best of 2023: movies

And now it's time for my favorite movies of 2023!  A few notes before I begin:

- Not all of these were first released in 2023, but that's when I watched them.

- These are in random order, though I did make note of my absolute favorite.

- G and I watch a LOT of movies, so if we watch something between now and the end of the year that belongs here, I'll update accordingly.

- And, as always, your mileage may vary.

EDIT:  On 12/22, I replaced Totally Killer with Saltburn.

1. The Menu:  A group of very wealthy people go to an exclusive restaurant on an isolated island, where they discover the chef (Ralph Fiennes) has prepared an unusual experience.  A deliciously sly treat; try to know as little as possible going in.

2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3:  The Guardians fight to save Rocket in the bittersweet final (allegedly) installment of the series.  Definitely the best GotG movie in my opinion, and the best Marvel movie in quite some time too.

3. Extraction 2:  A commando (Chris Hemsworth) embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue a gangster's family.  Super exciting, especially a one-shot sequence that lasts twenty minutes.  (I mean, I'm sure there was some camera trickery, but it wasn't obvious to a layperson, or at least this one.)

4. Four Lions:  A group of British Muslims decide to become suicide bombers...and would you believe this is a comedy?  A very dark one to be sure, but there are some really damn funny scenes in this; one involving an argument about a "bear" had me in hysterics.  Major caveat: we watched this on DVD and the only subtitles were in Spanish, which neither of us speak, so if you need subtitles due to hearing impairments or because you have a hard time understanding the accents, like us, you might find it tough going.  

5. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse:  In order to avoid spoilers, I don't want to go into plot details.  I'll just say it's an absolute visual feast and the most fun I've had watching a movie in a very long time.  It's definitely my favorite movie of the year!

6. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One:  Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), his team, and a thief (a charming Hayley Atwell) try to track down a key that could stop a rogue AI system.  Exceptionally entertaining, with lots of great action sequences.

7. M3GAN:  After gaining custody of her niece Cady, engineer Gemma (Allison Williams) creates a robotic friend for her that quickly gains sentience and is determined to protect Cady by any means necessary.  Campy fun.

8. Nimona:  Ballister Boldheart (voiced by Riz Ahmed) is about to be knighted when a tragedy occurs.  Wrongfully accused of the crime, he goes on the run and meets a curious new ally in the form of Nimona (voiced by Chloe Grace Moretz), a cheerfully anarchic shapeshifter.  The animation is serviceable but nothing special; however, the movie more than makes up for it with excellent queer rep, heart, and humor.

9. Triangle of Sadness:  Rich people on a luxury cruise have a very bad time in this deliciously pitch black comedy.  Warning:  absolutely not for emetophobes!

10. Saltburn:  A college student (Barry Keoghan, who should get an Oscar nomination) with lofty goals tries to fit in with his very rich friend's family at the titular estate.  It took a bit of time to get its claws into me, but once it did, they were stuck until the very last frame.  A movie so psychologically dark you'll need a flashlight.

MADE ME CRY (OR AT LEAST TEAR UP):  Ticket to Paradise; Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; Puss in Boots: The Last Wish; The Sea Beast; Clerks III; M3GAN; Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves; Avatar: The Way of Water; Creed III; Nimona; Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3; Elemental; Totally Killer; Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse; Barbie

MADE ME SOB SO HARD THE CAT NUZZLED MY FACE IN CONSTERNATION:  The Whale

SEEN IN THE THEATER:  Nothing.  Honestly, with an excellent audio/video system at home and several streaming platforms at our disposal, I don't foresee going back to the theater any time soon.  The theater is too expensive, people are rude, and I can't pause for my pee breaks.