Why So Blu?

Films, Albums, TV & 4Ks — Adam’s Top MEDIA of 2023!

It’s a new year, so why not start it off with a list of things I loved last year? Seems like an afterthought, but it’s been a complex journey getting this list together. I thought I hadn’t seen much or heard much. The form the list took was even different. In years past, I would compile films in one list, and 4K discs in another.  This year, I decided why not throw in my favorite music and TV shows… Who doesn’t like more work, am I right? So read through my list of favorite media of 2023, and let’s see if our tastes align, shall we?

Just so you know the flow of the list, it goes a little something like Films, Albums, Shows, and 4K Discs… Straightforward, but just in case you want to skip ahead… I won’t get offended. Also, there’s no order to anything. Just a top 5 for each category. Paid Amazon links for all available media will be available for each list entry. Happy reading, and here’s to an even more fruitful year for media in 2024!

Adam’s Top Films of 2023

Oppenheimer: I was anticipating this film from the first teaser I saw in front of Avatar: The Way of Water. Nothing was given away, and even knowing the film was an account of the historical triumph and tragedy of building the Atomic Bomb.  Cillian Murphy is perfect as J. Robert Oppenheimer, with supporting turns from Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh (particularly heartbreaking), Josh Hartnett, Rami Malek, and Kenneth Branagh that are undeniably powerful as well.  Christopher Nolan has had a career full of excellent films, but this one is turning out to be a crowned jewel, and with every possible praise thrown on the film, that is extremely well deserved. If you’ve somehow missed the film, please do yourself a favor and see it!

 

 

 

 

You Hurt My Feelings: Can a film be bitingly funny and yet simple, heartfelt and warm? The answer is absolutely.  You Hurt My Feelings is that film, and it reunites Julia Louis-Dreyfus writer/director Nicole Holofcener who struck gold with the similarly hilarious and alternately sweet Enough Said (the final film of James Gandolfini) that took me by surprise in 2013. This is a relatively intimate and small story that happens to be universal in its themes and gives way to some incredible warmth, depth, and comic brilliance. This was an easy entry for my list when I saw it in mid-2023, and it was just as funny and fantastic as the next viewing later in the year. For a film market screaming for intelligent comedy, this is a gem in the most subtle and wonderful of ways.

 

 

 

 

The Holdovers: This film came like a gift later in the year. A new film to add to the long list of holiday classics, The Holdovers centers on Paul Giamatti’s Mr. Hunham, a stuffy yet stinky professor at a boarding school, volun-told to watch over a small group of students not going home for Christmas break.  When the group winnows down to one, it’s Hunham, student Angus (Dominic Sessa), and school chef Mary (Da’Vine Joy Randolph in a career-best performance). The unlikely tripod becomes closer over the course of two weeks together, accepting each person’s grief, strife, or struggle and finding themselves drawn together as good friends. This is a beautiful, fully realized picture and one of the finest comedy dramas I’ve seen in a while.

 

 

 

 

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning: No use adding the “Part One” to the already bloated title, but this was one crazy engaging ride for moviegoers this summer.  I still can’t quite explain how this one failed to gain a massive audience during the summer movie season. I, to put it simply, spent the duration of the film riveted. The twists, turns, and action kept me fully engaged, and the car chase sequence is a masterclass of adventure filmmaking.  I know that fans of the series are miffed that a major character is gone by the end of the film, and I know others still feel like the IP for this franchise is tired, and I can understand that as well. As the 7^th film in a series, it likely could’ve benefitted from some tightening up, but for my money, this was the best in-theater movie experience I had in 2023. Should these films continue, this will be one that’s hard to beat as far as all-out entertainment.

 

 

Gran Turismo: Say what you will, but I was pleasantly surprised by Gran Turismo. I found a great small-scale action film here.  There were laughs, a smart recycling of older film tropes, and a sound direction from Neil Blomkamp.  If anything keeps this one from being a stone-cold new classic, it’s a smarmy performance by Orlando Bloom.  Besides that misstep, we have a new star in Archie Madekwe, who is as charismatic as Jann and a great elder stateman turn from David Harbour.  Gran Turismo may be predictable or even cheesy in some instances, but I enjoyed myself from the first moment of the movie all the way to the end, and sometimes it’s just so nice to be pleasantly surprised by a simpler type of movie.

