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(This Video Is Spoiler-Free)
Part I: Thomas Flight's Favorite Films of 2023.
Part II: Thomas Flight’s Totally Objective and Scientifically Rigorous List of The Top 10 Best Movies of 2023™
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Chapters:
00:00 1.
02:47 A Tale of Two Lists
03:31 Part 1 - My Favorites: 10.
05:23 9.
07:02 8.
08:20 7.
09:56 6.
11:36 5.
13:24 4.
14:38 3.
16:34 2.
17:34 1.
19:20 Honorable Mentions
20:22 Part 2 - The BEST Movies of 2023
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Don't cave to peer pressure Thomas, Barbie was one of the worst movies of the year but everyone acts like it's one of the bests because it made a ton of money
@@LuisSierra42 It's not even on the list lol
@@ThomasFlight fair, but it's still in honorable mentions
I love this list
Nah man@@LuisSierra42
All the movies mentioned 4 me and u yw :) 2:44 Killers of the flower moon 3:48 Dream scenario 5:37 Anatomy of a fall 7:02 Fallen Leaves 8:28 Past Lives 10:16 May December 12:10 Godland 13:43 The Holdovers 14:49 Poor Things (The Lobster Movie mentioned) 16:40 The Boy and The Heron 17:41 Astroid City Honourable mentions: Barbie Oppenheimer Spiderman across the spider verse The killer Showing up The best movies of 2023 21:03
Well, KotFM was awful. The Killer could have been good, but the plot sucked. Oppenheimer was good, but only for certain audiences.
@@Scorch428 what
thanks, its not even about seeing the list asap its seeing the title of the films to know what film hes talking about.
@@b_lloydranjith_coronel9513what he probably means is Oppenheimer is Rated-R so he means it’s only good for certain audiences
huh
this year is such an upgrade for cinema compared to last year. the fact people actually dressed up and made Barbenheimer a movement will go down in film history
This was one of the worst years for cinema box office-wise
@@LuisSierra42nah
@@Music_Movie_Fan_ My statement is something that can be verified objectively, it was not an opinion
The rift there is that the quality of the art and the income at the box office are not mutually exclusive. Even if looking at it purely from sales, you’d need to account for streaming rental and purchases across the board (not sure how you’d best do that). I’m sure the main gripe here being that one is about the films, and one is the money movie theaters made from them. I don’t think you (or anyone) would argue that correlation is the best judge of the films.
Last year was great imo. The Batman, The Northman, Aftersun, RRR, The Banshees of Insherin, Puss in Boots, Nope, Everything Everywhere All At Once and a bunch of others
Dominic Sessa was great in The Holdovers. He had a million things going on beneath the surface. He was quietly scared and angry yet he yearned for connection. Can’t wait to see more of him.
Would love for him to grab an Oscar nomination. He was great.
Would love to see him get a surprise Oscar nom.
He really had to walk a fine line between likeable and annoying, and did so perfectly.
I found him the weakest and being out preformed in ever scene by the other actors, still good though.
@@bolunixan well darling its his first film tho.
Now that I've published this I think my biggest regret is not putting Past Live higher honestly.
The objective best film list you put in the end already exist (not for 2023). It's called TSPDT (They Shoot Pictures Don't They), and use the same methodology as you on a much larger scale each year. It's a very famous list, which both includes a top 1000 films of all time and a version for films made in the 21st century.
Past live was a great movie. Debut directors that make such great movies (another example is aftersun) should get another chance and recognition. But thanks for acknowledging this!
Thank you for saying that. Past Lives is my number 2, my number 1 is Spider-Man Across the Spiderverse and I do believe is an absolutely fantastic movie but also is a very personal preference
Would love to hear your thoughts on Zone of Interest once you see it...Wouldn't be surprised if that ends up demanding a spot
The downside to putting the list together way too early
Anatomy of a Fall is exceptional. The nuance in that film and the role language plays really made me think about it for so long afterwards. No bombastic stuff. Just one to really think about.
It really says something about modern film culture when Anatomy of a Fall gets a hard pass, while shallower movies like Poor Things or Past Lives are heralded as some modern cinema masterpieces.
One movie I would highly recommend is "All of Us Strangers." Perfect double feature to go along with Past Lives.
All of us Strangers gave me the hardest gut punch I've had in a looong time. My wife heard me swallow loudly in the cinema because I was trying myself to stop from wailing.
not recommendations for non gays xD that its right
@@Pitbullx2012 I found it very watchable as a "non gay".
@@PauLtus_B i think never see movie brokeback mountain, i respect it but not my type :x
@@Pitbullx2012 That's your loss.
