The Best Movies of 2023 (According to Vic)
A Retrospective List by Victor DeBonis
Hello, all. We finally reached the end of an intriguing year of 2023. It’s been a wild year for film, and I’ll talk more about that towards the end. For right now, I just want to dive right into the list as quickly as I can. A big reason is that I’ve decided that there were so many movies I admired and loved from this year that, instead of doing Top 10, I’m going to do something different and do Top 15 Movies. It probably won’t happen every year, but I wanted to see how this would turn out.
Here are the usual rules for those unaware:
-I haven’t seen every movie that was made and released in 2023. If something is not on this list that you were expecting to see, don’t get into a fuss. I either haven’t seen that movie, yet, or you or someone else has seen it and can voice about how you feel about the movie for yourselves.
-Be respectful if you respond to this article or other areas that discuss the movies or film industry-related matters, later on. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but you also have a responsibility as a fan and as a decent person to convey your thoughts and feelings in a constructive manner and be kind to others.
-If you disagree with something from the list or something that someone else says, please agree to disagree in a polite manner.
The following are Honorable Mentions. Instead of giving descriptions for these, you can look them up for yourselves, since this essay is as long as it is. All of these are great movies that missed the cut just by a little in no particular order.
Honorable Mentions are:
-Anatomy of a Fall
-The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (2023)
-Elemental
-John Wick 4
-Past Lives
-Priscilla
-The Quiet Girl
As part of the Honorable Mentions, here are two movies that are not part of the list proper but were movies that I initially enjoyed very much but grew to absolutely love over time. They were “Talk to Me” (a superbly crafted horror film that reveals more heart and intriguing ideas as I have come to see) and “Guardians of the Galaxy 3” (an amazing conclusion to a great trilogy and, maybe, my favorite post-“Endgame” MCU film to come out in years but was just surpassed by another superhero film that you will see in the list proper).
Feel free to look any of these movies up. They’re all great in different ways.
Without further ado, let’s dive right in.
15. The Killer
Director David Fincher returns to tales revolving around serial killers, and he excels in crafting one intriguing, cool, and darkly humorous entry with “The Killer.” Michael Fassbender is excellent as the titular antihero and commits to the chillingly calm and calculating demeanor driving him with every motion or line of thought. The movie looks stunning within every inch of its frame, and in between the wonderfully executed sequences of action and following are encounters with mysterious characters with my favorite of these coming from an encounter with Tilda Swinton. The blocking for the action sequences and conversations is exceptionally handled, and the story provides a snarky perspective on trying one’s best to be perfect outside of a system but still being trapped by one’s own limits and the world surrounding him in some way. Fincher is a master at crafting cinematic tales of obsessive oddballs who ensnare others in their isolated and dark paths, and this movie once more presents him as a continued pro at the game.
14. Godzilla Minus One
This is a time in which many movies revolving monsters and more intriguing looks at horror stories have been presented, and, while I have had fun with a solid number of recent movies involving the King of Monsters, this entry had me gaping with awe with its craftsmanship from the first 5 minutes. Godzilla is downright brutal in his methods of eradicating buildings, and his calculated approach to devouring humans and property left me actually feeling uneasy when I sensed him getting closer to attacking, which is something I don’t often feel in stories involving him (good or bad).
The one element sealing this the most in the mind, in terms of films featuring this monster, boils down to one simple element done little to no justice in countless other movies with him: the humans and their story. “Minus One” takes the exact amount of time needed to reflect on the battles and heart of the main humans involved, and it devotes special time to explore the believable strength of their connection with each other. I greatly cared about the relationship between the husband and wife in this movie, and their connections and feelings about trying to recover from the war caused me to hold genuine concern for them trying to face their hurt as well as the idea of Godzilla causing more havoc on their land. I have never cared more for the humans in a “Godzilla” movie than I did during this one. Aside from that, the sequences of the humans facing Godzilla are handled with terrific attention and suspense, and the score from Naoki Sato is chilling and wondrous to listen to. “Minus One” is an amazing blockbuster also serving as a powerful tale about coping from war and one’s own past trauma. It is easily the best “Godzilla” movie I’ve seen in years.
