Top Ten Films of 2023
By Dan Pal
It occurred to me while determining my list of the Top Ten films of 2023, that half had yet to be given a full theatrical or streaming release. They are films I had seen during the year via film festivals or screeners sent to me for review. They’re all truly powerful films and I will be publishing my full reviews of them within the next two months as they get rolled out. At least six of the films on my list were also produced outside the U.S. or featured foreign-born directors. This has been a trend for a number of years for me. I’m clearly more interested in and inspired by international and independent cinema than I am in blockbusters. I saw over 150 films this year and these did not include big hits such as The Super Mario Brothers Movie, Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol 3, Fast X, The Little Mermaid or the latest installments of John Wick, Indiana Jones, or Mission Impossible. But then, if you read my reviews regularly, you’re already aware that I generally don’t take the time to see them. (Frankly, most are not sent to critics at the end of the year for awards or best of lists consideration.) I’m also a major fan of documentaries. As a result, I’ve compiled a separate Top Ten below of my favorite documentaries from 2023.
All in all, this was an excellent year for great cinema. If you haven’t seen these films, search them out, or email me (djpal1@aol.com). I’ll be happy to let you know where, when, or if you’ll be able see them in 2024. Without further ado, here are my Top Ten Films of 2023:
10. Anatomy of a Fall – Directed by Justine Triet
Featuring one of two brilliant performances from Sandra Huller this year, Anatomy of a Fall is part mystery, courtroom drama, and intense marriage story. My full review: https://palcinema.com/anatomy-of-a-fall.html
9. Dream Scenario – Directed by Kristoffer Borgli
An original film about a man (Nicholas Cage) who randomly appears in other people’s dreams, it film reflects, in part, our obsession with raising up and knocking down celebrities and how our cultural manner of spinning what is important can have devastating effects on all concerned. Full review: https://palcinema.com/dream-scenario.html
8. The Missing – Directed by Carl Joseph E. Papa
This about to be released animated film is the Philippines’ submission for the Best International Film Oscar. It won’t be nominated as it didn’t make the shortlist and is small and not overly flashy. I found it incredibly profound and original and far more interesting than the overblown action oriented animated films this year (Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse and The Boy and the Heron.) It concerns a young man who has been terrorized by an alien for most of his life. But this isn’t just some science fiction story it is a deeply moving and psychological reflection on trauma, love, and loyalty. The relationship between the character and his male co-worker is beautifully created and represents even more the importance of support to overcome one’s darkest demons and memories. Full review coming before it’s release on Jan. 7.
7. Past Lives – Directed by Celine Song
The emotional story of a South Korean boy and girl whose lives take very different paths and then intersects at some key adult moments is endlessly interesting to study in terms of its dissection of cultural shifts and relationships. It also features some of the great performances of the year. My full review: https://palcinema.com/past-lives.html
6. The Color Purple – Directed by Blitz Bazawule
The latest adaptation of Alice Walker’s celebrated novel is lively, sweeping and very well-acted. It’s one of the best musicals in years. My full review: https://palcinema.com/the-color-purple.html
5. The Zone of Interest – Directed by Jonathan Glazer
This is a brilliant if horribly disturbing story about the lead commandant at Auschwitz who lives a just outside the death camp with his carefree wife (played by Sandra Huller) who seems immune to the sounds of the atrocities occurring just on the other side of the wall off their property. The way the film handles sound and cinematography is revelatory. This is a true work of art. It will be opening soon in time for its likely Oscar nominations.
4. Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World – Directed by Radu Jude
This Romanian film clocks in at 163 minutes yet it wastes no time in exploring a day in the life of a production assistant who works long hours, yells profanities at people outside her car window, and remains committed to her tireless job. The last hour features two extended cuts that slowly reveal the hypocrisy of a company trying make a film about how safe they are. Hopefully this film will be released in some form in 2024.
3. Perfect Days – Directed by Wim Wenders
What makes for a perfect day? The character played by Koji Yakusho in Perfect Days cleans toilets every day in Tokyo. He has a routine that gives him stability and comfort. He isn’t interested in major changes yet a few people enter his life and shake things up a bit. One might think that this would make for a boring film experience. On the contrary, I found it highly stimulating. A lot of this has to do with the performance by Koji Yakusho. The subtle changes in his facial expressions reveal his moments of happiness, stability, and sometimes a shift in his perspective. The character has got just the right number of familiar people as part of his days and enough sense of what makes him happy to be inspiring to watch. The film will be released theatrically in February.
