John’s top 10 movies of 2023
2023 movies: Action movies had grand finales, superhero fatigue drove off audiences, and horror and comedy became niche genres in a wild year in film.
Mystery
John’s top 10 TV shows of 2023
2023 television: A couple of old-school network shows break into the streaming-dominated list of my favorite series of the year.
‘Dead End’ (2003) is darkly comedic Christmas horror
Frightening Friday (Movie review): A strong cast portrays the universal holiday family sniping in a mostly effective mix of comedy and weird horror.
Roth’s ‘Thanksgiving’ is an undercooked turkey
Movie review: But if the creativity of how the killer carves up his victims is the draw, Roth’s film does serve up some tasty morsels.
Hitchcock smartly threads theatrical ‘Rope’ (1948)
On a Hitchcock kick (Movie review): An updated version could wring more twists and tension, but Hitchcock’s is a fascinating experiment.
Hannah tries to get into the spirit with ‘Hercule Poirot’s Silent Night’
Book review: Unfortunately, this is the weakest of her first five Poirot books thanks to an implausible character’s unlikely actions.
‘Marple: Twelve New Mysteries’ (2022) honors, expands character
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): A dozen modern authors write Marple with an ease that will make you cozy next to the fireplace; plus, we get mild surprises.
‘Thin Man’ movie (1934) emphasizes stars, but I can’t blame it
Sleuthing Sunday (Movie review): Dashiell Hammett’s mystery is still there, but Powell and Loy steal the show. And that’s OK.
‘Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie’ is not only for obsessives
Movie review: The art of solving murders with attention to detail is not stuck in the Aughts, as proven by Monk’s first on-screen case in 14 years.
Hammett launches icons Nick and Nora Charles in ‘The Thin Man’ (1934)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): Misleading title aside, Nick Charles isn’t the Thin Man. But he is a helluva detective in the hardboiled tradition.