13. The Boogeyman
“The Boogeyman” was one of those movies that I was the most intrigued but also the most nervous about seeing during this year. Every time I saw the trailer for the movie, I found my pulses heightened from how frightening scenes were with the monster’s shadowed presence. Bravely walking into the theater during opening weekend, I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest with what I saw. The sequences involving the titular monster were easily moments in which I felt the most scared I was watching something this year. My heart was pounding like a heavy drum, and I was practically clutching my seat as the movie grew unsettling quiet. The rest of my audience was screaming loud when this movie entered its frightening moments, and most of those scares were warranted.
In addition to this, Sophie Thatcher and Vivien Lyra Blair give great performances as vulnerable, courageous, frightened sisters attempting to come to terms with the loss of their mother. Their relationship and Thatcher’s expressed grief from the loss of her mother provided a strong heart at the center of this terrifying movie, and I was happy to see how much these two characters cared about each other. Their bond was easily one of my favorite relationships in movies from this year, and it heightened my eagerness to see them confront the wicked creature in this movie. David Dastmalchian is in the film for a short amount of time, but his performance is downright chilling and reminds me why he is a great character actor I’m always happy to see pop up.
I left the theater pumped up with plenty of energy and joy, especially when the theater I attended lent a free poster that I am more than happy to still own. “The Boogeyman” was a huge reminder to me from this year about why I am so happy to be a horror movie fan.
12. Broker
This was one of the very first movies I viewed at the start of 2023, and, to this point, the story still lingers strong within my mind in the best way. All of the main actors work with each other to splendid effect, and their unity as a non-traditional family of sorts felt believable and sincere. What resonated with me the most, however, were individual characters voicing and showing their desire to find a family of their own amidst their conflicts in life. Hirokazu Writer-director Kore-eda leads the actors and story with subtle yet emotionally resonant guidance, and every main performer lends the appropriate joy and heartbreak to their character’s journey in this tale about the happiness and tragedy coming from family and the emotional power of family, including sometimes finding family where you least expect it. A heartbreaking monologue delivered on a Ferris Wheel from this film is easily one of my favorite movie moments from this year. “Broker” was one of the warmest and most meaningful movies I watched from this year, and I am more than happy to have started off my year in films with this gem.
11. Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One
In a movie filled with blockbusters designed to reach for people’s emotions and wow them with the spectacle all at once, one of the best examples of that came from the seventh entry in the “Mission Impossible” series. Director Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise, along with familiar comrades, Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg, do terrific in lending the thrills and humor to this most recent entry in the franchise, and the stunt work and action sequences somehow raise the bar yet again to present gripping and intense chases and death-defying scenarios. The sequence inside the train is dripping with suspense and is incredibly well set-up and left me gritting my teeth in dread for both times in which I saw this film in the theater with friends.
What makes this movie special in my eyes comes from the monstrous adversary in the form of someone who yearns to use A.I. for devious and unsettling means (just another item that inspires more loathing towards those from real life who want to use A.I. for horrible means all the more) and the story’s wise approach of allowing the heroes, including Cruise and newcomer Rebecca Ferguson, genuine moments to reflect upon their isolation and what they’ve lost from their paths and are seeking. For all of their scenes in which they chase through crowded city streets and dangle inches away from their deaths, these people feel vulnerable and have a sense of yearning to feel connected or find solace and still strive to do good for themselves and others. The heart of this movie and the franchise shines strongly in this way, and this film helped remind me why the “Mission Impossible” franchise is probably one of my favorite film franchises, in general.
10. Spider Man: Across the Spiderverse
The sequel to 2018’s “Into the Spiderverse” accomplishes the impossible and causes me to somehow find an entry I might love a little more than its predecessor (“Into the Spiderverse” is still a gold-standard superhero film to be sure). This film tackles darker themes, including the toughness and loss that can sometimes come from doing what is necessary and the responsibility that comes from actions that may not always turn out as one plans or hopes for. Emotional performances are voiced from Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, and others as the main heroes attempt to figure out themselves in their paths in life while trying to balance the obstacles of the present and pain from the past and uncertainty about the future. This movie continues to demonstrate its understanding of what makes the character of Spider Man and his story so meaningful to others, and it is accompanied by some of the best animation I’ve seen in a cinematic film in years. My jaw was practically on floor with the level of detail from the action sequences for the first couple of times I saw this in the theater.
A special note to make regarding this film is that “Across the Spiderverse” is the first time I saw a film three times in theaters. I saw it once with a friend at Alamo, then I saw it again on XD just to see how this visually stunning movie would look like and sound on an even bigger screen (It was worth every penny, and, if I’d been able to see it on IMAX, I definitely would have), and I went it with two other great friends to see it. This movie was just that spectacular.
It’s no secret that this was not a good year for superhero movies and shows, and I certainly didn’t care for much of the output that was just trying to stick to formulas and all-too-familiar tropes without doing anything meaningful with its story and humor. “Across the Spiderverse” is proof that people haven’t stopped caring about superhero movies altogether. They just want something challenging and something that explores why these characters and their battles and presence are important.
It is unquestionably the best superhero movie of the year, and I couldn’t be more impatient to find out what is going to happen following that walloping cliffhanger.
9. The Artifice Girl
Writer-director Franklin Ritch accomplishes something remarkable with this movie that is made on a smaller budget but communicates powerful ideas about handling technology responsibly and knowing its terrific uses along with the capability of causing hurt if we abuse it or get carried away with it. The terrific blocking and exceptionally written dialogue highly compliment this movie that mostly consists of three conversations that are thought-provoking and add greatly to the ongoing debate at this time about why it is so important to learn how to use technology, particularly A.I, responsibly. The performances from this movie are great and voice much insight and firmness for characters simply trying to determine what is the wisest way to approach this force that has the potential to do either great good or immense harm if not handled properly. I hope many future filmmakers look to this as inspiration for telling a story on a smaller scale because this is a terrific example of a gifted voice and other artists succeeding in creating something thoughtful and emotionally truthful and ringing with an urgency and wisdom about ideas that will hopefully ring clear to as many people as possible.
8. When Evil Lurks
To call director Demian Rugna’s movie, “When Evil Lurks” intense would be an immense understatement. This film is one of those rare horror movies in the tradition of the original “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” in the sense that it is unrelentingly raw and aggressive in its approach to showing the real extent of the horror on screen in ways we don’t anticipate and rarely (if ever) going easier on what unfurls. Just when you think things can’t devolve or get more (intentionally) frustrating in what takes place, something else happens, and the terror sweeps greater over us. I didn’t get a chance to see this in theaters when it was around during its very limited release (something I feel bad about missing the chance to experience), and yet, my jaw was still dropping on the floor during some of the extremely horrific scenes I witnessed in this incredibly well-filmed movie. The main actor, Ezequiel Rodriguez, is marvelous at playing someone who is never completely certain and yearns to attempt to stand as the wiser person in charge but only creates a greater mess out of the situation. Everyone in the cast, however, is terrific. You can see the horrific presence in the movie as representing a horrific disease or pure evil or, yes, something reminiscent of the pandemic from a few years ago, and it still works perfectly in presenting itself as truly malicious to follow and observe as it ruins an entire community. Rugna excellently stages some terrifying and suspenseful moments and knows the precise points to allow something either briefly reflective or horrific to unfurl with his script.
This movie isn’t the faint for the heart, and not everyone will enjoy this (for more than understandable reasons) but, in a year filled with good or great horror movies, “When Evil Lurks” perhaps left the biggest mark on me. As some of the best horror accomplishes, it digs its claws in and rarely lets up.
7. Air
Anyone who knows me recognizes, early on, that I love a good underdog story, and “Air” was a truly great one told in the form of an initially smaller shoe company working vigorously on giving a chance for another (at the time) little-known underdog named Michael Jordan to shine in a genuine way and try to help itself rise and accomplish the impossible via getting him to approve being represented by him in the process. Matt Damon and Jason Bateman share a brotherly bond and manner of speaking with each other that is hilarious, refreshingly honest, and even moving in a few scenes. What helps their banter and that with Ben Affleck (who also directs the movie in a fantastic return to form in the director’s seat) is the terrific script from Alex Convery, flowing with snappy remarks and blunt honesty that is almost reminiscent of the work of Aaron Sorkin.
