January 19, 2024
It’s been four years since I started this little hobby and I can unequivocally say that this was the hardest year to rank my favorite films. There were two five-star masterpieces that were in a class of their own (you won’t be surprised when you read about them next week), but beyond that there were at least 25 excellent movies. Being a list person, it was fun trying to decide how to rank my favorites in an exercise that is only meaningful to me. Of course, opinions change from year to year. This is the fifth year I have performed this exercise and even looking back to 2019, I am asking myself what I was thinking in how I ranked certain films. Clearly it was recency bias or the influence of awards chatter that clouded my opinion.
With that in mind, it’s time to put the pencils down and settle on my top films of 2023. We’re going to cover twenty movies in total – this week it’s #20 – #11.
#20 – The Holdovers
You know it’s a deep movie year when a film that has an outside shot at winning Best Picture barely cracks my top twenty. Director Alexander Payne reunites with his Sideways star Paul Giamatti for a period-piece comedy-drama set at a New England boarding school in 1970. Giamatti plays a cantankerous teacher stuck with watching a group of students who couldn’t travel home for the Christmas break. The film focuses primarily on his interactions with one of the students (Dominic Sessa, who is excellent in his first acting role) and the school cook (Da’Vine Joy Randolph, the favorite to win the Best Supporting Actress Oscar).
Giamatti is wonderful in a performance that is sometimes hysterical and other times touching during the emotional scenes. Payne does an excellent job of bringing us to 1970 with his filmmaking technique and production design. The Holdovers feels like a movie that could have been released at any time over the last fifty years – that’s how good of a director Payne is. The story has a few parts that didn’t necessarily work for me (no spoilers), which is why it’s not higher on my list, but don’t let that influence your decision to watch it. The Holdovers has been on a number of top ten lists, some declaring it a new holiday classic, and is a shoe-in for a Best Picture nomination. The Holdovers is now streaming on Peacock.
#19 – Leave the World Behind
Probably one of the coolest premises of any film that I saw in 2023. Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke star as a couple who vacation at a rental house on Long Island with their teenage children when strange things begin to happen. An oil tanker runs aground on the beach (incredible scene), the internet and TV go out, and a man (Mahershala Ali) and his daughter arrive at night claiming to be the owners of the house and needing help following a massive blackout in the city. The next morning, things begin to devolve further, leading us down a path of uneasiness that escalates through the rest of the film.
Leave the World Behind is based on a best-selling novel and directed by Sam Esmail (creator of Mr. Robot). What I love about this film is that there are events that keep happening that make you ask yourself “What the hell is going on?” and there are no clear answers. Perhaps there was a cyber-attack on the country’s infrastructure. Perhaps there is a foreign invader attacking. Perhaps this is an elaborate experiment by our own government. Most films like this show us the other side of the story, but in Leave the World Behind, we are stuck with these characters. And you know what? At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what caused these events. The characters’ lives have been upended, the world may be falling apart, and it makes you realize how fragile our own existence is, given our reliance on technology and stability (even if it feels like our real world is going to hell at times). It’s also why I loved the end of the movie, which generated a polarizing reaction from audiences. Oh, and it features one of my favorite scenes of the year – I won’t spoil it except to say it involves automobiles manufactured by a company owned by a crybaby who also runs a social media company he renamed after wildly overpaying for it. You know the one I mean. Leave the World Behind is now streaming on Netflix.
#18 – John Wick: Chapter 4
Is it too long? Yes. Is it way too violent? Also yes. Was it one of the best action films I’ve ever seen? You’re damn right it is. The fourth installment of the John Wick franchise features Keanu Reeves once again portraying the contract assassin out to avenge those who have wronged him in the past. Director Chad Stahelski raises the stakes once again with breathtaking “How did they do that?” action sequences and Reeves demonstrates he can still kick ass in his late 50s. I previously covered this film when it was released and you can read more of my thoughts here. John Wick: Chapter 4 is now streaming on Starz and available to rent on demand.
#17 – Radical
You probably haven’t heard of this film, but what I love most about this hobby (and my obsession with movies) is discovering a story that is so moving and inspirational that I feel compelled to share it with others. You won’t hear about it at the Oscars and it’s not going to show up on your Netflix home screen, but it’s wonderful nonetheless and has a very strong connection to my favorite movie of 2021.
Eugenio Derbez, who co-starred in CODA, once again plays an inspirational teacher in Radical. This time he stars as Sergio, who has been hired at a rundown elementary school in a small town in Mexico. The students are not inspired, the other teachers are not motivated, there is no money for proper educational materials, and the administrators only care about standardized test scores to receive funding to keep the school open. Sergio decides to use unconventional methods to inspire and teach the children, quickly turning skepticism into enthusiasm. The cast is rounded out by a wonderful group of students and a delightful performance by Daniel Haddad as the principal, who is won over by Sergio’s methods and becomes his friend. There is a little bit of Dead Poets Society in Radical, and it will tug at your heartstrings, especially when you see how this true story turned out for the students at the end. Radical should be available to rent on demand later this month.
