My favorite movies of 2023

Pale Blue Eye, Emily, The Quiet Girl, Past Lives, Last Film Show

Projection Booth at The Dryden Theater

I can’t write about my favorite films of 2023 without mentioning my favorite theater: The Little in Rochester, NY. It’s a home away from home. They talk about Oscar season in this podcast (I wish they would publish episodes more often!).

Here’s my top 5 list:

The Pale Blue Eye

Chilling, tragic, surprising. This was more on the disturbing side than I prefer to watch these days, but the mystery, the twist, and the performance of Harry Melling as Edgar Allen Poe made it more than worth the moments I had to close my eyes.

Emily

Moody, haunting, romantic. Darkness and forbidden love enveloped this film, but the mid-1800s was a pretty dark and repressive time in England—in this case, for the odd, ambitious, and passionate Emily Brontë. The fate of Emily and her loved ones will break your heart, but their creative spirit saves the day. You can listen to an interview with writer/director Frances O’Connor here:

The Quiet Girl

Grief, healing, resilience. The perfect example of how people enter each other’s lives and unexpectedly bring healing and joy. Catherine Clinch as Cait could have carried the film on her performance alone (except she didn’t need to). Rural Ireland in the early eighties is another shining star of the movie.

Past Lives

Subtle, nostalgic, longing. This movie destroyed me. I couldn’t stop crying at the end. It was quietly joyful and heartbreaking. It felt so real—probably because it was based on the writer/director’s life. You can listen to an interview with Celine Song here.

Last Film Show

Enchanting, inspiring, ingenuity. A boy’s pursuit of art and expression, despite every possible obstacle, results in a creative movement that ends up transforming everyone he meets. The relationships were complex and unconventional. The alchemy and history of Indian cooking was a feast for the eyes. You can listen to an interview with the Director Pan Nalin here (much of the film was based on his life).

What are your favorite films of 2023?