All the New Movies I’ve Seen: Third-Quarter 2023 Edition

The third quarter of 2023 sure did have its ups and downs — where the movies were concerned, anyway.

On the one hand, we had the one-two punch of Barbie and Oppenheimer — or Barbenheimer, if you prefer — movies that broke box office records and were actually very good, proving that sometimes, the hype is actually justified.

But on the other hand, there was the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which halted production and limited promotion for nearly all new releases. Some release dates were delayed as a result, and movies that did come out often did so quietly. Thankfully, after nearly 150 days, the writers got a great deal from the studios. Hopefully, the actors will get one, too, and soon.

Over these last three months, I saw 14 movies, bringing my total for the year so far to 50. (I’m counting a collection of four short films as one feature.) I’ve shared my thoughts about most of what I’ve seen on Twitter and/or Instagram (Stories), but I haven’t documented my thoughts about everything. So, just like I did in the first and second quarters of this year, here in one place (and in reverse-chronological order) is a list of all the movies I saw in the third quarter of 2023, how I saw them, and a quick review of each one.

50. The Creator (theater). I liked this movie about advanced AI “beings” and humans at war a lot more than I was expecting to. It’s well acted, timely and compelling, and features impressive visual effects. And I dug seeing Allison Janney play a military badass. Grade: B+

49. Roald Dahl Shorts (streaming). Wes Anderson’s short-film adaptations of four Roald Dahl stories are absolutely wonderful, especially The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Poison. At 39 minutes, Sugar is the longest of the four; the others are just 17 minutes long. I really enjoyed how each film is essentially a dramatic reading that uses Andersonian whimsy and theatrical techniques (not to mention the same core cast of actors) to draw you in. Each of the actors is predictably good, but in Poison, Dev Patel gives a droll performance that had me literally laughing out loud. While I didn’t enjoy The Swan or The Ratcatcher as much as the other two, it’s all relative; each of the films is definitely worth watching. Average grade: B+

48. Dumb Money (theater). A good movie about how, during the Covid pandemic, a YouTuber named Roaring Kitty inspired his many fans to buy GameStop stock, and how that upended the fortunes of rich hedge fund investors who had bet against the stock. The story was another example of those on the outside trying to grab a piece of the pie from the 1%, and the film illustrates just how skewed the system is. It also features a surprisingly good performance from Pete Davidson. But the tone of the film is a bit too muted. I wanted a little more to emphasize and show — to comic effect — how wild this whole situation was. Grade: B

47. The Burial (theater). A fine, rather conventional courtroom drama about a charismatic lawyer and his more traditional client taking on a big company, that feels like it could have been released in the 1990s. Tommy Lee Jones grooving to Tony! Toni! Toné! is something I never thought I’d see, but it feels good. Grade: B–

46. Flora and Son (streaming). John Carney’s latest film about the redemptive, healing power of music (in working-class Ireland) is a fine but disappointing release. It tries too hard, and as a result, it doesn’t have the same magic that Once and Sing Street do. And the songs aren’t in the same league as the ones in those other films, either. This film is more on the level of Begin Again. Better luck next time (because that seems to be Carney’s pattern). Grade: B–

45. Meg 2: The Trench (theater). Here’s a case of the trailer being much better than the movie itself. I was hoping for dumb fun and nothing more, but unfortunately, the film takes itself too seriously. As a result, it’s not fun enough — not even in the last third or so when the Megs and other creatures finally attack. Grade: D

44. A Haunting in Venice (theater). Kenneth Branagh’s latest Agatha Christie adaptation is a better-than-I-was-expecting murder mystery/thriller. The movie’s generally well made, with some attractive cinematography of Venice. And Tina Fey does a nice job in a more dramatic role than she usually plays. I just wish the film was projected properly when I saw it. Grade: B

43. Oppenheimer (theater). Read my review here. Grade: A 

42. Theater Camp (theater). This film is a one-joke comedy (theater kids are gay! and overly dramatic!), but it’s a joke I appreciated and enjoyed. It’s a bit reminiscent of the movie Camp, which was more focused on the campers (as opposed to this film, which is all about the counselors and staff). And it includes some good, catchy songs (“Women Cannot Read” and “Camp Isn’t Home”). Grade: B

41. Barbie (theater). Read my review here. Grade: B+ 

40. Stephen Curry: Underrated (streaming). Read my review here. Grade: B 

39. The Lesson (theater). A somewhat pretentious but fine, and ultimately, forgettable, drama. Grade: B–

38. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (theater). This final chapter in the Indiana Jones saga is worse than unnecessary. It’s boring. And the ending is anticlimactic. Really, it’s just a disservice to Indiana Jones the character, and fans of the character. Grade: C–

37. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning: Part One (theater). Another solid entry in the franchise, even if it’s not one of the strongest films of the seven so far. Plenty of exciting action scenes, though (for example, the Rome car chase), and the last half hour or so demands to be seen on a giant screen. Glad I saw this one in “IMAX.” Grade: B

And with that, we’re on to the final quarter of the year, when most of the award-hopefuls are released. Bring ’em on!