Best Movies of 2023

 

I moved to a new city and my social life suffered. As a result, my movie viewing sky-rocketed as I concurrently re-enlisted in AMC A-List (in June) and have zero issue with braving the cineplex solo. 200+ movies viewed this year* with over 50 in theaters. (This is not a brag, quite the contrary.)

I thought it just a wonderful year for movies. We had some original IP summer blockbusters, some fun teen movies, a few straight up funny mid-budget comedies, and some truly unique award season options thrown in there. I also participated in a once-a-month movie-club with old friends and that was just a delight, watching Oscar-nominated movies ranging from old classics to more recent gems. I have an aversion to rewatching movies or checking out older movies so this was a fun way to explore beyond movies released in 2023.

I need to shout out a few non-traditional movies that aren't in my top-ten list: Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé and the A24 re-release of the Talking Heads' 1980's concert film, Stop Making Sense. Renaissance was a banger of a concert movie and allowed me to live the tour I missed. And the Talking Heads film truly lived up to its reputation as being one of the all time greats. Then Mike Birbiglia's The Old Man and the Pool is stand-up comedy / story-telling at it's finest. Birbiglia is brilliant, I love his podcast, and my brother and I were able to see him live midway through the year here in Indy so it's been a year of Birbs.

Okay, on to my faves of the year.

*My movie list includes traditional feature length movies, short films, and stand-up specials. 

10. The Iron Claw

The devastating story of familial athletic masculinity expectations that just escalates to absolute depression mode. Woof. So well acted and vibey and the four brothers just played off each so well. For such a downer of plot line, I didn't get stuck in the sadness slowness.

9. Saltburn

Um, what? From director Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman), this story takes so many turns. It's hella dark, funny, freaky-deaky. And Barry Keoghan pulls off another killer performance (among many great performances).

8. Bottoms

These are the teenage movies that I'm here for. Queer and outsider story set squarely in 2023. Leads Rachel Sennett and Ayo Edebiri are the best and perfect casting of Marshawn Lynch. 

7. Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning - Part One

Action done right. That's about it. 

6. The Color Purple

My first experience of The Color Purple story, somehow having not read the book, seen the 1980's version, or had much contact with the stage-musical version. This hit for me with amazing songs and performances that lift the movie up amidst lots of punishing plot points, ultimately resulting in a redemptive and uplifting movie. 

5. Poor Things

Emma! We love you. Keep taking the weird roles. Yorgos doesn't miss as dirctor. This Frankenstein story of a woman created in Victorian London is dream-like, hilarious, and explicit. Heavy social commentary without ever sacrificing story. Set design is so good. 

4. Theater Camp

Not a theater kid but kinda loved this one. Mockumentary style of a kids theater camp that expertly utilized the kids. Jokes throughout that just got me. And, of course, a lot of heart.

3. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse

I watch all of the Marvel stuff but this is one of the few franchises I continue to care about. Animation continues to be amazing. Plot continues to be super compelling. Can't wait for the next one.  

2. Past Lives

Beautiful and thoughtful movie. Lead, played by the fantastic Great Lee, immigrates to the States from South Korea as a twelve-year old then catches up with her childhood friend, first virtually in her twenties, then in-person in her thirties. Loosely set-up like a love-triangle minus any of the romantic will-they/won't-they. Instead, considerations of alternate life paths that could have transpired, dealing with split identities, consideration of choices made. All characters are treated with such grace and the movie is so honest and adult. Looking forward to more from writer/director Celine Song. 

1. Barbie

Hi Barbie. I'll follow Greta Gerwig anywhere. Even and particularly into a Barbie world that celebrates femininity and plastic commercialization. With a convoluted premise, I trust Greta to create something worth all of the excessive promotion. The movie is so much fun, holds up on repeat viewings, has great original music, hilarious performances from so many. While not a perfect movie, I'm here for all of it. And, this summer blockbuster juggernaut was a cultural powerhouse, breaking the box office, embracing the Oppenheimer double-release, and doing so while centering women. 

Honorable Mentions (Listed Alphabetically)

• Anatomy of a Fall
• Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret. 
• Asteroid City 
• The Blackening  
• Cocaine Bear
• The Creator
• Dicks: the Musical
• Dream Scenario
• Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
• Elemental 
• Every Body
• Godzilla Minus One
• A Haunting in Venice 
• The Holdovers
• Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny 
• John Wick: Chapter 4
• Joy Ride 
• Killers of the Flower Moon
• M3gan 
• Maestro
• The Marvels
• Missing 
• No Hurt Feelings 
• Oppenheimer 
• Please Don’t Destroy: The Legend of Foggy Mountain 
• Polite Society
• Red, White, and Royal Blue  
• Rye Lane 
• Scream VI
• Strays 
• The Stroll  
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 
• Talk to Me  
• You Hurt My Feelings 

Highly Anticipated (Listed Alphabetically)

• All of Us Strangers
• American Fiction
• Fallen Leaves
• Kokomo City
• Origin
• The Zone of Interest

Best Movies of 2022

Movie viewing continued to be weird this year for me. As we're mostly but not quite back to normal in regards to the pandemic and large groups, my ability to go to the theater varied and thus the viewing of movies varied. Here are my top ten plus some honorable mentions. 

