Happy Monday, everyone! My list of best/favorite movies of 2023 is here! I realize that I’m running a bit behind in posting my top 10 list… per my blog tradition, I usually wait until mid-January, but I waited another week so I could watch a couple of films I meant to see before I posted my final list. Well, I’m glad I did because two of them ended up on my 10-best list.

I have to preface this kind of post that there are still plenty of 2022 movies I haven’t seen yet:  Killer of the Flower Moon, The Boy and the Heron, Fallen Leaves, Suzume, Napoleon, Showing Up, How to Blow Up a Pipeline, etc. 

It goes without saying of course, that everyone’s list is personal… my criteria is that a film makes a lasting impression on me, combining the virtue of being entertaining, imaginative, deeply moving, thought-provoking, and indelible. Replayability is a factor I take into consideration as well, though I don’t necessarily want to rewatch every single film on my list. So here we go:

TOP 10 FILMS of 2023

(in reverse numeric order – * indicates films directed by women)

10. The Taste of Things (Full Review)

Director: Trần Anh Hùng

The title of this film perfectly describes the experience of watching this scrumptious French drama where the cooking experience takes up most of the film. Though perhaps some people might lament that this film feels like a gourmet cooking tutorial, this film isn’t so much about food. It speaks more about the romantic passion between chef Dodin (Benoît Magimel) and his cook Eugénie (Juliette Binoche) that simmers sensously as they work day in, day out for 20 years.

The French-Vietnamese filmmaker creates a vivid, sensuous vibe that’s hard to resist. I love the synergy of how Eugénie and Dodin craft each meal and I don’t mind the slow, deliberate pace. There are plenty to savor here and the vivid culinary scenes are quite hypnotic.

9. ORIGIN* (Full Review)

Director: Ava DuVernay

Every year, there seems to always be a film by a talented female director that’s grossly overlooked. Last year it was The Woman King (which is not-so-coincidentally also directed by a black filmmaker and starred a ferociously talented black female lead). This is one of the films I’m glad I waited to see before I posted my final Top 10.

DuVernay has quite an ambitious vision to bring Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist/author Isabel Wilkerson’s non-fiction book to life, but she executed it brilliantly. Origin is a genre-defying work as it’s more than a conventional biopic, as it’s just as concerned about Wilkerson’s unflinching theory of race and caste as it is about the author’s fascinating life journey. The various world-spaning historical dramatizations are really well crafted to evoke empathy and drive the point across in an impactful way.  Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is a force to be reckoned with in the leading role that I wish had gotten more recognition during award season.

8. All Of Us Strangers (Full Review)

Director: Andrew Haigh

Speaking of actors who ought to garner more recognition, few are as criminally overlooked as Andrew Scott in this haunting, heart-wrenching mystery drama. I’m glad I got to see this on the big screen, and also glad I packed plenty of tissues as the themes of loss, grief, loneliness, and heartbreak punched me in the gut.

Paul Mescal is terrific here as Scott’s mysterious neighbor and his palpable chemistry with Scott makes for one of the strongest on-screen duos I’ve seen this year. Jamie Bell and Claire Foy portray Scott’s parents in the memory/flashback scenes, which is quite amusing once you realize both actors are actually younger than Scott.

Few films are as layered and deeply emotional as this one. It definitely lingered long after I saw it, given that I still think about it even three months after I saw it.

7. Rye Lane* (Full Review)

Director: Raine Allen-Miller

I didn’t think a rom-com would end up on my top 10 list. Don’t get me wrong, I love romantic comedies but it’s been decades since a good rom-com comes along… that is until I saw Rye Lane on Hulu. I love how Raine Allen-Miller creates such relatable characters who a reeling from bad break-ups and setting them in a real place, as the title refers to a real street in South London.

