2023 was an excellent year for films!
Out of the 57 films from 2023 I saw, most were 3.5-5 stars for me, with 4 stars being the most frequent rating I gave.
Here are some other fun stats about my 2023 in movie-going (thank you Letterboxd!):
297 movies watched - around 6 movies/week
The Sherlock cast was my most watched performers, as I logged each episode as its own movie
Walt Disney Animation Studios directors - Hamilton Luske, Wilfred Jackson, Clyde Geronimi - were my most watched directors
Jurassic Park was my 200th watched movie
Honorable Mentions
Emily
Napoleon
Priscilla
John Wick: Chapter 4
Oppenheimer
The Zone of Interest
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Godzilla Minus One
Theater Camp
May December
Top 10
Killers of the Flower Moon
While I acknowledge the criticisms thrown at this film, like centering the story too much around Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, I think it’s still an incredible tale of such a dark stain on our country’s history. It’s bold in its storytelling, with stellar performances all around. I truly think Lilly Gladstone gave the best performance of the year, despite her Oscar loss intimating otherwise.
Robbie Robertson’s soundtrack is propulsive and Rodrigo Prieto’s camera work is stunning. Forty-plus movies later, Scorsese still shows us he’s one of the best to do it.
Robot Dreams
Animation is a medium of filmmaking that I’ve always adored and respected. This is a perfect example of the heights it can go to. Its simple yet evocative art style elevated this simple story to a poignant, melancholy look at loneliness and love, both platonic and romantic. The score is also incredible, and with no dialogue in the film, the music really stands out.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
What can I say that hasn’t been said about this movie? It’s a visual masterpiece; every frame is truly a painting. The story is engrossing and, though the idea of ‘canon’ events was memed to death upon its release, the way it explored the comic book idea of certain tropes needing to always be present was incredibly refreshing. Another excellent score here from Daniel Pemberton. It’s a superhero movie even for people who don’t love superhero movies.
Asteroid City
Wes Anderson’s lovely take on the meaning of life seems to have mostly been forgotten; going mostly unawarded. I think it’s one of his best films, though. It’s a reaffirmation that we shouldn’t take life too seriously — fans of absurdism will love this. Behind Anderson’s well-known aesthetic is a complex, funny, intricate story, with excellent performances and genuinely funny moments. The story-within-a-story-within-a-story narrative structure is also smart and wonderfully crafted.
American Fiction
One of the last films from 2023 I watched was definitely one of the best. The script for this movie was my favorite of the year. It’s very smart and genuinely funny. It works as both a satirical look of the publishing industry, and really a lot of artistic industries, as well as an emotionally fulfilling family drama. As with most of the other films in my top ten, the music was impeccable.
The Holdovers
Paul Giamatti is one of my top ten actors ever. I truly love him, and can easily say this is my favorite performance of his. It’s a beautifully crafted film and will easily fit into my annual Christmas rotation movies alongside A Christmas Story and It’s A Wonderful Life. Da'Vine Joy Randolph is also a revelation and deserves every award she was given this year. It’s a grounded performance that actors always hope they can give. It also introduced me to the Swingle Singers, for which I’m eternally grateful.
All of Us Strangers
This beautifully tragic, gay fantasy was a sleeper banger last year. It’s quite sad that it didn’t earn as many nominations as it should have. Every single performance is outstanding. Jaime Bell, Claire Foy, Paul Mescal, and Andrew Scott are giving the best performances of their careers here. They leave nothing on the floor and I loved every second of it. I cried, I laughed, and I felt so incredibly human while watching this. I also loved its portrayal of how strange and awkward intimacy can be, between both strangers and people we’ve known our whole lives.
Anatomy of a Fall
The script for this movie is so tightly wound that you can feel the tension oozing from the dialogue. Add some commanding performances from Sandra Hüller and Milo Machado-Graner (also Messi, the dog who plays Snoop) and you’ve got something you can’t take your eyes off of. It’s an impeccably made court drama, that also seems to serve as a criticism of the French court system. I can’t wait to revisit this to continue to piece together the truth of the central question: did our main character murder her husband?
The Boy and the Heron
I feel a little sorry for those who have had a hard time with this movie. There’s something in my love for this movie that I cannot explain as it feels so intrinsic to who I am. It’s a feeling that I just have in the fibers of my being. Not only is it the beautiful animation we expect from a Hayao Miyazaki x Studio Ghibli endeavor, but I think they were able to elevate it to the best they’ve done with some artistic/stylistic moments. I won’t try to claim I know what everything is supposed to represent, I think only Miyazaki himself will ever truly know that. But I’m excited to spend the rest of my life thinking about this movie, letting its joy and sorrow wash over me in a way only a master artist’s work can do.
Past Lives
No movie captured my mind more than this in 2023. It’s a humble movie that dives deep into what it means to love and live. The performances are delicate, yet powerful. The story tiptoes between romance and regret in a way I feel like I’ve never seen, and if I have, it still feels novel. No movie came close to how this one made me feel. Near the end of the movie when our childhood friends are leaving each other again, we get my single favorite scene of the year. Greta Lee’s quiet, pained Nora saying goodbye is a masterclass in performance, and Shabier Kirchner’s calm, still camerawork is a perfect choice for this moment. More than any movie from last year, this is the one I would urge people to watch. It’s a stunning debut from Celine Song; a filmmaker I can’t wait to watch grow in the coming years.
Thanks for reading!
2023 really was a great year in film. Let me know what you think. Any I should have put in? Any you don’t agree with? Let me know in the comments!
Til next time!
- Colton
Our taste is soooooo different. But I really like all your top films, and I approve!
Sherlock are tv episodes but sure 😜