I loved this story’s intelligence and sincerity, I loved having some of my biggest laughs in the theater watching this movie, and I loved being almost driven to tears from the climax’s monologue and what it says about the importance of not allowing one’s conflict and struggles prevent someone from moving onward.
While not in the movie for a long time, Viola Davis is magnificent through all of her directness and the crystal-clear love she holds for her son. I don’t know much about basketball, but I held even greater respect for Michael Jordan and his mother after seeing this movie. I left this movie filled with a deep energy and joy left from this movie’s respect for underdogs striving to rise above it and its flat-out optimism and wit. I can’t wait to see more work involving Convery’s writing, and I can’t wait to see more work from this talented team.
6. Poor Things
I have a deep admiration for stories embracing their own weirdness without losing track of their wonder and humanity. Director Yorgos Lanthimos delivers with “Poor Things” and then some. Filmed often through fish-eye lens and wide shots to offer a look into a world that is simultaneously massive and bizarre in every sense of the world, this movie beautifully tells an amusing, unpredictable, and ultimately sincere story about a woman literally brought back to life under unusual circumstances and slowly growing and yearning to do good and tell her own tale in order to move forward from horrible events that led to the beginning of the narrative.
The sets for this film are amazingly crafted to present this world in its bonkers presence, and, in one of her best performances, Emma Stone commits to moments that are sometimes intelligent and are sometimes baffling (and hilarious) but all lead into the believable development of a heroine who is learning to come more into her own. Stone’s arc as Bella Baxter is one of my favorite journeys I loved following the most this year from film. Willem Dafoe is terrific as a “mad scientist” who is a strange yet kind father figure to Stone’s journey, and Mark Ruffalo is a blast to watch as a buffoon who yearns to control Stone’s character for himself but never reaches his goal. The movie is bursting with an absurd atmosphere and shines with the type of creativeness and brave voice I hope to see from more movies in the future. The unusual nature of this world and story and the aggressive content from this tale won’t be for everyone, but I loved every moment of this delightfully weird and heartfelt fairy tale for adults.
5. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret
Admittedly, my expectations for this film were already rather high because the writer-director, Kelly Fremon Craig, did one of my all-time favorite high school films “The Edge of Seventeen” (a movie that sadly still doesn’t get talked about too much and deserves a little more recognition). If anyone understands the heart, seriousness, and smartness needed to make a great movie surrounding a heroine who is learning more about herself, it’s her. Her take on the classic novel by Judy Blume doesn’t disappoint in the slightest. Craig does a phenomenal job in providing the warmth, humor, and strongly beating heart for this movie.
Also, Abby Ryder Forston is excellent in the main role. She brings charm to spare along with plenty of curiosity and sincerity to a role and story greatly needing both of them. Also deserving of praise is Rachel McAdams for her performance as her compassionate mother working on trying to figure things out for herself from their new home as well. The movie makes the brilliant choice of showing both Forston’s and McAdam’s parallel paths of trying to make the best of where they are, now, and determining what they believe for themselves and what they want to do for themselves in the road ahead. The connection between her and her mother and the connection between her and her grandmother (played richly with heart and humor by Kathy Bates) felt real and were moving to witness.
Forston’s journey is easily one of my favorite journeys and character arcs that I saw in movies this year. When she felt sad about something, I felt a similar sadness watching it, and, when she felt hopeful or joyous about discovering something on her path of learning about faith or life, I felt a pleasant happiness as well partly because it is coming from a quieter, relatable kid who is on a charming journey of learning more about where true faith comes from as well as herself. One of the cinematic scenes that has stood the most with me from this year comes in the form of an outcast character voicing her frustration and playing a surprisingly big role in causing the main heroine to genuinely reflect about something, and it still lingers with me when I think about a film presenting a moment in which a secondary character from a story can lead something even grander and more truthful that allows both the movie’s heart and mind to show as strong as possible in the best way.
Watching this movie made me feel like I was a kid again in the best way, and it brought me back to watching great movies made when I was growing up about heroines trying to find their way in life, from “My Girl” to “Now and Then.”
