Hi everyone! It’s that time again. Time to pick my blind spot picks for the next year. Since I started the series in 2016, each month I watch a popular film I have never seen. I try to make it not just austere film twitter picks but some cult classics, and popular films I just happen to have not seen. It’s a lot of fun and something I really enjoy doing each month.

So here goes for 2023!

January- The Raid

Even though I have never seen The Raid or its sequel I know I have seen its influence in many recent action films. Starring martial artist Iko Uwais from what I’ve heard this film is light on plot but high on incredible fight choreography. Sounds good to me.

February- It’s Love I’m After

I love screwball comedies but most of them I’ve seen at least once. That’s why this hidden gem, It’s Love I’m After, caught my attention. It not only stars a young Bette Davis but has Leslie Howard and Olivia de Havilland 2 years before Gone with the Wind! In the movie de Havilland plays an obsessed fangirl of Howard who after he plays Romeo is convinced he’s her dream man. Sounds fun for February

March- Slap Shot

I do love a good sports movie and one article I read described Slap Shot as the greatest sports movie ever made! High praise! I know it is more rough around the edges than some inspirational sports movies but that could be a lot of fun. I’m always up for Paul Newman so it should be good for March!

April- Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles

I must admit when the Sight and Sound poll came out last month I had never heard f its number one spot. I guess it’s a film school favorite and I’ve never been to film school! Jeanne Dielman is a really long film about a housewife and I’m told there’s a really long scene of her peeling potatoes. Well, I better see what all the fuss is about in April

May-National Lampoons  Vacation

Of course being a Christmas person I’ve seen the National Lampoons Christmas Vacation many times but never the original from 1983. I must admit I haven’t had the best luck with 80s comedies in this series but let’s hope this one surprises.

June- Tokyo Story

I had never seen a film by Yasujirō Ozu before until we covered Late Spring on The Criterion Project. I really enjoyed that episode and movie so it inspired me to watch his most famous film Tokyo Story for this year’s blind spot. It’s about parents visiting their sophisticated children and if it’s as good as Late Spring I will really enjoy it. 

July- Face/Off

Set your faces to stun but I’ve never seen the campy classic Face/Off starring John Travolta and Nicolas Cage. Directed by John Woo with a lot of moxie both actors have to play each other which should be a lot of fun.

August- The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

I know critics were mixed on Walter Mitty but it’s one of those films I always wanted to see but have never gotten around to it. The search for meaning Walter goes on seems appealing and I like Ben Stiller in other roles!  It will be great for the end of Summer.

September- Out of Sight

I know when Hustlers came out everyone was shocked I’d never seen Out of Sight. Let’s fix that. I like J Lo and George Clooney and am a big fan of director Steven Soderbergh’s first Oceans 11 movie so it should be great.

October- Trick R Treat

Each year I try to challenge myself with a horror classic I haven’t seen. So far I’ve done Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream etc. This year I am watching the 2007 new classic Trick R Treat. It looks pretty scary but I’ve been told by friends I trust it isn’t that bad. We’ll see!

November- A Fistful of Dollars

There are a lot of westerns I could put on this blind spot list but one of the most iconic ones I haven’t seen is 1964’s Fistful of Dollars. Directed by Sergio Leone it has influenced many other films and has a classic performance from Clint Eastwood.

December- Trading Places

Like I said, I haven’t had great luck in this project with 80s comedies but I’m running out of Christmas movies I haven’t seen. 1983’s Trading Places has a devoted following and I’m always up for a subversive funny comedy. Let’s see how it goes.

So there you have it. Let me know what you think of my picks!

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