We are halfway through 2023 which is something I did not think I would be saying this soon. We’ve already had such a fun slate so far, with some really nice surprises and some major disappointments. I have some much hope that this will be a monumental year for film, and with the first half, I think we’re off to a good start. Today I’m going over my top 10 of 2023 so far.A few honorable mentions that just missed the top 10 include: Sisu, Fast X, Flamin’ Hot, The Covenant, Dungeons and Dragons, A Thousand and One, Sharper, Theater Camp, Extraction 2 and A Little Prayer

10: Sometimes I Think About Dying: Directed by: Rachel Lambert

One of my absolute favorites from Sundance 2023. I stan Fran and her self exploration. This wouldn’t work without Daisy Ridley who brings such a phenomenal performance. I also want to go on the record here and say this is by far one of my favorite atmospheres of the year. If the Office was a dark comedy, this would be the product and I really loved that. As an introvert I feel seen and I just really had a good time with this one. The direction, writing and performances are all just stellar here. A big surprise to start the year.

9: Rye Lane: Directed by: Raine Allen-Miller

The hype was at an all-time high for this one. I wasn’t able to see it during the virtual Sundance this year, but everyone who saw it in person loved it. Every year there is a romcom that I absolutely fall in love with, and Rye Lane is that film for 2023. This is a dynamite directorial debut from Raine Allen-Miller. It’s shot beautifully, with a quick frenetic editing style that kept me engaged. It’s colorful, energetic and bursting with life. The main performances are fantastic and even though the writing is cliche at the end, it really worked for a majority of the project. 

8: Fair Play: Directed by: Chloe Domont

Oh I loved this film. By far my favorite that I saw during Sundance 2023. Fair Play is an important film that tackles gender dynamics in the workplace in a really intriguing way. Our lead performances are stellar, the direction is lightning in a bottle and the writing is so sleek. They didn’t have to go this hard, but I am so glad they did. If the final 20 minutes of the film didn’t happen, I would say this might be an almost perfect film. Nonetheless, this is going to be a film that gets people talking when it drops on Netflix. Watch this when it comes out. I can’t recommend it enough.

7: Asteroid City: Directed by: Wes Anderson

It’s no secret to anyone that knows me that I love Wes Anderson. He’s one of my favorite directors of all-time and he’s back and better than ever with Asteroid City. Wes sometimes gets flak for his writing being weak and rather hollow, but there’s a lot of really good work in this screenplay. The themes of life and purpose are really nice and executed great. The finale works and ties everything together nicely. The performances as always shine and a major shout-out to Scarlett Johansson for killing her first live-action Wes role. The technical is perfect as usual and the score is great. It’s not the best Wes Anderson film but it’s pretty good.

6: Creed III: Directed by: Michael B. Jordan

An absolute knockout from start to finish. I didn’t really know what to expect without Ryan Coogler, but of course there was a sense of anticipation. The performances are of course the best thing in this project. Everyone from Michael B. Jordan to Tessa Thompson are stellar. I had absolutely no notes. The direction from Jordan is super impressive for a directorial debut and the fights left me on the edge of my seat. The writing is a highlight, telling a self-contained story that wasn’t reliant on the Rocky IP. It did rush some important moments, but overall I was satisfied. 

5: Past Lives: Directed by: Celine Song

This was the film everyone was raving about out of Sundance as the big Oscar front-runner that will be the best film of the year, so of course I had to check it out. It’s a really good film. The writing from Celine Song is impressive, telling a story of fate, love, timing and our place in the world. The performances are incredible from top to bottom but Greta Lee anchors it. This is also so impressive as a directorial debut from Lee. Not only is it beautiful to look at, but you feel like you’re side by side with our characters. It adds a level of authenticity that you just don’t normally get. This is another victory for A24 who continues to excel in picking damn good indie films. 

4: Air: Directed by: Ben Affleck

The duo of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, I don’t believe have ever missed. This film is a home run no matter what and everyone that watches it will find a reason to love it. A good friend of mine, Marshall Green, once said, “a cast that good, it can’t be bad,”. The cast from top to bottom excels. There are literally no bad performances. The writing is also solid, being a lot funnier than I was expecting. It took the formulaic sports underdog story and made it compelling. I was fascinated by the process, even though we already knew the destination. Ben Affleck continues to show that he’s a force behind the camera. The ultimate dad movie of 2023.

3: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: Directed by: James Gunn

I love the Guardians and further than that, I love and respect the passion and vision from James Gunn. With that being said, I was very excited to see how their story would end. I think it was really well done. At the core, this is a story about Rocket and how he became the Guardian that we know and love. It’s also a story about family and finding their individual identities. It’s a contained story which I liked and it’s paced very well. The cast from top to bottom is really good and it’s a beautiful film to look at. You can really feel the love and care from Gunn here and that adds a sense of emotion with this being the finale. An emotional, action-paced ride that has a good balance of seriousness and comedy. Truly top-tier MCU.

2: Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse: Directed by: Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin K. Thompson, Kemp Powers

This film left me dumbfounded in all of the best ways. Every frame is a work of art. The animation is groundbreaking and it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen. It is and will remain the best looking film of the year. The performances are vibrant and so full of energy and the new characters are awesome. This is a beautiful exploration of Spider-Man, the character and the lore that makes him so special. The cameos are used respectfully and strategically. It’s a story of family, grief and identity that ends on a brilliant cliffhanger. The Empire of the Spider-Verse trilogy that provides a phenomenal exploration into Mile Morales. It’s one of the best films of the year.

1: John Wick: Chapter 4: Directed by: Chad Stahelski

When I walked out of the theater after watching this movie I couldn’t find any words to describe the experience. This is by far one of the best action movies I have ever seen. You know what to expect with John Wick: unforgiving action that’s shot beautifully and expertly choreography. You get that here, on steroids. This isn’t mind-numbing action either. This is true filmmaking with one sequence in particular that left my jaw on the floor. Beyond the action, the direction is brilliant, the stakes are higher than ever and the story works as a nice compliment to that action. I was incredibly surprised with the end and I think you will be too. A brilliant film and my favorite of the year so far.