Killers Of The Flower Moon blew me away. I haven't been so saddened and enraged by a film in a long time. You put it best when you said the overarching tone is "anguish". Such a haunting, powerful story, and an important one to be told at that - and the execution of said story is practically flawless - Tightly written, well paced, and beautifully acted - Scorsese really outdid himself with this one. And that's saying something considering its Martin Scorsese.
If that's how you felt after seeing the movie I highly recommend the book. I listened to the audio book a few months ago before watching the movie and is fantastic The movie is great but it has a narrower scope (understandable) than the book has. When you read the book you realize the huge extent of the horrendous crime committed against the Osage out of pure greed
I checked how much left of the movie is when I was watching it. And it was almost half way through. I have no idea why this movie is so highly rated. Its well crafted, no doubts about it but it feels like a documentary with A grade actors, with thin plot added to it to spice it up (pretty much like the Irishman) Wolf of wallstreet was 3 hours and it felt like an 1 hour, so Scorsese can make engaging 3hrs long movies.
@@yasielromero8236 Thank you for the recommendation!
@@gottimw Also don't understand why anyone would say the pacing of this was good. The Irishman was 3 and a half hours long and felt substantially shorter than Killers of the Flower Moon.
@@gottimw I get everyone has there own opinion but I felt like we watched to different films
My wife and I saw Beau is Afraid in theaters twice and its stuck with us. Its a film where any time after I see it my sleep and my thoughts are warped or at least influenced by the film’s imagery and ponderings. Its so bleak that it comes around and becomes hysterical, by design. I LOVE it and still do. It was also fun to go to a movie with a loved one and laugh our asses off. Nobody else in theater seemed to really “get” it which is a bummer. I also think the dream sequence in the forest is genuinely one of the more beautiful and powerful moments in a film this year. I hope more people give it a shot.
I agree and do not understand the lack of attention its been paid. It deserves much more acclaim.
I was surprised to not see it mentioned. I had my criticisms, but it was a very memorable experience.
What film was very unique. Still thought about it weeks later. It doesn’t happens a lot in cinema for me.
Beau was absolutely fucking hilarious, I havent laughed that hard in a very long time. I think it was pure genius but got self indulgent towards the 2/3 point with the dream sequence you referred to, I thought that killed an already long movies pacing
It's my favorite movie of the year by a large margin. I truely think it's Ari Aster's masterpiece.
Went and saw the Holdovers on a whim, and it just blew me away. I honestly thought it was one of the most well-paced movies I’ve seen in a while. I loved the contrast between the school setting, which felt cold and impersonal, to scenes like the house party or Mary’s living room that felt warm and familiar. It never did too much or too little, the emotional and humorous aspects were so well balanced in my opinion. It became an instant classic for me, and I will definitely be watching this movie during future holiday seasons.
I didn't live through this particular time period (before my time), but I went to a college that had winters like this, and there are period details that ring true. I'll give you a tiny example. During college, I played my share of pinball. This was an era when video games had been out for 4-5 years, but colleges weren't fully embracing getting arcade games in student centers. Pinball machines are fairly scarce now. Even into the 1990s, there were attempts to modernize the pinball to have video game like aspects. I recall a Terminator 2 pinball game. But I digress. There are details like the white painted brick dorms contrasted with the increased comfort of modern dorms meant to attract students to pay every increasing tuition costs. So many details it nails.
The Iron Claw was easily my favorite film of the year. Such deep and complex characters. Paired with a story that, despite the theatrics of wrestling, felt extremely grounded and real.
Going to go see it this weekend.
Loved it so much, and wish it was getting more buzz. Zac Efron was phenomenal.
This was the best “that’s like a movie MOVIE” of 2023 PS - A24 just released “I Wanna Live Forever” today. It’s the song the played during the credits…easily one of my favorite songs in a movie all year!
This movie is gut wrenching in a way I could never explain. One of the best of the year, full stop.
The portrayal of a toilet cleaner in "Perfect Days" by Wim Wenders was nothing short of poetic. Koji Yakusho's remarkable performance alone makes it shine and deserving of all the recognition it has garnered.
it was my fave movie of 2023
In the past few weeks I watched both the new Godzilla movie and American fiction and they both almost made me cry. They were able to create characters that feel like real people, and showed real pain.
I unfortunately didn't have a chance to see either before I made this list but I'm excited to see both!
@@ThomasFlight Then you shouldnt do a top List of Movies 2023!
@@GodzillaCollector99 @ThomasFlight Totally agree. I feel like you're missing some obvious standouts, most noteably The Iron Claw
@@GodzillaCollector99 we can;t just have nice things can we?
