Best Films of 2023
Before we begin, I would like to highlight that this list
has been curated based on the following points
1) Exceptional Entertainment Value
2) Re-Watchability
3) Box Office Collections
4) Proper Utilization of Screenplay, Actors, VFX, Real-World
Locations and Casting
5) Uniqueness in Worldbuilding and Storytelling
6) Popular Public Opinions on YouTube Google Reviews and IMDb
This is just my opinion and it can vary from your opinions
and choices as we might have different tastes when it comes to cinema
10) Iratta (Malayalam)
Joju George never disappoints especially when it comes to
Thrillers. I'm not going to spoil this film for you guys but the last 15
minutes of this film will haunt you even after the movie is over. It makes you
sympathetic towards the protagonist and you start Imagining the mental distress
he's going through once he gets to the bottom of his twin brother's death
Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Vikrant Massey ended up creating an Underrated
Sleeper Hit with a lifetime collection of 66 crores. I must say Vikrant Massey has
done justice to his role and you do feel sympathetic towards the guy. The story
is pretty similar to what we have seen and heard off but the movie does make
you emotional towards the end.
Also, this is a
biographical adaptation of Anurag Pathak's eponymous non-fiction book 12th fail.
Do check it out on Disney+ Hotstar.
8) Dasara (Telugu)
Nani has given two beautiful yet polar opposite films this
year one is “Dasara” and the other one is "Hi Nanna". Let’s talk
about Dasara though. The climax scene is a master class in itself. The aggression
portrayed by Nani was a subtler version of what I felt while watching Rishab Shetty’s
Kantara in theatres last year. Although, Kantara is way superior than Dasara
but Nani's efforts to pull off this genre needs to be appreciated and
celebrated.
Not a lot of actors can pull off a “Dasara” and a “Hi Nanna”
in the same year.
7) Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (English)
I know this might not be considered as the best film but
just look at what Sony has created. I still remember watching “Into the Spider-Verse”
and wondered there is no way there they can top this up but they did and left
it on a cliffhanger. I'm eagerly waiting for “Beyond the Spider-Verse” and this
time I will surely be watching it in the theatres.
6) Past Lives (English/Korean)
I don't have enough words to justify what I felt at the end
of this film. The feeling is inexplicable. It's been ages when a film so good
has left me speechless at the end of the movie. The story line isn't complex,
there are no multiple character arcs, no unnecessary irrelevant plots and in
just 106 minutes the movie becomes successful in making you contemplate and
introspect life in general.
I would definitely
like to check out Celine Song's next film.
5) Animal (Hindi)
Made on a budget of 100 crores, Animal has earned close
to 887.69 crores. I sat for 3 hours 21 minutes but never felt bored and was
thoroughly entertained in the cinema Hall. The movie has its flaws and its
polarizing reviews are justified which I have discussed in my own review as
well but what actually made me absolutely certain was SRV’s guts, his
confidence and his vision. Many people might have a problem with that and not
with the film in its entirety but I guess not a lot of filmmakers have balls
like SRV.
Kudos to SRV and RK
to pull off something like this. I'm eagerly waiting for the Extended Cut.
4) Viduthalai Part 1 (Tamil)
Vetrimaaran is known for his raw, gritty and real lifelike
portrayal of events and characters in his film. Viduthalai Part 1 is no
stranger to this but there is a cinematic feat that Vetri has achieved with the
opening 8 Minute single shot scene. Recently he spoke about it in the "Film Companion Director's Adaa" and it was fascinating to understand the mindset and ideology
behind the shot.
Also, the way they have executed this shot seems unarguably
real. The Narrative of this film is gripping and it did occasionally remind me
of Vetri's previous films like Vada Chennai, Visaranai and Asuran but I guess
that's Vetri's film making style.
I'm a tad bit excited
to see what he has cooked in part two.
3) Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai (Hindi)
Manoj Bajpayee is one of the finest actors that the Indian
Cinema has gifted to the world. This movie solely rests on his shoulder and he
carries it throughout the runtime of this film. His monologue at the end should
itself receive an Oscar nominee for best actor. This man is hands down a legend
when it comes to acting. If you haven't watched this film at least make it a
point to watch the last monologue, you won't regret it.
Also, it has real
world connections and is based on real life incidents so do check it out. It is
available on Zee5
2) Oppenheimer (English)
This might be Christopher Nolan's easiest film to watch and
didn't feel like a boring film even though there were only dialogues and heavy
monologues amongst the characters. One of the best experiences I had in the theatres
this year and surprisingly, this wasn't even an action film. The casting of
this film will go down in history as one of the finest castings ever made for a
biopic. Cillian Murphy is J. Robert Oppenheimer for me. Moreover, the
cinematography by Hoyte Van Hoytema and Ludwig Göransson’s background score requires a separate blog to appreciate
what they have created on screen. Christopher Nolan is the G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time) of filmmaking
for a reason and Oppenheimer is a solid proof of that.
I wish to see it in 70mm IMAX screen someday just to
experience the scale in which Nolan created it.
1) 2018 (Malayalam)
A Malayalam movie made on a budget of 26 crores ended up
earning close to 200 crores worldwide and that itself is a justification for
how good this film is. Jude Anthony Joseph, take a bow my friend as you have
created an exceptional film that not only shows the plight of Kerala during the
floods but also proves that everyone is indeed a hero. People during crisis
situation forgot everything and got united for one cause and that is saving
human lives.
This movie is a gold standard response for people who say
that Indian films lack in VFX and CGI. Whatever these people have achieved in 26
crores by maximizing Real-Location shoots, real water and color grading cannot
be achieved by big budget films who are spending 300-500 crore Plus for their
films.
Malayalam cinema by
default has phenomenal writing and they have cemented their position with some
exceptional films in recent times but this is the first time I saw them
attempting something unusual and that to on this scale. Kudos not only to the
director and producers but also the actors who shot in real locations during
the cold nights in waist deep water. Their hard work and dedication has
definitely led to the massive success of this film.
Kannada: Sapta Sagaradaache Ello - Side A, Side B, Toby, Swathi Muttina Male Haniye, Hostel Hudugaru Bekagiddare
Kindly mention your picks for the Best Films of 2023.
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