2023 in Film

I am past due on this list of best and worst from last year. As has become the case, I am not seeing as many first run movies every year, so it is hard to say what my definitive favorites are going to be.

Top 10 of 2023

10. “Barbie” directed by Greta Gerwig

More for its attempts at saying something than its actual achievements. I need to post my thoughts about this one soon.

9. “Luther: The Fallen Son” directed by Jamie Payne

A good entry in a good character series.

8. “M3gan” directed by Gerard Gerwig

A.I. is society’s current boogie man. Fun stuff.

7. “El Conde” directed by Pablo Larrain

Another head scratcher that is fun to think about. More to come eventually.

6. “Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning” directed by Christopher McQuary

There were too many films in 2023 that left their story hanging. When is this one going to continue?

5. “Dungeons and Dragons Honor Among Thieves” directed by John Francess Daley and Johnathan Goldstein.

This was a lot of fun. And it concluded, but I would pay to see more stories involving these characters.

4. “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” directed by James Mangold

I continue to be on board for this character and his stories.

3. “Spider-Man Across the Universe” directed by Bob Persichetti, Percy Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman

Good stuff, but will we get a complete story eventually?

2. “Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 3” directed by James Gunn

A great conclusion to a great trilogy of complete stories that nonetheless have a satisfying, overarching story.

1. “Godzilla Minus 1” directed by Takashi Yammazaki

This is an amazing achievement in storytelling, messaging, movie-making, and just amazing to behold!

Bottom 5 of 2023

-5. “The Marvels” directed by Nia DaCosta
-4. “The Flash” directed by Andy Muschietti
-3. “Cocaine Bear” directed by Elizabeth Banks
-2. “The Meg 2: The Trench” directed by Ben Wheatley
-1. “Evil Dead Rise” directed by Lee Cronin


I Still Need to See, or My Homework

American Fiction
Anatomy of a Fall
The Holdovers
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer