Smith's Verdict

By Tanner Smith

SPOILER ALERT–There’s no mention of Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon in my year-end list for 2023 films…I’m sorry, I just didn’t get to see it in time. I’m sure when I see it, I’ll think to myself, “I wish that was on my list.” (Same goes for The Color Purple, Godzilla Minus One, Poor Things, and The Boy and the Heron.)

But I saw a lot of great films this past year. I know I haven’t written in 2023 as much as I usually do–but hopefully, this list will make up for it.

Before I begin my 2023 retrospective, I’ll mention the 2022 films I’ve caught up with that I would have loved to include in my 2022 Review: Women Talking, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, and Causeway. (And last year’s list was a top-25–I stand by 2022 being a terrific year for films.)

Now, the honorable mentions: Barbie, How to Blow Up a Pipeline, Flora and Son, The Adults, Shortcomings, Saltburn, Albert Brooks: Defending My Life, Dumb Money, They Wait in the Dark, Child, No Hard Feelings, Sanctuary, The Son, Somewhere in Queens, Sound of Freedom, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, You Hurt My Feelings, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, Joy Ride, and Biosphere. (Why do I get the feeling I’ll regret leaving one or two of these off the list in about a month?)

I’d love to give a special mention to a film that would have easily placed #1 on this 2023 list…if only it had released to the public in 2023. Johanna Putnam’s Shudderbugs had a wonderful festival run this year, and for good reason: it’s a wonderful film and probably meant the most to me out of any other film I saw this year. It’s a remarkably moving and wonderfully made exploration of grief, remorse, and recovery. When it gets released in 2024, it’s going to take a very special film to keep this one from the top spot of that list…

But the films taking the top spots on this year’s list are pretty great too. Let’s count down my Top 20 Favorite Films of 2023!

20. The Year Between
Painfully honest and honestly funny, writer-director-actor Alex Heller has delivered a truly impressive debut feature about how one handles mental illness and how loved ones handle it. At times uncompromising, other times sharply witty, and always memorable, The Year Between is the type of indie dramedy from the heart that I always treasure.

19. Talk to Me
Well, that was terrifying, I uttered to myself immediately after seeing this one for the first time. This Australian import deals heavily with themes of grief and loss while also delighting in scaring the bejeebus out of us using a unique plot device of a mysterious ceramic hand that possesses young people who play a game with it (allegory for substance abuse, anyone?)–and I’m sure directors Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou had a great time making it too.

18. Almost, Sorta, Maybe
I first saw this gem of an indie romcom in festivals last year. When it released via streaming this year, it was nice to rewatch the humor and heart of the whole film. (Yeah, you could call this one a “homer pick,” since I live in Kansas City, where this film was made, and I know many of the people involved in making it–but this is a list of my favorite films of the year, so I’m not leaving it off due to some kind of bias.)

Oh, and please check out this terrific short film from IX Film Productions, the same people behind Almost, Sorta, Maybe. It’s called Vegan Apocalypse–and it might be the best film they ever made (so far). Check it out.

17. The Artifice Girl
Ohh, how am I going to review this one without giving away its best secrets? Do yourself a favor–go into The Artifice Girl as cold as possible. All I’ll say is I’m rooting for this one to win the John Cassavetes Award at this year’s Film Independent Spirit Awards. It’s an example of wonderful creative ingenuity and one of the best screenplays of the year.

16. Maestro
I placed Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut A Star is Born on my 2018 list–it’d be silly if I didn’t include his follow-up directorial effort on this list, because Maestro is even better. It’s a wonderfully entertaining biopic about the late, great Leonard Bernstein, with Cooper also giving the performance of his career, completely disappearing into the role. It’s also the best-looking film of the year–and considering Bernstein’s music is scattered throughout, it might also be the best-sounding too. Available on Netflix.

15. The Killer
Yeah, yeah, masterfully-directed by David Fincher, owned by always interesting powerhouse actor Michael Fassbender, whatever–the main reason The Killer is on this list is because it’s also funny as hell. Yep, the Killer is as hilarious as he is ruthless. Available on Netflix.

14. Personal History

What a gem this was to discover–a wholly original film that made me grin, ponder, and ultimately feel. It also contains the best performance from Patrick Poe since Almost, Sorta, Maybe, as he plays a seemingly immortal man who doesn’t have a lot of insight to bestow–but he does hold the secret to living a full life. It’s a beautiful film by Tyler W. Moore. Check it out–it can be found here. Available on Vimeo-on-Demand.

13. The Iron Claw
Whew! What a ride this was. This story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, the most famous family in the history of professional wrestling, is an emotional powerhouse with sharp, uncompromising direction by Sean Durkin (Martha Marcy May Marlene) and great acting, including a career-best performance from Zac Efron as Kevin Von Erich. I got flashes of Raging Bull while seeing this film.

12. Creed III
I love the Rocky and Creed movies, and Adonis Creed himself, Michael B. Jordan, took the directing helm to create yet another strong, powerful entry in the Creed franchise. Creed was about going your own way and managing your temper, Creed II was about maintaining and defending legacy, and Creed III is about combating your inner demons. I’ll happily see what Adonis fights next in the next film.

11. Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
To hear about Michael J. Fox’s Parkinson’s battle is one thing–to see it illustrated to this degree in an entertaining and insightful documentary, from Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth), is another. I have a whole new amount of respect for the man now. (But then again, I’ve always found him to be as inspiring as he is likable.) Available on Apple TV+.

10. May December
We have 9 more titles to go, and I thought for sure this would reach the top 5. (Guess I found 9 others I liked a little better.) Todd Haynes’ latest masterpiece contains the most richly layered character portrayals of the year and probably the strongest acting of the year, from Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, and Charles Melton. I was enthralled from beginning to end. Available on Netflix.

9. Reality
I couldn’t tell you how many times I watched this HBO film, based on the FBI interrogation of American intelligence leaker Reality Winner (played in the film by a wonderful Sydney Sweeney), in the past few months–but that itself should tell you how much I enjoy it. Available on Max.

8. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
This is a wonderful, delightful coming-of-age tale that is every bit as needed and insightful as the Judy Blume novel it’s based on. The actors (both young and adult) are great, Kelly Fremon Craig’s writing and direction are great, the humor is great, and the ending is both moving and great. (I originally saw this as part of a double-feature with my #1 pick–it was a great day at the movies.)

7. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Amazing, Spider-Man… Need I say more? Well, OK, I’ll say I’d love to see Spot in more Spider-Man adaptations–he is not some “villain of the week.”

6. The Holdovers
What, director Alexander Payne, best-known for films about miserable people trying to be less miserable, can’t stand when people call his holiday-set film “warm” and “cozy”? Well, tough–he made a film about lonely people connecting together during the holiday season and he did it the way only Alexander Payne knows how. Of course people are going to call it “warm” and “cozy.” Would he be happier if we all suddenly pretend to hate it for some reason, like Green Book? (Btw, are we past that now? ‘Cause I always liked Green Book.)

5. Past Lives
If May December wins big at the Film Independent Spirit Awards, I won’t complain at all–but I will cheer loudly if Celine Song’s Past Lives takes the Best Film trophy. I loved, loved this film. I loved it for its characters’ connectivity; I loved it for the down-to-earth portrayals from the actors (particularly Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, and John Magaro); I loved it for the script’s simplicity; I loved it for Song’s direction; and I loved it for making it feel all the feels by the time it was over. Side-note: We talk about studio A24’s impressive catalogue of horror films, including this year’s Talk to Me–but how about a talk about their hugely terrific lineup of dramas, comedies, and/or dramedies?

4. Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning – Part One
The previous Mission: Impossible film (Fallout) made my 2018 list, and this new (seventh) entry is every bit as impressive if not even more so. This 163-minute thrill ride was nothing short of impressive or amazing, and it kept my interest throughout. Say what you will about the story, but I go to these movies for a damn good time. And that’s what Dead Reckoning Part One was to me: a damn. Good. Time. And yes, Tom Cruise still has it–I’m not just talking about his ability to perform outrageous stunts; I’m talking about his undying charisma (that sleight-of-hand bit at the airport impressed me as much as any of the amazingly crafted and exciting action sequences)…but yes, that cliff jump was great too.

3. Oppenheimer
Wait, what? #3 for Christopher Nolan’s magnum opus? Well, if the next two picks are my favorites of the year, then Oppenheimer is the best. How about that? Either way, I agree with most people: it’s extraordinary and probably one of the best films of the century.

2. Air
How did this happen? How did a film about the major endorsement of Michael Jordan and the creation of Nike Air Jordan shoes (mind you, without His Royal Airness being portrayed as a key player) become of the most entertaining films of the year? Well, director Ben Affleck and screenwriter Alex Convery found a way, thus emphasizing something the late Siskel & Ebert loved to point out: any subject matter can be done and told well. One of my favorite scenes of the year was an early conversation between Matt Damon’s Nike basketball talent scout Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis as Michael’s negotiating mother Deloris Jordan. I love this film. Available on Prime.

It’s strange. There were a lot of entertaining 2023 films that had to do with corporate business and product development–including Tetris, Flamin’ Hot, The Beanie Bubble, Barbie (which is in its own dimension), and…

1. BlackBerry
   That’s right–my favorite film of the year is a film about the invention of the first smartphone. How did this happen? Two words: Matt Johnson. I’m convinced that the always-exciting Canadian filmmaker (whose debut feature The Dirties is one of my absolute favorite films and whose sophomore effort Operation Avalanche made my 2016 list) can make just about anything entertaining. In addition to crafting a fun and engaging screenplay (co-writing with Matthew Miller, who was involved in both of Johnson’s previous features) that isn’t so much about how greed affects dreamers but more about how people react to someone else overcoming their previous endeavors, Jay Baruchel is a good lead with a nice arc going from shy doormat inventor to cocky confident entrepreneur, the atmosphere of the nerd-culture going from fun to grim is riveting, and Glenn Howerton portrays my favorite antagonist of the year, an extremely cocky and reckless a-hole who knows how to get things done and whom I love to hate. Whether it’s totally accurate to the real story or not, I don’t care–BlackBerry is a wildly entertaining treasure of a film that I will enjoy for years to come. And please, Matt Johnson, keep going, because you’re doing a great job.

Now I don’t feel so guilty having missed Killers of the Flower Moon. (I’ll see it when I see it–these films are enough for me right now.) I’ll try to do more writing in 2024. Let’s enjoy more films to come!