Finally, here we are at the mountain top of the absolute best of the best, gold medal, icons of industry, living legends. The Tom & Gregs of 2023 Movies, I give to you, the Disgusting Brothers:
#7. The Holdovers
Seasoned television writer David Hemingson, who's worked on everything from Black-ish to American Dad to Just Shoot Me to The Adventures of Pete and Pete, made his feature length debut with this endearing tale of 3 outcasts and their unlikely bond formed over having to unwillingly spend the holidays together. But don't worry, if you're familiar with director Alexander Payne, you know he won't allow this to veer too far into feel-good overly sentimental territory. The dynamic between these 3 castaways is incredibly skillfully developed through this slow-burn 1970's dramedy, where each character is fleshed out in lurid, warts-and-all detail. There are a number of insightful pearls of wisdom delivered by Paul Giamatti's crusty old professor including "The World is Decay, Life is Perception" and "History isn't a study of the past, it's an explanation of the present" that really resonate throughout the picture but as great as the script is, the spectacular cast brings it to life in impeccable fashion. Giamatti and Da'Vine Joy Randolph are superb but for me it was Dominic Sessa, in the first role of his career (that's right), that really stole the show. But it's the impressive collective of talent all around that makes this one of the best dysfunctional holiday comedies in years.
#6. The Iron Claw
As a casual wrestling fan, I wasn't familiar with the Von Erich's story heading into this film. But man, this thing was relentlessly tragic. The emotional journey we take as we see these kids indoctrinated by a father who openly ranks his value of them while preaching toxic, grind-culture mantras that prioritize individual achievement at the sacrifice of everything else in their lives is a heartbreaking portrait of where we've been driven to as a culture. The incessant push of non-stop competition essentially works to slowly corrode the fibers holding this family dynasty together and the American delusion that Zac Efron's character shares with his brothers that "if you're the strongest, toughest, most successful - nothing can hurt you" is exposed as a total fantasy. Success isn't a cure-all for fulfillment and there are irreplaceable things in your life that you can never get back no matter how much hard work, money, fame or sacrifice you offer up. This point is illustrated brilliantly by the way that director Sean Durkin frames the wrestling ring, showing just how small it is in the larger scope of the venue itself, even though the enormous wrestlers under the spotlights feel larger than life while working inside of it. The film is punctuated most beautifully by the score from Richard Reed Parry, who really emerged this year as one of the most captivating film composers recently pivoting from traditional indie-pop songwriting. After showcasing Stanley Simons performing "Live That Way Forever" (which Parry wrote for this film) in an exuberant celebration of the Von Erich's loving, youthful relationship before tragedy strikes; there's a scene where Simons attempts to perform the song again in the wake of everything that's happened and it's one of the most devastatingly heartbreaking scenes of the year.
#5. Oppenheimer
After the nasty, public break-up with Warner Brothers (and admittedly, his worst film in Tenet) Christopher Nolan is back with his best film in a decade in Oppenheimer. The unbelievable role call of actors who signed up to work with Nolan on this massively scaled biopic is staggering in and of itself but the surgical precision with which Nolan executes his grand vision is a firm reminder that he is, unquestionably, one of the most talented directors of our generation. Packing the intensity and uncertainty of a heist film, Nolan's depiction of the development of the atomic bomb is fascinating to behold. However, it might be the undeserved scrutiny that Oppenheimer faces in the hearing sequences after creating the bomb that make this film most engaging. Reading between the lines, it feels like Nolan is inserting himself into his work here by collating his recent experience to Oppenheimer's public investigations - which I guess would make his atomic bomb, The Dark Knight? Which would be his genius invention ultimately leading to the decay of modern civilization? Well, in his case not civilization, but cinema. He's perpetuated the super-hero adjacent, franchise-ification of Hollywood and now has to live with the guilt of industry peers like Martin Scorsese (or Einstein in Oppy's case) looking down on his work. Okay let's pull back a bit and just talk about the movie itself again. It's a murderer's row of extraordinary supporting performances with my personal favorites coming from Jason Isaacs, Josh Hartnett and Benny Safdie (particularly when lathering himself in sunscreen). But it all revolves around Cillian Murphy in the lead role, who absolutely crushes it. He's so great as this tortured genius trying to balance some semblance of stability with his personal life while processing the magnitude of the death and destruction he's just helped introduce to the world. It's a stunning achievement, not only in making science entertaining but also in proving to Hollywood that you can still make movies aimed at adults that will get people into theaters. Only a mastermind like Christopher Nolan could make a 3 hour, R-rated, historical biopic shot largely in black and white that's good enough to rake in over 300 million dollars in the heat of summer blockbuster season.