@@GodzillaCollector99As he said in the video this is not a list of the best films of 2023 but his favorites. If he didn’t see either movie it shouldn’t matter because this is not an objective list.
As a Puerto Rican, our cinema is underappreciated in our own country and almost unknown to the outside world, even if we have incredible filmmakers and gems of movies. But this year, Puerto Rican cinema has reached a milestone with two movies in particular that I enjoyed and I would like to share with all of you: 1). Érase una vez en el Caribe- it is a jíbaro drama set in the tone of a japanese samurai movie all mixed in with an anti-colonial narrative and beautiful cinematography; and 2). La Pecera- a drama movie set in Vieques, that just like Cayo (2005), sheds light into the struggle of a post-US Navy Marina Vieques but in a more sensible and faithful way, imbedding an anti-colonial narrative by creating a metaphor of colonialism being like a cancer-Vieques being the region with the highest cancer rate in Puerto Rico due to military bombings-that ravages the colonized’s body just like it happens to the main character in the movie. These are excellent movies with probably one of best cinematography I’ve seen in our cinema’s history, both carrying compelling stories that I genuinely wish everyone could witness them.
Do you know where I can watch with English subtitles?
In the case of Érase, there are parts of the movie spoken in English but the rest in Spanish. In the case of La Pecera, since it premiered in Sundance, there has to be recordings with English subtitles, there’s also trailers with English subtitles as well. I for one am not aware of a site where I could watch these since I watched them on theaters. If I could, I’d tell ya. If I see anything I’ll comment it here.
@@LaVenganzaDeAgueybana Thanks for the recommendations and advice!
Propaganda del pip
Sí y el PIP también controla la universidad y lava los cerebros de la juventud 👻 Estás molesto porque el pueblo toma conciencia (y use si talento para demostralo), tal vez por gente como tú es que estamos donde estamos.
Poor Things was one of the best theater experiences I've had all year. It was a packed crowd, and they were down for how bizarre, goofy, and horny the movie was.
Its also one of my top picks for this reason alone. I usually hate when movies try to to gross me out, but this one had such a good balance of funny, weird and disgusting that made everyone uncomfortable in a good way. You'd hear the room go silent in discomfort and then break out into genuine surprised laughter two shots later. Haven't experienced that in a while
I hated poor things lol, I though it was shallow, childish, bad jokes and it just made me sooo frustrated. Got nothing from it other than men still don´t understand shit
@@user-kv6ng6ls4gseems like a general audience thing to say.
@@user-kv6ng6ls4g Watch it again
It was a revelation. Truly one of the best films of the 2020s.
Really enjoyed this video! Past lives impacted me so much, THAT shot while they are facing each other… I wish I could see the movie again for the first time. Haven’t seen Poor Things yet but I so look forward to it, I loved The favourite and The Lobster so you got my hyped for the weirdness! Can’t wait.
Wow, your transition between Dream Scenario and Anatomy of a Fall was so insightful that I thought it was the same movie at first! This is why I love your commentary and analysis; you see things that the average person just doesn't see!
Poor Things blew my neon petticoat off in theatres, and I consider The Killing of a Sacred Deer my favourite movie. I need to watch it again a few times but I think it might be better. What you say is so true though: even watching Dogtooth and The Favourite etc. Poor Things is STILL wildly original.
Dogtooth is something special.
Two movies that truly blew me away and I could only see at my local theatre were Red Rooms (French courtroom drama kind of but also a thriller that had me on the edge of me seat start to finish) and Monster (great Japanese story told in parts, absolutely wept. Very original layout and stunning cinematography). I went in basically blind to both and haven't been able to stop talking about either all year.
The Holdovers is going to be one of those movies where I'll watch every Christmas. Such an amazing film with a career best Paul Giamatti. Better thank Alexander Payne for making a future Christmas classic 🤗
I really hated it. It's cliche and predictable and has one dimensional characters and many plot contrivances that read like the script is straight out of a factory. Paul Giamatti is always good but he's being typecast in this and gives a mostly pantomime performance. Good cinematography but that's about it.
@@zxbc1The only plot contrivance is *SPOILER* when Hunham realized that Tully was escaping in a taxi... Now, how did he know in which taxi on which street is something that borderlines on the absurd But other than that, the movie was really damn good
The director apparently take great offence when people use the name of his movie and “Christmas classic” in the same sentence. It’s not something I’d watch in an attempt to boil up holiday spirit in mid July. Really enjoyed the film though. Truly made me pine for days long since gone by.
@@TomJones-wi4nh The film is about being alone for the holidays. And unfortunately that captures the spirit of Christmas for many people.
I didn't dislike the movie, but I felt like it was missing something or the trailer gave the whole movie away.
