Award season is upon us, and three screen studies professors are sharing their favorite films of 2023 ahead of the Oscars. 

“The Killer,” “Bottoms,” and “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning” were last year’s cinematic standouts for professors Hugh Manon, Jed Samer, and Soren Sorensen. The three are hosts of the Clark podcast “Recommended For You,” and bring their film expertise — and opinions — to this episode of Challenge. Change.

“I was coming into this call being like ‘Bottoms’ and ‘Mission Impossible’ are the same movie,” says Samer. “Maybe the truth of 2023 is that we are not going to the movies for the plot.”

“If you don't like ‘Bottoms,’ you might need to investigate whether you have a sense of humor. It's the same thing with ‘Mission Impossible,’” adds Manon. “If you don't like this, then maybe you don't like movies.”

The Oscars air on Sunday, March 10, at 7 p.m. EST on ABC. “Mission Impossible” has been nominated for Achievement in sound and Achievement in visual effects. 

Challenge. Change. is produced by Andrew Hart and Melissa Hanson for Clark University. Listen and subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Listen to episodes of RFU on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.