10. Bodies Bodies Bodies 

I don't watch Euphoria but I describe this movie as the Euphoria of horror/thriller/whodunnit. A bunch of beautiful Gen-Z-ers (+ the Millennial/Gen X dude) being horrible to one another in ways specific to early twenty-somethings while in a mansion and mostly on drugs.

9. The Bob's Burgers Movie 

Ah, my fave animated family on the big screen. Yes, please. Good to hang with the Belchers.

8. Good Luck to You, Leo Grande 

A mostly one (hotel) room conversation movie discussing sex and shame and pleasure and relationships. Oddly engaging and sweet and thoughtful.

7. The Lost City 

This is what I want out of a movie. Entertain me. I want big movie stars being funny. I want jokes. I was a little bit of action. (More on this later.)

6. Everything Everywhere All the Time 

Ok, the last movie took the formula of a action, comedy and did it perfectly satisfactorily. This movie took movie formulas and chopped them up, remixed them, and improved on them. So many universes. So much heart. So many wild gags. This movie is worth watching.

5. Fire Island 

Pride & Prejudice, but on (gay) Fire Island. Joel Kim Booster wrote and starred in this excellent romance (/comedy that suavely layered on elements of queer and POC identities onto the social status drama of the novel.

4. Top Gun: Maverick 

This is what I want from an action movie. Action that legit thrills me and has me on the edge of my seat. I want to see airplanes fly fast and fight an undefined bad guy. This doesn't satisfy what film can be but it 100% equals what I need when watching a movie in theaters in the summer.

3. Nope 

Ok, Nope did for me what Top Gun did but a little more Spielberg thrill and mystery and actual acting. I was here for the bizarre story, unraveling in big spectacular form.

2. Turning Red 

This straight to Disney+ movie has heart, is goofy, has lots of cultural references to the early aughts. I'm here for it. I enjoyed this one so much.

1. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Movie perfection. Actors entertaining me. A great whodunnit. Sharp script. Well shot. Goofy accents. Jaw dropping costuming. This was so much fun to watch (with the whole family!).

Honorable Mentions (listed alphabetically)

• Barbarian
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
• Bros
• Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers
• Cha Cha Real Smooth
• God Forbid
• I Want You Back
• Lightyear
• Men
• The People We Hate at the Wedding
• RRR
• Scream (2022)
• Senior Year
• Thor: Love & Thunder

Highly Anticipated (listed alphabetically)

• Aftersun
• Babylon
• The Banshees of Inisherin
• Bones and All
• Till
• Strange World
• Emily the Criminal
• Guillermo Del Toro's Pinnochio
• The Fabelmans
• Halloween Ends
• Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
• She Said
• Tár
• Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

Best Movies of 2021

Movies are back, in a way. Pandemic impact kept me from theaters until June (post-vaccine, of course). Movies originally meant for 2020 eventually released and other movies' productions have been delayed and whatnot. Regardless, the theater experience came back (for me) and there's always home-viewing. Last year took a significant hit on the amount of movies I watched compared to a normal year. All that said, there were lots of solid films; few that struck me deeply though I'm still in a weird head/heart space because of life.

I had a hard time ordering my favorite movies. No obvious frontrunner or absolute top three. Plenty that I thoroughly enjoyed though. I ordered my favorite twenty-one+ movies in the following way: eleven-to-twenty-one, top ten, then a list of honorable mentions. Due to the heightened pandemic precautions last year, I have a few 2020 movies on here. They technically "released" in 2020 but were not in theaters and eventually dropped on streaming services weeks or months into 2021. So, I'm adjusting my parameters to include some of those and have noted with a "(2020)" marker. Anyhow, my favorites.

Twenty-One to Eleven (listed alphabetically)

Candyman

Admittedly, I'm unfamiliar with the 1992 Candyman original. So, I can't compare or comment on the two in tandem with one another. That said, I was here for this horror/thriller that is shot from a distinctly black perspective. And I'll almost always check out anything with Jordan Peele's involvement (as co-writer).  

