Top 10 Films of 2023

What a great year for movies. There were a plethora of wonderful flicks released in the last 12 months across a mix of genres, making 2023 trips to the theater satisfying.

Like all years with a lot of top shelf movies, it can be hard to narrow a list down to 10. But the more good movies the better, and based on personal enjoyment and what I found most well made, I was able to put together 10 picks. However, like always, I will honor the movies that didn’t make the cut.

Honorable Mentions:

• American Fiction
• Anatomy of a Fall
• Asteroid City
• Dream Scenario
• Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
• The Little Mermaid
• Wonka
• You Hurt My Feelings

Now on to the films at the top of the list.

10. Nimona

The No. 10 spot was really close, with films such as “American Fiction” just being edged out. “Nimona,” earned the spot in the top 10, though, thanks to its bountiful, infectious energy, mostly provided by its chaotic, lovable titular character.

However, while the action, humor and exciting animation make the film worth watching, it’s the character arcs both protagonists go on and how they find strength in each other when society has rejected them gives the movie plenty of meaning. The voice acting by Chloe Grace Moretz is a highlight, too.

9. The Killer

David Fincher returned to the director’s chair this year, and as expected, his movie was fine-tuned and soundly made. “The Killer” is a suspenseful character study of an assassin who is laser focused and views his work as only professional, while his latest mission is driven by personal reasons.

Fincher nicely captures the character’s psyche by portraying his meticulous manner and his inner monologue. Michael Fassbender is fantastic in the lead role, the supporting cast is solid and the scenes with action are well done.

8. May December

Challenging, uncomfortable and even humorous because of its satire, “May December” is a noteworthy drama exploring manipulation and trauma. The filmmakers are effective at creating melodrama that jabs tabloid culture and the true crime story-chasing in the entertainment industry, while also capturing what the people impacted experience.

The film is absolutely powered by sensational performances by Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore and Charles Melton.

7. How to Blow Up a Pipeline

Using the framework of a heist film, director and co-writer Daniel Goldhaber created a suspenseful, bold movie about desperate people taking action to sabotage an oil pipeline to prevent something worse. The film nicely analyzes the motivation of each character, giving insight into their grievances.

From there, the movie has a thrilling set of scenes where the characters plan and then carry-out their mission. The cast also gave praise-worthy performances, showing their deep frustration and helplessness when it comes to other climate action.

6. Priscilla

Director and writer Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla” is a dynamic biopic. She brings the character’s true coming-of-age story to life in empathetic, artistic fashion. It explores how Priscilla was thrust into the limelight as a teenagers and had to navigate that experience while growing up in an abnormal setting.

In addition to what Coppola brings as a filmmaker, Priscilla’s transformation from a bright-eyed teen to a woman who’s become weary and heartbroken is portrayed exceptionally well by Cailee Spaeny. Overall, it’s a fantastic, intimate portrait of a person.

5. Killers of the Flower Moon

Martin Scorsese’s meticulously made “Killers of the Flower Moon” is a harrowing dramatization of a violent, corrupt period in American history. Not only does this intense historical drama showcase the criminal, racist effort that ruthlessly took the lives of many people, it also details the trauma, fear and injustice experienced by the Osage Nation.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro are of course great on screen but the true highlight is the show-stopping performance by Lily Gladstone who absolutely commands ever scene she’s in. Combined with the craftsman ship of Scorsese and this is one of 2023’s best.

4. Poor Things

This film from Yorgos Lanthimos is a truly spellbinding character study with a remarkable figure at its center. Watching the protagonist’s progression through the film as she gets a crash course in life, becoming more independent and headstrong while maintaining a free spirit and rejecting social norms in the process is endlessly enjoyable.

From studying, to stirring conversations with strangers, and through sex, the main character gains more agency, challenges gender roles and experiences a personal liberation. It’s funny, visually impressive and the cast give elite performances, especially Emma Stone.

3. Oppenheimer

In my headline for “Oppenheimer,” I called the film an “immaculate cinematic achievement,” and I stand by it. The film is a true historical epic. It leaves no stone unturned when it comes to its main subject, acting as a deeply insightful look into a major player in world history and a gripping political drama in the midst of war and conflict.

It’s a captivating character study that also analyzes the nuclear age’s impact on many aspects of American history, from the final years of World War II to McCarthyism. Christopher Nolan fires on all cylinders, and the same can be said for the elite ensemble cast.

2. The Holdovers

“The Holdovers” felt really familiar. Not only did it feature a classic story of a mentor guiding a student, it also contained a distinguished 1970s vibe. But because of top tier execution, it never feels derivative, it stands completely on its own.

The cast and crew all do such an amazing job that one can’t help but be engrossed by the story, fall in love with the characters and appreciate the setting of a time gone by. Watching these broken characters come together, with a script full of great humor and heartwarming moments, is a great experience.

1. Past Lives

One of the most common aspects of the human experience is considering how different things could play out if a choice or life event was altered. Writer and director Celine Song explores this concept in stirring fashion. She masterfully tells an intimate, emotional story in a slow burn that lets every heartfelt, human moment be absorbed by the audience.

It’s a top tier drama about love, fate, the passing of time, the experience of being an immigrant, asking ‘what could have been’ and how we evolve as people. The writing, cinematography and music is sensational. The same can be said for the award-worthy acting by the three lead performers.