#Best Films of 2023

[artfilmfan]

fearlessly brilliant Sydney Sweeney in “Reality” (Tina Satter, 2023)

[signify-nothing]

2023 In Review - Top 5 Movies

The Servant (1963)

It's safe to say I lost my fucking mind over this movie. I've watched it no less than five times, I've read the source novel, I've annotated academic articles about it, read the British Film Institute volume, looked over Dirk Bogarde's biography passages pertaining to it, and listened to some great podcast episodes discussing its themes.

My best friend watched it with me and said it was Lana Del Reycore, which is something I haven't been able to get out of my head since. It's so slutty and and wild and gorgeously shot. Every scene just gives me chills (I mean, just check out the hand placement over the shadow in the GIF above. Does it get hornier?). That's not even getting into Bogarde's acting. So gloriously unhinged. You never know quite what he's thinking, but you believe he's thinking it with your whole body (Does that make sense? Probably not). It's confounding and wonderful and never ceases to mesmerize me.

2. Saltburn (2023)

I went absolutely fucking feral over this movie. The most accurate review I can give of it is: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Emerald Fennell said one of her key inspirations was The Servant (1963) and when I learned that, my neural pathways rewired themselves because, of fucking course. Oliver Quick is the spiritual successor to Dirk Bogarde's Hugo Barrett. A character as compelling as he is diabolically fucked up. Someone you can't help but wish would ruin your life.

That's not even getting into the gorgeous cinematography, the perfect soundtrack, or the paradigm-shifting sex scenes that have taken up full-time residence in my brain. I'm this movie's bitch.

3. Wild Things (1998)

2023 really became the year of trashy erotic thrillers for me and I'm owning it 100%. This movie is ridiculously sexy, gay, and beyond - beyond - absurd. Just watch it. And listen to the Horror Queers podcast about it. And the Bechdel Cast podcast after that.

4. Flesh for Frankenstein (1973)

It's an x-rated Young Frankenstein with Udo fucking Kier and lots of full frontal male nudity. Is any more information needed? Another one where the Horror Queers podcast is absolutely mandatory post-screening.

5. Past Lives (2023)

Needless to say, this film departs wildly from the 4 films above it... or does it? In its own restrained way, this film is slutty as fuck. No one knows longing like these two. There, I said it.

... But to put it in more respectful terms, this film captures the feeling of having to choose a life you love over a person you love, which is something I've had to do multiple times. It's always heartbreaking. I rarely shed a tear at movies, but this one made me ugly cry. A lot.

Honorable Mention: Showgirls (1995)

You really thought I was gonna end this list on a downer? Not this year. I fucking love this movie and will not be made ashamed. Kyle MacLachlan's hair alone is enough to make this a camp classic. It's on a level of absurd that surpasses all logic, and that is what makes it so brilliant. A great double-bill with Wild Things. Don't forget to check out the Horror Queers & Bechdel Cast pods after viewing. They provide the chocolate syrup & cherries on top.

[ladoubleviedepi]

Best movies of the 2023

[willywaldo]

When a country holds its leaders accountable. This powerful and moving documentary draws on over 530 hours of televised coverage of the 1985 trial of Argentina's military rulers who "disappeared" thousands of Argentines under the guise of waging a war against 'terrorists." Their victims ranged from high school students who dared to join their student councils to middle-aged mothers looking for their missing children. What I found chilling was the parallels with today's right-wing movement: the disregard for the rule of law and the tendency to dehumanize their opponents (which makes it easier to torture and kill) by labeling them as "subversives" (or as with today's right-wing: "communists", "leftists",: "libtards", "globalists", etc.). The excellent Oscar-nominated film Argentina, 1985 drew on this trial, but this is the real thing. Today's the last day it's playing at Film Forum, so hopefully, it will be picked up by one of the streaming services.

[baxterbella24]

So relatable.

POOR THINGS (2023) dir. Yorgos Yanthimos

[lighthousekeepers-burner-blog]

On Letterboxd as rot

[themosleyreview]

The Mosley Review: Best Films of 2023

Well! 2023 has come to an end and what a tumultuous year it has been for the entertainment industry. There were some shake ups on release dates and some films were shifted to 2024 for a number of reasons. Whether it was because of the massive SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes or because the films were rushed, it didn't stop a crop of good films from coming out in 2023. This years' list may not be as long as others, but it is still my pick for the very best Hollywood had to offer. As always, if you want a more detailed review of all the films on my list, just click the title of each film. Now, without further ado, here's my list of the best films of 2023!

