In the last month of the year, I managed to squeeze in two dozen movies and more, ending this year just one show short of last year's 180 total. Following this compilation, take a look at the movies and shows that I thought were the best of 2023. Numbering picks up from previous months and titles with an asterisk were new to me. The ratings are based on a scale of 1-5 cans of tuna fish, with 5 being the best. Happy viewing!
156. Having Our Say* (2023, George Street Playhouse) – This two-person play packs in the warmth, humor and pathos as the aging Delany sisters – Sadie, 103, and Bessie, 101 – recall the story of their lives. The history of their family mirrors that of the United States as Black women who were overlooked, undervalued and yet so accomplished; one of them was an educator and the other a dentist. I had read their book (yes, this is based on a true story) many years ago and couldn’t put it down. To see it come alive on the stage of the beautiful George Street Playhouse was a real treat. By the time you read this, the show will have closed, but make sure you check out the offerings of this gem of a theater right in New Brunswick. There’s not a bad seat in the house, there is a wide range of plays and even a few musicals, all imaginatively produced and staged. Support the arts! 4 cans.
157. Ladies of the ‘80s* (2023, Lifetime) – I was a faithful watcher of the nighttime soaps on TV 40 years ago where the actresses starring here – Linda Gray (Dallas), Morgan Fairchild (“Falcon Crest”), Nicolette Sheridan (“Dynasty” and later “Desperate Housewives”), Loni Anderson (I loved her in her comedic role on “WKRP in Cincinnati”), and the diva of divas, Donna Mills (“Knots Landing”) – are back! (How did they not include Joan Van Ark?) Amid a plethora of plastic surgery, coiffed in big wigs and way too much make-up, they play stars of the 80s who have reunited for a live Christmas special. It’s OK to be campy if you’re in on the joke, and that’s the case here. The ladies still harbor jealousies, grudges and a few have Emmy bragging rights. They clash and threaten to walk out, but you just know they will hang around for one more big, dramatic show (besides, they can’t walk out in the first 10 minutes or we have no show!). So buckle up, divas and diva lovers, because this will be a bumpy ride. 2 cans
158. May-December* (2023, Netflix) – This movie is based on the true story of teacher Mary Kay Letourneaux, a 30-something wife and mother who had an affair with a 6th grade student. Here, 20 years later, Gracie (Julianne Moore) is married to Joey (Charles Melton), who was a friend of her son and only 13 when the affair began. Celebrated actress Elizabeth (Natalie Portman) visits the family to prepare for her role as Gracie in a new movie. There is just something so awkward and smarmy here since everyone in the movie and most viewers recall the sordid episode, which saw the real Mary Kay serve time in prison as a sex offender even as she had several children by her teenaged lover. Joey in this movie is still submissive to whatever Gracie says or wants, and her children endure insults by their mother. As Elizabeth watches Gracie, she begins to fall under her spell. 3½ cans.
159. Bad Surgeon* (2023, Netflix) – I remember this true story about a superstar cardiac-thoracic surgeon who pioneered organ transplants by using plastic windpipes and supposedly stem cells to save his patients. He became rich and famous and got involved with a producer for a TV news show. But his research was suspect and his engagement to the producer did not result in a wedding. This is another “truth is stranger than fiction” tale about a man who is not nearly what he seems. Ask the families of the patients who died or the producer whose heart he broke. 3 parts, 3½ cans.
160. A Good Person* (2023, Netflix) – Allie (Florence Pugh) starts out as a good person with a very happy life. She is performing music and engaged to a man she really loves. But then there is a tragic car accident and a year later, Allie is addicted to pain killers, living at home with her mother with no prospects and no plans – other than scoring her next fix. Along comes Daniel (Morgan Freeman), a bitter man whose daughter died in that car crash and who is rearing his feisty and resentful 16-year-old granddaughter. The paths of Daniel and Allie cross, but can he accept Allie? Can he care for his rebellious granddaughter? This is not a fun movie to watch, but it has its moments and excellent performances. 3½ cans.
161. Bob & Don, A Love Story* (2023, You Tube – This adorable 20-minute movie chronicles the long-standing friendship between comedians Bob Newhart and Don Rickles. Their comedic styles could not be more different. Newhart is droll, quiet and observational while Rickles’ manic style of insult humor was pointed and sharp. But the two men and their wives formed a lasting bond. They vacationed together and did all of the things that friends do. The film features clips from their work and their travels together and is worth seeing if you are a fan. 3 cans.
