In a packed year for movies and a contentious awards season, here are the five films that you should see.
“The Boy and the Heron” (directed by Hayao Miyazaki)
“The Boy and the Heron” (internationally released as “How Do You Live?”) is a Japanese film by 83-year-old legendary director of animation and founder of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki.
The film, which comes 10 years after Miyazaki’s last directorial effort, is his most personal film to date. It follows the story of a young boy, Mahito, as he navigates the grief following the loss of his mother in WWII through a magical world.
As with his other films, Miyazaki balances sentiment, action and beauty with ease. The film, which took over six years to complete, is likely to be his last. From the hands of a master filmmaker, “The Boy and the Heron” is a work of art that demands viewers’ attention.
“Killers of the Flower Moon” (directed by Martin Scorsese)
Based on a true story, “Killers of the Flower Moon” is a three-hour epic that tells the horrific story of the Osage murders and the love story at the center of it all. The film is at its best when Ernest Burkhart and Molly Burkhart, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone, are on screen.
Gladstone gives a powerful and Oscar-nominated performance as Molly, a member of the Osage who suffers from her husband’s involvement in the murders. Gladstone can hold her own on-screen when paired with well-established actors like DiCaprio and Robert De Niro.
“The Iron Claw” (directed by Sean Durkin)
From A24 Studios is Director Sean Durkin’s film, “The Iron Claw,” which tells the tragic, true story of the Von Erich brothers in the world of 1980s professional wrestling.
The film, which stars Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White in lead roles, is surprisingly emotional. For those not familiar with the story of the Von Erich brothers it is sure to astound.
“Godzilla Minus One” (directed by Takashi Yamazaki)
“Godzilla Minus One” is the first Japanese Godzilla movie in seven years and is by far the biggest cinematic surprise of the year. The film is about a former Japanese kamikaze pilot, ridden with guilt from surviving WWII.
Throughout the film, the pilot is attempting to rebuild his life as Japan attempts to rebuild from the war. Then, as if a literal manifestation of the nation’s struggle, Godzilla appears.
The film, which celebrates the 70th anniversary of the 1954 original, reinvents what a Godzilla movie foundationally means. Noted as incredibly tense and equally as heartbreaking, this film encapsulates the best of the franchise and elevates the genre.
Barbenheimer: “Barbie” (directed by Greta Gerwig) and “Oppenheimer” (directed by Christopher Nolan)
Admittedly a cheat, “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” represent the overall best of 2023 in film. Both movies dominated the culture, often referred to as “Barbenheimer.”
Individually, “Oppenheimer” is undeniably the greatest achievement in film from last year, and “Barbie” is perhaps the most culturally significant film of the past year. “Barbie” dazzles the audience from beginning to end with musical numbers, comedy and social commentary.
Despite a three-hour runtime, “Oppenheimer” never fails to captivate the audience with its audacity. Christopher Nolan uses large-format IMAX to capture the intimate performance of lead actor Cillian Murphy in a gambit that pays off beyond measure.
Honorable Mentions:
“Poor Things” (directed by Yorgos Lanthimos)
“Bottoms” (directed by Emma Seligman)
“Beau is Afraid” (directed by Ari Aster)