 

 

 

 

Honorable Mentions: The Creator, Barbie, Quiz Lady, Tetris, You’re So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, The Equalizer 3, The Blackening, Scream VI

“Wish I Had Seens”: Killers of the Flower Moon, Saltburn, All Of Us Strangers, Leave The World Behind

 

Top Albums of 2023

Music was my first love… As a kid I was collecting cassettes when most kids were digging in their toyboxes. I have an abundant knowledge of music, from artists to albums to writers and producers. I still am so profoundly in love with music, even if sometimes my tastes skew older or my thirst for discovering something new can dry up from time to time. But, no matter, I found plenty to love that was new this year!

Janelle Monae – The Age Of Pleasure: After 3 albums chronicling the life of an archandroid, Janelle Monae released probably her best album thus far.  Deeply rooted in the ideals of queer identity, human sexuality, and masculinity blended with femininity, this turned out to be one of the more sexually forward albums I’ve heard in a while but also the most down-to-earth, breezy, and celebratory too.  Whether it’s the easy brevity of the run time (under 35 minutes with 14 tracks…) or the amazing guests (Seun Kuti and Egypt 80, Doechii, Grace Jones, Amaarae, and a sensual spoken word from Nia Long)… This album had a lot going on for such a short one. The key songs for me were the lead single, Lipstick Lover (with a sample from Stevie Wonder), and the easy, rocksteady reggae of I Only Have Eyes 4 2 (A steamy yet sweet song about a polyamorous relationship…) Janelle really nailed this record, and if you’ve got an open mind, you’ll be pleasantly rewarded with an eclectic treat for the ears. The Grammy nod for album of the year is no fluke either.

 

Victoria Monet – Jaguar II: Having scored lots of love from some earlier EPs and singles and being a go-to songwriting collaborator for Ariana Grande, Victoria Monet has been at the forefront of major stardom for a while.  Jaguar II appears to be her coming-out party.  Filled with non-stop “could-be-a-radio single” songs, this Press Play and Don’t Skip a track album was one that I played on a loop. Primarily produced with R&B powerhouse D’Mile (behind many amazing modern R&B releases…), Jaguar II has moments of throwback like Cadillac (A Pimp’s Anthem) or Hollywood (featuring Earth, Wind and Fire), or more lush offerings like Smoke (featuring Lucky Daye) or the strikingly beautiful How Does It Make You Feel, and don’t forget the viral hit On My Mama… there is no wonder Monet has 7 nods for this year’s Grammys as well. This is another record that doesn’t take listeners for an endless slog. It’s a tidy 11 tracks and 35 minutes. Again, all killer, no filler.

 

Pat Metheny – Dream Box: Crafted from random solo guitar recordings plopped on a laptop, Jazz guitarist Pat Metheny (eminent roaster of Sax player Kenny G) has made a gorgeous set of songs perfect for the quiet moments of your life. Playing in the background or even cranked up during a moment of relaxation, this album is beautiful from end to end.  The stunningly simple yet breathtaking Ole & Gard or the lush The Waves Are Not The Ocean feature Metheny in fine form, while forging new growth from the ever-evolving artist. This is the most primitive music he’s made, but also one of the most approachable albums he’s recorded in the last 20 years. Contemplative, non-stuffy, and just right for the music fan in a mellow mood.

 

 

Kali Uchis – Red Moon In Venus: After giving us two solid albums, Isolation and Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) ∞, Kali Uchis has perfected her perfect blend of Pop, Latin, Soul, and Hip-Hop on this masterpiece of an album.  Amassing 15 no-dud tracks within 43 minutes, sounding like music influenced by Philly soul, late-era Steely Dan, starry-eyed 80’s pop-soul, and dramatic sophisti-pop in the vein of Sade, Kali’s dreamy voice is enshrouded in lovely production from Benny Blanco, Mndsgn, Rodney Jerkins and Omar Apollo that despite the many names feel like a product of one solid unit. If this was a numbered list, this would easily sit comfortably on top.

