Top 10 Films of 2023

The Academy Awards transpired a week ago, so there's no better time than the present to reflect on my favorite films released last year. I believe 2023 will be remembered as a landmark year for the film industry. The box office signaled a shift in consumer preferences as bankable franchises crashed and burned, giving way to several unexpected successes. Chief among them was the Barbenheimer phenomenon that's even carried over to the Oscars. We also saw overlapping strikes from the Writers Guild and Screen Actors Guild, which hadn't happened since 1960. Fortunately, the writers and actors gained substantial ground regarding streaming residuals and AI protections. Though the strikes delayed many highly-anticipated titles to 2024 and beyond, 2023 had a treasure trove of great cinema. 

Top 10 Films of 2023

Honorable Mentions (Alphabetical order): American Fiction, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, Asteroid City, Creed III, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, The Killer, Poor Things, Priscilla, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

10. The Holdovers - Streaming on Peacock

It's been a while since a new movie entered the holiday movie rotation, but I believe The Holdovers will accomplish just that. It's comforting, cozy, and set in snowy New England. The story revolves around an unlikely group of broken people coming together during the holiday season. If that doesn't scream Christmas movie, I have no idea what would. Boasting incredible performances from Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and the fresh discovery of Dominic Sessa, The Holdovers lulled me into submission. Giamatti and Randolph have rightfully remained in the awards conversation, turning in career-best work. Simply put, The Holdovers is a hilarious and heartwarming ode to outcasts.

9. The Iron Claw

As someone who didn't follow wrestling and wasn't aware of the true story behind this film, I wasn't prepared for The Iron Claw's emotional devastation. When I thought things couldn't get worse for the Von Erich family, tragedy reared its ugly head again. But this series of unfortunate events wouldn't sting without the valiant efforts of the film's robust ensemble. Zac Efron flexed acting (and actual) muscles I had no idea were at his disposal. The role's physically transformative and emotionally taxing, but Efron sells it all. I was equally impressed with Jeremy Allen White, Holt McCallany, and Maura Tierney. Tierney, in particular, delivers one line that hits like a ton of bricks. The Iron Claw's cautionary tale about the dangers of forced legacy is incredibly moving and one you won't soon forget.

8. Past Lives - Streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime

Celine Song's directorial debut contemplates the potent idea of what could have been. Drawing from Song's personal experiences, Past Lives depicts Nora and Hae Sung, deeply connected childhood friends, reuniting after twenty years of separation. The only caveat is that Nora's now happily married. Whereas a typical romantic movie would relish in that tension, Song takes the unconventional route. The three-wheel dynamic remains intriguing but for different reasons entirely. Celine Song's rich exploration of lost love and destiny is equally heart-wrenching and thought-provoking. 

7. May December - Streaming on Netflix

"May December" refers to a romantic relationship between a young person and someone considerably older. In May December, an actress visits a couple twenty years after their scandalous affair to research them for a film about their past. Director Todd Haynes expertly mines this uncomfortable premise for plenty of dark humor and anguish. The trio of lead performances from Charles Melton, Natalie Portman, and Julianne Moore are remarkably layered and utterly fascinating. I was particularly impressed with Charles Melton, whose nuanced performance is quietly devastating and who holds his own opposite the likes of Portman and Moore. Of all the films I saw in 2023, May December is truly one-of-a-kind thanks to its bold direction, sharp script, and brilliant cast. 

6. John Wick: Chapter 4 - Streaming on Starz

I've long been a fan of this franchise and greatly appreciate how the creatives involved have successfully raised the bar with each new entry. John Wick: Chapter 4 continues that trend with nearly 3 hours of exhilarating action. This time, the globetrotting informs the action as Chad Stahelski pulls from various influences, including samurai movies, for his stunt extravaganza. Keanu Reeves as John Wick is awesome as always, and I can't help but respect the lengths he goes to for our entertainment. Above all, I was glad that John Wick: Chapter 4 found room for some emotional poignancy. 

5. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One - Streaming on Paramount+

In a world where studios have become over-reliant on green screen and digital effects as a cost-cutting measure, Tom Cruise is one of the last movie stars championing good old-fashioned authenticity. What some consider a gimmick is actually the franchise's greatest asset. A genuine sense of danger is present in the Mission: Impossible movies because Cruise faced those predicaments. Cruise always finds a way to realize the impossible, and I respect him so much for going the extra mile. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One defies all odds and continues the series' upward trajectory, excelling at everything this franchise is known for. It's action filmmaking at its finest. Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise fire on all cylinders, and I cannot wait to see what they have in store for Part Two!

4. Anatomy of a Fall

Justine Triet's Anatomy of a Fall has one of 2023's most compelling premises. A man mysteriously falls to his death, leaving his wife as the prime suspect and their blind son as the sole witness. The French court drama that follows is utterly fascinating to behold. The prosecution intrudes upon every minute detail of the family's private lives in the search for the truth. An interesting wrinkle to the film is that the circumstances of the death are left ambiguous. The court arrives at a verdict, but the truth of what happened is withheld, allowing for endless speculation. Anatomy of a Fall is thought-provoking, well crafted, and features extraordinary performances from Sandra Hüeller and Milo Machado-Graner. Justine Triet's film has dwelled with me since I first saw it, and I can't wait to revisit it.

3. Killers of the Flower Moon - Streaming on Apple TV+

Martin Scorsese is one of our greatest living filmmakers, and it's always a treat to get another movie from him, but I've especially enjoyed this late stage of his career. Scorsese's wisdom gathered from 65 years of filmmaking has permeated through his recent storytelling, and his films have become more patient and meditative. Killers of the Flower Moon continues that trend by depicting a historical injustice involving a series of murders in the Osage community motivated by greed. These events are disturbing but essential, and Scorsese handles everything very tactfully. 

2. The Boy and the Heron

The Boy and the Heron is the culmination of Hayao Miyazaki's 60-year career as an animator. Will it be his final film? Your guess is as good as mine, but Miyazaki's determined to delay his inevitable retirement at all costs. The Boy and the Heron reckons with Miyazaki's legacy as he revisits many familiar elements from the other stories he's told. The film is equally pensive and adventurous, featuring stunning animation and a transcendent score from Joe Hisaishi. The Japanese title translates to "How Do You Live?" - a question that succinctly captures the essence of the movie. 

1. Oppenheimer - Streaming on Peacock

Christopher Nolan's latest film took the world by storm and restored my hope in the future of cinema. A 3-hour, R-rated historical biopic about the creation of the atomic bomb grossed nearly $1 Billion and won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. A year ago, nobody would have guessed that would be the case. While the Barbenheimer phenomenon certainly contributed to its success, there was a genuine, sustained interest in an adult-oriented movie from a filmmaker with a strong creative vision. Oppenheimer never fizzled out, and that delights me to no end!

I attended a sold-out IMAX 70 MM showing of Oppenheimer last summer and was astounded by the innovative use of the format. The imagery on display from Hoyte van Hoytema was simultaneously intimate and grandiose. "It's paradoxical, and yet, it works," J. Robert Oppenheimer says in the film - a fitting description considering much of the film's dialogue revolves around theoretical physics and McCarthyism. Yet every second of the 3-hour runtime is captivating. Oppenheimer's security hearing is just as thrilling as the Trinity Test. Oppenheimer has a propulsive rhythm shaped by the brilliant work of editor Jennifer Lame and composer Ludwig Göransson. It's simply masterfully made. 

The cast of Oppenheimer is overflowing with A-list actors, and they're all incredible in this movie, but Cillian Murphy's central lead performance is the lynchpin of it all. The complexity of this role can't be understated. Oppenheimer's internalized despair and regret perfectly manifests itself in Murphy's gaze as he realizes the power he's unleashed upon humanity. The final shot of the film is quietly devastating. Christopher Nolan is a director whom I've greatly admired for a long time, so I don't say this lightly, but Oppenheimer is his masterpiece.