162. Quiz Lady* (2023, Netflix) – Sandra Oh and Akwafina play mismatched sisters thrown together to pay the large gambling debt belonging to their mother, who has fled her nursing home and is banned from returning. The bookies go after the sisters, even kidnapping their dog, so coming up with the money has an added air of importance. Akwafina’s Anne is hooked on watching a nightly game show (hosted by Will Farrell), and when her irresponsible sister Jenny realizes that Anne knows all of the answers, she figures a scheme to get her on the show to pick up enough money to pay off the debt and ransom the dog. Oh’s character is wacky, funny, frustrating and perfectly played. 3½ cans.
163. Under Pressure: The US Women’s World Cup Team* (2023, Netflix) – I don’t routinely follow soccer, but sign me up for the World Cup coverage. This 4-part documentary traces the formation of the 2023 squad that consisted of such famous names as Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Julie Ertz while blending in newcomers such as 17-year-old Alyssa Thompson, Sofia Smith and Trinity Rodman. The pressure just to make the team is enormous, and that’s before they face an opponent on the pitch. The National team feels a responsibility to continue the winning legacy that began with the 1999 World Cup Champs, and anything less than winning is unacceptable. This is an emotional experience for players and fans, and the 4 parts went by very quickly. To me, it scored! 3½ cans.
164. The Gilded Age, Season 2* (2023, HBO) – This is a series that needs multiple seasons for at least two reasons: First, it unfolds very slowly, and second, the investment in the sets and costumes needs to be amortized over time because it must be enormous. The series takes place in New York, where the wealthy old guard are being challenged for control of high society by newcomers who have made their money more recently. I like anything starring Christine Baranski, and in this series she is wealthy widow Mrs. Van Rhyn, fiercely protective of the old ways and not at all interested in the nouveaux rich represented by her neighbors, the Russells. This season centers around Mrs. Russell’s attempt to crack the inner circle by starting the new Metropolitan Opera when she cannot get a box at the existing Academy. Aside from Opera Wars, there’s also a love story between spinster sister Ada (Cynthia Nixon) and a new pastor and a few other flirtations among the other characters, which sometimes cross the lines. If you’re looking for action, skip this one, but I still like it. Season 3? We will have to see about that. 4 cans.
165. 44 Pages* (2016, Prime Video) – As a kid, I considered the best part of going to the doctor’s office was the chance to do the “Hidden Pictures” in Highlights Magazine, where you would look at a black and white drawing and find a carefully hidden elephant in a tree. The magazine was started by a man and wife in 1946 and has faithfully published since that time, with its focus squarely on children between 5-12. The magazine is still family run and still accepts no advertising. This documentary carefully explains the company commitment to children that is reflected in its motto: “Fun with Purpose,” and explains the approach to the articles, puzzles, features and games that appear in each 44-page issue. I could not help but notice that the editorial staff – heavily featured in this film – is almost exclusively white women (there are several men but no people of color). And I wondered what their training was that would qualify them to determine the appropriate kinds of articles to include. The magazine receives thousands of letters from children each year on topics such as sibling rivalries and friendship, and each one is answered by staff members. I didn’t see anything to indicate their training for offering advice and comfort to their young, impressionable readers. Still, the magazine remains popular, has branched out to an online presence and is still in business after 70+ years. 3½ cans.
166. The Morning Show – Season 3 (2023, Apple TV+) – I started my Apple TV+ subscription several years ago just to see this show, which airs so rarely that I should have dumped the app long ago. This series features Jennifer Anniston and Reese Witherspoon as the media stars of the fictional UBN Network, an overblown operation headed by the loathsome Cory Ellison (Billy Crudup) and where everyone thinks that what they do is the most important job ever. This year, with UBN’s future in doubt, a white knight comes in to rescue the ailing network in the form of tech giant Paul Marks (Jon Hamm), who launches rockets into space and still has enough money to buy UBN and try to turn it around. Maybe. The beautiful sets and inside feeling of a new operation are great, but there is so much here that has no relation to reality that it is hard sometimes to accept the content. There’s plenty of animosity to go around, with potshots at online media that is happy to put out nasty stories – that have probably been leaked by the “legit” media. The performances here are all excellent and this year had pretty of twists. I don’t love the show, but I can’t stop watching. Never mind, it probably won’t be back for at least another year. 3½ cans.
