Some random final thoughts to close out 2023:
I am a football fan. It comes in large part due to my dad playing for the NY Jets when they were the Titans in their first year. Its something I learned to enjoy sitting on Sundays watching games with my pops.
Sadly over the last few years- and this year in particular, the officiating has become worse and worse. Bad calls are affecting games and it's really obvious. Take for example last night's Cowboys Lions game, where an obviously bad call changed the outcome.
I used to like to think it's because the refs are human and fallible- but this year its clear something is going on. Is it because the league wants more drama to keep people watching (last nights game didn't need it) or is there simple an effort to manipulate things ala the WWE? I have no evidence, though social media is full of chatter every week now. I would really hate to think this is the result of betting because why watch then, or why bet?
As it is I find it odd that the NFL which was formed by a group of rich gamblers in order, in part, to assure a fair game they could bet on, is now being influenced by the large amounts of cash being bet each week. Would it surprise me? no, but I am still naive enough to hope that isn't the case.
Between that and the BS marketing games the NFL push like the Aaron Roger debacle, or the Travis Kelsey "I want to be a reality star so I'm going to pretend to date Taylor Swift for both our benefits" I kind of want to walk away.
I won't of course, but I am so uninvested that like this year, I will be counter programming the Super Bowl with screeners.
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A few Final Film/TV notes for 2023.
I am enjoying the new season of REACHER on Amazon. While I think it could have been a bit more compressed it's still must see TV
I am enjoying THE IRRATIONAL on NBC. Yes the last couple of episodes don't seem to know with all the characters, but there is enough there to keep me watching.
BEAU IS AFRAID is bad. It feels more like a prank on audiences and critics than an actual film. Granted I don't like Ari Aster's films, but this seems like the end of a downward progression where Aster makes more and more self important films that he insists are deep and meaningful simply because he says so. While he isn't Albert Serra yet, he is rapidly approaching that level of bullshit. (What kills me is that there are a couple of good things in there that kept it off my worst of the year list)
I'm trying to decide if some corners of social media is serious in being upset that Toho has said it's going to take it's time cranking out Godzilla properties because they want to get it right. Frankly after 70 years of taking their time they are doing something right.
I will have a review of SOUND OF FREEDOM somewhere along the way.
I have been watching a lot of films streaming in the last two weeks and while I have been enjoying it I'm ending up not reviewing them. Where very often I will write something on most things I watch the first time, the recent bunch of things have been just striking me as just okay.
I saw the new specials from Chappelle and Gervais on Netflix and yea, well... there isn't much there. Sure they are trying to poke you in the eye, but out side of that there isn't much there. It's almost like they said I have to do a special and the best way to get attention is to be controversial and not worry about the jokes. That said I give the edge to Gervais because I laughed at couple of things, and because it seems like he's a performer trying to make a point and not a person who is just trying to be truly mean to the people who took offense at what he said.
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I'm ready for a new start.
I'm not going to lie....It's not that 2023 was bad but it keeps throwing things at me that make me stumble every time I think I'm getting a handle in things. From joining NYFCO just as I was closing up shop so I had to play catch up with all the films I missed, to a new boss who has put so much stress in my life I've slid into one of the deepest funks of my life, to the shifting relationships that have me on uncertain footing, 2023 has been a very bumpy ride. There have been some great moments, but also a lot of blind terror as I wait for the next shoe on the centipede to drop.
I'm lighting candles and saying prayers that 2024 is greatly better.
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And speaking of 2024- Unseen Films will turn 14 in 51 days
The endless festival coverage starts next weekend with Palm Springs. I have Slamdance and Sundance films watched and slotted. There is going to be coverage of New York Jewish and other festivals. The down period at the end of 2023 was just the off ramp into 2024
I put in at the day job for Tribeca and the April Drive-in Moster-rama.
There are lots of things on the horizon and I'm waiting to see what happens.
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And with that I wish you all a Happy New Year full of everything you want and need.
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