John Wick 4: There are very few films that start out as a small, simple, and almost as an underdog. The original film came out of nowhere with minimal promotion and it grew into becoming one of the greatest action film franchises of all time. From beginning to end, this film was a finale that incorporated any and every from of martial arts, gunfoo and even paid homage to classic samurai sword fighting. It was thrilling all the way through and a surprisingly emotional end to something that only happens once in a lifetime. Keanu Reeves is now one of the greatest action stars of all time and I hope this franchise stays gone on this high note and never revisit it.

When Evil Lurks: As a horror fan, you get many recommendations a year and a healthy helping of so many films. Alot of them stick to a familiar formula, but end up being nothing you haven't seen before by the finale. I'm always looking for a horror film to keep me on the edge of my seat with anxiety, wonder, nausea from the imagery and above all, terror. This film Argentinian film did that in spades. The thought of giving the possession genre a more biohazard twist and sticking to the rules that were set was refreshing and loved every second of it. This film ripped the safety net out from under you as it plunges you deeper into the dark and grotesque nightmare. What a magnificent horror film.

Oppenheimer: Lets face it. We all wanted to see the great Christopher Nolan tackle the subject of an atomic bomb and to see it detonate through his specific IMAX lens. We got that, but what we also got was a truly haunting and sometimes disturbing examination of man that became one of the most genius and destructive minds in human history. The fact that we delve into the titular characters’ life, the events preceding, during and following the effects of his creation was truly mesmerizing. We got to see the emotional and psychological toll it took on the brilliant scientist and all the others that wanted to be apart of that historical moment. The court drama that ensued was fascinating and gave a face to true villain and an outstanding supporting performance from Robert Downey Jr. This was truly one of the best dramas of the year and one that I'm glad to have experienced in its full 3 hour IMAX glory.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse: With the surprise the first film was, you would be hard pressed to deliver something on the same scale or better than the awesome and stylish origin story for a character that really wasn't embraced in the beginning. The story may have taken some familiar turns with Miles Morales in the beginning, but to open with Gwen Stacey / Spider-Gwen and to go through the emotional journey between her and her father was amazing. The team behind the ground breaking animation has done it yet again and mixed in the use of water colors, inks and other forms of animation from different nations. It was a sight truly to behold and nothing short of an art gallery in every frame. The intensity of the story going from a kid trying to find his place in the universe to defying all by doing his own thing was great and frustrating at the same time. This film has one of the best cliffhangers in cinema history and I can't wait to see how this story comes to a close.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: Few storytellers get the honor of finishing their stories unhindered by outside influences. Even fewer get the chance to end a trilogy the way they intended and with a through line that keeps paying off the more you revisit each entry before the conclusion. The Guardians films started off as the outcast heroes that nobody knew anything about and as we fell in love with this ragtag team, we got to see them become a real family. The emotional origin story of Rocket Raccoon was in the seams of Vol. 1 and 2 and it now comes full circle with one of the best performances of Bradley Cooper's career. The High Evolutionary made for an excellent villain that is also a brilliant commentary on the state of a certain company that is seeking to execute the same plans of reconstruction in its many cinematic properties. You can look deeper into James Gunn's brilliant writing and directing and his message was clear. The Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy ends on such a sweet and powerful note that many have not reached in so long and I am so glad the actors, production team and many others fought for James Gunn to complete his vision. Definitely one of the best films Marvel Studios has released in years!

Evil Dead Rise: There truly is something magical happening with this series of films. It seems that everytime we get a new entry to this franchise, somehow they keep getting better and better. The 2013 remake was gnarly and stayed true to the franchise roots and this film does the same by staying small and personal. The story was simple, but the creative scares and intense violence was top notch. The tension was so great and the choice to make it about a family is always a welcomed touch. Just the possession process of the mother alone was horrific and sad. The film progressed and I was very impressed with the practical gore effects and stunt work. Alyssa Sutherland gives an impressive and devilishly gleeful performance as Ellie and definitely is up there for me as one of the best Deadites ever. Sam Raimi's franchise legacy is in very good hands.

And now we've come to the moment you've all been waiting for. For me, this choice was a no brainer and truly broke all the boundaries many films wouldn't pass. The best film of 2023 is.......

Poor Things: Right from the beginning, this film set its own path and delivered its own take on the coming age story. The unconventional take on the story element of woman birthed of scientists' experiment was something that could've gone horribly in the wrong hands. It’s handled with care and it was truly breathtaking to experience the mental growth of a child in full grown woman's body. Emma Stone was challenged to colour outside the lines by creating a character that discovers her own path recklessly, analytically and with an open mind that was not afraid to challenge societal norms and ideals. She had the best dialogue to make a meal out of and I was never not hungry for more as I was anticipating her reactions. Mark Ruffalo was on another level of joyous vanity and comedy all mixed into one. This is the most energetic, uncompromising and pompous character I've ever seen him portray and he makes you actually care about him by the end of the film. The vocal dance between both Bella and Duncan was the most interesting part of the film and their chemistry was volcanic. The dance sequence was one of my favorite scenes. This was truly the best film of the year for me and I highly recommend this metaphorical dark comedy to any and all that want to see a showstopping cast at their very best.

