8 amazing movies of 2023 that it's not too late to watch

Directors who have already gained respect in the eyes of critics and the hearts of cinephiles gave us breathtaking masterpieces: Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer", Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon", Wes Anderson's "Asteroid City", Greta Gerwig's "Barbie", David Fincher's "The Killer", Hayao Miyazaki's "The Boy and the Heron", etc.

But it's also worth paying attention to the works of lesser-known directors. "The Zone of Interest" by Jonathan Glazer, "The Color Purple" by Blitz Bazavule, "Fallen Leaves" by a famous Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki, the French "Anatomy of a Fall" by Justine Triet, and the fantastic directorial debut of Celine Song - "Past Lives" are not inferior in their originality and skill compared to the works of the major moviemakers.

All these movies make 2023 a true festival of diversity, creativity, and art on the big screen.

RBC-Ukraine has collected the best and most popular works of the past year, which have been praised by critics and the general audience and will certainly impress you as well.

Barbie

Greta Gerwig is known for her original and creative approach to moviemaking. This time, she presented a feminist movie that uses satire to criticize the way women are treated in society under the disguise of a simple story about a popular children's doll.

In this musical comedy, Margot Robbie plays the role of a stereotypical Barbie who experiences an existential crisis and embarks on a journey of self-discovery. In addition to the excellent directorial work, the audience will be impressed by the skillful performance of all their favorite actors: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, etc.

For those who played with Barbie dolls as a child, the movie will evoke pleasant nostalgia and warm childhood memories. Additionally, thanks to the lively and energetic soundtrack and the bright and saturated pink colors of the costumes and sets, the movie will allow each of us to travel back into childhood and remain entertained for the next two hours.

Oppenheimer

This next movie, just like Barbie, is probably known to everyone who had access to the Internet in July 2023, particularly thanks to the "Barbenheimer" phenomenon. Since both of these movies were released the same day, true cinephiles did not miss the opportunity to watch the colorful story of the doll we all know and love from childhood and the much darker dramatic biography of the physicist Robert Oppenheimer by critically acclaimed director Christopher Nolan in one sitting.

Despite being a fiction movie, it is based on the real biography of the "father of the atomic bomb" and will appeal to those interested in the history of World War II. As always, the winner of many awards and prizes, Christopher Nolan impressed the world with his directorial work, but aside from that the movie also featured excellent camerawork without any use of CGI and great performances by Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Robert Downey Jr. and others.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

The long-awaited sequel to the cartoon "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" (2018) is based on the Marvel Comics story about the beloved and well-known superhero Spider-Man. The story itself is very different from the familiar comic book adaptations. For once, this time, it doesn't center around Peter Parker like we're used to. Instead, our main character is Peter's counterpart from a parallel universe - Miles Morales.

In 2023, the studio impressed its fans with the originality of the plot and the variety of characters, as well as with professional and unique hyper-stylized animation that simultaneously combines both 2D and 3D elements.

"Across the Spider-Verse" has undoubtedly earned itself the title of one of the most visually impressive movies of the year, thanks to the incorporation of dozens of variants of Spider-Man characters into the story, each distinctly stylized following the artistic style of their universe. Many fans consider this particular animated movie to be the best cinematic interpretation of the Spider-Man comics of all time.

Wonka

The world of Willy Wonka is perhaps one of the most famous and beloved children's stories about chocolate. Most of us remember Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka in the 2005 movie "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", and some of us might even recall Gene Wilder from 1971's "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory".

This time, the role of the famous chocolatier is played by the talented young Timothée Chalamet. The plot of the new movie differs significantly from the previous versions, and the character of Wonka is presented to us in a completely new light. This fun and dynamic musical tells the story of the young protagonist and his path to success. It is a movie saturated with rich colors, full of humor, and incredibly creative ideas. This inspirational story about very different characters who unite for a common goal will cheer up both children and adults.

The Holdovers

A comedy drama that is full of a wonderful Christmas atmosphere and maintains a perfect balance between sentimentality and cynicism.

Set in 1970, the movie tells the story of three loners from a boarding school in New England who involuntarily become closer during the holidays. Among them are a grumpy history teacher, a gloomy teenage student who has been abandoned by his family, and a school employee who is suffering from the loss of a close family member.

Paul Giamatti's impressive performance along with a well-written original script make this movie a perfect choice to watch this holiday season and give it every chance to become a true Christmas classic of this generation. The final moments of the movie are the most impressive, securing it the title of one of the best of 2023.

Killers of the Flower Moon

Based on the American bestseller of the same name by David Grann, the events of "Killers of the Flower Moon" are set in 1920s Oklahoma.

The plot revolves around a mysterious series of brutal murders of members of the oil-rich Osage tribe. At the same time, we follow the love story between a World War I veteran and a young member of the tribe. In this movie, Scorsese's classic crime drama is masterfully combined with an emotional romance to create something bold and deeply tragic. The strong and passionate performances of Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone, who are unsurpassed here, keep the viewer in constant suspense.

Despite the slow pacing of the narrative and the massive running time of 3.5 hours, there is not a single wasted minute and every frame has its value. It is worth watching this movie to feel the tense atmosphere in this story of greed, cruelty, betrayal, and the complicated relationship between white Americans and the indigenous population.

The Boy and the Heron

Studio Ghibli's movies are beloved not only by local viewers but also by Western audiences thanks to their warm and magical atmosphere. The works of the legendary director and animator Hayao Miyazaki deserve the attention of both adults and children, even if they are not fans of Japanese animation.

This time, the studio has delighted the viewers with an enchanting story of a boy named Mahito, who, after his mother's death, moves with his father to a new city, where he finds himself in a fantasy world with a talking gray heron. Although the movie is set during the Pacific War, the story retains Miyazaki's traditional charm and magic using warm colors, touching soundtracks, complex characters, and a plot that is somewhat reminiscent of the all-time favorite "Alice in Wonderland".

The beautifully detailed images we see on screen are individual hand-drawn frames, because even with the invention of CGI in the 1950s, Miyazaki refuses to use computer graphics, rarely incorporating them into his works.

Anatomy of a Fall

Critics are already predicting this French drama thriller by Justine Triet will receive multiple Oscar nominations.

The plot follows the fascinating and mysterious story of a writer Sandra, her husband Samuel, and their eleven-year-old son Daniel, who live a secluded life in a remote town in the French Alps. When Samuel is found dead in the snow at the foot of their chalet, Sandra becomes the prime suspect in his murder. What follows is not just an investigation into the circumstances of Samuel's death, but also a deep psychological analysis of the conflicted relationship between the wife and husband.

The movie uses the technique of an unreliable narrator, providing us with information about the husband only through Sandra, their son, and the prosecutor. The lines between what is real and what is fabricated or assumed become blurred. Over time, it becomes obvious that the movie is not just a crime thriller, but also an emotional family drama that will not leave you indifferent after watching it.