And just like that 2023 is done and what a wild year it has been for movies. As usual it was a year with its share of surprises and more than a few disappointments. Some movies made big splashes at the box office; some movies deservedly bombed; other highly anticipated movies were pushed to next year. One thing is for sure, 2023 gave us plenty to enjoy.

So here we are in late December, the time where we critics take on that annual tradition of picking the ten best movies from the past year. While some (understandably) argue that such lists are pointless and silly, what can I say? I love reading them and putting mine together. With that said, it’s time to get to it. Without further delay, here are my Top 10 Films of 2023.

As always let me start by showing some love to my #11-20….

• #20 – “The Boy and the Heron”
• #19 – “Revoir Paris”
• #18 – “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
• #17 – “May December”
• #16 – “Society of the Snow”
• #15 – “The Promised Land”
• #14 – “The Boys in the Boat”
• #13 – “The Holdovers”
• #12 – “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One”
• #11 – “Fallen Leaves”

The Top 10 Films of 2023

#10 “The Last Voyage of the Demeter” – File this one as the movie on my list that deserved way more attention than it received. “The Last Voyage of the Demeter” didn’t get a warm reception upon its release. That’s a shame. It remains my favorite horror movie of 2023. Stylishly mixing old-school supernatural chills with extraordinary practical effects, “Demeter” takes a lone chapter from Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” and turns it into a harrowing horror movie on the high seas. It all festers into a tense, moody, and gruesome delight from Norwegian director André Øvredal. [REVIEW]

#9 “Ferrari” – Among the more exciting announcements in 2023 was Michael Mann’s return to the director’s chair. “Ferrari” is a movie Mann has been trying to make for over two decades and his passion for the project penetrates every frame. The film follows three tumultuous months in the life of Enzo Ferrari, the founder of the luxury sports car manufacturer that bears his name. Adam Driver is as sturdy as ever while Penélope Cruz is outstanding playing his wife Laura. Mann caps it off with the racing of the Mille Miglia in what is one of the most breathtaking final acts of the year. [REVIEW]

#8 “Godzilla Minus One” – If you had asked me at the beginning of the year I wouldn’t have predicted that a Godzilla movie would be on my Top 10 list. At the time I didn’t even know one was set to be released. But Takashi Yamasaki’s “Godzilla Minus One” ended up being one of the biggest surprises of 2023. This engaging mixture of exhilarating spectacle and heartfelt humanity offers up a crash course on how to make a great blockbuster. The kaiju action is immensely satisfying. But it’s the story’s deeply ingrained human element that makes it stand out. [REVIEW]

#7 “Past Lives” – Writer-director Celine Song blessed us with the very best feature film debut of 2023. Her endearing and poignant drama “Past Lives” received widespread praise after premiering at Sundance. Since then that praise has (rightfully) only grown. “Past Lives” tells a sophisticated and bittersweet story that’s subtly romantic and thematically rich. It’s driven by a sublime Greta Lee who delivers one of the most evocative performances of 2023. Warmly written and beautifully shot, “Past Lives” marks the emergence of a new and truly exciting cinematic voice. [REVIEW]

#6 “John Wick: Chapter 4” – It’s the time of year where many of us start setting guidelines for our ‘Best of the Year’ lists and begin narrowing down what constitutes a “worthy” movie. Take a film like “John Wick Chapter 4”. Fellow critics have rightly sang its praises. But is it an awards caliber movie? Allow me to answer with an emphatic YES! JW4 is far and away the best action movie of the year, with its incredible blend of vision, style, and craftsmanship. The action sequences are mind-blowing and the intensely committed and inherently likable Keanu Reeves is icing on the cake. [REVIEW]

#5 “The Iron Claw” – You don’t have to be a fan of professional wrestling to love Sean Durkin’s brilliant “The Iron Claw”. This wrenching drama tells the true story of the legendary Von Erichs, a family whose in-ring achievements were only outshined by their personal tragedies. Durkin approaches the story with honesty and empathy through one of the year’s best screenplays. The film also features some terrific performances led by a career best turn from Zac Efron. Fans will love the numerous name drops and cool callbacks. Yet it’s the deeply affecting human drama that sets the movie apart. [REVIEW]

#4 “The Killer” – “The Killer” gives us two long awaited returns – that of David Fincher and Michael Fassbender. Directed by Fincher and written by Andrew Kevin Walker, this lean, smart, and stylish action-thriller proves to be the perfect vehicle for Fassbender’s ice-cold charisma and steely magnetism. Fincher’s steady screw-tightening builds some great tension within the film’s effectively deliberate and deceptively layered frame. “The Killer” is a first-rate pulpy neo-noir that seems to get better with each viewing. And I already have a hankering for the next Fincher-Fassbender collaboration. [REVIEW]

#3 “The Zone of Interest” – Movies rarely leave me speechless. “The Zone of Interest” certainly did. This is no ordinary historical drama nor is it like any Holocaust movie you’ve seen before. Writer-director Jonathan Glazer has made a daringly precise and artfully calculated feature that puts what Hannah Arendt called “the banality of evil” on shocking display. This is a quietly chilling work that doesn’t need gruesome imagery to make you uncomfortable. Explorations like this are never “fun”. But Glazer has delivered a vital movie that is a landmark achievement both in filmmaking and as a historical reflection. [REVIEW]

#2 “Killers of the Flower Moon” – “Killers of the Flower Moon” seems like a movie only Martin Scorsese could make. From its scope to its craft to its style of storytelling, everything about it feels like a Scorsese picture. And it’s not recency bias to say it’s one of the acclaimed director’s very best films. I’ve seen “Killers of the Flower Moon” three times – all three hours and 26 minutes of it. Each time I found myself absorbed in nearly every facet of the film – the performances from the top stars to the terrific supporting cast, the incredible production design, the sweeping epic feel, the unshakable honesty of the story, the moody magnetic score. It’s a masterwork. [REVIEW]

#1 “Oppenheimer” – The sheer achievement that is “Oppenheimer” cannot be overstated. From a simple box office perspective it was the biggest surprise of the year. A three hour biography of a theoretical physicist isn’t the kind of movie you would expect to make nearly $1 billion. But such is the Christopher Nolan effect. From the brilliance of his screenplay to the stunning execution of his direction, Nolan has a made a film that defies expectations. It’s an utterly mesmerizing piece featuring the best ensemble cast of the year, a haunting score, and phenomenal cinematography. It’s extraordinary filmmaking and storytelling making this yet another career defining accomplishment from one of the best in the business. [REVIEW]

And those are my picks for the best movies of 2023. What did you think of my list? What would make yours? Let me know in the comments section below. Till next year….