#16 – You Hurt My Feelings
How lucky are we to be alive during the comedy reign of Julia Louis-Dreyfus? The legendary star of Veep and Seinfeld has also been in some very good movies, including 2020’s Downhill and 2013’s Enough Said. The latter film was written and directed by Nicole Holofcener who recruited Louis-Dreyfus for the comedy-drama You Hurt My Feelings. She stars as Beth, an author who published a very successful memoir, but has been struggling to finish her new novel. Her agent thinks it needs a lot of work, which she discusses with her husband Don, played by Tobias Menzies (The Crown). He’s a therapist who has a hard time sympathizing with his patients’ problems, depicted in a few hilarious scenes.
One day, Beth overhears Don telling his brother-in-law that he doesn’t like her novel, but doesn’t want to disappoint her. The incident throws Beth into a tailspin, and sets off a crisis of confidence in their marriage. Is it ok to tell your spouse little white lies to keep them happy? How big can the little lie be and still be “ok”? When I saw this movie last year, I was thrilled to see that Hollywood will still greenlight comedies that are made for adults about real issues that couples face and that is SMART. I give all of the credit to Holofcener, who wrote a wonderful screenplay and directed an excellent movie. You Hurt My Feelings is now available to rent on demand and will be streaming on Paramount+ on January 26th.
#15 – Godzilla Minus One
I certainly didn’t have a Godzilla movie on my bingo card for 2023, but that’s what is fun about being surprised at the movies. In fact, I didn’t even plan to see Godzilla Minus One until I kept reading multiple strong reviews in the first few days after its release. I just couldn’t pass it up and after seeing it on an IMAX screen, I’m here to tell you it’s worth your time.
I’m not going to pretend to understand (or research) where this film fits into the canon of Godzilla movies from the last half-century. It’s not important to appreciate this installment. All you need to know is that Godzilla Minus One is the perfect combination of action movie and emotional family story. It takes place shortly after World War II, where a former bomber pilot tries to pick up the pieces after the destruction of Japan during the war. He soon meets a woman and an orphaned baby and together they become an unconventional family. While he attempts to build a life, Japan is under constant threat from Godzilla, who routinely pops up to terrorize the surrounding cities. He joins up with fellow war veterans to try to somehow destroy the terrifying beast. It’s safe to say that Godzilla Minus One was one of the more surprising hits of 2023 – it recently passed $100 million at the global box office. In addition to the terrifying action sequences, the film features emotional subplots between the characters, as they all relive the terror of World War II during Godzilla’s rampages. Every year offers a surprising international film from out of nowhere, and this was 2023’s hit. Godzilla Minus One is still playing in theaters and should be available to rent on demand in the coming months.
#14 – Anatomy of a Fall
One of the best international films of 2023 that will somehow not be nominated for Best International Film at the Oscars. Why? Well, it’s due to an arcane rule that allows each country to submit only one movie to the Academy for that award. France chose a different film (The Taste of Things, which I found beautiful, but way too slow – it will still likely be nominated) over Anatomy of a Fall, which may actually be nominated for Best Picture. The Oscar rules can be rather dumb.
The French production stars Sandra Hüller (in an outstanding performance) as Sandra, a writer whose husband (Samuel) dies after falling from the attic in their farmhouse. He is discovered by their blind son Daniel, who was out walking with his guide dog. The couple have been routinely fighting, particularly about her infidelity and the burden he feels for taking care of their son. There is also resentment from Sandra as Samuel’s carelessness led to the accident in which Daniel lost his sight. At the center of the film is what really happened to Samuel. Was it an accident? Did he commit suicide? Was he murdered by Sandra? The police begin investigating and we soon transition to a French courtroom where Sandra is on trial for Samuel’s murder.
On the one hand, this is a courtroom drama (and let me tell you – the French legal system is WILD). But it is also a drama about a couple’s relationship and the resentment that can build up over time. One scene in particular is a harrowing depiction of how far the couple’s relationship had fallen. Justine Triet directed Anatomy of a Fall and co-wrote the screenplay with her partner Arthur Harari. The genius in the creation of this film lies with the construction of the story and Hüller’s performance, which keeps us guessing until the end (or even after the credits roll? – that’s for the viewer to decide.) Anatomy of a Fall won the Palme d’Or (Best Picture equivalent) at the Cannes Film Festival, and two Golden Globes – Best International Film and Best Screenplay. It is likely to receive a few Oscar nominations – (most likely) Best Original Screenplay, (probably) Best Picture and (an outside shot at) Best Actress for Hüller. This one is worth your time – it is long (2 ½ hours) and is technically a foreign film (although about 1/3 of the dialogue is in English), but it is a reminder of how a well-written story can captivate a viewer and leave you thinking long after the movie is over. Anatomy of a Fall is now available to rent on demand.