Alright folks! That was my list of the best films of 2023! It was an interesting year for the horror genre and to end on a such a high note with one of the most unconventional coming of age stories was a treat. Do you agree with my list? Let me know what you think or tell me what your picks of the best films of 2023 are in the comments below. Thanks for reading and here's to 2024!

[remainseatedatalltimes]

2023: Bow Down To Barbenheimer

Oh 2023.  You came and went in a flicker.  And so will the memory of your cinema releases. 

Okay, okay.  It wasn’t that bad.  But in many ways, 2023 felt like a complete repeat of 2022 with the release of a series of decent, entertaining enough films to help moviegoers like myself enjoy a cinematic escape from the real world.  

Now don’t get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.  In fact, it’s precisely what my overactive brain yearns for.  And it’s a large reason why so many of the movies I review tend to sit squarely in the 3-to-4-star category.  I’m so grateful for that escape that I genuinely do like most movies.  But essentially, a movie needs to make me FEEL something that compels me to want to talk about it to get above or below that range.  To keep that escape going beyond the boundaries of the cineplex.  Good, bad or otherwise (we all love to share horror stories of the appalling film we had to endure…remember Cats?).  So whilst I thoroughly enjoyed my cinematic escapes in 2023, very few films kept me thinking and talking extensively about them beyond the boundaries of the cinema.  With a few exceptions…

But first, let’s talk about the three movies that DID make an impact in 2023 with most cinemagoers:  Barbie, Oppenheimer, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie.  All 3 were big successes that certainly lit up the interweb.  And whilst Barbie certainly drew lots of well-deserved praise, unfortunately for me, most of the sequences with Will Ferrell and the Mattel leaders – who clearly had to be larger than life caricatures so to not offend the real-world company banking the film – just completely ruined the overall tone and impact.  Which is a shame, because if these characters had in fact represented the real-world business leaders, it would have elevated this already joyous and clever film to greater heights.

Meanwhile, The Super Mario Bros. Movie did great fan service with a fun and fast-paced film that finally gave the biggest names in gaming the cinematic star-status they deserve.  Even if Nintendo clearly didn’t read the Disney rulebook on merchandising by failing to release a new gaming title in line with the film…go figure.

But it was the final film in the 2023 trifecta that transcended the crowd to take the crown of my number 1 film of the year.  That film, Christopher Nolan’s dark, anxious and ambitious study of guilt, in the biopic, Oppenheimer.

To be honest, this movie probably does deserve a higher ranking than I’ve awarded it.  It is pretty close to cinema perfection.  A stellar cast, a stunning soundscape, a captivating story, and some of the best scene composition I’ve seen in years.  But I review from my heart, and I still left Oppenheimer stunned, but slightly hollow.  Which arguably is the entire point of the film.  I think we’d all have been very confused if this had been a musical retelling (don’t laugh, it’s actually a thing - Google Australian musical Atomic).  But when I look at other films I’ve awarded higher scores to, I stand by my score based on my personal taste.  I am quite thrilled it still managed to take out the no. 1 spot, however.  And hey, this is my list, so I can do what I want 😉

Interestingly, my second favourite film dealt with very similar themes – depression, grief, isolation – but in a VERY different way.  Quirky, brilliantly acted, and at times both heartbreaking and hilarious, The Banshees of Inisherin did find its way to my heart, and captivated me for 2 joyous hours of intrigue, laughs, tears, and WTF is happening musings.  Not to mention the haunting, yet stunning landscape sitting at the films core.  I lied.  I did mention it.

Rounding out my top 3 was another Barry Keoghan star vehicle, and one of 2023’s most controversial movies.  Whilst not quite as sublime as Emerald Fennell’s spectacular 2021 film, Promising Young Woman, her recent take on wealth, privilege, desire, and greed was impossible to look away from (even though I kind of wanted to in several instances).  But that is precisely the point of this film.  Reminiscent to me of one of my favourite films of all time, the underrated The Talented Mr. Ripley, this cynical, shocking, and brutal film was intentionally wicked and wonderful to behold.  Even if it may not be for everyone.