2. Terrestrial Verses – Directed by Ali Asgari, Alireza Khatami
Terrestrial Verses is an extremely powerful statement on social rules in Tehran, Iran. Yet it is so simply produced that one might overlook the immensity of what it is accomplishing. Writer/Directors Ali Asgari and Alireza Khatami serve up a series of vignettes that are each shot in one take and feature an average Tehran citizen attempting to defend their needs and make their lives better while being interviewed by government officials or employers who are bound by their own scripts about what is right and what is wrong. The fact that each story is so compelling and well-written is to witness a major work of art by two Iranian born filmmakers. They express how ludicrous so many of the culture’s rules are and expose them to the rest of the world. We observe from our own Western eyes and no doubt see how faulty and illogical many of these ideas are. The film is scheduled to be screened as part of the Festival of Films from Iran on February 5th at the Gene Siskel Center in Chicago.
1. Killers of the Flower Moon – Directed by Martin Scorsese
I was more engaged with this film than any other in 2023, which is saying a lot since it clocks in at 3 ½ hours! Scorsese is working at his highest level in size, scope, and story. The fact that Scorsese created this story (which is based on a novel) in consultation with the descendants of the Osage and actual real-life characters the story is based on suggests at least a first attempt to clarify and express part of this history that has been sorely lacking in most of our media representations of Native Americans. It’s an incredible achievement. Check out my full review: https://palcinema.com/killers-of-the-flower-moon.html
Runners Up to my Top Ten:
Showing Up
Nyad
Fair Play
BlackBerry
Flora and Son
Biosphere
Saltburn
Fallen Leaves
Poor Things
Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret
The Next Ten:
Society of the Snow
Big Boys
A Thousand and One
La Chimera
Fingernails
Radical
The Blue Caftan
You Hurt My Feelings
Maestro
Dumb Money
Top Ten Documentaries of 2023
1. The Mission – Full Review
2. The Eternal Memory – Full Review
3. 20 Days in Mariupol - Full Review
4. In the Rearview
5. Common Ground – Full Review
6. The League – Full Review
7. Kenyatta: Do Not Wait Your Turn
8. Studio One Forever
9. Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
10. Searching for Nika – Full Review
By Dan Pal
It occurred to me while determining my list of the Top Ten films of 2023, that half had yet to be given a full theatrical or streaming release. They are films I had seen during the year via film festivals or screeners sent to me for review. They’re all truly powerful films and I will be publishing my full reviews of them within the next two months as they get rolled out. At least six of the films on my list were also produced outside the U.S. or featured foreign-born directors. This has been a trend for a number of years for me. I’m clearly more interested in and inspired by international and independent cinema than I am in blockbusters. I saw over 150 films this year and these did not include big hits such as The Super Mario Brothers Movie, Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol 3, Fast X, The Little Mermaid or the latest installments of John Wick, Indiana Jones, or Mission Impossible. But then, if you read my reviews regularly, you’re already aware that I generally don’t take the time to see them. (Frankly, most are not sent to critics at the end of the year for awards or best of lists consideration.) I’m also a major fan of documentaries. As a result, I’ve compiled a separate Top Ten below of my favorite documentaries from 2023.
All in all, this was an excellent year for great cinema. If you haven’t seen these films, search them out, or email me (djpal1@aol.com). I’ll be happy to let you know where, when, or if you’ll be able see them in 2024. Without further ado, here are my Top Ten Films of 2023:
10. Anatomy of a Fall – Directed by Justine Triet
Featuring one of two brilliant performances from Sandra Huller this year, Anatomy of a Fall is part mystery, courtroom drama, and intense marriage story. My full review: https://palcinema.com/anatomy-of-a-fall.html
9. Dream Scenario – Directed by Kristoffer Borgli
An original film about a man (Nicholas Cage) who randomly appears in other people’s dreams, it film reflects, in part, our obsession with raising up and knocking down celebrities and how our cultural manner of spinning what is important can have devastating effects on all concerned. Full review: https://palcinema.com/dream-scenario.html
8. The Missing – Directed by Carl Joseph E. Papa
This about to be released animated film is the Philippines’ submission for the Best International Film Oscar. It won’t be nominated as it didn’t make the shortlist and is small and not overly flashy. I found it incredibly profound and original and far more interesting than the overblown action oriented animated films this year (Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse and The Boy and the Heron.) It concerns a young man who has been terrorized by an alien for most of his life. But this isn’t just some science fiction story it is a deeply moving and psychological reflection on trauma, love, and loyalty. The relationship between the character and his male co-worker is beautifully created and represents even more the importance of support to overcome one’s darkest demons and memories. Full review coming before it’s release on Jan. 7.
