The Best Movies Of 2023 (So Far)

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13 Apr, 2023

Take the vulture; Photo: Lionsgate Films, Sony Pictures Classic, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros.

It was time of year. The glitz of Cannes is upon us, the summer film season is upon us, and the Oscars somehow feel like they were five minutes ago or five months ago. 2023 has brought select independent filmmakers, many from overseas, as well as curiosities from American studios such as Cocaine Bear , Airplane and M3gan . It shows us that rom-coms aren't dead, they're being released all over the place. And, as luck would have it, M. Knight remains Shyamalan, brave new controversy at the end of the film, this time refreshing and uplifting. The movie about Michael Jordan's shoes is great. And more to come. Here are the year's favorite films, compiled by Vulture film critics Alison Wilmore, Bilge Iberi, and Angelica Jade Bastien.

All titles are listed by US release date, from newest to oldest.

One thousand and One

JV Romance New York Rockwell's directorial debut follows the life of Inez (revealed Teyana Taylor), over 11 years as she struggles to make a living for herself and her son Terry. The film opens with Ince adopting 6-year-old Terri shortly after being released from the Rikers, but instead of telling the story of life on the run, Rockwell opts for something richer and more expansive: a woman with no experience of a stable home. In a city filled with hatred for people like her, she was able to create with passion. -Alison Wilmore

Read Alison Wilmore's review of One Thousand and One .

Dungeons and Dragons. Honor among thieves

Directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein stuck to this concept with inherent humor and goofiness, trying to turn the classic fantasy role-playing game into a movie franchise. Their films are full of medieval swagger, the language of unspeakable fantasy, and all I can imagine are tons of Easter eggs. But it's also hilarious because the cast is led by lead actor Chris Pine, who poking fun at the leads becomes an art form. The film's setting is built on comedy, with a bit of action thrown in (slyly designed and staged) to add urgency, not the other way around. And humor helps build tension. Honor Among Thieves is the work of a filmmaker who understood that the best way to take this kind of thing seriously is to not take it seriously and enjoy it. - be

Read Bilge Iberi's review of Dungeons and Dragons . About the honor of thieves

John Wick. Chapter 4:

John Wick. Chapter 4 is incredibly entertaining, full of misfires and twists that will make audiences cringe, cringe and scream. It's more story-driven than its predecessors, still managing to explore the world with the massive cast of Seasons 2 and 3 . Here, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) finally tries to buy his freedom by fighting the Marquis (Bill Skarsgård). I had some reservations about the narrative choices, but the cinematic violence in Chapter 4 gave me the excitement and lust-inducing pace that has fueled the series for so long. Combine the Looney Tunes and Buster Keaton madness with a martial arts workshop that dates back to Jackie Chan's career and learn from recent films like 2017 South Korean action film Outlaws . It's a history lesson in what bodies on screen can do. Miracles and miracles. -Angelique Jade Bastien

Read the review of John Wick by Angelica Jade Bastien .

the lost king

In This Year is the slightly fictional (and whimsical) story of amateur historian Philippa Langley (Sally Hawkins), who leads an archaeological expedition in 2012 to excavate an obscure car park in Leicester and unearth the remains of the famous King Richard III. Much of the film follows Philip's conquest of a famous medieval king, not only to find his tomb, but also to counter sinister narratives about him that may be the work of Tudor propagandists. There is an interesting tension in the film: on the one hand, the glorification of royal power, the spiritual belief in tribal magic, which itself stems from mystical notions of divine right, and on the other hand, the enrichment of ordinary people, ordinary people like Philip, when he interacted with the city council, university administration, and lichen scientists. . The very act of claiming Richard's inheritance from a now-extinct Tudor rival challenges eternal questions of kingdom, lineage, and who rules over whom. - be

Read Bilge Ebiri's review of The Lost King .