Check out our Ranking of Every Christopher Nolan Film from Best to Worst HERE
#4. Dream Scenario
After his last couple of films, I was starting to think that maybe the Nic Cage-assaince was over. But then he went and dropped Dream Scenario on us, one of the best movies of his entire freaking career. Cage is perfect as the dopey, every man avatar for someone suddenly navigating the current landscape of instantaneous fame and internet celebrity. He so desperately wants to be "somebody" that the intoxicating effects of his inexplicable rise to prominence completely overtake his ability to reasonably manage the situation. Although, it's handled with such subtlety that you can't help but root for Cage's character. That is, until he crosses the line by using this unearned fame for gross, albeit not entirely reprehensible reasons in one of the most uncomfortably hilarious sex (?) scenes ever produced. Which leads to a fascinating dissection of cancel culture that thankfully manages to remain politically agnostic and focus specifically on the societal implications at hand. The entire premise is so profoundly innovative that even as someone who's become somewhat jaded by the absurd volume of movies I've seen over the years, I had no idea what to expect or where this film was going to take me next. It was just so refreshingly original. This is an insanely impressive English language debut for Norwegian writer/director Kristoffer Borgli which has immediately put him on the map as a filmmaker to watch going forward. His ability to ask so many stimulating questions without ever spoon feeding the audience any easy answers was just tremendous. Sign me up for whatever he makes next.
Check out our list of The Top 10 Nicolas Cage Movies of All Time HERE
#3. Maestro
Maybe my experience with this film is colored a little differently by my complete and total lack of pre-existing knowledge concerning Leonard Bernstein and his career but judging it purely as a cinematic experience - I loved this movie. Seemingly every A-list actor takes a swing at directing at some point or another but outside of the legendary examples like Ron Howard or Clint Eastwood, I can't think of another contemporary displaying the same level of talent behind the camera as Bradley Cooper. It's stunning to see this guy go from a douchey rom-com villain to one of the best filmmakers working today. He's sensational. The way that this script focuses on all of the contributing factors to Bernstein's success, treating him as a vessel for love and beauty rather than some enigmatic genius, is a fresh new angle to take for a biopic that I thoroughly enjoyed. It's a fascinating examination of the entire creative process and how our ever-changing symbiotic relationships with the world around us can help to shape the person we become and the material that a skilled artist like Bernsetin can create. And I was so enamored with Carey Mulligan's performance, I didn't care how much screen time she received compared to Cooper. She was absolutely breathtaking and their incredibly well developed relationship served as the crux of the entire film. She's breathtaking. This is quite the achievement for Cooper, who's shaping up to become one of the best directors working today.
#2. Barbie
Listen, I'm as shocked as you are to find a movie based on Barbie dolls this high on the list. But Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach made one of the most original, compelling and funniest comedies of the last several years with this meta-commentary on what it means to be a woman. They absolutely nailed the neon pink Barbie aesthetic and filled the massive blank canvas that Mattel provided with every possible thing you could imagine existing inside of a Barbie-themed movie. Except maybe catering it towards kids. But who cares if it means we get Matchbox Twenty jokes and existential crisis Barbie contemplating what she was even made for, am I right? Margot Robbie is unreasonably good in the lead role and the supporting cast is just as enthralling. Ryan Gosling, Michael Cera, and Kate McKinnon are all hilarious but it's America Ferrara that serves as the heart and soul of this movie - exemplified in her legendary monologue describing the impossibility of being a woman. And while I was initially worried that maybe some of the humor might wear off as I was consistently shocked at just how much Mattel let the filmmakers get away with doing to their precious intellectual property; I actually enjoyed it more the second time through. It works on so many levels: the fish out of water journey to the real world, the portrayal of idiotic corporate America trying to control their image, the social commentary on how off-base Barbie's image has become while establishing a true to life identity and of course Ken's white male fragility leading to a toxic masculinity-fueled uprising in Barbie-Land climaxing with the power ballad to end all power ballads "I'm Just Ken". Now for the love of God Mattel, please don't learn the wrong lesson here and make a million stupid toy movies as part of some interconnected Mattel Cinematic Universe. Just hire incredibly talented people and trust them to tell a good story.
Listen to our Barbenheimer Podcast Episode HERE
#1. Anatomy of a Fall
With all of the courtroom procedural dramas out there, I'm not sure why this stood out to me as the rare instance where you go through the entire trial without knowing the full truth of what happened until the final verdict comes in. It was thrilling watching all of the information come out, piece by piece and trying to form your own opinion on what actually transpired, as if the director is enlisting you to form your own case by presenting you the evidence and treating you like another member of the jury. The film plays like an expertly crafted true-crime documentary or podcast, only it's completely fictionalized by an incredibly talented writer/director in Justine Triet. It's a fascinating mystery, examining how well you can truly understand the depths of someone else's relationship judging purely from the outside. Sandra Huller's performance as the widow on trial in the case of her husband's death is stupendous, never tipping her hand as to where the chips may fall as this captivating trial unfolds, despite the director nearly showing you everything that took place on the day of the mysterious death. It's a mesmerizing story told with expert tact by Justine Triet, who frames this film to perfection. It's a phenomenal achievement that's absolutely enthralling to watch play out and one that will linger with you for days after the credits roll.
View the Rest of the 2023 Year in Tiers Here:
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