The movie depicts a slice of life of two young strangers, played wonderfully by Vivian Oparah (who’s nominated for a BAFTA for her performance, yay!!) and David Jonsson. The script is filled with delightful wit and irreverent humor, there’s even a zany cameo involving a famous British actor poking fun at a very popular Christmas ensemble comedy movie released in the early aughts. It wouldn’t be a stretch to call this a modern rom-com destined to be a classic, which is quite a feat considering this is Allen-Miller’s feature debut. I adore this movie so much, I’d love to do a Rye Lane tour next time I visit London!

6. The Holdovers (Full Review)

Director: Alexander Payne

Speaking of a modern classic, I think The Holdovers is a new holiday classic that also breaks the mold of what one typically thinks of a Christmas movie. The film focuses on three desolate people and how they somehow find unexpected friendship when they least expect it. There’s no better trio this past year than Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and newcomer Dominic Sessa (also nominated for a BAFTA for his performance here, woot!)

Payne and screenwriter David Hemingson have crafted a genuinely moving and authentic human story, free of frills and artificial embellishments. The special effects are superb writing + direction, and outstanding performances. I’m thrilled that this movie wasn’t overlooked by the Academy, garnering 5 Oscar nods, including Best Picture!

5. Anatomy of a Fall*

Director: Justine Triet

This is one of the films on this list that I haven’t had a chance to review. But after I was done seeing it back in December, I knew I had to include it on my Top 10 list! Anatomy of a Fall feels as if it could be based on a true story given the case has that ‘ripped from the headlines’ vibe to it. Yet the brilliance of the script, co-written by Triet and Arthur Harari, is that it shines the spotlight on Sandra Hüller‘s marriage. Apparently Triet wrote the role of Sandra specifically for Hüller as they collaborated on a previous film, and the German actress absolutely nails it with a marvelous performance.

Many critics have said that this film might as well be titled Anatomy of a Marriage, as Sandra’s life is put under a microscope when she’s indicted for the death of her husband. Few courtroom dramas are as riveting as this one, and the multiple languages being used add a layer of complexity to the case. I’m so impressed by Milo Machado Graner who plays Sandra’s son Daniel, and don’t forget the border collie called Snoop! Per IMDb trivia, the dog, whose actual name is Messi, was awarded the Palm Dog at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, woah!

4. Oppenheimer (Full Review)

Director: Christopher Nolan

Since he made his feature debut Following 25+ years ago, Christopher Nolan’s films are now regarded as motion picture events. Not all of his films deserve that distinction, but his 12th film Oppenheimer certainly does, given the scale and scope that feels undeniably epic. One of the recipes of a terrific film is casting and Nolan turned to his longtime collaborator Cillian Murphy, whom he’s worked with for 20 years since Batman Begins in 2005. While Murphy is often relegated to supporting roles in Nolan’s films in the past, he’s obviously got leading man gravitas, as he displayed here in the title role.

Nolan’s films often had a stacked cast and this one is no different, and the supporting actors all bring their A-game, notably Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, Emily Blunt, and Robert Downey Jr. In the case of Blunt as Kitty Oppenheimer, her character might just be the most fleshed-out female character in Nolan’s work so far. While the film could be challenging to follow at times, I commend Nolan in creating a talky 3-hour film that flies by relatively fast. While I likely won’t ace a quiz about quantum theory, the film enlightens me on the magnitude of what these scientists built and its impact on humanity’s future. I’ve always deemed Nolan as a visionary filmmaker and this could finally be the year he wins the Best Director Oscar which would further cement his auteur status.

3. Poor Things (Full Review)

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

One of the films that I knew I had to watch before I made my final top 10 is this one. Now, I’m not a Yorgos Lanthimos groupie, in fact, I’m not as enamored with his last film, The Favourite. But the more I read about Poor Things, the more curious I become, Well, as I mentioned in my review, nothing can quite prepare oneself for the insane wild ride of this weird odyssey of self-discovery, but I loved it!

