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Notes -
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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