2023 has been a wonderful year for film. From returning established directors who made some of the best and most exciting films of their careers to younger filmmakers finding their voices in profound and altogether endearing ways, film is alive and well in 2023.
As the tides of general audiences’ tastes visibly turn before our eyes, cinema promises to only get more exciting in the coming months. But let’s take a moment and reflect upon ten of the best films of 2023.
TOP TEN MOVIES OF 2023
10. Barbie
What better way to kick off a discussion about cinema in 2023 than with its most notable success, both commercially and culturally? From the brilliant mind of writer/director Greta Gerwig, known for her outstanding films like “Lady Bird” and “Little Women,” comes “Barbie” – one of the most sparkling, subversive, and joyous films of the year. This creatively driven and bold cinematic endeavor hearkens back to the authentic artificiality of old studio musicals while delving into pressing modern questions of existentialism and feminism. It’s truly fantastic and an absolute delight.
9. Asteroid City
Wes Anderson has consistently delivered phenomenal films at an impressive pace over the past decade, to the point where his work might be taken for granted. His latest creation, “Asteroid City,” is a marvel of a film explicitly centered around finding meaning in one’s work and how that work, in turn, discovers its own significance. With an incredibly talented cast, this film is poised to be recognized as one of Anderson’s finest.
8. Talk to Me
Directors Danny and Michael Philippou transitioned seamlessly from online creators to accomplished feature film directors with a debut that, in my opinion, stands comfortably among the greatest horror films of the decade. “Talk to Me” is unbearably suspenseful, ruthlessly tense, and primarily driven by character and theme, all within a tightly wound narrative. It exemplifies fantastic filmmaking.
7. The Iron Claw
Sean Durkin’s cinematic chronicle of the Von Erich Brothers nails the triumph and tragedy of the real-life wrestling troupe in equal measure, crafting a film that is ultimately a rumination on masculinity, from a physical, mental, and emotional standpoint. The film is a powerhouse and only bolstered all the more by Zac Efron, who delivers such a tremendous performance at the film’s heart.
6. Oppenheimer
The counterpart to “Barbie’s” whimsy, Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” is another creator-driven project that achieved enormous commercial success. Following the rare Nolan misstep of “Tenet,” the writer/director returns with one of his most accomplished films. While this writer still contends that “Dunkirk” stands as the filmmaker’s ultimate masterpiece, “Oppenheimer” is a phenomenal work and serves as another testament to the greatness of Christopher Nolan the director, unencumbered by the complexities of Christopher Nolan the writer.
5. The Color Purple
In many ways, 2023 marked the return of the musical to cinemas. From “Barbie’s” iconic ‘I’m Just Ken’ sequence to the excellent “Wonka” and even “Maestro” getting in on the action, old-school razzle-dazzle movie musicals are back. A shining example of this resurgence is “The Color Purple.” Blitz Bazawule’s musical reinvention is phenomenal in just about every way, delivering a tour de force whirlwind of gravitas and spectacle.
4. The Killer
In 2023, David Fincher treated audiences to what might be his most subversive work yet. “The Killer” initially presents itself as one of Fincher’s bleakest and slickest works, akin to “The Game” or “Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” in terms of tone and aesthetic within his filmography. However, it also reveals itself as one of his funniest and deceptively heartfelt films. Michael Fassbender delivers an incredible performance as the titular assassin, and as his cold, calculated exterior is chipped away, Fincher’s film undergoes a similarly fascinating transformation.
3. Maestro
Bradley Cooper, after his sensational directorial debut with “A Star is Born,” has returned five years later with an even bolder project, “Maestro.” This incredible film is filled with phenomenally sculpted imagery and rooted in deep emotionality, allowing the performances to soar. Collaborating with producers Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese, Cooper relentlessly refines his craft into a fine art, resulting in a breathtaking cinematic experience.
2. Killers of the Flower Moon
I am a gargantuan fan of later-day Martin Scorsese. The man made some of the most influential films of the ’70s and ’80s (“Mean Streets,” “Taxi Driver,” “The Last Waltz,” “Raging Bull,” etc.) but to count him out now is to do yourself a tremendous disservice. Over the past decade, from “Hugo” to “Silence” to “The Irishman,” Scorsese has made some of the greatest films of this century, and “Killers of the Flower Moon” is perhaps the best of the bunch. Distilling some of the themes Scorsese’s work has been grappling with for decades into their most pertinent and palpable forms, “Killers of the Flower Moon” is not just probably the best film of the year but also one of the best of the decade.
1. Poor Things
But listen, if I’m being honest, Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things” was my personal favorite film of 2023. Lanthimos took his singular visual approach from prior works like “The Lobster” and “The Favourite” and weaponized it in entirely new, character-motivated ways that simply floored me. On top of this, it features some of the best performances of the year, a whip-smart script that riffs on everything from “Frankenstein” to “A Streetcar Named Desire,” an unforgettably transgressive musical score, and some of the most jaw-dropping production design imaginable. In short, in a year full of tremendous cinematic treasures that demanded to be seen on the big screen, “Poor Things” was chief among them and an absolute riot. I adored it.
