Best of 2023
David’s TOP 10 movies (plus more!)
The year of “Barbenheimer” has come to an end. If somehow you escaped the media’s relentless use of the term and can’t understand how a sea of Mattel pink has anything to do with the atomic bomb, you should know BARBIE and OPPENHEIMER are forever linked due to their simultaneous theatrical release on July 21 … and that they both helped rejuvenate the post-COVID box office for the movie industry. Greta Gerwig’s BARBIE easily surpassed one billion in ticket sales, and OPPENHEIMER is knocking at the door.
That said, box office revenue has no bearing on whether I appreciate or enjoy a particular movie, and I’m guessing that’s similar to how most of you feel. Movie lovers anxiously await the big screen characters or stories that strike a nerve, inspire thought, or even just whisk us away from daily responsibilities for a couple of hours … or three, which seemed to be the trend this year. As a member of the Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association, an annual Top 10 list is required, and if this is your first time reading my list, you’ll see that I include much more than that from the 186 movies I watched this year (first time under 200 in quite a while).
My Top 10 movies of the year were fairly easy to identify, but you should know that after the first four, I had a heckuva time finalizing the order. If asked to compile this list again next week, I can’t promise that numbers five through ten would end up in the same order. This cuts to the challenge of “ranking” movies. So much depends not just on one’s taste and preferences, but also on one’s mood in the moment. Timing matters. So please understand that this is my personal list, and I publish it each year in hopes that some of you will be inspired to check out a movie or documentary that might have otherwise been skipped over.
Below the ‘Top Ten’ list, you’ll find bonus categories such as “Best of the Rest”, “World Cinema”, “Horror”, “Most Surprising”, “Strangest”, and “Documentary”, the latter of which has been subdivided this year due to the onslaught of Music docs. As always, the finale is the “Most Disappointing” film(s) of the year, for those of you who aren’t satisfied unless there is bad news.
Annual Reminder: As always, this list has nothing to do with predictions for Academy Awards or any other awards. It’s simply my list of favorite movies of the year, and I hope you find at least a few that interest you.
**NOTE: you may click on the blue film title to go directly to my full review. If a title is marked with asterisks (**), it means that the review hasn’t yet been posted. These will be linked once I catch up.
TOP 10 MOVIES OF THE YEAR
1. OPPENHEIMER – The first four movies listed here are perfect examples of the distinct styles of four of our best directors in peak form, and the first two have the added benefit of historical significance. Cillian Murphy and director Christopher Nolan made J Robert Oppenheimer the rare physicist who mesmerizes us while changing the world. It has become the highest grossing WWII film of all time.
2. KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON – Martin Scorsese brings David Grann’s incredible book to the big screen while featuring two of his favorite actors, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert DeNiro. It’s Lily Gladstone who captures the heart of this tragic story.
3. POOR THINGS – Emma Stone gives an incredible performance in this twist on the Frankenstein story. Director Yorgos Lanthimos continues his legacy of creativity and bizarre entertainment.
4. THE HOLDOVERS – Alexander Payne reunites with his Sideways star, Paul Giamatti, for a lesson in the importance of human connection, especially for those who father doesn’t own a helicopter.
5. THE ZONE OF INTEREST – Filmmaker Jonathan Glazer returns to the big screen with a devastating look at what normalizing evil can look like. This is also one of two excellent 2023 films starring Sandra Huller.
6. PAST LIVES – Yet another terrific film from South Korea, this one focusing on the way ambition and proximity can impact love connections.
7. AMERICAN FICTION – A satirical glimpse at how a black novelist (played by the great Jeffrey Wright) exposes a bit of the absurdity in society – specifically in book publishing. Included is one of my favorite lines of the year: “The dumber I act, the richer I get.”
8. ANATOMY OF A FALL – France’s Justine Triet is responsible for one of my favorite scripts of the year. The film features a standout performance from Sandra Huller (also see THE ZONE OF INTEREST).
9. THE COLOR PURPLE – A beautiful blend of the hit Broadway musical and Spielberg’s iconic 1985 film, with some knockout performances.
10. DREAM SCENARIO – This may be the first time I’ve ever included a Nicolas Cage movie in my Top 10, and it’s one of the more entertaining films of the year.
BEST OF THE REST (20)
(Alphabetical order)
**ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET
** MEMORY
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE DEAD RECKONING PART 1
DOCUMENTARIES (21)
** AMERICAN SYMPHONY
BUFFALO SOLDIERS: FIGHTING ON TWO FRONTS
IN VIAGGIO: THE TRAVELS OF POPE FRANCIS
LAKOTA NATION VS UNITED STATES
MEDICINE MAN: THE STAN BROCK STORY
ROCK HUDSON: ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWED
THE DISAPPEARNCE OF SHERE HITE
MUSIC DOCS (10)
HAVE YOU GOT IT YET? THE STORY OF SYD BARRETT AND PINK FLOYD
IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING: KING CRIMSON AT 50
LITTLE RICHARD: I AM EVERYTHING
WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS?
WORLD CINEMA (INTERNATIONAL (11)
ANATOMY OF A FALL (France)
CASSANDRO (Mexico)
CONCRETE UTOPIA (S Korea)
FALLEN LEAVES (Finland, Kuoleet lehdet)
LOVE GETS A ROOM (Spain)
R.M.N. (Romania)
THE BOY AND THE HERON (animated, Japan)
**THE COFFEE TABLE (Spain, La mesita del comedor)
THE TASTE OF THINGS (France)
THE ZONE OF INTEREST (UK)
**YOU’RE NOT ME (Spain, Tu no eres yo)
HORROR (5)
** KNOCK AT THE CABIN
** TALK TO ME
MOST SURPRISING MOVIES OF THE YEAR
MOB LAND – I was shocked that John Travolta could pull off playing a cowboy sheriff
FAVORITE SCORE – Robbie Robertson, former member of The Band, passed away in August 2023, prior to the release of KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON, his final film score – and it’s another gem.
STRANGEST/CRAZIEST/ZANYEST MOVIES OF THE YEAR (5)
If you are into quirky, unconventional, or bizarre, here is a watchlist just for you. Since two of these made my Top 10 list, perhaps that’s all you need know about my movie tastes.
MOST DISAPPOINTING MOVIES OF THE YEAR (4)
None of these are “bad” movies, they simply fell short of expectations
NAPOLEON – breathtaking battle scenes, yet disappointing in all other aspects
THE BOYS IN THE BOAT – great book and incredible true story; however, the movie falls a bit flat
THE KILLER – Fincher has spoiled us, and now ‘OK’ isn’t enough
** WISH – Disney’s attempt to recapture the old magic by drowning us in PC
SPECIAL RECOGNITION: As previously mentioned, Greta Gerwig’s BARBIE easily surpassed one billion in box office. Also deserving of recognition is Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” concert film, which also went past one billion at the box office. Swift even received a shoutout from the Federal Reserve for her film’s impact on the economy!
***BONUS RECOMMENDATION: I found Matt Singer’s book, “Opposable Thumbs” to be a nostalgic and informative trip through the Siskel & Ebert years. Whether you were a loyal Siskel & Ebert follower, or just a periodic viewer, the book makes for an interesting read.
Hope to see you at the movies!
Movie Reviews from the Dark 