After suffering through the three worst years of cinema since I arrived on this mortal coil (2020-2022), this year has been something of a savior. While starting off a bit bumpy, the later half of 2023 offered a bevy of stimulating works from important filmmakers young and old. Cinema shone a little brighter this year, as more interesting and adult works drowned out the insipid big budget Hollywood fare.
2023 had something for everyone, but it was the serious minded and adventurous filmgoers who were the most rewarded. Martin Scorsese delivered one of the best pictures of his career, Brandon Cronenberg did his father proud with one of the most unique horror works in some time, and Yorgos Lanthimos made his most bizarrely adventurous film to date.
The year’s cinematic riches didn’t end there. Emerald Fennell made good on the promise showed with her Oscar-winning first film, Ridley Scott proved he is the last of the old school masters of the serious epic, Paul Schrader returned to complete his “accidental trilogy”, Lily Gladstone graced screens with her presence in two of the year’s finest works, and in the biggest surprise of 2023, writer/director Bradley Cooper created one of the finest biopics in decades.
This was truly a year of interesting works from visionary filmmakers that gave one a glimmer of hope that real filmmaking is not going the way of the samurai.
Readers must be warned, two of the year’s most respected pictures will not be found on this list. While Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” was clever and very funny, it was sloppily constructed and went on an hour too long. Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” was interesting and featured good performances, but the nonstop score often drowned out the important dialogue, the Florence Pugh backstory was unnecessary in the scheme of things, and the picture was occasionally over-directed. I liked both, but found neither to be one of the year’s best.
From action films with an artful edge to clever horror pictures, emotional Indies, and powerfully moving dramas focusing on character, here are my choices for the 15 best films of 2023, followed by some films that just missed the top 15.
- KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON– Martin Scorsese
With its emotionally epic story, sprawling cast, and an undying ambitious vision from one of American Cinema’s true masters, Scorsese created a late-career masterwork.This is a picture that shows great reverence for the Native American culture (in this case, the Osage) while firmly taking aim the blood-stained history of our nation’s past.
Leonardo DiCaprio is tremendous, as are Jesse Plemmons and Robert De Niro, but it is the masterfully subtle Lily Gladstone giving a graceful performance that carries the pain, betrayal, and tragedy of the Native American people in her every breath. The character is the heart of the film and Gladstone gives the performance of the year.
A tremendous work for connoisseurs of serious films brought to life by a filmmaker who understands and respects the power of motion pictures. The finest motion picture of 2023.
2. PAST LIVES– Celine Strong
A profound piece about the bonds formed in youth that are always with us but hold different meaning as we change with the passing of time.
Song’s feature film debut is a deeply felt and philosophically alive picture that understands human emotions. The filmmaker demonstrates her skill for storytelling and crafts her striking debut with grace a patient director’s eye.
The performances from Lee and Yoo are absolutely striking; their work becoming something quite transcendental.
3. POOR THINGS– Yorgos Lanthimos
A delicious cinematic gumbo and a wildly absurdist look at society and sex that is a ribald and spicy work beaming with the director’s zeal for the craft.
Emma Stone is terrific in a kabuki-like performance with a soul while Mark Ruffalo gives the most uncomfortably funniest performance of the year.
With a breathtaking visual design and committed work in front of and behind the camera, the film is complete with everything that makes Lanthimos one of modern cinema’s most unique filmmakers.
4. NAPOLEON– Ridley Scott
At 86, the filmmaker is aging like the fine wines he loves, crafting an old-fashioned epic in the best sense. This is a captivating film on every level. Covering three decades of Napoleon’s history, Scott’s mastery of the art is evident in every moment of this tremendous achievement.
Joaquin Phoenix relishes the title role and Vanessa Kirby is entrancing and charismatic as Joséphine.
A grand film of dramatic power and an astonishing technical accomplishment. Ridley Scott is the last surviving master of this kind of film.
5. MAESTRO- Bradley Cooper
An enormously moving motion picture done with style and respect for the filmmaking process and one that gets to the soul of its subject, Leonard Bernstein.
Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan give the performances of their careers, while Cooper proves his skill at directing, doing so with a stylistic exuberance.
A stunning vision, exploding with music and emotion. 2023’s biggest surprise.