 

 

Kylie Minogue – Tension: Being an artist nearing the 4^th decade of her career, we should long expect Kylie Minogue to rest on her laurels and make albums to please what is surely a small fanbase, right? Wrong – Very wrong, in fact, as Tension manages to bridge the simple pop sensibilities she once had under the S.A.W. production team in the 80s with an eclectic thought process through 13 varied takes on modern pop.  Whether we are immersed in the gay anthem of the year, Padam Padam, or enjoying a detour into Doja Cat Hip-pop like Hands or even the 80’s sax solo carrying Green Light, we are in for a true treat. Kylie’s voice sounds excellent as always, and her team of producers, Duck Blackwell, Biff Stannard, and Jon Green, with a few outsiders, have made a compulsively listenable slice of pop fluff that also has some character and something to say! This is what pop music should sound like, and very few will come as close as Minogue has to pop perfection in these times. Outstanding!

Honorable Mentions: Sam Smith – Gloria, Troye Sivan – Something To Give Each Other, Ava Max – Diamonds and Dancefloors, Jordy – Boy, Chloe – In Pieces, Spiritbox – The Fear of Fear, Jelly Roll – Whitsitt Chapel, Devin Morrison —  Dream Lobby Vol. 8, Dream Lobby Vol. 9

 

Favorite TV Shows

This may come as a surprise to you all, but up until recently, I was not really able to commit to too many TV shows. I’d spend more time with films and find myself putting TV on the back burner, only going to comfort shows like sitcoms or cooking series, and that would do the trick. This year, something truly clicked. Whether it was a good comedy, a brilliant mystery, a period drama, or a beautiful mixture of things, scripted TV was a big go-to for me this year. This was hard to nail down a definitive 5, but I definitely tried my hardest! And in no particular order…

Poker Face (Peacock): When you think we couldn’t get better than Glass Onion from Rian Johnson, he teams with Natasha Lyonne (brilliant in her own right) and gives up Poker Face, a downright perfect series that tells the insane story of Charlie (Lyonne), a gravelly-voiced casino waitress who can practically smell a lie.  Each episode set forth another mystery and another setting, and each episode continued in a trail of excellence, with each mystery becoming more scandalous or surprising.  Heap all the praise on Johnson and Lyonne but also save some for the incredible line of guest stars for each episode: Adrian Brody, Ron Perlman, Chloe Sevigny, Lil’ Rel Howery, Judith Light (just winning an Emmy, a first for a Peacock series), S. Epatha Merkerson, Hong Chau, Tim Blake Nelson, Ellen Barkin, Tim Meadows, Charles Melton, Nick Nolte, and Joseph Gordon Levitt – Just barely scratching the surface… Along with a second recurring actor, Benjamin Bratt.  Excellence in abundance, and with 10 episodes I had to keep myself from binging, just writing this makes me want to go back and start the journey with Charlie all over again! Oh, and a side note for all who collect or don’t have a Peacock subscription, Rian Johnson’s exceptional show is available on Blu-ray!

 

Shrinking (AppleTV+): In his second of 2 shows out in 2023, Harrison Ford steals the show in a supporting role as a psychiatrist and mentor to Jason Segal’s main character in Shrinking. Set as a hysterically funny yet poignant series, we meet Segal’s Jimmy as he is in the process of grieving the loss of his wife.  His colleague and friend Gaby is there to help him smooth out the rough spots as he learns to move on and get back in good spaces with his daughter Alice.  Ford’s Dr. Rhodes is a very bright spot in a series full of them, with supporting turns from Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Christa Miller, Michael Urie, and more, giving the show a lightness that I didn’t expect. My only complaint is that the show had to end for the season. I could’ve spent a lot more time with this ragtag group of imperfect people trying to help one another and their patients! Fabulous television.