7. Past Lives – Directed by Celine Song
The emotional story of a South Korean boy and girl whose lives take very different paths and then intersects at some key adult moments is endlessly interesting to study in terms of its dissection of cultural shifts and relationships. It also features some of the great performances of the year. My full review: https://palcinema.com/past-lives.html
6. The Color Purple – Directed by Blitz Bazawule
The latest adaptation of Alice Walker’s celebrated novel is lively, sweeping and very well-acted. It’s one of the best musicals in years. My full review: https://palcinema.com/the-color-purple.html
5. The Zone of Interest – Directed by Jonathan Glazer
This is a brilliant if horribly disturbing story about the lead commandant at Auschwitz who lives a just outside the death camp with his carefree wife (played by Sandra Huller) who seems immune to the sounds of the atrocities occurring just on the other side of the wall off their property. The way the film handles sound and cinematography is revelatory. This is a true work of art. It will be opening soon in time for its likely Oscar nominations.
4. Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World – Directed by Radu Jude
This Romanian film clocks in at 163 minutes yet it wastes no time in exploring a day in the life of a production assistant who works long hours, yells profanities at people outside her car window, and remains committed to her tireless job. The last hour features two extended cuts that slowly reveal the hypocrisy of a company trying make a film about how safe they are. Hopefully this film will be released in some form in 2024.
3. Perfect Days – Directed by Wim Wenders
What makes for a perfect day? The character played by Koji Yakusho in Perfect Days cleans toilets every day in Tokyo. He has a routine that gives him stability and comfort. He isn’t interested in major changes yet a few people enter his life and shake things up a bit. One might think that this would make for a boring film experience. On the contrary, I found it highly stimulating. A lot of this has to do with the performance by Koji Yakusho. The subtle changes in his facial expressions reveal his moments of happiness, stability, and sometimes a shift in his perspective. The character has got just the right number of familiar people as part of his days and enough sense of what makes him happy to be inspiring to watch. The film will be released theatrically in February.
2. Terrestrial Verses – Directed by Ali Asgari, Alireza Khatami
Terrestrial Verses is an extremely powerful statement on social rules in Tehran, Iran. Yet it is so simply produced that one might overlook the immensity of what it is accomplishing. Writer/Directors Ali Asgari and Alireza Khatami serve up a series of vignettes that are each shot in one take and feature an average Tehran citizen attempting to defend their needs and make their lives better while being interviewed by government officials or employers who are bound by their own scripts about what is right and what is wrong. The fact that each story is so compelling and well-written is to witness a major work of art by two Iranian born filmmakers. They express how ludicrous so many of the culture’s rules are and expose them to the rest of the world. We observe from our own Western eyes and no doubt see how faulty and illogical many of these ideas are. The film is scheduled to be screened as part of the Festival of Films from Iran on February 5th at the Gene Siskel Center in Chicago.
1. Killers of the Flower Moon – Directed by Martin Scorsese
I was more engaged with this film than any other in 2023, which is saying a lot since it clocks in at 3 ½ hours! Scorsese is working at his highest level in size, scope, and story. The fact that Scorsese created this story (which is based on a novel) in consultation with the descendants of the Osage and actual real-life characters the story is based on suggests at least a first attempt to clarify and express part of this history that has been sorely lacking in most of our media representations of Native Americans. It’s an incredible achievement. Check out my full review: https://palcinema.com/killers-of-the-flower-moon.html
Runners Up to my Top Ten:
Showing Up
Nyad
Fair Play
BlackBerry
Flora and Son
Biosphere
Saltburn
Fallen Leaves
Poor Things
Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret
The Next Ten:
Society of the Snow
Big Boys
A Thousand and One
La Chimera
Fingernails
Radical
The Blue Caftan
You Hurt My Feelings
Maestro
Dumb Money
Top Ten Documentaries of 2023
1. The Mission – Full Review
2. The Eternal Memory – Full Review
3. 20 Days in Mariupol - Full Review
4. In the Rearview
5. Common Ground – Full Review
6. The League – Full Review
7. Kenyatta: Do Not Wait Your Turn
8. Studio One Forever
9. Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
10. Searching for Nika – Full Review