10. Perfect Days
Every now and then, a film comes around and reminds you to slow down and appreciate the little things in life. A revelatory experience which few things have the power to evoke, but one film that does so successfully is Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days. Anchored by career-best work from one of my favorite actors, Koji Yakusho, Perfect Days relishes in simplicity, creating a quiet and calming space that breathes life into mundanity. And maybe its greatest accomplishment, it gave this germaphobe appreciation for public toilets.
9. The Killer
A lean, mean killing machine. David Fincher’s The Killer is a tight and thrilling character study, precisely tracking one man’s blood soaked revenge-driven mission after a job gone wrong. Michael Fassbender’s cold and calculated performance drives the film, and Andrew Kevin Walker’s screenplay shines in this hitman thriller. Brandishing one of the best action sequences of the year and one of the more effective uses of voice over in film, The Killer is exactly what I wanted from Fincher following Mank.
8. Saltburn
The world needs filmmakers as bold and audacious as Emerald Fennell. Her vicious writing won her an Oscar with her outstanding debut feature, Promising Young Woman, and in her follow up effort, she delivers just as much style, flair, and shock. As hilarious as it is biting, Saltburn certainly proves that Fennell is among the most original new voices in filmmaking. And it certainly solidifies Barry Keoghan as one of my favorite actors working today.
7. Suzume
Call me biased, but no filmmaker moves me emotionally as effectively as Makoto Shinkai. From the sprawling hand-drawn animation to the iconic RADWIMPS score, Suzume boasts exactly what we want from Shinkai. And of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that the release of Suzume provided me the unforgettable opportunity to meet Shinkai in New York City, and express to him what his work means to me.
6. Godzilla Minus One
I’ve long had an affinity for Godzilla, having grown up on the 1999 film. But as I’ve grown, I’ve seen the portrayal of the beast evolve in exciting ways. And while previously, Gareth Edwards’ 2014 adaptation was my favorite incarnation, Godzilla Minus One has since taken that prize as my favorite Godzilla movie. With shades of Spielberg all throughout, Godzilla Minus One is a brilliant balance of horror and melodrama, with thrilling creature sequences that are burned into my brain.
5. The First Slam Dunk
To call myself an anime and basketball fan, and to have never experienced Slam Dunk in any form is among my greatest shames. But that unfiltered perspective allowed me to walk into The First Slam Dunk clear headed, and the film certainly did not disappoint. A thrilling underdog story that portrays a full game in its near entirety, The First Slam Dunk had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. It gives each character their moment to shine, and has a beautiful emotional hook that grounds the feature between the gripping hardwood sequences.
4. The Taste of Things
As sumptuous as its title may suggest, The Taste of Things is a feast of a film. Set against the backdrop of late 1800s France, the vivid scenery and aesthetic accentuate the immense cooking sequences that the film is built around, creating as immersive a moviegoing experience as I had in 2023. And while it may grip you with its extended opening cooking sequence, it’ll keep you around by roping you into the compelling relationship of its core characters.Â
3. Oppenheimer
While I hesitate to say this is among my favorite Christopher Nolan film’s, as a certified Nolan fanboy, I’m required to put this in my top 10. In all seriousness, Oppenheimer is an astounding feat from top to bottom, boasting top tier work across the board, from directing and acting, to cinematography and score. I must admit, it didn’t quite click for me on first watch, as it is a particularly dense film. But it rewards subsequent viewings in really exciting ways, employing the best of Nolan’s directorial style to tell one of the most engaging and horrifying stories in our history.
2. American Fiction
Cord Jefferson’s feature directorial debut is the surprise of the year, promising some of the biggest laughs and most authentic tears that films had to offer in 2023. A sharp and witty screenplay that’s equal parts humor and heart, it’s no surprise that this is what one of the writers of The Good Place and HBO’s Watchmen had in his back pocket. And it’s about time we gave Jeffrey Wright a leading vehicle worthy of his talents. American Fiction is an all-around winner that I guarantee audiences will fall in love with.
1. Past Lives
There’s a distinct beauty in those theatrical experiences where the audience’s reaction leaves as lasting an impact as the film itself. But typically, it’s explosive in nature, like the rapturous applause on opening night of Avengers: Endgame, or the screams and cheers that accompany a horror hit like The Conjuring. Past Lives, while just as memorable, was wildly different.
There was an indescribable energy at that Sundance premiere. Almost a nervousness, as the quiet tension of this years-spanning romance ratcheted up. You could feel each and every member of that audience on the edge of their seat as the pressure mounted, and in the closing minutes of the film, as nearly everyone in that silent theater collectively burst into tears. An hour forty of patient longing, rewarded with a cathartic release.
And since that Sundance premiere, I’ve had the unique pleasure of following Past Lives along its release journey. I saw the worth of mouth balloon as it had its proper theatrical release this summer, and attended an FYC screening at MoMA as the surprise hit made the awards circuit rounds.
It takes a special kind of story (and storyteller) to deliver that same, unforgettable reaction time and time again.
Past Lives is a special blend of anchored, emotional filmmaking from first-time director Celine Song, and raw and piercing performance from its leading trio, Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, and John Magaro. It’s as close as I’ve felt to Richard Linklater’s Before Trilogy (and anyone that knows me knows that those are among my favorite films of all time), and as this one continues to simmer, I could certainly see it even surpassing those.
Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order):
Air
All of Us Strangers
Anatomy of a Fall
Concrete Utopia
Evil Dead Rise
John Wick Chapter 4
May December
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Stephen Curry: Underrated
Talk to Me
The Creator
The Holdovers
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Raj Sawhney 