Awesome video man. I discovered your channel this year as I got into movie reviewing on letterboxd and I feel like we share similar feelings towards film. It really feels good to find a channel where I feel heard when listening to reviews. Thank you for making these and please bring more in 2024!
A pleasure as always. Great lists there. Great point of view. I feel bad I haven't seen this year none of your favorites (yet) but Asteroid City, which I didn't appreciate as much as you did. Still, I only watched it once, so I'm sold on your multiple viewing experience and willing to discover those layers you say. Keep on doing your thing, you're pretty much one of the best IMO. Thank you.
Ah man, 2023 was so good for animation! I see you have Across The Spider-Verse and The Boy & The Heron, but I just want to add two more to that list - Takehiko Inoue's "The First Slam Dunk" and Yuzuru Tachikawa's "Blue Giant". Both absolutely amazing movies, one about basketball, and the other about jazz. Hope you get to check those out!! 😀 Happy New Year!
Man, I just want to say thank you by part of all of your subscribers. The dedication, depth and creativity you provide in each and every one of your videos is truly a gift in a time of often superficial content. Keep it up!
Thomas I concur with your sentiment 100%♡ The films that you speak about in this vlog are all fabulous. My Brother resides in Sweden and he sent me your link. Wonderful knowledge and your enthusiasm is refreshing. This year 2023 I have been excited for new releases. When I love a movie I purchase 3 copies on dvd so I shall have them to hold close. My Husband finds it beyond hysterical that only when it is pitch black darkness outside am I prepared to watch a new movie (our house is flooded with light as we have sliding doors on both sides of the house; for indoor outdoor living). Bless you on the New Year and all the Joy that brings. Australia 🌺🌻🌼
Always so excited for this count down! Thanks so much for what you do Thomas!
There's a film called Three of Us (2022, Avinash Arun). It got its theatrical release this year in November. It's similar to draw a parallel between it and Past Lives. Except while in Past Lives, Hae Sung comes to visit New York to see Nora. In ToU, the main character Shailaja suffering from the early onset of Dementia goes to her childhood home to confront her past. A sort of going back to the roots of who you are as a person. It feels more profound in a way and got a more powerful reaction out of me than Past Lives did.
I saw The Holdovers and Poor things on the same day, and the 2 of them were just so good. I instantly adored the 2 of them. I wasn't expecting Poor Things to be as funny as it was. And how thoroughly I enjoyed seeing it with other people now. When I saw the holdovers it was in a much smaller theater with only 4 other people, but it instantly became a classic. And I feel as though that intimacy was exactly the perfect touch for the film. And it's a film that I feel like I will definitely be watching again. I feel like 2023 was a great year for film, and I thoroughly enjoyed the films that I did see; especially in theaters. There is something to watching movies on the big screen in theaters.
upd: 1. Killers of The Flower Moon --- 10. Dream Scenario 9. Anatomy of a Fall 8. Fallen Leaves 7. Past Lives 6. May December 5. Godland 4. The Holdovers 3. Poor Things 2. The Boy and the Heron 1. Asteroid City
You forgot 1. Killers of The Flower Moon
@@ThomasFlightGodzilla: Minus One was my movie of 2023 (not managed to see Boy and the Heron yet), only narrowly beating out Holdovers, Oppenheimer, and Across the Spider-Verse. Did you manage to catch it?
@@ThomasFlightwhy its a good movie? I felt the acting was good but felt it failed to evoke zero sympathy for the osages. Felt like all are dump except the roberts charector. Lily was perfect but leo felt too forced. T echnically everything was top notch: But it failed to evoke emotion for me atleast
@@thescottishaccentfor me the #1 movie this year was Spiderman, #2 Oppenheimer, #3 Killers of The Flower Moon, but I still have to watch The Boy and The Heron and Godzilla, so the #1 and #2 even #3 spots could change.
Thanks for another great video (as always). I saw Past Lives and hope to see The Holdovers and The Boy and the Heron soon. I recently saw an Italian film called The Eight Mountains (on streaming) which had absolutely gorgeous cinematography and told a moving tale of two lifelong friends and their relationships with the “worlds” they each chose to live in. Godzilla will probably not win any Oscars but my experience with that film was really special. Highly recommended viewing (if you can still find it in theaters)
Just to make it convenient to copy a list to yourself 10. Dream Scenario 9. Anatomy of a Fall 8. Fallen Leaves 7. Past Lives 6. May December 5. Godland 4. The Holdovers 3. Poor Things 2. The Boy and the Heron 1(2). Killers of The Flower Moon 1(1). Asteroid City
I love how you describe each movie , every movie has all kinds of emotion and your explanation feel personal which i love about it. Movies makes you feel the present its like a gift in this world where we suffer more in our thoughts than in reality , i feel like an escape. i love movies intensely so finding a page where reviews feels genuine and not just a copy paste article. looking forward to see more :)
I just watched “The Holdovers” and absolutely loved it! It is beautifully made - it took me for a little time travel to early 70s. The actors’ play, the story, the color gradings, … I loved everything about it! Thank you for recommending this movie, Thomas!