167. Virgin River Season 5 Holiday Special* (2023, Netflix) – Our fictional friends at the cheery town of Virgin River are back with a holiday special filled with Christmas spirit and a side of schmaltz. No town since Stars Hollow in “The Gilmore Girls” has ever looked so ready for the holiday. This is a two-parter that is intended to hold us over until the next block of shows airs. I won’t get into the plot, but the usual cast of characters is back and there are a few hints of what is to come. Plus, we finally find out who is the father of Charmaine’s twins (we already knew it wasn’t Jack). This Christmas diversion doesn’t measure up to the rest of the season but will have to do until they are back for real. 3 cans.
168. The Holdovers* (2023, Montgomery Cinema) – Actor Paul Giamatti teams with director Alexander Payne in this heartwarming comedy about a cranky teacher at a boys prep school who gets stuck supervising “the holdovers,” a handful of students who cannot go home during Christmas break and must remain on campus. He doesn’t get along with the leader of the pack, who constantly challenges him, but ultimately (as if you couldn’t see this coming) begins a grudging friendship with the lost and lonely teenager. He also bonds with the school cook who is stuck preparing meals for the “holdovers.” This movie is about parent-child relationships and expectations, about kids relating with and fighting with other kids, and about loneliness and loss. 3½ cans.
169. Sleepless in Seattle* (1993, Amazon Prime) – Who wouldn’t love this lovely movie about Sam (Tom Hanks), a forlorn widower, and his adorable son Jonah (Ross Malinger) whose mission in life is to see his father once again in love and married? So he takes his story to the radio, where women across the country swoon over his tale of sorrow. One of them is Annie (Meg Ryan, queen of rom-coms), already engaged but captivated by the story. If you have ever seen the classic “An Affair to Remember,” you know there is more to the story. I hadn’t seen this movie in years, but today was the right time to relish it again. 4 cans.
170. Filling in the Blanks* (2023, Prime Video) – Growing up with two older brothers, Jon Baime had a happy life and loving parents. But he always felt there was some sort of wall blocking a deeper connection with this father. When he takes a DNA test in his 50s, he is shocked to learn the man he grew up thinking was his father is not related to him. Jon made this documentary about his discovery, as he peeled back the layers of this family history to find what he thought he knew was very little of the truth. Very interesting true story. 3½ cans.
171. Lessons in Chemistry* (2023, Apple TV+) – Elizabeth Zott is determined to be a chemist, but, as a woman, she is in continually overlooked and passed over, referred to as a mere “lab tech” and expected to make the coffee – until she meets Calvin Evans, a chemistry wiz with the Nobel Prize just waiting for him. These two independent souls somehow end up together, although Elizabeth’s career takes a different path when she is hired to host a cooking show that she treats like a lab project. This was a satisfying limited series, with a terrific performance by Brie Larson as Zott. As usual, the book was better. 4 cans.
172. Maestro* (2023, Netflix) – Actor Bradley Cooper plays Leonard Bernstein in this ambitious depiction of the loves and lives of the legendary conductor and composer. As immense as Bernstein’s talent, so is Cooper’s as the star, co-writer and director of this opus. Much of the story is occupied by Bernstein’s self-proclaimed love of people – which he doesn’t limit to the wife he adores, Felicia (Carey Mulligan), as he drifts to attractive men that he cannot resist. He is clearly a man of many passions, whether he is pouring himself exhaustively into writing such works as the score of “West Side Story” or conducting a symphony with such flair that I was exhausted just watching him! Outwardly, he seems happy and in love with Felicia, but you can see that he is never fully satisfied by the people or world in which he lives. Cooper brings incredible physicality to the role, adapting to the image of Bernstein smoking incessantly and coaxing the best performances out of an orchestra with hair and sweat flying that leave him spent. Kudos to Bradley Cooper for a portray of an immensely talented but conflicted man. Intense! 4 cans.
173. Fisk, Season 2* (2023, Netflix) – This sardonic and amusing Australian comedy is back for another (short) season of action in the law offices of The Gruber group. Helen Fisk is stuck among a collection of quirky characters that can make you laugh or want to leave town. Nothing is easy for poor Helen, whether it is getting her morning coffee from a shop that no longer sells coffee to getting a key to the restroom. The six episodes run just 30 minutes each, so tune in for a few good chuckles. 3½ cans.