CODA

Heart-felt and inspiring and yes, a few tear-jerker moments. This one follows a blue-color Massachusetts fishing family with two deaf parents, their deaf son, and their hearing daughter who just happens to love singing. The hurdles and struggles are real and also (to my knowledge) realistically presented. The tone felt like watching an episode of Parenthood, lived-in and messy while also effective and true to life. This one flew under the radar for many though I think (hope) gets some award season recognition. Check this one out. (PS. CODA stands for :child of deaf adults.")

Encanto

Okay so maybe not Disney's most revolutionary movie in terms of premise but the visuals were absolutely lovely, it spoke to the importance of family, the songs were fun, and they (Disney) have expanded their empire to Colombia.

F9

My hard work in watching all of the Fast & Furious movies has finally paid off where I can now watch in theaters. This franchise is meant for summer viewing where on can check their brain at the door. All you need to know is that they take cars to outer space in this one. 

The Green Knight

This one was weird. A King Arthur era tale with Dev Patel. Dreams and journeys and who knows what else. But it had me engaged. 

The Mitchells vs. The Machines

This family movie was so fun. The animation was creative and story-oriented, the pop culture references were on point and not annoying, and the voice acting was a hoot. 

Nomadland (2020)

Well, this was a lovely movie. It won Academy Awards for best film and director (Chloe Zhao) so it's not wanting for recognition though it also wasn't necessarily buzzed about much outside of film nerds (to my knowledge). The story follows a woman (Francis McDormand) as she drifts from job to job, living in her converted van. Not intentionally depressing though certainly highlights the impact of our modern society on the lower-middle class, particularly for those that don't subscribe to traditional lifestyles. 

Plan B

A female-led teenage buddy comedy. (Obvious comparisons to Booksmart, for sure.) The general premise is that a "follow the rules" teenage girl discovers a boy didn't correctly use protection during a sexual encounter, thus setting her and her friend on a journey to track-down a Plan B pill in South Dakota. Suffice it to say, the journey is complicated for a couple of <18 year-olds. Obviously, there's social commentary. Though the movie relies on the writing, the chemistry of the two leads, and the execution to deliver a hilarious viewing experience. 

A Quiet Place: Part II

Even quieter! An incredible first ten(ish) minute sequence detailing the onset of the franchise (alien monsters attracted to noise). The rest: nail-biter thriller, hoping folks stay alive. Wouldn't be mad if there's a third installment to close out the storyline.

Summer of Soul

Music documentary directed by Questlove, showcasing a summer of 1969 Harlem festival. Iconic performances by Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, and many more. Expertly edited and contextualized while reviving some incredible footage from fifty years ago.

Zola (2020)

The first major studio movie based on a Twitter thread. Stripper Zola (Taylour Paige) is convinced by her new friend to travel to Florida from Michigan based on a boyfriend's suggested opportunity for some gigs. There are twists. And turns. Wonderfully unique and bizarre while also inciteful and nuanced.

Top Ten (listed alphabetically)

Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar

Perfect Kristen Wiig comedy. Weird and out of left field. I repeatedly didn't know where it was going or what was going to come at me next.

Belfast

Amidst the conflict in Ireland in the late 1960s, this is a small movie following one family. There's societal violence and turmoil literally on the doorstep of the family home. Yet the movie takes the point of view of one of the boys in the family. There's fear. There's consideration of "who is the enemy?" There are small decisions to be made that have big consequences. It's a lovely shot movie and expertly acted one.   

Dune

I'm not a Dune guy. Zero interest in reading the book(s). But director Denis Villeneuve and a slew of solid actors had me intrigued. The vast universe was beautiful to watch, the complex plot was made relatively simple to follow, and there was a nice balance of exposition with action. I'll be here for the sequel. 

Derek Delgaudio's In & Of Itself

This recording of a live off Broadway performance was arresting to watch. Part story-telling, part magic show. Emotional and impactful. An experience I've not had before. Really interesting watch.

In the Heights 

What a spectacle. And, this was my first movie to watch back in theaters which was a good choice. The music and dancing and cinematography was all so fun. I know some folks have had enough Lin Manuel Miranda but this served the perfect summer blockbuster musical magic that I needed. 

Inside 

Bo Burnham's stand-up has always been insightful and layered. He has long dealt with mental health and privilege and his place as a straight-white-man. Then he wrote/directed Eighth Grade, a nuanced look into a middle school girls' experience. Here on Inside, Bo may be struggling personally due to life and pandemic and everything else but he is operating at peak creativity. The entire concept, the music, it's all done expertly. 

Luca

A simple coming-of-age story on the Italian Riviera. Cute, beautiful to look at, and queer leaning in premise. Would love more of these straight-to-streaming gems. 

