2023 was one hell of a year cinematically. Between the writers’ strike, Disney’s glorious financial woes, Daily Wire inexplicably deciding to be a film studio, and Marvel at long last going out not with a bang but a whimper, it was a miracle I found anything amidst all the noise to populate my annual list. Truth be told, it’s getting harder and harder to approach these lists with any real conviction, not because there aren’t quality films out there amidst all the pandemonium, but because I’m growing less interested in seeking them out. Part of this is the result of shifting priorities (my science fiction adventure novel, Into the Known Universe: A Cosmic Love Story, Kinda, is finally being released this April–no big), and part of it is general fatigue with movies in general (it’s also difficult to stand by a Top Ten when I change my mind and my rankings so frequently). There was a time when I would have been the first in line for a new Martin Scorsese or a Ridley Scott film, but not even my enduring love for Goodfellas and Alien could compel me to sit through Killers of the Flower Moon and Napoleon. I even tapped out of Beau is Afraid after the first hour, and that’s coming from someone who unequivocally loved Midsommar (seriously, what’s with all these three-hour runtimes lately?) Believe me, no one’s more disheartened than I am. And yet, I somehow managed not only to fill my Top Ten, but discover a handful of other films that are actually worth recommending. Some of the films on this list surprised me, as did a few down in the (Dis)honorable Mentions. Without further ado, let the 2023 Top Ten commence…
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SnootyFilmCritic 