It’s always nice when a movie lives up to the hype! I don’t think it’s hyperbolic to call this one an artistic masterpiece, everything from the direction, acting, set pieces, costumes, music, everything just works so perfectly to bring Lanthimos’ singular vision to life. This has been quite a year for fruitful repeat partnerships, as Lanthimos and Emma Stone brought their third collaborative work to new heights. I have to give a shout-out to Willem Dafoe here too the scientist who created Bella, I really think the Academy should’ve nominated him instead of Ruffalo. In any event, as with defiantly original work, it’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but if the idea of the film intrigues you, it’s definitely well worth a look. This is a uniquely cinematic experience that should be celebrated and need more of!

2. American Fiction (Full Review)

Director: Cord Jefferson

This is one of the four films I saw at Twin Cities Film Fest last October that I absolutely adore, and I instantly knew it’d end up in my top 10 of the year! What a year for directorial debuts, there are three of them on my best list! Writer/director Cord Jefferson came to the idea of adapting Percival Everett’s 2001 novel Erasure when he was asked by a producer to make a character ‘blacker.’ He ends up making such a shrewd satire that’s bitingly funny, poking fun at the veiled racism and ignorance that continues in our society today.

Jeffrey Wright shines as the lead in a role that’s tailor-made for his phenomenal acting chops. If there’s an award category for best character name, then Thelonious ‘Monk’ Ellison would win in a landslide. Speaking of awards, I’m thrilled that both Wright and his on-screen brother, played by the excellent Sterling K. Brown are both nominated for Oscars this year in the lead and supporting category. I love Erika Alexander and John Ortiz as well here, I think the cast is worthy of a SAG Best Ensemble nod. I highly enjoyed this one, it’s engaging from start to finish and it’s also one of the funniest movies of the year, the 5 Oscar nominations are absolutely well-deserved!

1. Past Lives* (Full Review)

Director: Celine Song

Ahhh Past Lives… the film I’ve been recommending to everyone since I saw it last Summer. As I’m currently working on developing the feature-length version of my romantic drama short, this one has become one of my top inspirations in terms of direction, style, vibe, etc. The way the story unfolds is nothing short of spellbinding… from the time we meet the protagonists, 12-year-old Na Young (Nora) and her classmate Hae Sung in the suburbs of Seoul, I was instantly intrigued by their story.

Some of you might have read my Oscar snub post … while many film fans are still up in arms about the Barbie snub, SO many other worthy filmmakers and actors were criminally overlooked. Song and Greta Lee have been the talk of pundits all through award season which makes the snub all the more painful 😦 Oh well, this film is a winner in my book… everything about it just works, including the unforgettable performances from Teo Yoo and John Magaro, the two important men in Nora’s life.

Beautifully spellbinding, enchanting, elegant, and emotional, many films start out wonderfully but the ending leaves me wanting. Thankfully, Song polishes off the lyrical exploration of life’s ‘what ifs’ with such a perfectly bittersweet ending a la Casablanca. I adore this so much, it won’t be a hyperbole to call this one a new classic romance!

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20 Honorable Mentions

There’s no ‘science’ in picking the Best List… mostly just gut instinct and personal preference. I’m expanding the number of honorable mentions to 20 instead of my usual 15. I really enjoy these 20 films, and a few of these (Barbie, Maestro) were thisclose to making it to my top 10 list.

(in alphabetical order)

1. A Binding Truth* (doc) – review
2. A Million Miles Away* – review
3. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret* – review
4. Barbie* – review
5. The Burial*
6. The Color Purple
7. The Creator – review
8. The Deepest Breath* – review
9. Dream Scenario – review
10. Elemental – review
11. Fair Play* – review
12. Flora and Sons – review
13. Maestro – review
14. Nimona
15. NYAD*
16. Perfect Days
17. Spider-man: Across the Spider-verse
18. Still Working 9 to 5* – review
19. Wonka – review
20. The Zone of Interest

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The films marked with * (asterisk) are those #directedbywomen
Check out my list of films I saw as part of the 52 Films By Women Challenge

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Thoughts on my 2023 Top 10 list? Are any of your favorites on the list?
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