I think the Holdovers may be one of my favourite films of the last decade for me. I've seen it 3 times in the past few weeks, told everyone I know to go and see it. Something about it is just so captivating, it brought me back to my days at school, which weren't that long ago but it is still incredibly nostalgic. Giamatti and Sessa are absolutely phenomenal together and I want to see them together in more things. Da'Vine Joy Randolph is so powerful in how she conveys her characters emotions, whilst bringing a lot of funny jokes and snark. The one thing I don't like about it is that I'll never be able to see it for the first time again!
Totally agree. It's a master-class of acting and screenwriting.
Monster by Kore-eda was one of my favorites and I haven't seen mentioned much. Similar themes to Close but executed much better and quite an interesting narrative structure
above all, i think this year had some of the most excellently lensed films in recent years. the best cinematography awards this year are going to be very exciting. just to name a few of the stunning looking films this year: Saltburn, Oppenheimer, Past Lives, The Taste of Things, Maestro, Falcon Lake, Godland, Poor Things, Riceboy Sleeps, Across the Spider-Verse, El Conde, etc. even Talk To Me is shot in a really cool , inventive way imo , which goes hand in hand with the editing. Godland and Falcon Lake are my favorite films of the year, especially in their cinematography, Love to see Godland on the list :)
This is a fantastic point, lots of really beautiful movies this year.
dang. didn't realize Riceboy Sleeps was a thing! don't follow that genre of music as closely anymore, but i was able to meet Jonsi & Alex at their first art showing in the states in hot springs ar some 2 decades ago while showing a short video reel. gonna have to check this out immediately! thanks for the heads up ~ edit: lmfao! definitely not what i expected or what i thought it was. maybe it's fate - i'll check it out nonetheless.
Don’t be fooled as well by godzila minus one.. it was such an amazing post war drama that happens to have godzila in it
Godland hive hell yeah
Riceboy Sleeps let’s go
Great list! One of those little films you talk about at the end of the video I really enjoyed were Passages and I just watched the Iron Claw which floored me.
Great list and love to see the Boy and the Heron up so high on your personal favourites. It was fantastic.
I was expecting a list with a lot of the fads that came out this year, but I gotta say this list is so impressive and every movie looks like something I'd enjoy! Thanks a bunch! Added them to my watch list :)
Thanks so much for this - entertaining and thought-provoking! I've seen some of these, but a few were new to me and others i had thought I would pass on, but will reconsider - so thanks! FYI - i just watched Asteroid City after having seen your video on it and I was blown away in a way that Wes Anderson has never done (for me) before. So, again, thank you!
Love your list! Almost every single one either landed on my watchlist or I watched already. Such a nice year for a cinema it seems - a lot of fresh ideas and rapid decreasing of superhero movies popularity (which I just got bored of). Hope there's a lot more of great works in 2024!
Thousand and One is a movie that needs to be recognized more!
How to Blow Up a Pipeline was on the top of the pile for me along with Godzilla Minus One. Keep it up TF! love what you do!
Great list, and I love what you said at the end about the "wildcard" movies that are popping up on everyone's lists.
Thank you appreciate the content what I really love in this video that it's calm no loud music nor annoying graphics. I claimed I watched lots of movies this year but I ended the video with couple of added movies to my watch list.
Great list! Love to see the Boy and the Heron so high. Monster is another film that I had in my top ten of the year.
I watched Asteroid City in cinemas three times. Three! I remember the moment on the first watch where I was completely captured. And I couldn't wait to watch video essays on it when I got home haha. It's a film people either love or hate in my experience
best movies list of 2023 i have discovered ... especially how u gave short synopsis n review in this one video about all of them ... man thanks for ur channel, n ur precious time to spend with us ... looking forward to ur not favourite but best of the rest list ...
Thank you for this video - all your videoes are greatly appreciated! Happy new year!
River, Fremont, and Robot Dreams were three new movies I saw and loved this year - haven't seen them in anyone else's year-end "best of" list.
