Top 20 of 2023
The year that will forever be known as the year of Barbenheimer saw the world saying goodbye to the sad Covid years, leading to excellent business for the cinemas and the killing of many darlings for my list. Sorry for Beau is Afraid, The Creator, Babylon, Banshees of Inisherin, Air, Women Talking, Sound of Freedom and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (and several others) not making the cut, here is 2023's cream of the crop.
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- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsCillian MurphyEmily BluntMatt DamonThe story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.Christopher Nolan is part of the 100% club, and even when he ventures into a project that doesn't sound like an instant thrill, he doesn't disappoint. I daresay that he may have made one of his two best movies (after Interstellar) with Oppenheimer, which is a thought-provoking biopic of a flawed man who may have destroyed the world by saving it. It is also both a fascinating history lesson and painful parable to modern times, where heroes fall out of favor whenever we no longer need them or appreciate their opinion. And lastly, it is a morality tale about humanity greatest weakness, and a warning to set our egos and emotions aside before they destroy us. Please, award it every Oscar possible, especially for Robert Downey Jr.'s tour de force.
- DirectorS.S. RajamouliStarsN.T. Rama Rao Jr.Ram CharanAjay DevgnA fearless warrior on a perilous mission comes face to face with a steely cop serving British forces in this epic saga set in pre-independent India.Didn't become prominent until 2023, so it deserves to be on this list, this dazzling combination of Bollywood musical, historical action movie, martial arts flick and heartfelt drama about friendship. Flawlessly combining a song with a dance and a combat demonstration, as well as a logic-defying finale are only a few of its unforgettable scenes. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon finally found its spiritual successor.
- DirectorJoaquim Dos SantosKemp PowersJustin K. ThompsonStarsShameik MooreHailee SteinfeldBrian Tyree HenryMiles Morales catapults across the multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. When the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles must redefine what it means to be a hero.As the old adage goes, with great power comes great responsibility. Miles Morales, having taken over the Spider-Man suit from Peter Parker in this film's brilliant predecessor, is going to learn what that means when he is pitted against Spidey's biggest challenger yet: his own inability to accept inevitability. The great animation consolidates this as another great translation of a comic book to film, filled with great cameos and jokes. Had it not been so break-neck paced and overstuffed, it would have been my second favorite of this year.
- DirectorDarren AronofskyStarsBrendan FraserSadie SinkTy SimpkinsA reclusive, morbidly obese English teacher attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter.A come-back, let alone an Oscar win, that we hadn't seen coming. Brendan Fraser is a genuine surprise as the man who repulses us with his grotesque appearance in the beginning, but who we want to tearfully cradle in our arms at the end, after we have learned of his sad tale where he lost everything and now has to live with himself. We will never look at George of the Jungle the same again. Sadie Sink, who disguises her own pain behind a curtain of hurtful behavior, should at least have had an Oscar nomination.
- DirectorTodd HaynesStarsNatalie PortmanChris TenzisCharles MeltonTwenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, a married couple buckles under pressure when an actress arrives to do research for a film about their past.Social taboos can make people feel uncomfortable, or make them wonder what the big deal is. Director Todd Haynes skillfully explores the tension between these two extremes in this drama about a woman who may or may not have seduced her partner when he was a minor. Natalie Portman is great as the actress trying to embody this woman for a film, and what starts as genuine art slowly changes into taking over an identify. This makes May/December also work as a deconstruction of acting, and an uneasy exploration of the extremes that actors often go through for authenticity.
- DirectorTodd FieldStarsCate BlanchettNoémie MerlantNina HossSet in the international world of Western classical music, the film centers on Lydia Tár, widely considered one of the greatest living composer-conductors and the very first female director of a major German orchestra.This is most likely the best fake biopic ever made, because it may take many people over an hour before they realize that Cate Blanchett's brilliant, single-minded and deeply flawed conductor is a fictional character, whose artistic genius may come at the cost of her humanity. At the same time, this is easily the best dissection of the Zeitgeist, a slow but merciless depiction of the ruins left by the cancel culture, where every reputation built over decades can be burnt down in a few minutes, all because nuances easily get lost in a storm of gut feelings. I just wished Cate could have shared an Oscar with Michelle Yeoh.
- DirectorTakashi YamazakiStarsMinami HamabeRyunosuke KamikiKagga JaysonPost-war Japan is at its lowest point when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster, baptized in the horrific power of the atomic bomb.This is a rare beast: a monster movie that has it all. Characters that are fleshed out well, superb acting, heart-warming emotions, as well as a strong theme of what patriotism and heroism mean, and what a country can ask of its citizens in times of conflict. All of this fits extraordinary well in this setting and era, and absolutely nowhere does it come at the expense of the action and spectacle that one expects from a monster movie. Not even a slightly forced happy ending can diminish the impact of this monster movie with a heart.
