One look at Netflix’s 2023 lineup of films, I had to scroll through an innumerable amount of movies that looked just plain BAD, and I noticed that they have somewhat cut back on the big name directors for next year’s slate.
After their big-budgeted movies from Noah Baumbach, Andrew Dominik and Alejandro Gonalez Inarritu’s faltered this year, it’s less investment in art and more investment in junk. Do you blame them? They blew so much cash on “Bardo,” “White Noise” and “Blonde,” with probably none of these films likely to Land Oscar nominations.
The ones I’ve highlighted for 2023 are David Fincher’s The Killer, Bradley Cooper’s Maestro, Wes Anderson’s Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, Jeremy Saulnier’s Rebel Ridge, George C. Wolfe’s Rustin, Sam Esmail’s Leave the World Behind, Pablo Larrain’s El Conde, Gareth Evans’ Havoc, Maiwenn’s Jeanne de Barry, Niki Caro’s The Mother, and John Ridley’s Shirley.
Am I missing any? I don’t think I am. They’ll probably pick up some critically acclaimed titles from Sundance, Cannes, Toronto etc. Otherwise, these are their “prestige” films.
There’s also the big “blockbusters” that Netflix is banking on for optimal audience viewing hours: Sam Hargrave’s Extraction 2, Victoria Mahoney’s The Old Guard 2, Jerry Seinfeld’s Pop-Tart movie, Peter Lord and Nick Park’s Chicken Run II, Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon, David Yates’ Pain Hustlers, Jamie Payne’s Luther, Lee Daniels’ The Deliverance, Mark Molloy’s Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley and Kenya Barris’ You People.
“Hope,” Na’s first film in ten years — his last one being the exemplary “The Wailing” —is a gloriously messy, blood-soaked sci-fi epic that may become a cult classic despite—or because of—its polarizing nature.