Top 5 Films of 2023

Another year and the Oscars have come and gone! Congratulations to Oppenheimer for winning the big awards including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Robert Downey Jr. and Best Director for Christopher Nolan! Oppenheimer is truly one of the best films of 2023. I’d rank it among my top ten favorite films of that year along with Killers of the Flower Moon (Lily Gladstone is a Best Actress winner in my book), Elemental (Pixar knocks it out of the park with its first rom-com), Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (once again showing how animation shows the best side of the web-slinger) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (the turtles have never looked this great along with its script and music score).

While I didn’t see every film of 2023 (apologies to The Iron Claw, John Wick 4, May December, and Past Lives) but of the many I did, these were the five  that stood out to me.

5). The Holdovers

If you had to ask me who my favorite actor is, that would be Paul Giamatti. The man has never given a bad performance from small roles like in Saving Private Ryan, comedies like Big Fat Liar, animated films like The Ant Bully to even not-so-great films like Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes and M. Night Shyamalan’s Lady in the Water. My introduction to his talent was in Ron Howard’s Cinderella Man where he plays the real-life boxing manager Joe Gould (his performance earned him his first Oscar nomination). His role in the road trip dramedy Sideways has been hailed as his best work and the film’s director, Alexander Payne recognized that as he reunited with Giamatti in this comedy drama that is destined to become a Christmas classic. The Holdovers centers on a grumpy teacher, a smart-aleck student, and a grieving cafeteria lady, in which fate brings them together during the Christmas break. Giamatti earned his second Oscar nomination for his performance as Professor Paul Hunham, bringing the right amount humor and heart to a character filled depth, regret, and a love for teaching. Dominic Sessa makes an outstanding film debut as Angus Tully, a troubled teen who despite acting as a smart-ass, there’s more going inside that Mr. Hunham of all people is able sympathize with. The real standout is Da'Vine Joy Randolph as Mary Lamb, a mother in mourning for her son who was killed in the Vietnam War. Like Paul and Angus, there’s a lot going with Mary on the inside, processing the grief she's feeling, but on the outside she is commanding but kind.

4). Blue Beetle

It’s a shame how the DC Extended Universe came to an end but when you look at its repertoire, filled with more misses than hits, it was only a matter of time. Still, it’s sad that we’ll never get a proper resolution for many of its characters or explore plotlines that were heavily teased. While The Flash and Aquaman & Lost Kingdom weren’t the ideal send-offs (not to mention the production trouble and the involvement of problematic actors behind-the-scenes) both were fun and had the style of their auteurs that helped them stand out amongst the many superhero projects that have dwindled in quality since Avengers: Endgame and apart from the Spider-Verse films. I saw Blue Beetle twice in theaters and again when on premiered on streaming and later on DVD. With every rewatch, the film gets better every time. Being the first Latino superhero movie with an all Latino cast (except with the film's villain), this is a movie that will hit home with its targeted community (including myself being a Mexican American) who will recognize the references, dialect, and culture portrayed onscreen. Cobra Kai’s Xolo Maridueña is fantastic as the titular hero, who dons the powers of the mysterious scab that’s a mixture of Venom and Iron Man. George Lopez delivers the usual laughs and shows his dramatic side as the goofy uncle with some surprising words of wisdom. Adriana Barraza as the grandmother steals the show with some surprising skills as she keeps the family together. Harvey Guillén, best known as Perrito from Puss in Boots: The Last Wish as the villain’s assistant is able to nab some good moments. The best scene of the movie features Damián Alcázar (who I remember as one of the villains in the second Narnia film Prince Caspian) as the father of the main hero.  Every time I watch that scene (you’ll know it when you see it) it hits me hard. I’ve cried during films but never like this, even when I’m writing this I tear up. DC really delivered with this film, and despite the franchise being rebooted yet again and failing at the box-office, all signs point that this isn’t the last we’ve seen of the Blue Beatle. ¡Estoy listo para la próxima aventura!

3). Air

People forget Ben Affleck is more than just an actor and Jennifer Lopez’s new husband (congrats by the way) but he’s also a talented director. His third film Argo, based on a true CIA mission that involved making a fake movie to save the lives of six individuals trapped in a hostile country won the Oscar for Best Picture. While his time as Batman is over, Affleck’s fifth film behind the camera Air reminds us why he’s a great filmmaker. Another film based on a true story; we witness how Nike managed to strike a deal with Michael Jordan that led to the creation of the iconic Air Jordan. The movie reunites Affleck and his best friend Matt Damon, both play men working in the Nike corporation with Affleck appropriately cast as the CEO and Damon as the executive who comes up with the idea to bring Jordan in. For a movie that is dialogue heavy and all about a shoe, it engrosses us in the story and the characters. Air features the best ensemble cast of the year from Zootopia star Jason Bateman and Rush Hour star Chris Tucker in his first film role in seven years. Chris Messina, who previously worked with Affleck in Argo, showcases his mad skills in a hilarious rant scene with Damon. Marlon Wayans continues his good streak following his performance in On the Rocks. The real standout is Viola Davis as Michael Jordan’s mother Deloris who played a central role in real story. Davis was chosen by Jordan himself to play the part and what a performance it is, commanding the scene everytime she appears onscreen. Michael Jordan continues to be a legend, even if you don’t watch basketball or sports in general you hear the name, you know who he is. We follow the individuals who saw this before he became a household name as beautifully portrayed in the film’s third act. A shoe is only a shoe until somebody steps into it.

2). Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning-Part 1

The Mission Impossible films are one of those rare franchises where the later films are better than the first films. The first movie from 1996 is essential to watch as it is the film that started it all and has the amazing break-in scene with Tom Cruise hanging by a wire. You can skip the second and third movie. The fourth film, Ghost Protocol, is when the series was truly reborn with the following installments getting better and better with Rogue Nation, and Fallout. Just when I thought nothing could top Fallout, here comes Dead Reckoning-Part 1 the seventh installment to prove me wrong. Dead Reckoning is the first film in the series that ties in directly to the first movie by bringing back Henry Czerny as Kittridge who hasn’t been seen since the 1996 film. Cruise continues to be a great action star, risking life and limb in every movie for the sake of entertaining us and giving our money’s worth. Returning players include Simon Pegg (Scotty from the Abrams Star Trek films) who’s been present since the third film, Rebecca Ferguson (Rose the Hat from Doctor Sleep) who joined the team in Rogue Nation, Vanessa Kirby (Future Susan Storm) who dazzled us in Fallout and Ving Rhames (Cobra Bubbles from Lilo & Stitch) who like Cruise has been in the franchise from the beginning. Joining the cast are Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter from the MCU), Esai Morales (he will always be Bob Morales from La Bamba to me), Pom Klementieff (Mantis also from the MCU) and Cary Elwes (Westley from The Princess Bride). In addition to being entertaining and tense, Dead Reckoning is the most philosophical in the franchise. The scene where the team confronts Hayley Atwell’s character is the most film’s most poignant moment that sums up the heart of the franchise and speaks levels to us as individuals in why we do what we do. More so, the film became the most relevant film of our times with the rise of AI. The biggest accomplishment though, like Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, despite ending on a cliffhanger you feel satisfied and excited for the next installment and not frustrated and impatient. Marvel really needs to take notes from this franchise. I was so sure Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1 would be the number one film of 2023 and as the year ended it seemed to be…………………. or so I thought.

1). Godzilla: Minus One

I grew up watching a lot of Godzilla films on TV, I even have a soft spot for the 1998 film from Roland Emmerich and star's Matthew Broderick (I'm aware of its infamous reputation among fans and critics and admit that much of the criticism is valid). Despite the film's many flaws there's are some things it gets right such as the spirit of the original Godzilla film from 1954. Dare I say, not even the later films of the MonsterVerse, enjoyable as they are, haven't been able to get that part right. Godzilla is a monstrous force of nature. A terrifying allegory of nuclear destruction, war and its aftermath that speaks volumes to Japan, who experienced its true horror at the end of World War II. This, among other related catastrophes was the catalyst that led Toho Studios to create the first Godzilla movie. I haven't seen every movie starring the legendary kaiju and for all I know Shin Godzilla from 2016 tackles similar themes of the original film, but when I heard Godzilla Minus One was crowned as both the best Godzilla film and best movie of the year, I had to see this for myself. And sure enough, they were right. As mentioned earlier, Godzilla Minus One tackle's heavy subject matter that harkens back the 1954 film. It doesn't function so much as an action or monster film but more of a horror drama. For the first time, this version of Godzilla scares me. I had the opportunity of watching this in theaters in black and white, enhancing the horror aspect. The film's director has gone on record to say this is his preferred version, dubbing it Godzilla Minus One/Minus Color. It puts to shame the recent American Godzilla films as Minus One goes above and beyond in achieving something that those films have failed at: caring for the human characters (I'd argue that even Emmerich's version got that element right). In a film where Godzilla is the villain, this is crucial for the picture to work and Minus One does just that. From a guilt-ridden WW2 pilot, a veteran sea captain, a scientist, a widow who lost everything in the bombings, the list goes on. You laugh as they joke around and cry when things take for the worse. These are characters you want to see make it out alive. Did I mention that the movie is in Japanese with English subtitles? That's how impressive this movie is.

Maybe Oppenheimer is right about the new world we’re living in. From the feeling of dread of a nuclear nightmare and war to the appalling levels that the human soul can descend to as seen in the Killers of the Flower Moon. It’s easy to be cynical, think that it doesn’t matter and that it’s everyone for for themselves; especially when things don’t work in your favor, losing someone close to you or having no one to turn to. The world today already looks scary, no matter what angle you look at it. And yet, there are those who continue to live. Some have journeyed through that dark path for them to open their eyes. Others haven’t and there’s no shame in that. We need more people who can continue to see that light in the darkness and not fallen on that dark path. There are things worth living for and hope that those who’ve given up will realize that. Life will throw everything at us, maybe not a kaiju monster but never lose that reason of why we live and why it matters. There is always a way and it’s never too late to start anew.  That's what I took away from the best films of the 2023.