- DirectorChad StahelskiStarsKeanu ReevesLaurence FishburneGeorge GeorgiouJohn Wick uncovers a path to defeating The High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes.Usually, by the time that a series reaches the third or fourth installment, things get overly complicated or it becomes a parody of itself. So it is a feat in itself that the makers of this fourth film manage to stick to their usual blend of the bare minimum of story, spiced with extremely stylized action and deadpan humor. Expect no flashy editing or nauseating shaky-cam: this is cinematic violence at its best in all its long-take glory. Pain and death on screen never hurt so good.
- DirectorChinonye ChukwuStarsDanielle DeadwylerJalyn HallFrankie FaisonIn 1955, after Emmett Till is murdered in a brutal lynching, his mother vows to expose the racism behind the attack while working to have those involved brought to justice.Till is the devastating story of a racist murder in the 1950s over a futility, and it angers the viewer for the right reasons. Instead of endless preaching about the evil of racism, it does what a lot of movies and series fail to do: it shows and particularly makes you feel the rage over what a horrible social disease it really is, and even more when committed so indifferently. An important reminder, especially now, of an often glorified era in which entire groups had the fundamental believe that they were superior to others, to the point where even equality laws, common sense or the basic worth of human life could be simply ignored.
- DirectorGreta GerwigStarsMargot RobbieRyan GoslingIssa RaeBarbie and Ken are having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans.No Top 2023 list would be complete without its surprise hit of the year. Far from pushing a feminist agenda (as some male chauvinists wanted us to believe), this is a funny-as-hell satire on gender, musicals and kids' toys. No tedious preaching (perhaps a little at the end) but a welcome kick in the behind to all the role patterns that both women and men are still stuck in, served with ample amounts of consistently used 'silly humor' and a great set design that almost makes you allergic to the color pink.
- DirectorChristopher McQuarrieStarsTom CruiseHayley AtwellVing RhamesEthan Hunt and his IMF team must track down a dangerous weapon before it falls into the wrong hands.As controversial as he can get outside cinemas, Tom Cruise never disappoints with his action movies, which seems particularly necessary now that there is less competition from superhero movies. While maybe not exactly delivering the adrenaline rush of Mission Impossible: Fallout or the laughs of Top Gun Maverick, we are still kept clinging to the screen for almost 3 hours, with a world-spanning plot, beautiful locations, another ungraspable antagonist and a barrage of neck-breaking fights and stunts. Especially a chaotic chase in Rome that must have left every car there with a dent is a showcase of the best of what this franchise still has to offer after seven installments.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsLeonardo DiCaprioRobert De NiroLily GladstoneWhen oil is discovered in 1920s Oklahoma under Osage Nation land, the Osage people are murdered one by one - until the FBI steps in to unravel the mystery.Scorsese and DiCaprio have become a house-hold duo, so with old friend DeNiro added to the mix, what could go wrong? The actors-director team were right to tell this astonishing but almost forgotten story from (mostly) the perspective of the Native Americans, and the bladder-challenging runtime helps to ease us into their world and blood-filled story. DiCaprio clearly shows his lack of vanity by playing an ugly role as a spineless joiner, Lily Gladstone is a promise, and DeNiro is finally worthy of Oscar gold again (but please let Downey Jr. win!). My only gripe would be that there is not a quotable key scene, although Scorsese's cameo at the end comes close.
- DirectorJames MangoldStarsHarrison FordPhoebe Waller-BridgeAntonio BanderasArchaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary artifact that can change the course of history.The loyal fanbase was unsurprisingly divided again for this fifth installment of our favorite archelogist. But hats off for lesser god James Mangold for mixing the nostalgia and atmosphere into a great old-fashioned action-adventure in the best meaning of the word. Do the checklist: a great opening sequence; a menacing bad guy who makes his own downfall; a plucky female sidekick; action scenes with lots of humor and music by John Williams; a sad underlying theme of becoming older and useless that uses Harrison Ford's grouchiness to the max; and an imaginative (yet divisive) finale make this a worthy send-off to the man with the hat.
- DirectorPaul KingStarsTimothée ChalametGustave DieMurray McArthurWith dreams of opening a shop in a city renowned for its chocolate, a young and poor Willy Wonka discovers that the industry is run by a cartel of greedy chocolatiers.Roald Dahl's novels do not spare children's sensitivities, and are known for their wit, cynicism and downright darkness. Not exactly the easiest to adapt into movie (even Spielberg missed the mark with The BFG), so kudos to the team behind Paddington for doing a prequel to Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, especially as a musical. The adult humor, the wonderful art direction (a pleasant hodgepodge of European architecture) and spotting the Paddington actors make this a movie for young and old. The fact that Timothée Chalamet settles for playing the straight man gives ample room for an busload of (British) actor nobility steaking the show, like Hugh Grant, Matt Lucas, Jim Carter, Keegan-Michael Key and Rowan Atkinson; but it is Olivia Colman who should win an Oscar for so deliciously chewing the scenery.