174. David McCullough, Painting with Words* (2008, HBO) – I first remember seeing historian David McCullough when he became the resident voice of several Ken Burns documentaries. An accomplished author, McCullough here tells his own story about how he began writing books (on the same, old, manual typewriter in a “shed” without a phone or any other amenities). His work is deeply detailed and makes the reader feel they know such historical figures as John Adams and Harry Truman; his books on each man earned him a Pulitzer Prize. McCullough spends so much time researching them, reading their diaries and letters, that he feels he knows them, too. He does his own narration in this documentary and even sings a few songs. This is the story of a man doing what he loves and enjoying every minute. 4 cans.
175. Gypsy (1994, Cable TV) – Bette Midler is a manic Mama Rose in this TV version of the musical about the life of entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee. Rose is desperate for her “girls,” her daughters Baby June and Louise, to have the career in show business that she never had, and she pushes them into acts on the vaudeville circuit despite their reservations or, in Louise’s case, lack of talent. This show is based on the real Gypsy Rose Lee, who became a stripper when Mama sells her out to keep the show biz dream alive. I’m a big Bette Midler fan, but here she is such a presence on the small screen that you can practically hear her chewing the scenery. Let’s just say that she plays Mama Rose to the hilt, and when she does her final number, “Rose’s Turn,” you realize it was all about Mama all along. This is a show whose songs you can come out of the theater humming (or out of the living room, since it was made for TV), such as “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “Let Me Entertain You,” and “Some People,” which Midler handles with enthusiasm and aplomb. A little over the top, but worth seeing. 4 cans.
176. The Holiday (2006) – Two women with unhappy love lives decide to swap homes to get away from it all for a few days. Cameron Diaz is Los Angeles-based movie trailer editor Amanda and Kate Winslett is Iris, living in England and in unrequited love with a British cad who has just gotten engaged. The women don’t know each other but find each other’s homes online and decide to swap, with Amanda seeking refuge in a lovely English cottage while Iris lands in Amanda’s modern LA home. Do I have to tell you that they almost immediately meet men who are much better for them than the men they had been seeing? Jude Law is particularly fetching as Iris’ brother, who stops by her cottage and encounters Amanda and finds an immediate mutual attraction. For Iris, a movie music composer played by Jack Black is also coming off a bad relationship. No one here is looking for love and planning NOT to go home, but it is a movie, after all, and a very pleasant one at that, so, as Shakespeare said, all’s well that ends well. 4 cans.
177. Murphy’s Romance (1985, On Demand) – In my opinion, James Garner is underappreciated for his body of work. In this movie he plays Murphy Jones, local pharmacist and friend to all in a small Arizona town. When divorced single mother Emma (Sally Field) moves to town, they strike up a friendship; she needs help and he is a helpful kind of guy. Murphy won’t disclose his age but he is clearly much older than 30-something Emma. When her ne-er-do-well ex-husband shows up to win her back, Murphy sees right through the loser; it takes Emma a little longer. Garner is charming in a low-key way and this is another gritty version of Sally Field, full of determination and purpose. I might have to see “Norma Rae” next. 4 cans.
178. The Iron Claw* (2023, Manville Reading Cinema) – Zac Efron is larger than life (Literally; wait until you see his physique!) in this story about a family of professional wrestlers. The father (Holt McCallany) has trained his 4 sons to dominate in the ring, even as he establishes a pecking order for who he wants to be the National Champion. Efron is Kevin, the oldest and most responsible brother, but all are extremely close. However, tragedy seems to follow them, which scares Kevin. With a bad haircut or bad wig (reflective of the time period), Efron bears no resemblance to this “High School Musical” character. All of the actors playing the brothers (Jeremy Allen White from “The Bear,” Harrison Dickinson and Stanley Simons) give outstanding performances. The women – Lily James as Kevin’s eventual wife and Maura Tierney as his mother) – have more subtle roles to play but are equally good. The movie is based on the actual Von Erich family, which makes the story sadder and realistic. 4 cans.
179. Love Actually (2003, Netflix – but leaving on December 31!) – What can I say about this movie that I haven’t said before? I’ll just say this – I love to find special little moments in a movie, and this one is full of them. Emma Thompson’s disappointment when she realizes the necklace was not for her. The BFF of the groom who is in love with the bride and she has no idea until she sees his video of the wedding and realizes it is all about her. The little boy in love with the American girl who races through the airport to say goodbye. Hugh Grant as the Prime Minister of England dancing by himself to “Jump.” This movie is an all-time favorite and a great way to end my year of entertainment. 5 cans.
My 2023 Favorites:
It Ain't Over
Maestro
Ted Lasso
The Bear
Barbie
Oppenheimer
All the Queen's Horses
Beckham
A Man Called Otto
Nyad
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