There’s no other way for me to describe my experience from seeing this movie than simply…happy and especially happy that great artists and filmmakers are still taking chances to shine with telling great stories that resonate with others in a charming, distinct way.
4. The Boy and the Heron
One of the most important filmmakers in my journey of appreciating and writing about film and, perhaps, my personal journey, in general, has been Hayao Miyazaki. He is nothing short of a legend to me and to others, and, before I received the news from earlier in 2023 that he would release a movie later on, I had almost fully accepted that “The Wind Rises” would truly be his last as director. So, you can imagine my enthusiasm when I heard that he was releasing yet another film. And, maybe, you can also try to imagine how joyous I was to see something as weird, creative, thought-provoking, and heartfelt as “The Boy and the Heron” was.
A few minutes in, I felt I wasn’t watching something that came from 2023 but could’ve been made at another specific time entirely, and I mean that in a great way. Masterfully hand-drawn and animated with beautiful colors in every frame, the movie also takes time in between its fairy-tale-like story and world to reflect upon the consequences of war, the harshness that life can sometimes bring, and the struggle of figuring out how to navigate life in the aftermath of trauma or horrible events. Miyazaki has often been known for placing much of himself in his work and added greater passion and voice, due to this, but this might be the film in which he brings his insight and personal perspective the most. The movie benefits greatly from this. I still find myself contemplating more from what this movie has to say about life, which is always a great compliment from any stellar work of art.
All of the voices from the English dub are terrifically cast and work wonders for the colorful characters they play, and they helped add to the melancholy and happiness of this film.
The love the main hero carries for his deceased mother and the extent to how much he misses her and yearns to find her or, at least, find some amount of solace from his loss is very touching, and it is another one of those movies I hold dearly because it reminds me of my mother and the family that means the world to me. To me, this movie, similar to “Air” is another tribute to great mothers and the impact they can have on their children and others, and that’s another wonderful reason to see it.
“The Boy and the Heron” probably only sits next to “Spirited Away” as the other movie of Miyazaki’s I treasure the most because of how meaningful it is to me. Given how much I love his filmography, in general, this is a great compliment. As said before, if Miyazaki truly does end directing animated features this time, I can’t think of a more suitable and superb note to go out on.
3. The Holdovers
Returning to do tragically comic character studies, director Alexander Payne joins screenwriter David Hemingson to tell a story that is unpredictable, funny, sad, and immensely heartwarming all in one. The visual aesthetics and songs to this movie provide the rich vibe of the type one could’ve made in the 1970’s, and it benefits greatly from this as well. What truly makes this film special, however, is the writing. The story makes the smart move of taking its time to see what makes these characters happy and sad and, similar to another amazing entry from Payne’s filmography “Sideways” it also observes these broken people at their best and worst but never makes them completely unlikable. In a career filled with decades of memorable work, Giamatti has never been better. He is often bitter yet still sincerely cares for others who matter. His pride and passion speaks loudly from his wonderfully nerdy expressions of historical knowledge or the warm grin or chuckle he occasionally utters. Da’Vine Joy Randolph and newcomer Dominic Sessa are also superb and lend greatly to their parts in a story that demands tragic seriousness and welcome humor at just the right moments. The film may have been released about a month or so ago, but I can easily see myself watching this every Christmas in the same way I annually watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” or the like every year. It is a nice gift to see such a talented filmmaker at work again along with the other talented artists who helped to create this marvelous movie.
