(Lionsgate Films)
It’s that time again. As one year ends, another begins, which means I revisit and consider my favorite films released these past 12 months. Will either of the Barbenheimer hits make the cut? Wonka? Godzilla Minus One? The Hunger Games prequel? Well, no, actually. But it was great to see those flicks do well in theaters, especially during an already particularly strong year for film post-2020. While superhero movies took a surprising backseat, plenty of solid drama, fantasy, coming of age, and suspense were to be found for movie fans. Let’s recap some of what I think were the more eclectic and versatile features of 2023.
I always appreciate a modest family drama, and Bill Pohlad’s Dreamin’ Wild with Casey Affleck and Walton Goggins did the trick for me between the cast [also featuring Zooey Deschanel], and the 1970s setting and soundtrack. While nothing revolutionary, it’s a nice, lowkey indie piece for anyone looking for something bittersweet and harmless. Similarly, Kelly Fremon Craig’s screen adaptation of Judy Blume’s Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, also has a sweet and charmingly innocent quality to the retro tale of a 1970 middle schooler [played by Abby Ryder Fortson] going through puberty and family conflict. Summer began with Nicole Holofcener releasing her latest indie dramedy and second picture starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, You Hurt My Feelings, which was a quaint, easygoing look at how dishonesty with those close to you can impact your relationships and craft.
(Elevation Pictures / IFC Films)
Both Ben Affleck’s Air and Matt Johnson’s BlackBerry were the breakthrough corporate biopics of 2023, with similar pop culture themed opening montages, though with slightly different messages. BlackBerry is a traditional rise-and-fall story of a once huge cellular device, while Air has more of a ‘rise and stay risen’ theme for one of the biggest shoe companies in the world. Wes Anderson had a grand total of five projects released this past year, and my favorite was the full length, theatrical Asteroid City, with its token mega, all-star cast made to good use in this multi-layered old Hollywood pastiche. Scarlett Johansson and Jason Schwartzman are particularly good as the leads, and Margot Robbie nearly steals the film with her one-scene cameo. Yorgos Lanthimos’ fantasy heavy costume satire Poor Things was another new film with a director’s famously distinct aesthetic attached to it, along with two great performances from stars Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo, and some mesmerizing art direction and cinematography.
(Focus Features)
There were a lot of decent horror and thrillers throughout the year, and the one that stuck out the most to me was The Royal Hotel, filmmaker Kitty Green and actress Julia Garner’s follow-up to The Assistant (2019). With twice as much tension and suspense as the latter, Jessica Henwick and Garner play two American backpackers stuck in rural Australia surrounded by rowdy men. Justine Trier’s Euro based Anatomy of a Fall could have easily gone the mystery-suspense route, but instead focuses on the characters and their backstories for this courtroom drama. Sandra Hüller reminds us she’s presently one of the most interesting European actresses in cinema, while Milo Machado Graner gives one of the best performances by a child actor in 2023.
(Focus Features)
On that note, it’s probably not too much of a shock my favorite film of the year is Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers, starring newcomer Dominic Sessa opposite veteran character actor Paul Giamatti. Successfully capturing the era and mood of mid-20th century New England, we see Sessa’s misunderstood, angst ridden school student forced to interact with the harshest, most serious professor at his boarding school over winter break. Both actors play off each other naturally, and Payne is completely in his element with the material. A drama aimed at older audiences, but also not too depressing or serious enough to alienate any demographic. Box-office stats aside, 2023 was a good year for filmmaking creatively. Let’s hope the trend continues into 2024.
As it turns out, I saw 4 of those.