It’s 2023, and movies are finally back. Hollywood has at last reached the point where the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are barely felt, and the ensuing bounty of film has resulted in one of the best years for the movies in recent memory. This was the year of the Barbenheimer craze that occupied our collective consciousness over the summer months, the year of features ranging from the nostalgic and personal to the unsettling, the harrowing, and the deeply, fantastically odd.
I find that these past two years have been integral to my growing appreciation of cinema and what it has to offer in its emotional aspects. My top ten films of 2023 consist of movies that have crushed my spirit, inspired me, and disgusted me. These movies are special not just for this, but also for their visual appeal, expertly crafted screenplays, and impeccable direction. They are, in my opinion, some of the best that cinema has to offer this year and ones that have stayed in my mind long after leaving the theater. Before I get into this, I should mention a few films I loved for various reasons that did not make this list.
A possibly murderous mystery where Marriage Story meets courtroom drama, French director Justine Triet presents Anatomy of a Fall. After premiering at Cannes Film Festival this year and winning the prestigious Palme d’Or, this film has proven to be one worthy of audiences worldwide. From beginning to end, Anatomy of a Fall is an entertaining and emotionally driven film with questions around each corner to keep the audience’s attention on lock.
Continue reading “Review: ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ has All the Right Parts”