 

 

 

Platonic (AppleTV+): Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne are a very reliable team.  Their chemistry is always spot-on, and, in this series, they play best friends Sylvia and Will, who are at a crossroads in their friendship. Silvia doesn’t care for Will’s wife, and as Will and his wife end up splitting, Silvia begins to reconnect with her once closest confidant.  With many obstacles going on for both of them – Will is a part owner in a brewery and bar, and Sylvia is managing a family with her husband Charlie (Luke MacFarlane) – They each lean on one another to make the transition of resilience to make things better for their respective lives.  This is, of course, never perfect, as we see many things going awry throughout the ten episodes.  I don’t think I have laughed so much so consistently on a show since Modern Family was at its height of popularity… Byrne and Rogen are perfect together here, with MacFarlane playing his best straight (no pun intended) guy to their more oddball characters. Think of them as a new version of Lucy and Ricky and add a lot more swearing, drugs, and booze, and you’ll get the very basic idea. This one is a can’t-miss comedy with all the right moves going for it.  The fact that the two leads want nothing romantic from one another is another reason to love the show, as they help each other find someone that is best for them or, in the case of Sylvia, how to make the marriage better somehow. This whole series was a blast of fresh air, and knowing it’ll be back for another season is comforting!

 

This Fool (Hulu): I find it surprising that after two seasons, This Fool has not amassed a massive following beyond some glowing critical acclaim. Starring Chris Estrada (The show’s creator), who is Julio, this second season follows his misadventures after the demise of the non-profit he worked for in season one, Hugs Not Thugs. In this installment, we see Julio, his cousin Luis, and their friend/mentor, Minister Payne (Michael Imperioli), as they find a new venture, a coffee shop, and their partnership becomes strained. Once again, this is a show with a simple premise, but rather refreshingly, it’s also offbeat, awkward, vulgar, and somehow still finds ways to tug at the heartstrings. Estrada is a natural writer, comedian, and actor who got the show made after doing very few stand-up appearances and working full-time in a warehouse. Talk about a glow-up. Frankie Quinones is brilliant as Luis as well. One only hopes we get more from Julio and Luis because season 2 was a wild ride!

 

 

The Gilded Age (HBO/Max): Leave it to Julian Fellowes to do it yet again. After the iconic Downton Abbey has left behind 6 consistent seasons and 2 surprisingly excellent films in its wake, we now have The Gilded Age, a splendid show in its second season at HBO. Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector lead the show’s Russell Family as Bertha and George, an industrial baron, and his wife as a “new money” family settling on 61^st Street in New York at the dawn of the industrial revolution. We also meet the Van-Rhijn/Brook clan, who are their across-the-street neighbors, consisting of ultra-tight Agnes and her spinster sister Ada, as they find themselves thrown up next to a large boastful new city estate, welcoming their niece to NY and an evolving social time for the upper class of the city.  The freshness to this spin on Fellowes’ “Upstairs/Downstairs” motif is that we see the upper class from a white perspective but also a black one, and we have many twists and turns as the Russells try their mightiest to find ways to fit in with the high society.

This show’s first season was a good one, but the second one, which just wrapped up recently, is one for the books.  Set against the story of the Russell family finally finding acceptance as they usher in the Metropolitan Opera House, among other things, I was never once bored as each episode pressed the season forward. Feverishly entertaining, gorgeously filmed and costumed, and set and acted with love from all involved, including the incredible Christine Baranski and Carrie Coon as Agnes and Bertha, respectively.  I was just as sucked into this series as I was with Downton and I hope somehow it continues to provide insightful wit, period drama, romance and scandal all in a nice little package for at the very least a few more years.  We can only hope HBO decides to release the show on something better than a DVD someday. I’d snatch it up in a heartbeat.

