For the first time in 28 years as a movie critic, I’m presenting my favorite films for this year in two halves: live action (apples) and documentaries (oranges). I could have easily made this a Top 20 list; that’s how good I believe many of this year’s offerings were.
Top 5 Live Action Movies
‘Oppenheimer’
Theatrical poster for "Oppenheimer." (Universal Pictures)
The always-entertaining filmmaker Christopher Nolan delivered the finest effort of his esteemed career with this biographical drama about J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy), the man behind the creation of the atomic bomb. Hired by the U.S. government to cull together various scientists for the project, Oppenheimer was ultimately and unfairly pegged as the fall guy in the aftermath of World War II.
In addition to being my favorite 2023 movie, “Oppenheimer” also earned my votes for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay (Mr. Nolan), Best Lead Actor (Mr. Murphy), Best Supporting Actress (Emily Blunt), Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.), Best Ensemble Cast, Best Cinematography (Hoyte van Hoytema), and Best Original Score (Ludwig Göransson).
‘American Fiction’
Theatrical poster for "American Fiction." (Amazon MGM Studios)
First-time feature director Cord Jefferson’s adaptation of the Percival Everett novel “Erasure” is a stinging satire that slyly points out the hypocritical double standard of the woke left. Jeffrey Wright stars as Monk, a black novelist whose books don’t sell well because they are deemed “not Black enough.” Under a pseudonym, Monk writes a trashy “Black book” that, much to his chagrin, becomes a best-seller.
Mr. Wright, along with Sterling K. Brown, Issa Rae, Leslie Uggams, Tracee Ellis Ross, John Ortiz, and Erika Alexander all deliver magnificent performances, making this not only a brilliant movie about misconceptions of race but also a winning romantic and family drama.
‘Emily’
Theatrical poster for "Emily." (Warner Bros. Pictures)
For her first film as a writer and director, Australian actress Frances O’Connor (“A.I. Artificial Intelligence,” “Mansfield Park”) aimed for the fences and reached them with this gothic period piece about the life of “Wuthering Heights” novelist Emily Brontë (Emma Mackey).
Recalling the visual style and spare storytelling acumen of Stanley Kubrick and Terrence Malick, Ms. O’Connor’s film is among the most assured and daring debuts ever executed. Her choice to include scenes that showed up in reworked forms in the “Heights” novel was a masterstroke.
‘Somewhere in Queens’
Theatrical poster for "Somewhere in Queens." (Roadside Attractions)
Former stand-up comedian and sitcom-king Ray Romano surprised everyone with his feature directorial debut about a New York family facing multiple challenges. Romano stars as a construction worker, the low man on his family’s totem pole, who goes too far in securing his son’s possible college basketball scholarship. Equal parts knowing comedy and stirring drama, it will make your heart melt.
‘The Killer’
Theatrical poster for "The Killer." (Netflix)
Director David Fincher and his “Se7en” screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker reunite for this satirical action thriller starring Michael Fassbender as the titular character: an unnamed, highly paid assassin. After failing to take out his mark in Paris, the Killer must make a quick exit and dispose of any and all connections between him and his botched effort.
Mr. Fincher and Mr. Walker pull off a near-impossible feat here. With the title character providing snarky voice-over narration for the duration, the filmmakers take a man who kills people for a living and transform him into a likeable and sympathetic figure.
Top 5 2023 Documentary Films
‘It Ain’t Over’
Theatrical poster for "It Ain't Over." (Sony Pictures Classics)
In a year littered with beyond-impressive biographical documentaries, “It Ain’t Over” not only covers the professional life of baseball player Yogi Berra, but also his humble origins and why, because of his small stature and non-conventional “everyman” appearance, he was discounted and dismissed by the press, the MLB brass, and a great segment of the public.
Written and directed by Sean Mullin, the film was spearheaded by Berra’s granddaughter (and executive producer) Lindsay Berra. Included are interviews from current and former MLB players, announcers Vin Scully and Bob Costas, and family friend Billy Crystal. Before it’s done, you will be shedding tears of joy.
‘Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie’
Theatrical poster for "Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie." (Apple TV+)
Since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease over three decades ago, actor Michael J. Fox has been the premier advocate and fundraising figure in the search for a cure. Director Davis Guggenheim weaves carefully executed dramatic recreations, live-action TV and film clips, and outtake footage to brilliant effect while also allowing Mr. Fox to discuss the pitfalls of living with the disease without a hint of self-pity.
As inspirational Mr. Fox is throughout, the same can be said about his wife Tracy Pollan and their three adult children, whose lives were also deeply affected by Parkinson’s.
‘The Pigeon Tunnel’
Theatrical poster "The Pigeon Tunnel." (Apple TV+)
Acclaimed docudrama filmmaker Errol Morris (“The Thin Blue Line,” “The Fog of War”) delivers what is arguably the finest effort of his long career with this economic, airtightbiography of acclaimed spy novelist John le Carré. As biographies of artists go, “The Pigeon Tunnel” is one of the best of its kind ever produced and should be required viewing for any serious movie or literary fiction fan.
‘Being Mary Tyler Moore’
Theatrical poster for "Being Mary." (HBO)
One of the scant few performers to act in two critically acclaimed, enormously popular episodic TV shows, Mary Tyler Moore was also a pioneer in introducing women’s issues (not to be confused with radical feminism) to the sitcom format with knowing humor and self-effacing aplomb. Moore was a complex and imperfect person who lived a life that yielded great rewards and included significant, devastating setbacks. “Being” offers a near-perfect balance of both.
‘Bye Bye BARRY’
Theatrical poster for "Bye Bye Barry." (Amazon)
The tagline from the movie’s poster, “The Greatest Mystery in Sports History,” is a bit of a stretch, but not by much. Retiring via fax at the peak of his career, former Detroit Lions star running back Barry Sanders was everything most pro athletes are not: humble, soften-spoken, and a full-time team player.
The film is a brilliant example of what happens when responsible and conscientious parents raise their children in a proper, respectful, and gracious manner, something that seems to be in woefully short supply these days.
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Originally from Washington, D.C., Michael Clark has provided film content to over 30 print and online media outlets. He co-founded the Atlanta Film Critics Circle in 2017 and is a weekly contributor to the Shannon Burke Show on FloridaManRadio.com. Since 1995, Mr. Clark has written over 4,000 movie reviews and film-related articles. He favors dark comedy, thrillers, and documentaries.