Thorin and Lokita

Award-winning Belgian documentary film Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardin follows two African immigrants in Belgium: 17-year-old Lakita (Joeli Mbundu) and 11-year-old "brother" Tori (Pablo Shiels). They weren't really brothers. They're not even the same country. But after meeting on a trip to Europe, a secret relationship developed between them and they are now inseparable. Despite the sensibilities and flaws of their work, what made director Darden successful was the subtle way they invested their plays with genre elements. Any movie in which characters often race against time, go places they don't want to go, or meet people they don't deserve could be considered a thriller. This is no different. Tori and Lokita work for money at an Italian restaurant, singing songs for customers and then delivering drugs to the owner around town to earn money to send to Lokita's family and smugglers. Who brought them here? These two boys are surrounded by cruelty, indifference, and suspicion, but their relationship makes them feel a tinge of hope. It also means that when things start to spiral out of control, the film becomes unbearable. - be

Read Tori and Lokita's review of Bilge Ebira .

Go ahead

This cleverly crafted comedy by Hong Sang-soo, set in a small apartment building in Seoul, provides not only the film's setting, but its structure as well. Byungsoo (Hee Hyo Kun) is a famous director who visits the building's owner, an old friend named Mrs. Kim (Lee Hee Jung), whom he soon realizes has ulterior motives. But a dangerous event takes Byung Sun through all levels of the building, as he slowly misses a key step towards future romantic and professional disappointment or the preview of his life. For his personality. - Ouch

Read the review of Walk Up by Alison Wilmore .

Zhtni

Romcom Not Dead Yet, she wanders through South London with Dom (David Johnson) and Yass (Vivian Opara), twenty somethings who spend the day together after a successful meeting. In the art gallery bathroom. The two work through their breakup, and the fun of the Rain Allen-Miller film comes from realizing each other, flirting with them and going on a few mini-adventures along the way until they're finally ready to open their hearts. - Ouch

Read Alison Wilmore's review of Rye Lane .

paving

Ji Huang and Ryuji Otsuki's dark comedy about 20-year-old protagonist Lin (Hang Yao) will make you sick of his rationality. Lynn, who is studying to be a flight attendant, seems to be a perpetual passenger in life, but when she finds out that she is pregnant by her narcissistic boyfriend, she decides to leave her baby in the program to help her mother. Himself, herself. We see them make some tough decisions. As modern China descends into the dystopia of Stonewalling , Lin moves from beauty shop to merchandise for her fetuses, navigating a growing fertility industry that gives women the impression that their future is bleak. - Ouch

Faith III

Michael B. Kudos to Jordan for turning a lovable boxing franchise into something akin to a glossy anime. - Ouch

Read Alison Wilmore's review of Creed III .

Operation Luck. Ruse De Guerre

Guy Ritchie movies are supposed to be role-playing games, but overwhelming odds bring people to their knees at every turn. There is something truly magical and calming here. An espionage comedy thriller in which a British super-spy (Jason Statham) with a passion for the finer things in life forms a team to infiltrate the world of a billionaire arms dealer (Hugh Grant). Yang is preoccupied with an action star (Josh Hartnett), who in turn entangles him in a sophisticated scheme. With plenty of action, gunfights, car chases, and mayhem, you might think of this as a James Bond show, but the jokes and jokes (especially the endearing turns by Hartnett and Grant) keep them safe. Film. Comedy field. Everyone at Operation Fortune, yes, even Guy Ritchie, seemed to be having a great time. Sometimes that's all you need. - be

Read Bilge Ebiri's review of Operation Fortune .

Cocaine bear

Cocaine Bear is first and foremost a title and a concept, and the film clearly understands that. The Elizabeth Banks action comedy is based on a 1985 incident about an American black bear who was found dead shortly after consuming cocaine. This movie is a fictionalized account of what happens when a giant bear goes wild in a cocaine attack in the Georgia woods, if it doesn't go bad - basically spawning a series of stories. It was part Spielberg children's escapade, part light, grim and bloody farce that might be more ominous in a film not called Cocaine Bear . - be

Read Bill Ebira's review of Cocaine Beer , Chris Lee's interview with director Elizabeth Banks , and Derek Lawrence's interview with star Ray Russell .