Similarly to 2022, I ended up awarding 12 films this year with 4-star ratings.  So there were plenty of other very good films released this year that you should catch up on if you haven’t already.  These ranged from the wonderfully optimistic and sentimental, Wonka – which, despite the director’s claims to the contrary, is the very definition of a MUSICAL; to the brilliant and most original film of the year, Poor Things – which very nearly pipped Saltburn for my 3rd place.  Emma Stone can literally do no wrong.  I also thoroughly enjoyed the animated gems ranging from the best superhero film of the year – Spiderman: Across the Universe; to Pixar’s romantic comedy, Elemental; to Disney’s latest animated musical, Wish – a charming, somewhat clever tribute to the 100th anniversary of the studio. I also clearly have a thing for seeing the upper echelons suffer, because the disturbing, yet brilliantly funny Triangle of Sadness also wet my whistle.  And rounding out the top 12 were three bigger blockbuster style films that shot well above their weight:  The best game adaptation of a movie to date (no, it’s not the one you’re thinking), Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves; the Nike origin story (is that a thing?), Air; and the hilarious, Joyride which accelerated nicely, but took out a few orange safety cones on the way to the finish line.

Thankfully this year was very firmly tipped in favour of the positives, with only 2 films falling below the 3-star level (although several such as the over-rated critical darling Tár, and the underwhelming slew of Marvel 2023 releases including The Marvels and Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3, did teeter precariously close to that edge.

Instead, it was another Marvel film, the over CGI’d and yet rather dull, Ant Man sequel, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantamania that unfortunately became my first Marvel Cinematic Universe film to drop below the 3-star level.  Mostly because it felt pointless, hollow, and somewhat dull.  The sooner Marvel realises the solution to their box-office woes right now is less about super-hero fatigue, and more about the fact they’ve lost their human elements – and in doing so – their emotional core, the better.  The solution:  Ditch trying to go “bigger”, and bring the action back to Earth, in a setting we all find familiar, to make the action more personal.  In other words, bring in the moral quarry that the X-Men present.  There is no better time than now to tell the mutation story.  So they should hurry up and re-tell it the way only Marvel Studios can.

And finally, rounding out my list in last place was the incredibly oddly executed black comedy – Allelujah.  I say black comedy because that’s my best guess as to the genre this film was aiming for.  But unfortunately, not even the talented cast could save this film from delivering a storyline that has been done numerous times before (and better) on television, in a way that felt both shallow and frankly insulting, all at the same time. 

[fathersonholygore]

FSHG's Best Films of 2023

Here are the official best picks from Father Son Holy Gore out of all the films from 2023. But just a small reminder: as all film taste goes, this list is purely subjective; life is subjective, and that’s why art is the same. Don’t forget to tell us/everybody in the comments what YOUR favourite films were this year, too. Red Rooms Telling a story about gruesome murder without showing anything…

[steakandcakerecords]

2023

MY FAVORITE LOCALS John Flaherty Pinch Kitten CJ1SD3AD Gabriel Wells Maya LaMacchia 4d.s Stephen Guerra Ex-Pat & Milkweed T.T.T.T L-Biz & Mythgotbeats Simularchon Listening Box Rainlamps Donutxslinger eesh Lets Become Friends... BEST FILMS Oppenheimer Inside The Killer Past Lives White Noise Howl's Moving Castle Daytrippers Kiss Me Deadly Empire of Light Ulee's Gold Sly Biosphere Armageddon Time Quarterback 3,000 Years of Longing BEST ALBUMS Tundrastomper - Less More Luge - I Love It Here, I Live Here Deerhoof - Miracle-Level Vanishing Twin - Afternoon X Yo La Tengo - This Stupid World Wilco - Cousin Roy Ayers - Good Vibes / Bad Vibes Kai Campos - City Planning Butter 08 - Butter 08 Eiafuawn - Birds on the Ground Mos Def - Black on Both Sides Pixies - Doggerel Slow Pulp - Yard JW Francis - Dream House Grace Ives - Janky Star Fib - Fib Illuminati Hotties - This is Not...

BEST SONGS

[twilight-zoned-out]

The Ken dance is so magnificent because it’s reminiscent of the Golden Age of Musicals when there would just be artful dance sequences for no reason other than the director wanted to have one.

[elinbean]

a win for tortured writers and haunted artists everywhere

[k-wame]

STRANIZZA D'AMURI (FIREWORKS) dir. Beppe Fiorello Italy · Drama · Crime · LGBTQ+

[niyana-the-ambiguous-mobian]

May I have your attention, please?

Just take a look at these guys,

Love all of this to pieces.

[lunarhobbits]

idea credit goes to @demonbarberofbeepbeep. inspired by this mr. darcy proposal powerpoint

[haveyouseenthis2023film]