2. Killers of the Flower Moon
Director Martin Scorsese once more returns to doing what he does best and proves why he is one of the cinematic masters via telling a dark, chilling tale about the destruction left in the wake of greed and prejudice and, in the tradition of many of his films, the idea of redemption. DiCaprio gives his best performance since his work in “The Wolf of Wall Street” and brings bits of humanity to a person who was simultaneously too good and too foolish. Despite being one of the most recognizable and most revered actors around, DeNiro practically disappears as the manipulative real-life figure, William Hale, with his Southern voice and phony generosity to disguise his cruel look at the world. Yet, amidst all of the remarkable performances given, Lily Gladstone stands out the most to me for combining bravery and genuine heart amidst devastating pain and suffering that her character suffers at the hands of corrupt souls. The musical score of sadly departed Robbie Robertson provides the perfect backdrop of tranquility and raw heartbreak along with catchy blues-influenced melodies I found myself wanting to replay again and again online. More than almost any other film from this year, “Killers of the Flower Moon” was a special movie that, as aforementioned with Miyazaki’s film, caused me to reflect as any great work of art does, specifically about forgiveness and redemption and whether some can or even should always experience the latter. As with much of his previous work, Scorsese challenges others to ponder and evokes real, tender emotions through the harsh events in his story and reminds the audience what honest storytelling and art can accomplish. When people say they don’t make certain movies like they used to, “Killers of the Flower Moon” is a prime example of that.
When it comes to determining what my favorite movie of the year is, that can be a no-brainer pick in some years, but, this year, it was a vicious battle between “Killers of the Flower Moon” and the one I’m about to discuss. A part of me almost wants to give both of these movies the top spot because I absolutely adore both of them for the same reasons, and they brought so much light to a year that was not very good for movies (the business, anyway) as a whole. Yet, when I finally sat down to think about it, I thought about which movie I was promoting the most and which one not only had a big impact but came along in a time when even the blockbusters were not doing well to give something different and bold, I finally figured it out.
My favorite movie of the year is none other than…
- Oppenheimer
Christopher Nolan’s biographical drama is miraculous in so many ways. Despite being about 3 hours long, the incredible editing of Jennifer Lame leaves this movie to never feel as though any moment is unneeded or unnecessary. The majority of this movie, especially the last third of the film, often takes place in the form of debates in conference rooms or hearings, but all of them are thrilling and extremely fascinating to watch and hold a tension that puts many climactic battles in films with those as a costumed hero to shame. The titular real-life figure in the film could’ve very easily been painted as either a full-on war hero or a downright villain in the wrong hands, but this work wisely never picks a complete side. It depicts him as fundamentally human and as someone who does recognize and have to see the consequences of what he was in charge of, even if he and others were trying to think of the greater good in one of the world’s most conflicting times.
All of this comes together beautifully without one moment feeling wasted or as though nothing was vigorously researched to prepare for making this film. Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey, Jr, give what is perhaps the best work of their careers thus far, and they are brimming with overwhelming ambition and intelligence in almost every frame. Emily Blunt gives marvelous work as someone who is aware of the hurt caused by Murphy but finds it hard to not stop loving him and has her own sense of raw wit and drive. Every actor in the movie, from the main stars to the character actors who bring so much with a little to their roles, is excellent in this. Seeing this movie on the IMAX screen to witness this film’s booming sound design and its astonishing cinematography was an amazing experience I will never soon forget. The scene in which they are about to test the bomb before they send it overseas had me literally shaking in my chair and clutching it for dear life and held me in a state of anticipation that rivaled any horror film I’d seen this year.
I remembered telling as many people as possible how much I loved this movie from beginning to end, and I remembered being so happy hearing the discussion that some audience members were starting to have as soon as the movie was done. I was joyful hearing a friend telling me that they were planning to see it the next week or weekend just to see for themselves how it was.
When I asked my folks for the Blu-Ray copy of this over the holidays, I had to tell them to get it sooner because I was hearing that some stores were actually running out physical copies of this movie rather fast, since the demand for it was so high. In a time in which almost everybody has turned to streaming instead of physical media to watch something and for someone who is always a champion for physical media, that piece of information blew my mind in the best way possible.
During a year in which countless blockbusters and franchises were not making their financial target and people were still trying to cling to IP and superheroes as the definitive face of popular culture, “Oppenheimer” performed a miracle in that it was a 181-minute biographical drama that managed to make almost $1 billion in its entirety. This film and “Barbie” did great in causing a momentary phenomenon in which numbers of people flooded to the theater (some in groups) to see these different movies.
For the record, I eventually saw “Barbie” and thought that it was pretty good. To me, however, “Oppenheimer” gave me pretty much everything I wanted from a movie and a great one at that. Its thrills mostly came from intelligent debates and not from physical action. It takes itself and its subject matter completely serious but leaves enough humanity to never lose its grasp. Despite jumping to different places and times, the storytelling is top-notch and rarely leaves me feeling lost.
