2023 is at an end and a new year of movies is upon us. 2023 was another solid year for film as most of the movies I saw gave me unique experiences that I’m going to cherish for a long time. So prepare yourself for an interesting bunch of mainstream and arthouse oddities.
We’re doing a best 15 again, but first, we have a very long honourable mentions list as there are a lot of movies I need to recommend before we go over the list.
Honourable Mentions
- Dungeons & Dragons – Honour Amongst Thieves: I skipped this at the cinema thinking of it as a Marvel clone, but eventually watched it on the plane and was pleasantly surprised. One of the better action comedy blockbusters in recent years as none of the quipy characters were annoying and I was actually invested in the story.
- Weird: The Al Yankovic Movie: The only music biopic of the year mocks music biopics. It was interesting to learn about Weird Al, but I also enjoyed it becoming a more looney spoof of Rocketman. Also Evan Rachel Wood as Madonna is one of the best scene-stealing performances of the year.
- Sisu: This one is just bloody satisfying. Our silent elderly protagonist one man armies some Nazies in a mixture of Predator and John Wick like action. An incredibly simple action movie that is brutal in its violence, but extremely gratifying to see our unstoppable main character come out on top.
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: The last live-action superhero movie I saw this year and you guys can tell me if I missed anything. It’s the last hoorah for the Guardians and probably for the MCU and it’s solid.
- Creed III: Creed is back again in what now could be argued as a pretty underrated trilogy. The movie itself is underrated as it features one of the more interesting villains in the Rocky/Creed series and his relationship with Adonis makes the movie. It’s Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut and it was interesting direction he took this series.
- John Wick – Chapter 4: Couldn’t care less for the story, but the only reason you watch these movies is for the action. That staircase fight in Paris where John Wick gets kicked down about 500 flights of stairs yet he still wins, was certainly a highlight of the year.
- Aftersun: A very bittersweet experience. It’s a film about a daughter remembering a summer holiday she had with her dad. I say it’s bittersweet as it was a rather nice coming-of-age story with a rather bleak ambiguous ending.
- Asteroid City: Finally, we have Wes Anderson’s new film and that’s about all you need to know about it. The main highlight for me was probably the music and the stop-motion alien because I didn’t expect that.
Number 15
Godzilla Minus One
This is a real surprise I have a Godzilla movie in one of my best of lists. There are two reasons why this film is here, the first being it’s not an American film, and the other is it is actually an engaging human story. Sure it has that cool spectacle of Godzilla trashing an entire city, but the film also puts some effort into making the scenes without him, not a bore. Godzilla Minus One is set just after WWII and Japan is in ruin. Our main character struggles to take care of his newfound family whilst dealing with the PTSD of being a cowardly kamikaze pilot and surviving a Godzilla attack. I loved how they infused Godzilla with the fallout of WWII as it makes the conflict feel personal and one of our main characters to conquer when Godzilla returns. This movie is at the bottom because of a very cheesy ending, but still very solid nonetheless.
Number 14
Beau is Afraid
Haven’t had an Ari Aster movie appear on one of these lists in a while. His latest effort Beau is Afraid is longer and has a much bigger budget than any of his other movies, which is immediately apparent as this one is insane. Joaquin Phoneix plays Beau probably the most insecure manbaby he has ever played in his career who has to leave his house to go to the funeral of his controlling mother. The film is very satirical as there are low lives right outside Beau’s door who want to kill him and trash his apartment. This movie is a journey into the unconscious mind of our main character’s fears and desires. It can be over the top, scarily bizarre and it’s honestly impressive this got a big release. Not at all surprised it bombed, but glad this movie exists because it was maddening.
Number 13
The Fabelmans
Now onto something more wholesome with a Steven Speilberg biopic directed by Steven Speilberg. Using the fictional Fabelmans we see Speilberg’s childhood with his parents along with the seeds of his early filmmaking. It’s a movie notable for fittingly enough the filmmaking as we see little Speilberg watch the special effects that would inspire him to put into his own movies. The other is the acting as Paul Dano and Michelle Williams are great as the parents, but also the supporting cast such as Judd Hirsh and even David Lynch in one of the best cameos of the year. Only David Lynch could make berating a young Steven Speilberg funny.
