The past twelve months have been clumsy and messy for the film industry; the biggest studios have failed left and right, streaming services have fallen short and projects that once brought in millions have been pushed to the side. 2023 was marked far more by big stories and financial losses than major successes. Actors and writers took to the streets of LA to fight for better pay and CEOs spouted off useless drivel instead of taking note of concerns. This year I saw the lowest number of films in my ten years running this blog. In amongst so many box office bombs, there were still some very popular releases and I’m about to list the best of them...
Films That Just About Made Par
Extraction 2 has some great talent behind the action scenes, but it makes no effort to push forward in other areas. This property has to do a lot more to compete with the best efforts in the action genre.
Gareth Edwards takes a noble stab at his own sci-fi universe, but forgets many of the key ingredients. Followers of the genre can take some enjoyment from the visuals and futuristic combat, but I wouldn’t expect a follow-up or any wider fanfare.
Napoleon is well-produced on every front, but many bemoaned the historical inaccuracies and attempting to squeeze too much material into one two and a half hour film. Ridley Scott clearly has some ways to go to regain full support from audiences.
Most Underappreciated Release
A smaller scale historical release that slipped in at the start of the year on Netflix; The Pale Blue Eye still had its share of strengths. Christian Bale and Harry Melling both make a great impression and the sense of mystery always hangs over the isolated setting.
Deep on dialogue and heavy on character work, Tar was often skipped by audiences for its long length. Any major film buff needs to check this out; Cate Blanchett’s central performance really is one of the best of the year, showing her character’s slow downfall.
As great as the seventh Mission Impossible was, it was also the first time the franchise bombed at the box office. Releasing close to Barbenheimer in the summer, Dead Reckoning deserved so much better from audiences. Here’s hoping Part 2 can claw things back.
Most Disappointing Film
The bloated action of Fast X is par for the course, but the film does have some aspirations towards bringing everyone together for one last hurrah over the next two films. Seeing the tenth entry fumble right out of the gate is a major letdown.
With the amount of money and talent on-screen, Rebel Moon could have launched a solid sci-fi property. The disappointment stems from director Zack Snyder’s inability to move forward and improve.
You would expect a fair amount of action, fun and flair from the Indiana Jones franchise, but Dial of Destiny serves up a drab and dull offering instead. Seeing a once mighty franchise slip into bland territory is certainly the year’s biggest disappointment.
Biggest Audience To Critic Split
3rd: Beau is Afraid
Easily the strangest release of the year, this oddball drama featured Joaquin Phoenix in a desperate journey to find a way home. The film’s scenarios and performances didn’t sit well with every audience, but it still received relatively positive reviews.
2nd: Knock at the Cabin
The latest effort from M. Night Shymalan once again had audiences and critics split down the middle. Some liked the contained thriller while others couldn’t really get into the narrative. It’s always interesting to dissect the director’s latest releases.
1st: The Super Mario Bros Movie
In a year where video game adaptations really hit the big time, The Super Mario Bros Movie led the way with over a billion dollars at the box office. Critics weren’t very impressed, but that didn’t stop audiences from flocking to see it.
Best And Worst Trends
Best: The resurgence of standalone films led by Barbenheimer
For years now, the big film studios have been hell-bent on franchises, sequels and remakes to the point that original, standalone films rarely cracked the top ten highest grossing releases. July 2023 was the perfect time for two quality films, Barbie and Oppenheimer, to emphasise that audiences really do want more titles that don’t require you to follow a endless production line of content. They were once-and-done experiences that made their mark and we should be seeing more like them in future.
Worst: The collapse of Disney on its 100th anniversary
Of all the downturns seen this year, Disney had the worst of the bunch. The once proud studio suffered multiple failures both in and out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe alongside a torrent of criticism. The magic constantly rang hollow and the company’s overall approach is really starting to bite them. They need to consider moving away from their homogenised, monopolistic approach and start taking their time to make more engaging productions again. Let’s see if they change in the years ahead.
My 3 Worst Films Of The Year (I skipped over many bad releases in 2023)
3rd: Fast X
A slight step up from its predecessor, but still so mindless and dumb; the tenth entry in the Fast and Furious franchise only emphasises that this long road needs to end soon. It tries to cram so much in and very little pays off.
2nd: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
This tired, drab and forlorn sequel had no business costing as much as it did (Over 300 million dollars!), but above all else, Harrison Ford is far too old and tired for this franchise. Let Indiana Jones rest now; there is no sense forcing him out for one last adventure.
1st: Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Mine
Making the same mistakes with weak storylines and characters time and again, Zack Snyder shows that he isn’t really cut out for original film productions. Serious improvements are needed if he wants to make an impression beyond his adoring fanbase.
My Top 5 Best Films Of The Year
Honourable Mentions: John Wick: Chapter 4, Tar and Creed III
A rare animated sequel that pushes things to the next level while offering something for both children and adults. Across the Spider-Verse delivers a visually spectacular flourish while also committing firmly to its story and sense of wider consequences.
An incredibly tight, focused and razor sharp thriller with a great performance from Michael Fassbender and a sense of tension that never fades. It keeps you wondering how The Killer will use his skills and planning to get out of every situation.
A welcome departure for Christopher Nolan and an excellent film in its own right. The momentous weight of the Manhattan Project is matched by the film’s deep dive into the titular protagonist. Cillian Murphy delivers a phenomenal performance throughout.
Another knockout from Martin Scorsese, one that takes on a much more serious tone and tells the story of the Osage People with sensitivity and pathos. You can tell this is a story the director wanted to tell for years with everyone involved turning in some excellent work.
By turning inwards, Steven Spielberg creates an incredibly heartfelt and exceptional family drama combined with a love letter to film. The two sides complement each other flawlessly with a narrative that every viewer will be endeared by. See it as soon as you can.
That concludes my shorter, more abridged coverage of film in 2023; certainly not the best year for the wider industry and the number of films I saw reflected that. Next year we’ll be seeing delayed blockbusters like Dune: Part 2 alongside continuing sequels like Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and Deadpool 3 among others. Here’s hoping studios start to take their time with large scale franchises rather than constantly shovelling content. See you in 2024...
Comments