On linoleum

Colin West's sci-fi comedy-drama is as sketchy as a remake of Wes Anderson's drama Interstellar . Jim Gaffigan gives a warm and endearing performance as a children's science show host who loses his job and decides to build a rocket from the wreckage of a rocket that crashed in his backyard. Meanwhile, his teenage daughter falls in love with a new schoolboy, the brooding astronaut son who takes our hero's place at work (also played by Gaffigan, now evil mustache). . But as the characters start appearing, we start to realize that there's more to this story than meets the eye. This is a moving film about time, lust, aging, wormholes, and the almighty power of love. And the film's hand-drawn visuals make teary-eyed people feel as unsympathetic as honest people. - be

Knock on the tent

Four strangers (led by the wonderful Dave Bautista) emerge from the woods and face a family, a young girl and her parents (Jonathan Groff and Ben Aldridge) an impossible choice; To prevent an apocalypse, one of the members must make a voluntary sacrifice. The film seamlessly switches from one thriller to another, though the mood remains remarkably constant. Frankenstein's invention soon gave way to home invasion pictures, then country cult horror films, and finally disaster movies. Knocking at the Cabin is based on the ending of Paul Tremblay's 2018 novel The Cabin at the World , and the script follows the book closely for the first two-thirds. Both are works of apocalyptic imagination, but Tremblay's story is more independent, working through the ambiguity of a situation to reveal its characters' beliefs and emotional resilience. But Shyamalan understands that there is often a bit of ambiguity around such horrors in cinema; In 2023, when someone says in a movie that the planet is going to end, it usually does. Instead, he returned to one of the animated ideas of his early work: deep sadness about the state of the world. The result is the director's most exciting and violent film in years. - be

Read the review of Knock at the Cabin by Bilge Ebiri .

Beautiful morning

Mia Hansen-Lowe creates characters who move through the rhythms of everyday life and don't know what to do with themselves while having brief moments of happiness. Borrowing from his life (and the lives of those around him), he turns it into stories that carry echoes of disturbing truths. In One Fine Morning, Léa Seydoux plays a widowed single mother whose philosopher father (Pascal Gregory) struggles with dementia. Contemplating what to do with her rapidly deteriorating condition, Sandra reconnects with her ex-boyfriend (Melville Pupo) and begins a whirlwind courtship. Suddenly, she felt that she needed this man's love, treasured the moments she had spent with him, and tried to hold back the irreplaceable sadness that seemed to surround her. This could easily be a cringe-inducing, tear-jerking zelodrama, but Hansen-Lowe's easy-going approach allows the performances and emotions of the scenes to flow organically from the nonsensical drama on screen. It reminds us that beauty is often found in everyday life. - be

Read Bilge Ibiri's review of One Fine Morning .

Aircraft

Aircraft. - be

Read Bilge Iberi Airplane Reviews .

Holy Amer

Alice Diop's epic film immerses the entire universe in courtroom drama. Kay Kagame plays Rama, a writer and professor who attends the trial of Lawrence Kohli (Guslagi Malanda), who is accused of killing his own daughter. Rama had intended to make Lawrence the subject of his next book, but to his dismay and shock, he found himself a notorious killer, mainly because of his experiences with Senegalese refugees and the high expectations of their parents. - Ouch

Return to Seoul

In the film Back to Seoul, writer-director Davy Cho based the story on Park Jimin's character and expressions. The debut is so visceral that the entire film moves like breathing poetry. Puck stars as Frédéric "Freddie" Benoit, a 25-year-old Korean woman who returns to her family and is adopted by a white French couple. When he visits an adoption center to learn more about his parentage and learns that the organization must send official statements to his biological mother and father, Freddie tries to find out. But when he goes to meet his father and future family, his charismatic facade becomes undeniable. No fancy dialogue, no sudden or surprising twists, no bright plates tugging at the heartstrings. Return to Seoul was carried out with soft power. Where did Freddy's wound begin? Where did the pain from his torn face end? We understand Freddie's life as a story written in sand because of Puck's beauty, the simplicity of his emotions. -AJB:

Read Angelica Jade Bastien's review of Back to Seoul .

A quiet girl

It may not have won an Oscar, but Colm Baird's drama about a 9-year-old boy named Chel is a masterpiece. Written entirely in Irish. First in the Best International Film nomination. Newcomer Katherine Clinch stars as the vulnerable Kate, a quiet girl who is sent to live on the farm for the winter with her distant cousin Aiblin (Carrie Crowley) and her husband. Sean (Andrew Bennett): The couple lost a son years ago, and the low joy of the film is when the visit forces these three wounded men to open up as Kate, trapped in a haunted house, thrives under his care and attention demanding. His whole life. - Ouch

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