theater under the current conditions of the pandemic — and I can’t in good conscience encourage you to go as of this writing — I implore you to explore other ways to offer your financial support. Buy a gift card for future use. Purchase concessions to-go. Reach out to theater management and ask if there are other avenues to help keep their doors open, especially if they are an independent theater.
There, I’ve made my pitch. I’ve said my peace.
If you haven’t already skipped ahead, here are my Top 12 Movies of 2020.
06
Feb
We’re back!
Welcome to the sixth annual Matt, Ian, and Blake (or MIB) Awards! Not be confused with the secret organization dedicated to monitoring extraterrestrial activity on Earth.
The awards never go to the right person, because there is no right person. This is important to remember as we approach the 92nd Academy Awards, airing on Sunday. There is no mathematical equation to determine the “correct” winners. Voters cast their votes based on their own personal taste. So what is the point of predicting the winners? You’re just guessing which opinion the majority will hold. Instead, I’ve teamed up with two other close friends and cinephiles — aspiring actor Ian Goldsmith and former Warner Bros. Studio tour guide Matt Bauerly — to name winners of our own.
07
Jan
Well, here I am, back to 15. It was that kind of year for movies. Ten didn’t seem like enough.
Here is where I offer the usual caveat: This is not a definitive list by any means. These may not necessarily be the “best” movies that hit theaters in the last year, but they were certainly the ones that I liked the most. For example, Greta Gerwig’s Little Women is a great film and I think you should go see it. But there were other films I connected with more. In conclusion, go see Little Women.
If you’re still reading by now, here are my Top 15 Movies of 2019:
20
Feb
We’re back!
Welcome to the fifth annual Matt, Ian, and Blake (or MIB) Awards! If you need a refresher on why we insist on doing this year after year, ask and you shall receive:
The awards never go to the right person. Why? Because there is no right person. This is important to remember as we approach the Academy Awards. There is no mathematical equation to determine the winners. Voters vote based on their own personal opinion. So why bother predicting the winners? You’re just guessing whose opinion is going to win out. Instead, I’ve teamed up with two other close friends and cinephiles — aspiring actor Ian Goldsmith and former Warner Bros. Studio tour guide Matt Bauerly — to name winners of our own.
You will undoubtedly notice we have a new category this year: Best Female Director. There are a few reasons that we felt this was a necessary addition to the MIB Awards:
- It’s certainly not because female directors are inferior to their male counterparts. It’s simply not a level playing field. Female directors accounted for just 4% of the 100 top-grossing films of 2018, and it’s not due to a lack of women interested in directing, I can promise you that. Working in a male-dominated field, it is more difficult for female directors to receive awards recognition. We feel it is important to elevate these women and their films and do our part to support their efforts toward achieving gender equality.
- We already distinguish between male and female performers for the acting categories, so it does not feel like an enormous leap to do the same for the directing category.
- The inclusion of this new category also encourages us — Matt, Ian, and Blake — to personally seek out female-directed films that we might not otherwise see.
24
Jan
If I had to guess, you’ve probably already skipped past this part and are now scrolling through the actual list. I can’t say I blame you, because I’d probably do the same thing. I should just be thankful you’re even here! But if you are in fact taking the time to read this part, this is where I offer the usual disclaimer: This is not a definitive list by any means. These may not necessarily be the “best” movies that hit theaters in the last year, but they were certainly the ones that I liked the most.
With that out of the way, here are my Top 10 Movies of 2018.
If I had to guess, you’ve probably already skipped past this part and are now scrolling through the actual list. I can’t say I blame you, because I’d probably do the same thing. I should just be thankful you’re even here! But if you are in fact taking the time to read this part, this is where I offer the usual disclaimer: This is not a definitive list by any means. These may not necessarily be the “best” movies that hit theaters in the last year, but they were certainly the ones that I liked the most.
With that out of the way, here are my Top 10 Movies of 2018.