#13 – May December
As much as I criticize Netflix, I have to give them credit for the quality of their films released over the last few months. Last month they dropped May December, from acclaimed director Todd Haynes, starring Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman. If you decided to check this one out, chances are you either loved it or were confounded by it. It seems like there was a lot of confusion based on reactions I read online. Is this a comedy or a drama? What’s up with the strange music choices? What the heck is Natalie Portman doing in this performance?
Moore plays a woman living in Savannah, Georgia with her much younger husband and their three children. How much younger? Well, over twenty years ago she was arrested for having an affair with him when he was 13 (she was 36). She served her prison sentence and is now trying to live a normal life, despite her notoriety. Speaking of which, her story is being turned into a movie, with Portman’s character in the lead role. She travels to Savannah to spend time with the (happy?) family to research the part. And let’s just say, she goes ALL IN on preparation. If this story sounds familiar, it’s loosely based on the Mary Kay Letourneau scandal in the 1990s.
I liked May December a lot, although I can understand some of the polarizing reactions. Some of the film is played for comedy, some for melodrama, and parts of it for straight drama. I read some of the early reviews and was wondering if my wife would like it. I knew we would be ok during the early “hot dogs” scene when she laughed out loud at the campy music choice when Moore delivered her line. Trying to combine different tones across the course of a two-hour film can be tricky, but Haynes’ direction of Samy Burch’s pitch-perfect screenplay delivers. It also helps to have great casting. Charles Melton (who co-starred on the teen television show Riverdale) is outstanding as the husband, who clearly never grew up and starts to question his life choices. It’s no accident that Burch made him the same age that his wife was when they started their affair. Melton also holds his own against two Oscar-winning powerhouse actresses, who elevate any movie in which they star. Portman in particular had a more challenging part that could have gone wrong in a lesser actress’s hands. Watch for the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways she tries to “become” the woman she will soon be portraying on screen. May December is now streaming on Netflix.
#12 – Spider-Main: Across the Spider-Verse
I wouldn’t claim to be a big fan of animated films or comic book movies, but if they are done well, I’m usually game to give them a try. And with all of the consternation around the future of superhero movies, there is one (ok, maybe two) character who will drive audiences to the theater – Spider-Man. The trend began in 2002 with the first of the Tobey Maguire films, continued with the Andrew Garfield version, then we had Tom Holland’s trilogy. All have been successful at the box office, and most of them resonated with critics.
Interspersed in all of those Spider-Man movies was the beginning of an animated trilogy focused on many versions of Spider-Man across different universes, or the multiverse. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is the sequel to 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and features Miles Morales as our main character. He faces a number of challenges – keeping his city safe, trying to connect with Gwen Stacy (Spider-Woman), deal with a new villain (The Spot), all while hiding his identity from his parents. Oh, and he finds a portal that connects to other universes where he encounters other versions of Spider-Man. The storyline can be a little confusing, but the animation is incredible and makes you feel like you are reading a real comic book. Seeing this film with my daughter as I wrote about here was one of my favorite movie-going experiences of 2023. Put this one on your list to see before the third installment of the series comes out in 2025. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is now streaming on Netflix.
#11 – BlackBerry
2023 seemed to usher in a new era of the “movie about consumer products” There were films about Beanie Babies, Tetris, Pinball, and of course, Air Jordans. I saw them all – Air was excellent as I’ve previously covered, the rest were pretty average, and the best of this genre was BlackBerry about the rise and fall of Research in Motion, the Canadian firm who manufactured the hand-held device.
The film introduces us to the two engineers who envisioned a product that could allow consumers to talk on the phone and communicate via emails and text messages. They build a prototype, quickly get some investors excited, but need someone with real business experience. Enter a recently fired executive who agrees to join their company as CEO if they give him one third of the business. Glenn Howerton plays that executive in a raucous, hysterical performance that is the highlight of the film. BlackBerry has been in my upper tier of movies since I wrote about it last summer here and despite all of the great releases in the second half of 2023, it managed to stay in my top twenty. BlackBerry is now streaming on AMC+ and is available to rent on demand.
That’s all for this week. If you are wondering where to see any of these films, I recommend JustWatch.com to find where to watch a movie from home or Fandango or IMDB to find showtimes for your local theaters. I’ll be back next week for my ten favorite films of 2023. Thanks for reading and if you’d like to be notified of future posts, you can subscribe below.