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Well - it was the first non shitty comic book movie since thor ragnarock, the main performance was amazing, and there is something utterly enjoyable in watching someone that is only kicked when trying to play by the rules finally snapping. And the realization that if enough people snap simultaneously it will be hard to stop them.
Probably that was what scared Hollywood - that the small people filled with angst liked it and liked the protagonist.
People like to throw taxi driver, but I think that falling down is somewhat overlooked as the inspiration.
I noted the parallels with Falling Down, a movie I disliked far more than Joker.
The cult classic signal boost means movies become memes and, if the meme gets popular, they trend from underrated to overrated. Although maybe that's just how the culture creates consensus in general.
'93 had some real cultural bangers. Looking at the link I clearly missed a a few highlights! Falling Down is lower in the list at #33. Snobbery aside, I appreciate it was made instead of an additional Grisham or Clancy derivative screenplay.
What are the entries highlighted in yellow?
The Fugitive holds up pretty well, and In the Line of Fire absolutely slaps. John Malkovich is fucking terrifying in it.
Initially I intended to highlight "cultural bangers" as a comparison to Falling Down's more humble release, but when I actually looked at the year I just ended up highlighting movies I liked, remembered fondly, or considered significant. Excluding the you-can't-handle-the-truthers (not gonna rewatch to see if I actually would like it as an adult) and Dennis the Menace (nostalgic but not a cultural banger); Into the Line of Fire which I haven't seen in 15+ years, but recall as a solid thriller. The Fugitive I watched a few years ago and it definitely holds up.
If I look at a list of a year like 2022's box office I need to scroll past the top 30 to make a new, equally meaningless highlighted list. The Northman was cool-- down at #55. I imagine I would enjoy Everything Everywhere, but haven't gotten around to watching it. Nor RRR, which I've been told to see, though I am no Bollywood fan.
So, you and your snobbery can eat a big spoon of Free Willy along with your Falling Down takes, bucko.
Watch the first half, then stop. The second half is just the jokes from the first half beaten like a dead horse.
I enjoyed Top Gun Maverick despite never having seen the original. Suzume was decent, even if it's transparently the director trying to recapture the magic of Your Name (which also describes his previous film Weathering with You). The Black Phone was alright but forgettable, and not a patch on Sinister by the same director. I didn't like The Banshees of Inisherin at all and don't understand the hype one iota. The fact that Tár is at #85 is a travesty, easily the best film on this list and it's not even close. Decision to Leave was pretty good, not as good as Oldboy.
I clearly didn't read the list. I saw both of these and enjoyed them both. Top Gun was, ironically, a breath of fresh air in its formula. That was the normie take and I agree with it.
I enjoyed Banshees. Tragedy, absurdity, and a story told through a dialogue that wasn't convoluted for the sake of complexity. Carried by a pair of actors with a chemistry and history together I appreciate. I also recall it being smartly humored. It kept me entertained and it worked. But, I may well be the cinema equivalent of a midwit, so a slightly different artsy but not-arthouse film might be my kryptonite.
Is on my list. I'll add Decision to Leave and give Suzume a try. My boomerism typically limits my anime viewings, so my exposure is limited to Miyazaki films (great!)
If you haven't seen Your Name, watch that first. Suzume is pretty much just Your Name but not quite as good.
I'm not much of an anime guy either, but Perfect Blue is my go-to recommendation of "anime for people who don't like anime". If you liked Black Swan with Natalie Portman you will almost certainly like Perfect Blue, as Black Swan is effectively a live-action remake/adaptation of Perfect Blue.
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