Your personal list is pretty much similar to mine except that I would have add those 3 movies into my list (as a frenchman): The Nature of Love from Monia Chokri, Yannick from Quentin Dupieux and No Love Lost from Erwan Le Duc. I highly recommend these 3
thank you for restoring my faith in new cinema with this list. i’m young and not a wholehearted sceptic, id watched and loved 2 on this list but had not allowed myself to get excited about most of the others on this list. this list has shown me not to do that, mainly through the stunning editing but the reads you’ve written were insightful, informed and utterly non-pretentious. thank you, i imagine you won’t see this but thank you! :)
I love your considerations at the end of the video about Best Movies. It's what I call the Law of Large Numbers. The smaller sample will always provide something unique that a large compilation won't. One film I adored in 2023 that's not on your list is Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s "About Dry Grasses". It's certainly not for everyone, particularly as it is extra long, but it is such a rich, insightful and non-judgemental look at Turkish society. In fact, I very much loved all I saw out of Cannes this year.
I feel like The Holdovers could become a christmas classic over time. Timeless and everything about it was just so perfect.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish stole the show for me this year. A film that any age group can learn a valuable lesson from. The animation style was fittingly like a storybook, and the animation was fantastic especially during the final face off with Death and during Puss’s panic attacks. And that silly movie about a Spanish feline in boots has one of the best, if not the best, portrayal of anxiety I’ve ever seen on screen. Puss’s fur rising, his pupils dilating, feeling how heavy and frantic his breathing, his muscles tensing when there’s a trigger (the whistle)… it all felt real. And Dreamworks managed to make a terrifying personification of death, yet death wasn’t even the villain. It was Puss’s own arrogance and disregard for his precious lives. It was anxiety and running away from the fears you must face. (And the pie guy too obviously lol). I think smaller children probably misinterpret the wolf(death) as the antagonist, but Puss needed him/death to realize how precious life and the relationships we make are. (I also liked pie guy, I forgot his name, as a villain, because while I think there was enough internal conflict to drive the plot, I enjoyed how pie guy didn’t have redemption nor any drive to be a better person. He was just mean to be mean and didn’t care about anyone else. And sometimes , that’s it. That’s just how people are and all you can do is let them go. There’s no “fixing” them. So I like bad guys like this from time to time.)
That was last year
@@megamoviez It released at the very tail end of last year, so for most people, including me, we didn't get a chance to see it soon enough, so we count it as this year.
This movie was shockingly one of my favorites for the year
@@megamoviez OH LOL you're so right 😭 i got confused since it came out late last year tho so i saw it in January!
many thanks for sharing this list, you have this great technique of sharing everything one needs to know to watch without ruining anything about the plot or the experience overall. Would love to learn what did you think of Sweet East?
Great video!!! What did you think about Saltburn?
I think a movie that everyone missed was Divinity. It's a dystopian world brought on by the mass production of a drug that is not only a fountain of youth, but peaks your potential in physical strength and intelligence. On top of the implied drawbacks that there might be with a drug like that, there are additional drawbacks that create a true dystopia. The movie is shot completely in black and white, with an interesting use of mixed media. I think the movie hits in pretty much every way (acting, writing, directing, etc). I was drawn in the entire time. However, it was highly disturbing and dark in several ways, so it won't be for everyone
I really enjoyed My Animal, a small town lesbian werewolf movie. It was filmed in a small town in Ontario in the middle of winter, and the sense of isolation, the desperate need for connection, the need to be your true self, and the need for acceptance, was amazing. The film makes an incredible intimacy, sense of place, closeness, and pain. The lighting and use of colour were matched well to the themes and moments, and I found myself really loving (or hating) the characters. Give this one a chance when you can.
I thought Killers of the Flower Moon was an immaculately shot visual masterpiece that resonated like a block of wood for me. I felt like every character was under-cooked, and I really wished there would have been more depth to the people that were its subjects. It felt like it was just a bunch of things happening to me. I know I'm in the minority when it comes to the movie. I'd love to see the fabled/rumored longer cut of the movie to see if there was more character depth in that cut. I hate that the chapters weren't named on this video, because it makes rewatching portions of it more difficult. I hit the like button anyway.
I don't think you're in the minority and KOTFM many would agree with you. Starting to thank our society makes it difficult for people to critique the film the way it should be
Hey Thomas thanks for your work! Id like to recommend these under the radar films: The Teacher‘s Lounge (Ílker Çatak) Black Box (Asli Özge) Rodeo (Lola Quivoron) En plein feu (Quentin Reynaud)
Some people may laugh, but for me my favorite of 2023 was Godzilla Minus One. I was totally surprised by how incredible this film is. It's not the typical monster movie we've grown used to seeing. GMO is a intelligent, gut wreching movie about the horrors of war, the shame of being on the losing side of history, survivor's guilt, and PTSD. It's a serious film that only uses Godzilla sparingly. As my wife pointed out it has more in common with Jaws than any Godzilla film before it.