I’ve said before, and I’ll say once again that, from the moment I first saw “Batman Begins” and, later “Memento” growing up, a part of me knew I wanted to do something involving film, thanks in great part to Christopher Nolan. While I do love so much of his filmography to this day, “Oppenheimer” might be his greatest achievement. I can see this standing with “JFK” and even “Lawrence of Arabia” as one of the great epic biopic dramas with a staggering ambition and scope that is also one of the finest examples of film, in general.
Out of all the great movies I saw this year, “Oppenheimer” arguably gave me the most hope for movies during a time in which I’m honestly a little bit fearful for film, right now. I suppose this is time to talk about the rough experiences film has had in 2023.
Blockbusters, as I mentioned, didn’t financially do very well, regardless of whether they were the once guaranteed superhero moneymakers or timeless franchises a la “Indiana Jones” and even “Mission Impossible.”
Around the time spring rolled around, frustrated screenwriters and actors rightfully took to the streets to demand better working conditions from the executives and employers who refused to learn and treated them badly for so long.
Executives made the incredibly poor choices of removing beloved movies and shows from their sites, and, during a year in which both were trying to celebrate their 100th anniversary, Disney and especially Warner Brothers experienced disappointing centennials via losing tons of money from the poor box-office turnouts and several movies, such as “The Flash” and “Wish” that, narratively speaking, relied too much on nostalgia alone to try to save their audience’s attention and greatly suffered in their storytelling. Disney, in general, experienced what some are calling one of the worst years in its history.
2023, in general, was a year that, while not the never-ending nightmare that 2020 was (and nowhere near as bad as 2021 on a personal level), wasn’t that great. Setting aside the other unfortunate events happening in the rest of the world, the movie industry, particularly in Hollywood, battled to keep its light alive and is underdoing harsh efforts from the strikes halting production as long as they did simply because specific people atop were too greedy.
I also know that, at the time of this being published, long-delayed productions are going to start, and it’s going to take some time for movies to release on their dates as planned. I notice it from all of the vague “only in theaters 2024” dates written on posters and trailers instead of, say, “coming May 2024” or “April 2024.”
There are numerous productions that were originally going to happen in 2024 but, because demands weren’t properly met for too long, shows and entries to movie franchises I love, including “The Last of Us” “Yellowjackets” “Beyond the Spiderverse” and others I love, are going to have to wait until the following year if all cards are played right, and it will be…interesting to see what is done to fill that time to say the least for me and for others who love movies, who love film so much.
If 2022 was the year theatrical movies and film, in general, made a much-needed comeback following the disastrous pandemic, 2023 was perhaps not one of the happiest years for Hollywood but one in which artists and audiences are starting to realize that things need to change if they’re continuing to devote themselves to the time and craft to tell proper stories.
With all of this being said, I am going into 2024 with some positivity in mind. There are movies that will be released during this year that I look forward to seeing, and there will more than likely be good surprises as there is for every year in film.
One of the big reasons I chose to discuss 15 movies I loved the most instead of my usual 10 for the year is this: There were legitimately so many films I loved and enjoyed, and it was a reminder to me that, when a bad year or a bad time, in general, happens on any level, art in any form, whether it’s from books or music or movies, speaks louder and can arguably be at its most important during that time.
Despite all of the chaos and disappointment happening in the film world this year, there were so many movies (as well as many shows) that brought light and happiness and, in a few places, hope.
Stories can serve as a nice distraction, sure, but they can also awaken hearts and change minds and cause people to reflect or debate and lift spirits and work wonders in different ways. They have done so much, in general, in the past and present and will continue to do so in the future.
2023 was a tough year for film, but there were countless works that made me happy to be a lover of movies and film, in general, from this year as there usually is in every year.
I wouldn’t trade my passion and what I love doing for anything else.
I will continue to share my love for movies and film as a whole and write and do everything in my power to share my love for the medium this upcoming year.
Have a happy 2024, and, as always, I’ll see you all at the theater.