Number 12
Blackberry
Another biopic, but it’s on a product. There were a few of those in 2023, but the only one I really liked was Blackberry. It’s the rise and fall story of that cool-looking keyboard phone from the 2000s. I enjoyed this story a lot as it starts off with some tech company run by a bunch of nerds doing this for fun, but when pushed by a failed investor they acquire the tools for a massive game-changing hit. Though faced with numerous difficulties including a buttonless phone, the company begins losing its original identity and transforming into a soulless corporation. That is also the shift when the film stops being a comedy and it’s just a sad drama. For that reason, the final scene stuck with me for how much had changed. Great writing along with some really solid acting especially from Jay Baruchel in one of his roles.
Number 11
Killers of the Flower Moon
Must be a pretty great year if the new Scorsese movie is just floating outside of the top 10. A crime drama focused on the killings of Native Americans during the 1920s, when there was no justice for these crimes and we find out these murders were all in pursuit of their sweet sweet oil money. Leonardo DiCaprio plays a guy who marries an Osage woman so his uncle Robert De Niro can send a hit squad on the wife’s family. I should note this movie was the hardest to place for I’m still processing it. Firstly Leo and De Niro’s characters might be the horrible characters they have played in a Scorsese movie. You’re rooting for Lily Gladstone as she plays the most sympathetic of the three leads who doesn’t deserve any of the horrible things that happen to her. Those reasons and the fact it’s three hours long is why I need another think on this one. I did still enjoy this as the writing, acting, and music are all great stuff, and it’s another film with a resonating ending.
Number 10
Barbie
Here’s a first the highest-grossing movie of the year in my top 10. It’s not too much of a surprise as Barbie sold me on the trailer alone. Pretty similar to the Ari Aster situation, but now it’s Greta Gerwig making a big-budget movie, but this one is more unique than anything as it’s a 2000s comedy film with an extensional narrative tying it all together. I mainly enjoyed the childishness of the movie as everything in Barbie Land is very kid-friendly, which is where most of the humour comes from, especially any scene with Ryan Gosling’s Ken, who is the biggest scene stealer. It’s an exceptionally well-made movie filled with creative ideas and a great message that speaks to everyone.
Number 9
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Another movie I was pretty much solid on the trailer. This new Ninja Turtles reboot is an animated movie that follows the same vein as Spider-Verse but with a refreshing grungy dirt look that fits the city of New York and our sewer-dwelling heroes. What’s refreshing about this iteration is the movie isn’t about April O’Neil meeting the Turtles, but more so the focus is solely on the Turtles wanting to fit in with human society, but end up finding that by becoming heroes. Just so you know this is easily the best Turtles movie, as none of the other movies come close. All the turtles are well cast, have great chemistry and their drama is the best it’s ever been. Even side characters like April and Splinter are at their best here. Another great family movie and looking forward to more movies like this.
Number 8
The Killer
Next, we have David Fincher’s latest straight-to-Netflix movie which is a movie I’m surprised he has only made now. The film is about a hitman cleaning up the mess of a botched hit and the plot is as simple as that. We’re inside this character’s head for the entire movie and we see the meticulous detail of his routine of sneaking around learning the patterns of his targets only to wait for the perfect opportunity to strike for the most effective kill. The perfection in his methods was very appealing to me and it is very much like Fincher at his most basic form. Not much else to say, but it was a very effective thriller.
Number 7
The Boy and The Heron
I was always saddened by the fact that I missed the boat on seeing Miyazaki movies at the cinema as his last movie was made long before I was aware of his filmography. Curve balls come out of the most unlikely places as lo and behold the man came out of retirement to make another movie. The Boy and The Heron features of staples of his previous movies of maturing young children discovering fantastical worlds that are as simple as reading a children’s picture book. This one felt very personal especially for Miyazaki as it’s about a young boy trying to move on the death of his mother and the characters that show the most strength in this movie are mothers. This movie was a treat for the eyes because gorgeous 2D animated films are hard to come by these days. Finally, it ends on something that might be the most self-reflective thing I have seen all year. Thanks for coming back Miyazaki looking forward to your next venture.
