Truthdig’s Most Read Film Reviews of 2023

At the 2023 National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards, Truthdig’s Siddhant Adlakha took first prize for Film Critic across all media platforms. According to the judges, “Adlakha’s excellent reviews not only exhibit insight, deep knowledge and wisdom, but are expressed in a vibrant, singular voice.”  

Here are his most read 2023 reviews on Truthdig:

1. Ant-Man’s Take on Policing Shows Arrested Development

“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” struggles to balance its sci-fi comedy with serious political allegory, presenting a tonally jarring narrative, directed by Peyton Reed, that fails to address, with a meaningful exploration,  real-world issues like homelessness and police violence, despite teasing such themes. 

2. The Death Camp Next Door

Jonathan Glazer’s “Zone of Interest” is a vital and nauseating cinematic experience that explores the banality of evil through the story of a high-ranking SS officer and his family living next to Auschwitz, highlighting the cognitive compartmentalization and indifference towards the horrors of the Holocaust.

3. Ken Loach Forever

“The Old Oak,” which Ken Loach calls his swan song, captures the essence of his career marked by humanistic inquiry, political statement, and precise artistry. It depicts the struggles and cultural clashes faced by refugees in post-industrial Britain, highlighting the potential for mutual understanding and aid amidst societal divisions.

4. Christopher Nolan’s Plea, ’Round About Midnight

“Oppenheimer” is a biopic that explores the misery and power of nuclear weapons through the fragmented narrative of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb. It delves into the profound guilt and regret he carries as a result of his creations.

5. Wes Anderson’s Age of Anxieties

In “Asteroid City,” Wes Anderson explores the anxieties of the early Cold War and draws influences from 1950s science fiction. Through a multi-layered narrative, he examines themes of parenthood, grief  and mortality in his signature visually stunning style.

6. Stan Lee: Disney’s Newest Mascot

“Stan Lee,” Disney’s documentary,  presents a cartoon version of the Marvel Comics storyteller’s life. It has a hyper-focus on a specific period, avoiding controversies of credit-stealing allegations,  and frames Lee as a victim rather than a perpetrator.

7. The Cinematic Language of Disability

“The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic” by filmmaker Teemu Nikki,  is visually experimental and has an emotionally riveting romantic narrative that follows a wheelchair-bound film enthusiast, with failing eyesight and multiple sclerosis, as he navigates the challenges of his disability and embarks on a romantic quest to unite with a chronically ailing woman he meets online.

8. “R.M.N” Explores the Banality of Hatred

“R.M.N.” by filmmaker Christian Mungiu, portrays a methodical and piercing examination of xenophobia in a Transylvanian mining town. The story follows Matthias, who returns home to find the town changed and he becomes obsessed with finding causes behind the chaos in his life. 

9. How Not To Make an Eco-Thriller

“How to Blow Up a Pipeline” focuses on its heist plot, and lacks larger context and emotional depth. The nonlinear structure and limited character development weaken the overall theme of committed group action, resulting in a disconnect between the characters’ motivations and actions.

10. A Visual Poetry of Unspeakable Horrors

“Anselm” is a documentary by Wim Wender that delves into the life and art of German painter and sculptor Anselm Kiefer, known for his powerful depictions of war and of the Third Reich. Using 3D technology, Wenders explores Kiefer’s unconventional creative process and intertwining art, while juxtaposing the past and present.

Also at the NAEJ 2023 awards, Truthdig contributor Ed Rampell was recognized for excellence in history-related feature film reviews for his review on Sam Pollard and Geeta Gandbhi’s “The Black Panthers of Alabama.”

Rampell’s most read film reviews this year:

1. There Was A Coup In This Country In 1963

“Four Died Trying” is a  documentary series that delves into the assassinations of JFK, Malcolm X, MLK, and RFK. Director John Kirby and producer Libby Handros discuss the motivations behind the series, emphasizing that each leader posed a threat to the status quo. Each interview touches on evidence, government manipulation of media, and the interconnectedness of these assassinations within the context of the military-industrial complex.

2. Assuring Black Is Beautiful and Visible in the Fashion Industry

“Invisible Beauty,” a documentary co-directed by Bethann Hardison and Frédéric Tcheng, focuses on Hardison’s influential role in challenging racial biases in the fashion industry, beginning during the Civil Rights movement.

​3. Finally, an Amber Alert for Indigenous Women

“Murder in Big Horn,” a Showtime docuseries co-directed by Oglala Lakota/Diné Razelle Benally and Matthew Galkin, underscores the devastating impact on Indigenous females, revealing the harrowing epidemic of murdered and missing women in Big Horn County, Montana.

Longtime Truthdig contributor Carrie Rickey also brought us unexpected insights in her 2023 reviews:

1. Becoming Frida

“Becoming Frida Kahlo” is a three-part BBC documentary exploring the life and legacy of the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, touching on her early aspirations, the transformative tram accident, her relationships with figures like Leon Trotsky and Georgia O’Keeffe, and her defiance of social norms.

2. Two Weeks Full of Domestic Dissatisfaction

The 61st New York Film Festival showcased films exploring complex marriages and partnerships, such as Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro” about Leonard Bernstein’s queer-straight marriage, Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla” focusing on Elvis Presley’s marriage, and Michael Mann’s “Ferrari” portraying the dynamics between Adam Driver’s character and his wife. These films go beyond traditional biopics, delving into marital power struggles. The theme of domestic dissatisfaction extends to other festival entries like “Poor Things” and “Anatomy of a Fall,”  highlighting the enduring appeal of marriage as a cinematic motif.

3. Animal Spirit Anime

“The Boy and the Heron,” Hayao Miyazaki’s latest anime film, captivates with its enchanting storytelling as it explores themes of grief, loss, and war through the eyes of a young protagonist. The film, set in 1943 Tokyo, follows Mahito’s journey as he grapples with his mother’s death and encounters a mysterious heron that leads him to a magical tower, offering a unique perspective on time, interconnectedness, and the pursuit of equilibrium.

Click here to see our full list of film reviews.