Why would people laugh? It's one of the most acclaimed films of the year.
I'm still getting a lot of push back because it's a Godzilla movie. I tell people about Godzilla Minus One and how wonderful it is and how they should go see it, and you would think I just told them that they should eat horse poo for dinner. I've been doing my best to sing it's praises. @@nope5657
Most people don't know about this MASTERPIECE but I personally really liked "JORAM". It is an independent indian film by Devashish Makhija, and the acting by Manoj Bajpayee is purely phenomenal. It also won awards and was showcased at numerous film festivals, one should definitely check it out.
Super cool list man!! I think your advice at the end is so important and so valuable. I think it's really great to remember that at the end of the day, other opinions (whether it's a singular one or one that's been compiled en masse) mean absolutely nothing to your enjoyment of a piece of art, and I think we are so BOMBARDED by ads and Reels and TikToks and React videos of film [and all media] that we subconsciously base our opinion of those pieces based on how it stood up against the single or compiled opinion of Others. It's as simply as you said, if a movie appeals to you, it's worth checking out, regardless of what others have said about it. Do whatever you want. Get your head around it. Don't worry about the noise. I love that you pointed that out. Anyway, as always, love the channel. Thank you for spending the time.
i appreciate how you articulate your thoughts. subscribed :) Happy New Year
It's brilliant to hear your thoughts on this year's films, Thomas. I'm glad that I got to catch Barbie and Oppenheimer on the big screen. Past Lives, Spiderverse 2, May December and Poor Things were also classics.
There's so much stuff to enjoy this year in film, and it still feels like I missed so much Asteroid City and Killers were basically tied for my favorites, but man did The Iron Claw just come out of nowhere to hit so hard, hope Zac gets some award recognition for such an amazing performance
Thanks for the quality list! Posts like this are why it drives me nuts when so many people watch a few blockbusters & then tout the cliche that nobody is making interesting films anymore, that hollywood is only interested in franchises & sequels.
Amazing video. Thanks for the reviews.
They Cloned Tyrone was in my top 10 this year, but it came out the same weekend as Barbie and Oppenheimer and I think it just fell into the void for a lot of people- which is a shame because i think it was doing a lot of really original things
Highly recommend Blackberry, by far the best of the "corporate biopics." Genuinely funny and a great view of the end of the pre-smart phone world
Agree!! I saw this at a local indie theatre and it was incredible, great acting and the screenplay was well-paced and developed in a way that made the film an engaging story all on its own, with the "corporate biopic" aspect just being a springboard for the story to unfold.
Yes! Awesome film. So was the passenger
Gretinggs from Colombia (and thank you for the subtitles).
This might not count into 2023, but I found Wim Wenders' Perfect Days to be a masterpiece! It's got gentle pacing and attention to the little things in life, great acting and beatiful cinematography. The music selected is perfectly fitting and played a significant role. The ending had me crying silent tears of appreciation of life.
The Killer is a great movie, once you get over your own expectations and genre cliches, its a great movie and a very perfectly shot and edited one.
Great list! Love your vids! No Iron Claw love??
This channel is the BEST place to go to get good new movie ideas, thank you!
One movie I think everyone should check out is “How To Blow Up A Pipeline” - Daniel Goldhaber is a very exciting young director. What he accomplished here with such a small budget is pretty phenomenal. Just reminds you that great filmmaking is not predicated on having large studio budgets.
This is a good list and as always a very thoughtful video. My top 10 would probably be 1. Past Lives, 2. Godzilla Minus One, 3. Across the Spider-Verse, 4. Anatomy of a Fall, 5. Boy and The Heron (not my favorite Miyazaki but if it's his last it wouldn't be a bad capstone), 6. The Holdovers, 7. Poor Things, 8. Zone of Interest, 9. Killers of The Flower Moon and 10. Dream Scenario. Honorable mentions for Barbie, May December and John Wick 4 (love a well executed action movie). Haven't had a chance to see Godland or Fallen Leaves yet but they have been on my radar. I actually didn't care much for Asteroid City, I like Anderson usually but it just didn't click for me this time, probably should see it again. It was a great year for movies.
A dumb, fun little detail about The Holdovers is that it uses the bowling alley at the end of my street, as do a number of films set around Boston in the 60s through the 80s, because the Bowladrome has steadfastly refused to do any updates since it was built. It's always news in my hometown when a Hollywood film is filming here, and it's almost always just because location scouts love that bowling alley.
Wonderful and interesting list with insightful commentary.