Number 6
Saltburn
Another end-of-the-year surprise with Emerald Femmell’s second film Saltburn. This one is definitely wilder than her last film as this and another film on this list share the honour of being this year’s biggest rollercoaster ride of emotions. Essentially nobody Barry Keoghan befriends lovable Jacob Elordi who eventually invites him to crash at his mansion for the summer, where sex, undermining, and betrayal ensue. The main appeal for me was easily a fairly light movie diving straight first into darkness while still having a smile on its face. The boldness of this movie I admire the most, which can also be seen in Barry Keoghan’s performance, which might be my favourite of 2023. Though Rosamund Pike as the snobby gossip mother isn’t far behind. This is also another movie I need to rewatch as I am still a little mixed on the ending as it could go up or down, but otherwise, it’s great.
Number 5
Past Lives
The only true romance movie of the year, which is kind of surprising as we had a fair few of them last year. Anyway, Past Lives follows two Koreans who fall in love as children, which is unfortunately broken due to one of them emigrating to America. When they finally reunite as adults they share completely different values and lifestyles, with the only thing holding them together is the past. A very honest film on cultural differences, relationships, and the idea that some things aren’t just meant to be. The writing, acting, camera work, and long pauses of silence are what really stood out to me. Realistic, and sincere, best describes Past Lives.
Number 4
Babylon
The other insane fever dream movie next Saltburn came out at the start of the year and it was called Babylon. Damian Chazelle got his big budget to chronicle the downfall of the silent film era of Hollywood. The film is littered with chaotic sequences that all pay homage to iconic films from across years, which all build up to the spectacular final montage. This movie was my favourite of the year for the longest time until rewatching it as the movie is very exhausting and honestly hard to keep up with most of the time. The power of a rewatch means a lot in deciding your favourite films. This cocaine-filled remake of Singin’ the Rain is fantastic and highly recommend it if you need something exciting to happen.
Number 3
Pearl
Weirdly enough I just noticed this is the only horror movie on this list, which is funny as last year the horror movies made up a third of the list. So meet Pearl everyone, which is a prequel to X, a slasher movie that appeared on last year’s list, but doesn’t hold a candle to this movie. Pearl is about the titular character who wants to be a famous Hollywood actress but is stuck on her parents’ farm looking after the two of them. It’s a backward Wizard of Oz story as Pearl shows some more homicidal tendencies as the film progresses when her demands aren’t met. The simple reason why this is better than X is it’s a character study of a sympathetic yet deeply disturbed character that hides the tragedy behind a golden age of Hollywood tinge. Another thing Mia Goth gives my favourite performance that won’t get acknowledged by any major awards. (Perhaps I should bring back the Crammys to fix this issue.) Pearl is another movie where the final shot will stick with you as Goth’s performance is fittingly sad and haunting.
Number 2
Marcel the Shell with the Shoes on
I watched this one on the plane and wasn’t entirely sure when this movie actually came out where I lived. Though I elect to say screw it because I saw it this year and want to talk about it anyway. This one is a mockumentary of an adorable little walking talking shell that is mighty curious about the world around him. Marcel is animated through the power of stop-motion yet it’s very easy to forget that little guy isn’t real. It’s a cute little comedic tragedy as Marcel wants nothing more than to find his missing family. One of the more real family movies I have seen as it’s quite emotional and I gave it an unapologetic five stars on Letterboxd because it just really touched my black heart.
Number 1
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
You see rewatches are important as otherwise Across The Spider-Verse wouldn’t have topped the list. When I first watched this I found it an extremely overwhelming movie as there was a lot put into this 2 and half hour movie, which I couldn’t fully appreciate until a second viewing. I easily love this more than the first it’s simply more dynamic with its characters and story. The film is really interested in challenging what we know of Spider-Man, superheroes, and animated movies and challenging the tropes and archetypes to create a refreshingly original story. I got hooked into this universe that I haven’t felt for a superhero franchise in years as it felt rewarding of puzzling twists that came true and questioning character decisions that could potentially be brought up in part 2. That is the elephant in the room, which was why I was unsure at first as this is only part one, and that cliffhanger is annoying. Although on the rewatch I got over that as I was satisfied with the character resolutions in this film whilst looking forward to where it could potentially go, as I honestly don’t know. Man, that’s so refreshing to say about a modern Hollywood movie. It’s now one of my favourite movies and deserves a review of its own one day to give it the proper treatment.
Like any other year, there are great films that I missed and if they would’ve made the list I’ll include them underneath this paragraph. Otherwise next up will be the Worst of the Year list, which will include a Letterboxd ranking of all the movies I saw last year. Anyway until then Blog Complainer, signing out.
The Blog Complainer 