6. GODZILLA MINUS ONE– Yamazaki Takashi
An epic feast for the eyes and a devastating tale of human kindness and forgiveness that becomes surprisingly moving.
This is world class filmmaking; masterfully constructed on both epic and intimate levels.
A flawless combination of story, character, and spectacle that is not only one of the greatest monster movies ever made, but the finest Godzilla film of them all.
7. THE HOLDOVERS- Alexander Payne
An absolute treasure, assuring every dramatic beat is fresh rather than familiar, this could be Payne’s finest hour.
An authentic portrayal of life, love, pain, and the whole damned thing, this is a poignant tale of loss and human connection that breathes with realism and heart.
Paul Giamatti has never been better in the role that should earn him an Oscar.
8. FANCY DANCE– Erica Tremblay
An engrossing film with a quiet power that aligns its warm heart with the many Indigenous Women who have been missing and murdered without finding justice.
Lily Gladstone, Isabel Deroy-Olson, and Shea Wigham share moments of purity in their performances that will break your heart.
An intimate film of gravitas and devastating truths.
9. SALTBURN– Emerald Fennell
A masterfully wicked character thriller with a refreshing fearlessness.
Fennel is fascinated by the motivations of her characters and has nasty fun with their creation.
An eerily mischievous work full of suspense, eroticism, and the darkest of humor.
10. INFINITY POOL– Brandon Cronenberg
A uniquely extreme work of twisted eroticism and violence and an alluring theater of the grotesque.
Brandon Cronenberg is an innate talent who matches his hypnotic visuals with something real to say about society and the uglier parts of human nature.
A captivating motion picture that unapologetically destroys the walls of cinematic boundaries.
11. FRYBREAD FACE AND ME- Billy Luther
A tender and beautifully written piece depicting the complexities of life on the reservation through vivid evocations.
A subtle and moving film of affectionate moments that seeks a deeper understanding of the connections between the generations.
This is a film that achieves an ethereal delicacy that becomes a moving snapshot of a culture and its power.
12. AMERICAN FICTION- Cord Jefferson
Jefferson announces his talents with a moving satire of America’s bigoted social hierarchy.
Jeffery Wright finds his best role in years in this funny and quite moving tale.
A sharp and effective blend of humor and pointed observations.
13. GOD IS A BULLET– Nick Cassavetes
An unapologetically violent journey of revenge with a subtext that hits with a brute force.
Cassavetes has a tight hold on the material and an expert understanding of tension and dramatic shock.
An exciting, hard-hitting tale of vengeance and redemption and the type of balls-out filmmaking modern cinema so desperately needs.
14. MASTER GARDENER– Paul Schrader
A reflective piece about a soul going through a moral cleansing and the balance of the tormented spirit and desire for control of one’s destiny.
Joel Edgerton gives the performance of his career.
An eloquent motion picture that is as challenging and effective as it is philosophical and spiritual.
15. JOHN WICK 4- Chad Stahelski
An exciting canvas of well-designed action sequences and surprisingly artful cinematography and set design.
Insane, extreme, and completely outrageous, every fight scene becomes visceral cinematic art.
A feast for the eyes and a thrill for fans of masterfully choreographed action, this is a riveting cinematic experience.
Near Misses: 7 films that almost found a spot in the top 15
ANATOMY OF A FALL- Justine Triet
An always interesting psychological thriller that only bogs down in its cliched courtroom finale.
ASTEROID CITY- Wes Anderson
Funny and sweet and one of the director’s best films in some time. Just a tad familiar, but still a charmer.
BEAU IS AFRAID- Ari Aster
Aster’s darkly absurdist, almost Kafkaesque take on tragedy, anxiety, and nightmare mothers. Marred only by a final act that becomes too obvious.
BOUDICA: QUEEN OF WAR- Jesse V. Johnson
An engaging film full of solid battle scenes and a fantastic lead performance from Olga Kurylenko.
MAY DECEMBER- Todd Haynes
A mostly fascinating look at the fetishization of even the most vile people. The film falters only when it brings up more questions than it can answer.
NO ONE WILL SAVE YOU– Brian Duffield
An alien/creature feature piece that is clever and entertaining. Consistently captivating and intense.
RADICAL– Christopher Zalla
A film that pays tribute to the importance of education while portraying the hardships of saving children from the dangers of their environments. Familiar, but a moving and important little gem.