 

Top 5 Physical Media Releases

Road House (Vinegar Syndrome/MGM) Maybe it’s nostalgia. Maybe it’s the B-movie aesthetic. Maybe the unintentional homoeroticism… I couldn’t tell you… But I absolutely love Road House. Having been watching it since I was far too young, the exploits of Dalton (Patrick Swayze) and the ever-ridiculous townsfolk of Jasper, Missouri, as there dawns a “new sheriff,” so to speak, when the evil Brad Wesley (Ben Gazarra, hahaha) tries to lord over everyone with intimidation and cruelty. There is a layer of extra cheese peppered throughout, and boy, do I love it. Action, comedy, romance, and thriller elements live here and presented in an ultra-deluxe new set from Vinegar Syndrome, we are treated to tons of special features and a gorgeous new artwork on a magnet case and inside on the actual 4K BD case too. A thick booklet and some more artwork are the icing on the cake. This iteration is sold out, but the set minus the booklet is just as worth a pickup! This is how films should be released when they say collector’s edition!

 

The Monster Squad: What a great surprise! The movie itself more a nostalgia trip for most, I was stunned by the loving UHD presentation of The Monster Squad. Looking like a movie filmed recently with great vintage production design, the work that went into upgrading the look of this film seems extensive! The colors pop, the shadows look great, and overall, this is about as perfect looking a catalog release as we could ask for.  Even better, we have a 5.1 DTS-HD MA track that has thundering bass and busy surround activity! Pair that with a slew of extras, including a fantastic feature-length documentary, and you’ve got the perfect catalog release that isn’t a “special edition.”

 

 

 

 

Titanic: 25^th Anniversary Edition: Who wouldn’t expect a great quality release for Titanic? It’s fantastic to see that Disney and Paramount collaborated on this one. The movie has always looked good no matter what type of physical media it has been, but of course, this one is the definitive release. Using AI to refine grain and make effects more seamless, the overall look is flawless and may even surprise the most staunch of purists with its light touch. The Dolby Atmos track is a staggering one as well. Constant surround activity and deep bass are treats for the ear. Featuring all the special features from the many releases before it and some good new ones, too, you will have a busy time getting through the bonuses! There Is also a luxe looking even more special edition for those super collectors among us, but that was way out of my price range this year.  Either way, if you have the film in hand, you’re on the right track!

 

 

The Exorcist: 50^th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition: How this movie is 50 years old now is a staggering achievement. We also have to be mindful of the fact that this is still a scary film after all this time. Emotionally weighty and with more depth than the average scare show, The Exorcist, in any form, is a must-watch the film.  Coming out in a paltry single disc, featureless edition here in the US, the UK came in clutch with 2 collector’s editions, one with a detailed bible-looking box and swag and one with a hardbound glossy outer case with a steelbook touting the original poster art and some other goodies inside.  Photo cards, a booklet from the 40^th anniversary digibook and all the bonus features from releases past are here. To boot, the whole set is region-free! Now, the UHD Blu-ray itself… Stunner. Picture perfect and with a playful and creepy Atmos track, this is how a movie at age 50 should be preserved! This is worth the price to import if you love this film and want to collect it with all the special features.  The packaging is incredible too!

 

Oppenheimer: Of course, I’d include the 4K UHD Blu-ray that sold out in abundance in its first pressings.  The fact that it sold out is a testament to the fact that physical media is far from dead. I also must state that it’s a reference-grade, demo-worthy disc for anyone to own.  The features are extensive, the 5.1 track way more immersive than you can imagine, and the picture quality is bar-none the best-looking new film out now. It’s hard not to love the release, and the film itself, as stated before, is an unmitigated masterpiece! There isn’t much more to say, except if you haven’t gotten this by now, hop to it!

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2023 was a year full of great media. It was hard to narrow things down to 5, but a challenge is a good thing! I hope you found plenty to savor with your eyes and ears this year, and I look forward to bringing you quality reviews with my colleagues this year! I also hope some of my views align with you, the readers, as you keep our site going, and we always value wonderful, shared opinions! Happy watching and listening everyone!

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