Promising Young Woman (2020)

This feminist vigilante movie was so fascinating to watch. The trailers give the premise but not to what level of depth or where it goes. This one also has so many twists and turns and a frustrating ending though also maybe realistic one. The script is fantastic and execution is very well done.

 

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

As with much of the world, I show up to the Marvel movies. I'm not a die hard fan. But I'm there and they're generally fun to watch. Every once in a while, one comes along that changes up the game and I think Shang-Chi did just that. Simu Liu is a fantastic lead and Awkwafina is great, as usual. The fighting was fun to watch and I'm hoping for more.

Together Together

This indie-leaning movie follows Matt (Ed Helms) on his journey to find a surrogate (Anna, played by Patti Harrison). It's sweet. And funny. And emotionally resonates. It's an unusual story though an enlightening one. 

Honorable Mention (listed alphabetically)

• Fear Street 1994, 1978, 1666
• Judas and the Black Messiah
• Licorice Pizza
• No Time to Die
• Nobody
• Pray Away
• Raya and the Last Dragon
• Spider-Man: No Way Home
• Supernova (2020)
• The White Tiger
• West Side Story

Highly Anticipated (listed alphabetically)

• Being the Ricardos
• The French Dispatch
• The Lost Daughter
• The Power of the Dog
• Roadrunner
• The Rescue
• Roadrunner
• Titane

Best Movies of 2020

 

Movies took a hit this year. One of my favorite activities, the theater going experience, has been on hold for nearly nine months. Releases and production on movies were subsequently stalled. All this to say, there were far fewer movies made available in 2020. And on my end, my ability to sit and watch a movie at home (as opposed to in a theater) has been one of distraction and subsequently many of the slow-paced or meditative movies didn't quite hit like they would previously. 

Still, there's been some gems here and there. So, I've decided to list ten movies, ordered only alphabetically, that were my favorites. I've also included an honorable mention movies that brought some level of entertainment or moved me.

Athlete A (Netflix)

A nicely constructed documentary on a critical issue, following the sexual misconduct within the gymnastics world. 

Boys State (Apple TV+)

Premise of this doc: 1,000 seventeen year old boys travel to Austin, TX for a week long pseudo-government exercise, filled with election runs and party affiliation. Viewing emotions include terrified, fascinated, inspired. And I cried through the ending of this one. 

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (Netflix)

This movie is stupid and it made me laugh.

Hamilton (Disney+)

Cool, okay, so now I've seen Hamilton. 

The Invisible Man (HBO Max)

One of few movie-going experiences here in 2020. The Invisible Man is a great thriller, perfectly showcasing the harms of gaslighting women, and Elizabeth Moss can do no wrong. 

Lovebirds (Netflix)

I'll be honest, I'm heavily biased towards Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani as actors. And this movie is just an easy watch. The jokes land for the most part. The "normal-people caught up in a violent crime story" is a well-worn plot piece but I am here for it. #top3

Palm Springs (Hulu)

This landed at just the right moment. With a "Groundhog Day" plot premise in which the same day is lived over and over, this comedy is mentally engaging while keeping the mood relatively light. Thematically and tone-wise, that's just what I needed from a year spent in quarantine. #top3

A Secret Love (Netflix)

This charming love story documentary of two elderly lesbian women is both heart-warming and a (recent) history lesson on LGBTQ+ experiences in 20th century USA.

Soul (Disney+)

Soul is a nuanced secular consideration of the nature of the spiritual. A cousin of Inside Out in structure though distinct enough to stand on its own. The movie kept up the Pixar domination of heartfelt, kid-friendly, deeply thoughtful animated goodness. And of course beautifully rendered and masterfully scored. #top3

The Vast of Night (Prime)
An indie-thriller, set in 1950s New Mexico, centering around a young radio DJ and a small-town encounter with something other worldly. Lots of great tracking shots with distinct style throughout. Check this one out for a fun ride.


Honorable Mention (listed alphabetically)

The 40-Year-Old Version

Bad Education

Becoming

Between the World and Me

Birds of Prey

Blow the Man Down 

The Boys in the Band 

Circus of Books

Da 5 Bloods

Dick Johnson is Dead

Disclosure

Emma

Happiest Season

The Half of It

How to Build a Girl

The King of Staten Island

LA Originals

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

My Spy

Mucho Mucho Amor

The Old Guard

On the Rocks

Onward

The Prom

Spelling the Dream

Tenet

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before PS I Still Love You

Sound of Metal

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend

The Way Back

Wolfwalkers

Wonder Woman 1984

Highly Anticipated (listed alphabetically)

Ammonite

Black Bear

His House

One Night in Miami

Promising Young Woman

Steve McQueen's Small Axe movie series

Sylvie's Love