The Mosley Review: Best Films of 2023

Well! 2023 has come to an end and what a tumultuous year it has been for the entertainment industry. There were some shake ups on release dates and some films were shifted to 2024 for a number of reasons. Whether it was because of the massive SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes or because the films were rushed, it didn't stop a crop of good films from coming out in 2023. This years' list may not be as long as others, but it is still my pick for the very best Hollywood had to offer. As always, if you want a more detailed review of all the films on my list, just click the title of each film. Now, without further ado, here's my list of the best films of 2023!

John Wick 4: There are very few films that start out as a small, simple, and almost as an underdog. The original film came out of nowhere with minimal promotion and it grew into becoming one of the greatest action film franchises of all time. From beginning to end, this film was a finale that incorporated any and every from of martial arts, gunfoo and even paid homage to classic samurai sword fighting. It was thrilling all the way through and a surprisingly emotional end to something that only happens once in a lifetime. Keanu Reeves is now one of the greatest action stars of all time and I hope this franchise stays gone on this high note and never revisit it.

When Evil Lurks: As a horror fan, you get many recommendations a year and a healthy helping of so many films. Alot of them stick to a familiar formula, but end up being nothing you haven't seen before by the finale. I'm always looking for a horror film to keep me on the edge of my seat with anxiety, wonder, nausea from the imagery and above all, terror. This film Argentinian film did that in spades. The thought of giving the possession genre a more biohazard twist and sticking to the rules that were set was refreshing and loved every second of it. This film ripped the safety net out from under you as it plunges you deeper into the dark and grotesque nightmare. What a magnificent horror film.

Oppenheimer: Lets face it. We all wanted to see the great Christopher Nolan tackle the subject of an atomic bomb and to see it detonate through his specific IMAX lens. We got that, but what we also got was a truly haunting and sometimes disturbing examination of man that became one of the most genius and destructive minds in human history. The fact that we delve into the titular characters’ life, the events preceding, during and following the effects of his creation was truly mesmerizing. We got to see the emotional and psychological toll it took on the brilliant scientist and all the others that wanted to be apart of that historical moment. The court drama that ensued was fascinating and gave a face to true villain and an outstanding supporting performance from Robert Downey Jr. This was truly one of the best dramas of the year and one that I'm glad to have experienced in its full 3 hour IMAX glory.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse: With the surprise the first film was, you would be hard pressed to deliver something on the same scale or better than the awesome and stylish origin story for a character that really wasn't embraced in the beginning. The story may have taken some familiar turns with Miles Morales in the beginning, but to open with Gwen Stacey / Spider-Gwen and to go through the emotional journey between her and her father was amazing. The team behind the ground breaking animation has done it yet again and mixed in the use of water colors, inks and other forms of animation from different nations. It was a sight truly to behold and nothing short of an art gallery in every frame. The intensity of the story going from a kid trying to find his place in the universe to defying all by doing his own thing was great and frustrating at the same time. This film has one of the best cliffhangers in cinema history and I can't wait to see how this story comes to a close.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: Few storytellers get the honor of finishing their stories unhindered by outside influences. Even fewer get the chance to end a trilogy the way they intended and with a through line that keeps paying off the more you revisit each entry before the conclusion. The Guardians films started off as the outcast heroes that nobody knew anything about and as we fell in love with this ragtag team, we got to see them become a real family. The emotional origin story of Rocket Raccoon was in the seams of Vol. 1 and 2 and it now comes full circle with one of the best performances of Bradley Cooper's career. The High Evolutionary made for an excellent villain that is also a brilliant commentary on the state of a certain company that is seeking to execute the same plans of reconstruction in its many cinematic properties. You can look deeper into James Gunn's brilliant writing and directing and his message was clear. The Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy ends on such a sweet and powerful note that many have not reached in so long and I am so glad the actors, production team and many others fought for James Gunn to complete his vision. Definitely one of the best films Marvel Studios has released in years!

Evil Dead Rise: There truly is something magical happening with this series of films. It seems that everytime we get a new entry to this franchise, somehow they keep getting better and better. The 2013 remake was gnarly and stayed true to the franchise roots and this film does the same by staying small and personal. The story was simple, but the creative scares and intense violence was top notch. The tension was so great and the choice to make it about a family is always a welcomed touch. Just the possession process of the mother alone was horrific and sad. The film progressed and I was very impressed with the practical gore effects and stunt work. Alyssa Sutherland gives an impressive and devilishly gleeful performance as Ellie and definitely is up there for me as one of the best Deadites ever. Sam Raimi's franchise legacy is in very good hands.

And now we've come to the moment you've all been waiting for. For me, this choice was a no brainer and truly broke all the boundaries many films wouldn't pass. The best film of 2023 is.......

Poor Things: Right from the beginning, this film set its own path and delivered its own take on the coming age story. The unconventional take on the story element of woman birthed of scientists' experiment was something that could've gone horribly in the wrong hands. It’s handled with care and it was truly breathtaking to experience the mental growth of a child in full grown woman's body. Emma Stone was challenged to colour outside the lines by creating a character that discovers her own path recklessly, analytically and with an open mind that was not afraid to challenge societal norms and ideals. She had the best dialogue to make a meal out of and I was never not hungry for more as I was anticipating her reactions. Mark Ruffalo was on another level of joyous vanity and comedy all mixed into one. This is the most energetic, uncompromising and pompous character I've ever seen him portray and he makes you actually care about him by the end of the film. The vocal dance between both Bella and Duncan was the most interesting part of the film and their chemistry was volcanic. The dance sequence was one of my favorite scenes. This was truly the best film of the year for me and I highly recommend this metaphorical dark comedy to any and all that want to see a showstopping cast at their very best.

Alright folks! That was my list of the best films of 2023! It was an interesting year for the horror genre and to end on a such a high note with one of the most unconventional coming of age stories was a treat. Do you agree with my list? Let me know what you think or tell me what your picks of the best films of 2023 are in the comments below. Thanks for reading and here's to 2024!