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Best and Worst Films from July 2023

Best Films from July 2023:

3. The Twelve Tasks of Asterix

The Twelve Tasks of Asterix is one of the best entries in the series without a doubt. It is the most surreal and artistically inclined movie of the bunch due to an interestingly trippy atmosphere, gorgeous animation style and a terrific soundtrack. It’s also the most fantastical movie to date with the tasks themselves being inspired by Greek Mythology. The resulting movie is consistently entertaining, adventurous and highly memorable.

2. Demon Slayer: Mugen Train

Demon Slayer: Mugen Train was a terrific continuation of the titular anime series that not only built upon the first season, but genuinely trumped it in overall quality. This was a great month for me when it comes to animation and this movie was hugely unexpected as it represented the best form of this particular IP – the animation was mesmerizing, the action was thrilling and the villains were fleshed out and so much fun. The dream sequences were emotionally driven and that ending fight was stupendous.

1. The Man Without a Past

The Man Without a Past is definitely one of Finland’s greatest movies and an essential watch. Aki Kaurismaki here presented a potent mixture of serious issues (poverty, living on the fringes of society) and making light of those situations through really well delivered deadpan humor that consistently worked. It is a very strange movie for sure, but it is one of the most authentic and sophisticated comedies of the decade and the one picture that this country should be proud of the most. Thus, it was the best movie I saw this month.

Worst Films from July 2023:

3. The Purge: Election Year

The Purge: Election Year was another mildly diverting, but mediocre entry in this franchise that by this point had turned into an action thriller genre mostly for the better. It is hugely repetitive throughout and badly developed in its pointless, forgettable characters.

2. The Jolson Story

This biopic about a blackface performer is, needless to say, very dated nowadays. But it’s also not a good movie no matter the troubled history behind it. It’s technically well made, but historically inaccurate, boring and bloated in its runtime.

1. Boxcar Bertha

Boxcar Bertha is one of Scorsese’s worst movies. It has an unoriginal script, typical of this time period, but it also failed to develop any of its characters and it was technically mostly amateurish. The acting is fine, but that’s pretty much it.