American Fiction came out late in the year, but I loved that film. I hope more people watch it
Great List! Here in Brazil, many of the movies of 2023 will only premiere in 2024, but luckily I got to watch some in festivals. My personal favorite was All of Us Strangers! It left me completely destroyed.
Thanks ! I love this time of year when my to watch/listen/read list gets fuller. As a recommendation, I really liked "Vincent doit mourir" (vincent must die). It's a paranoid thriller, an amazing commentary on violence and I think you'd like it. I saw Dream Scenario yesterday and there are some similarities. Can't wait for 2024 and thanks again for all your work :)
The love and appreciation you have for filmmaking shines through in your videos. Thank you for the effort you put into every single one!!
Can't wait to watch The Zone of Interest. I have loved Jonathan Glazer since I saw Under The Skin. His movies tend to stay with me days and weeks after I have watched them. Yay! :)
One of my favourites of this year was Scrapper. An indie British film with Harris Dickinson in. It was quietly brilliant and just great all round
Agreed! Wonderful lil film - Harris Dickenson is about to be a star. That dude has more charm than he knows what to do with. Oh, and it’s also under 90min!
I really appreciate your list and an objective list.
Thanks for the list!
Killers of a Flower Moon stayed with me for weeks. Really got into my bones.
ASTEROID CITY! This was one of two movies I actually saw at the cinema this year, but I saw it 3 times. It was so gut-wrenchingly earnest and covered grief creatively and with anger and a path through ambivalence like miyazaki. the unironic love and necessity of art to living and continuing to live was presented with such commitment. I just always love a movie that shows you exactly what it means without the cowardice of meta-self awareness of "the pastel colored symbol of grief and loneliness is standing behind me. . . Isnt it." Like yes, he isn't certain about life, but he offers us his choices anyway and a way towards meaning anyway. Aaaah... i care so much about this movie. I love his movies anyway tho
Love Wes Anderson, but his last 2 movies had absolutely no plot or story development. Interesting people meet up in a place and say things with a flat infection, it just doesn't make a story.
@@ileutur6863Then you missed the point of the film. All of the keys are in that scene where “Auggie” asks if he’s playing the part right. Also pay attention to when the characters have an emotional mask on vs. when it actually cracks a little to reveal their true emotions. Yeah, there isn’t a Hero’s Journey for this one but that’s only one way of telling a story.
I think The French Dispatch' is by far his best but Asteroid City just did nothing for me. Takes all sorts I guess?
My friend Jim Kaplan was in Holdovers! Its great to see the movie he performed in be so well received!
Thank you for the encouragement to watch not just what’s popular. I have to go to the cinema alone at times because most people aren’t interested in something less known. I loved West Anderson short films on Netflix but didn’t go to the cinema to watch Asteroid city after reading a few lacklustre reviews. I loved Anatomy of a fall and thanks to you I now have a few others I want to watch.
‘Anatomy of a Fall’ was my favorite movie of the year (so far) … absolutely flush in construction. I also loved ‘Monster’ by Koreeda. Both movies center around uncertainty. And uncertainty is so interesting to pull out different thoughts/beliefs from viewers based off their lived experiences.
My favorites too, along with Past Lives. Really want to see Perfect Days and All of Us Strangers though
All of the cast in Anatomy of a Fall were superb, though notably the two outstanding actors for me were the prosecutor and the son. Two exceptional performances.
Two films that I loved that dropped on streaming this year were The Quiet Girl (Hulu) and Alcarras (Mubi). The Quiet Girl is just such a warm and tender depiction of a child learning what love is, and a couple learning to love again. Alcarras follows a family who struggle to navigate both social and economic change when their main means of living is suddenly disrupted, becoming this unflinching portrait of capitalist greed and the impact on small farms. Highly recommend both
Oh my gosh! “An Cailín Ciúin” (The Quiet Girl) is now on streaming? It came out theatrically here (in Ireland) some time last year, but I don’t know if it got a theatrical release anywhere else. Still, I’m glad a modern Irish-language movie is reaching audiences somehow. Glad you liked it!
@@finndelimatamay1983 It is genuinely one of the best films I've seen in recent years. I recommend it to everyone I can. Beautiful film.
Love quiet girl!
I also loved Alcarras!
Great roundup TF, many thanks. No Saltburn though?! 😮
Thank you for creating. One of the best channels for cinema lovers like me out there!❤
Monster by kore-eda was super awesome aswell and really stood out as my favorite film of the year
Good to see Dream Scenario on here. A really poignant entertaining movie that has unfortunately flown under the radar so far.
Thank you for the great content
Damn, these are some stunner recommendations. You showed just enough to get me hooked and too little to spoil anything. I guess all of the movies I haven't seen yet go on my must watch list