- DirectorSam EsmailStarsJulia RobertsMahershala AliEthan HawkeA family's getaway to a luxurious rental home takes an ominous turn when a cyberattack knocks out their devices, and two strangers appear at their door.This thinking-man's thriller-drama cleverly misleads us into thinking that it is a home invasion thriller, where a family feels forced to shelter two strangers in their home. However, after the first act, it eventually broadens the scope when weird events start to happen globally (or not?). A great cast (Mahershala Ali, Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke) helps this movie tap into some of our greatest fears: our over-reliance on technology backfiring, and the collapse of civilization. A pressing feeling of paranoia pervades the narrative with modest use of special effects, and the movie manages to hold on to that tension until the final scene, which underlines our talent to ignore a crisis rather than tackling it head-on.
- DirectorMatt Bettinelli-OlpinTyler GillettStarsCourteney CoxMelissa BarreraJenna OrtegaIn the next installment, the survivors of the Ghostface killings leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter in New York City.Barely a year after Scream V there was this sequel, which could quickly cash in on Jenna Ortega's newfound popularity. Luckily, this movie never feels like a rushed cash-grab. In fact, poking fun at its own expense and opening the playing field from a small town into bustling New York are two of its strongest points, and make for some great scenes like a high-rise escape, and one where the killer can be literally anyone among the people disguised as horror icons for Halloween in a subway. Those who thought they knew the rules of horror from the first trilogy will be pleasantly surprised by the many spins to Ghostface' legacy that this "sequel to a requel" adds to the series. It is hard to see the unavoidable part 7 doing the same trick again, but if this franchise proves anything, the killer is never really dead.
- DirectorRuben ÖstlundStarsThobias ThorwidHarris DickinsonCharlbi DeanA fashion model celebrity couple join an eventful cruise for the super-rich.Some people (we know who) found this film to be a lazy attack on capitalism, but those who open their minds see a sharp satire about our need to rank people in general, be it in fashion, social media or according to wealth and origin. This leads to a couple of extremely funny contrasts, like a group of elitist millionaires desperately trying to maintain decorum when all their food comes out at both ends, and the captain (Woody Harrelson at his stoic best!) having a hilarious Marxist conversation with a Russian oligarch. For those who can't handle the vulgar parts, there is a great third act where the wage slaves drastically turn the tables on the entitled people, revealing that our definition of vital skills or talent solely depend on context. Like Get Out, this movie shows that the topic of inequality may be better tackled with scathing humor than a fierce discussion.
- DirectorLee CroninStarsMirabai PeaseRichard CrouchleyAnna-Maree ThomasA twisted tale of two estranged sisters whose reunion is cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable.It was a great year for us gorehounds, with Terrifier 2 and Thanksgiving finding new ways to gross out their audience in inventively practical ways. But it is this sequel to a remake that found its way on this list, by trading the traditional cabin in the woods for an apartment complex where the Book of the Dead once again changes a group of unfortunate residents into unwilling demonic contortionists. Where the original films became less serious and goofier over time (with great effect!), this movie doesn't let up with the tense and dramatic side of things, although there is always a time and place for a well-timed comedic bloodbath, flying eyeball, or some chainsaw action. Still not for the faint of heart, obviously.
- DirectorLouis LeterrierStarsVin DieselMichelle RodriguezJason StathamDom Toretto and his family are targeted by the vengeful son of drug kingpin Hernan Reyes.Yes I know, this film series has gone on for way too long, it has started to endlessly repeat itself, has jumped multiple sharks and become formulaic to the point of self-parody. Now get lost and let me please enjoy this blatant and perfect example of giving the fans what they want: death-defying stunts, awesome locations (Rome!), action bordering on ridiculous (no space visits this time, fortunately), our favorite characters (and John Cena!), Vin Diesel being a little bit too melodramatic (no F&F without it), a lot of humor (leave it to Jason Statham, Ludaris and Tyrese), and a wonderful Jason Momoa deliciously hamming it up as a cross between Aquaman and the Joker. An epilogue that teases the return of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is the perfect cherry on top of this exploding cake: it's a mess but boy, does it taste good!
- DirectorFrancis LawrenceStarsRachel ZeglerTom BlythViola DavisCoriolanus Snow mentors and develops feelings for the female District 12 tribute during the 10th Hunger Games.We go back 60 years in the nation of Panem to find that Katniss Everdeen wasn't the first tribute in the Hunger Games who had to use both her wits and raw skills. Her mentor, a young Coriolanus Snow, has to find new ways to make the games more appealing to the audience, thereby affecting the future of many generations of tributes. Though the games themselves aren't the most exiting element, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes does what a good prequel should do: it tells a backstory that manages to shine a new light on the original films. In this case, showing how blind ambition can allow inhumane practices to continue for decades. And that villains aren't necessarily born evil, but can become that way through a system that rewards that same inhumanity.