My Top 5 Movies of 2023 · 11:52pm Dec 30th, 2023
Hey all. Thought I'd try to ring out 2023 with a listing of the five movies I thought were the best of the year. 
Without further ado, let's begin:
5) Godzilla Minus One
I was already looking forward to this one, but man, Toho and Takashi Yamazaki really outdid themselves on this one. This is a powerful and effective movie that really harks back to the 1954 original without just retreading old ground; the anti-nuclear allegory is front and center with this one but just as powerful is the movie's central themes about the horror and trauma of war, as well as hope for the future. The cast are all superb in their roles (I particularly was struck by Ryunosuke Kamiki as Koichi, but really, there isn't a single wrong note among the characters' performers here), and this movie gives us one of the scariest, angriest Godzillas ever put to film. Tremendously well done and this is a movie that has earned its accolades. Full review may be read here.
4) Killers of the Flower Moon
This was a movie that was not by any means an easy watch. It was long and it was grueling in more ways than one, but I am very glad to have sat for it. A strong stomach is required for this one, not because it's immediately or consistently gruesome, but in just how methodically and cold-bloodedly the story unfolds in depicting the horrible, systematic exploitation and ruination of the Osage for their oil money by William King Hale (Robert de Niro, in a masterfully devilish performance). Lily Gladstone is a powerful anchor for the movie as Mollie, both anguished and dying from the gradual destruction of her family and yet determined to find a way to unravel the mystery as well. Martin Scorsese built this movie up to a powerful third act, and with a one-two punch at the very end that leaves the viewer shaken and yet, maybe, holding out just a little hope for the future as well. Full review may be read here.
3) Oppenheimer
Okay, I have to admit, this one impressed me. I am not a fan of Christopher Nolan by any means and was fully prepared to skip this one, but I wound up giving it a try and was hooked from start to finish. The story of Robert Oppenheimer unfolds engagingly, both in the black-and-white scenes revolving around Lewis Strauss (Robert Downey Jr. in fine form) and in the color ones about Oppenheimer's life, all the way from his student years through to the Trinity Test and beyond. Said bomb test is well worth the price of admission all by itself... even knowing that the bomb will succeed, the dread as events progress until the moment of detonation is nearly indescribable. The cast is in fine form, not just Cillian Murphy, but also Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Casey Affleck and more... all of them shine in this one. Highly recommended, particularly for the movie's final moments, which make for a magnificently haunting conclusion to a story told meticulously and effectively. Full review may be read here.
2) Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3
Easily the best MCU movie I've seen since "Avengers Endgame" or "Spider-Man No Way Home". This is a movie that really puts the viewer through hell in its presentation of the backstory of Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper) and the struggle of his friends and allies to rescue him when he is grievously injured. This is a movie that well and truly earns its PG-13 rating in its themes and content, particularly relating to Rocket's trauma at the hands of the utterly vile High Evolutionary... and yet the movie never becomes mired in its darkness. Nor is it solely Rocket's movie: characters ranging from Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Drax (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) all get fine arcs and material to work with here, as well as a nice bit of edge courtesy of a new Gamora (Zoe Saldana) as well. James Gunn juggles all these characters and gives each of them a moment to shine and it all leads up to a wonderful resolution that is both bittersweet and purely heartwarming too. This is a movie that runs you through an emotional rollercoaster in all the right ways, and makes for a wonderful last bow by the maestro of the MCU's biggest surprise hit. Full review may be read here.
1) Across the Spider-Verse
Wow. Just, wow. This one was something truly special. "Across the Spider-Verse" is one of those rare sequels that may even be better than its predecessor, and that is not something I say lightly. The continuing story of Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), plus Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson) and more, is a masterwork from start to finale. The story builds off of the original - and calls back to, and plays with, as well - in ways that feel perfectly natural and effective; the characters are all well-realized, be they familiar faces or newcomers (props to both Oscar Isaac as Miguel O'Hara/Spider-Man 2099, and Jason Schwartzman in particular as pathetic supervillain-turned-multiversal terror the Spot), and by the time the movie is over, not a single moment feels wasted. I can scarcely think of a movie I enjoyed more or was more impressed by this year, and am quite comfortable giving the top spot to "Across the Spider-Verse" for this countdown! 
Full review may be read here.
Well, that's it for the Top Five. But there were still some other movies I'd love to shine a quick spotlight on here! 
Honorable Mentions: In no particular order--
TMNT Mutant Mayhem: Another pleasant surprise in that I did not expect to enjoy this one as much as I did, but credit where credit is due. They did a fine job with this reimagining of the Ninja Turtles and even surprised me in a very pleasant way with just how the story concluded as well. All told, a very fun time, and props to Seth Rogen and company for pulling it off.
John Wick Chapter Four: The story of "Baba Yaga" comes to a powerful, if tragic, ending for Keanu Reeves' master hitman. Stylish and kinetic and engaging all the way throughout, I had a blast with this one.
The Covenant: A rather atypical movie from Guy Ritchie, this is a very effective and grounded war story about an army sergeant (Jake Gyllenhaal) and the Afghan interpreter (Dar Salim) who saves his life.
Operation Fortune: Ruse du Guerre*: Another surprise from Guy Ritchie, this was a fun Mission Impossible / James Bond-type story about a team of agents trying to stop a menace to the world. Fun without being too broad and humorous without being arch or camp, this was just a very enjoyable time, and a damn shame that it (along with The Covenant) bombed.
The Fabelmans**: Steven Spielberg' fictionalized accounting of his childhood, love of films and filmmaking, as well as the pain of high school and of his parents' divorce; all are beautifully presented in this excellently told story that really feels like a man reflecting on those early years of his life and better understanding his family after so long. Just excellent all around.
*Technically cheating with this one, as it was pushed back to release from early 2022 due to Covid and other concerns. Still a good movie, imo.
**Technically also cheating as this one released in November of '22 but I didn't get to see it until January of '23. Still damned good movie though.
Well, that's my list. Did you like it? Hate it? Let me know in the comments, and an early Happy New Year to you all!
See you in 2024!
Godzilla Minus One was gooooood.
Solid listing ^^
I have yet to see Minus One, but I’m glad it’s good
Still haven't been able to see Minus One. It just seems to not have released where I live, for, reasons?
5761529
That it certainly was. I was in a bit of a blue mood the day I saw it, but even then I was impressed, and in hindsight it's still a masterpiece.
5761531
Thank you, Four.
5761593
Damn. That sucks, I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you get a chance to see it at some point, it really is a fantastic movie!