the best things i watched in 2023 🍿

~this was originally posted on my blog; but i’m posting it here, too~

According to letterboxd’s yearly stats page, I watched 159 films during 2023 - or, rather, 159 films AND some limited series AND some theater performances AND ALSO quite a few Doctor Who specials, but, regardless, I logged 159 things watched this year. Of those 159, I enjoyed 55 enough to add them to my 2023 favorites list - a running list compiled of all the new-to-me things that I utterly loved watching or that struck a personal chord with me, for one reason or another.

And while I talk about the top 20 of them in my wrap-up video on youtube, I wanted to keep going & give a sentence or two about the other 35 films on the list. I mean, I loved them for a reason; they deserve their chance to shine!

A fair warning, though, that once Good Omens Season 2 dropped, my watchlist very quickly pivoted to tackle Michael Sheen & David Tennant’s filmographies, and my favorites list definitely reflects that. (And I’m not complaining! But if you’re looking at the list wondering why there’s so much David & Michael… that’s why. You can fully blame Good Omens. Or thank Good Omens, really.)

Anyways… let’s get started!

55. Kill Boksoon (d. Byun Sung-hyun, 2023) This is an assassin movie that centers motherhood, y’all. Killing an enemy? Easy. Parenting a teenage daughter? Don’t ask. A little bit of Lady Bird meets Atomic Blonde, so of course I loved this incredibly intense family drama. (A lot of gore, though - fair warning if you don’t like blood!)

54. A Child’s Christmases in Wales (d. Christine Gernon, 2009) This is a film filled with vignette-like scenes capturing a series of christmases as a boy comes of age during the 80s. It’s hilarious and heartwarming and somehow incredibly relatable despite my never having lived in Wales or through the 80s? But I def recommend putting it on if you’re wildly burnt out from the stress of the holidays.

53. The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box (d. Jonathan Newman, 2013) I texted my friend “which Michael Sheen movie would fend off a panic attack?” and she replied with this one. And she was right.

52. Handsome Devil (d. John Butler, 2016) At times it feels like this walked so Heartstopper could run, at least in terms of the school rugby vibes and the inspiring, heartwarming nature of it all, but it’s a really cute coming-of-age movie in and of itself! And instead of Olivia Colman as the loving support system, we have Andrew Scott in his chaotic teacher era. As he should be.

51. Women Talking (d. Sarah Polley, 2022) Feels like a stageplay come to life as we watch a group of women (and. young. girls.) discuss what to do after being sexually assaulted by men in their religious colony. It’s a very emotional, slow film that grips you the entire time and has you rooting for these women to utilize the power of their voices and reclaim their agency.

50. My Policeman (d. Michael Grandage, 2022) Look, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the book, but I did enjoy the movie. Getting out of Marion’s head and actually getting to watch Tom and Patrick’s relationship develop in real time instead of through Marion’s eyes did wonders for my enjoyment. It’s always nice to experience a ✨tragic love story✨ without being stuck within the mind of someone who keeps a running narration of how disgusting it is, you know? Plus, the cinematography and color grading is gorgeous, and the atmosphere they’ve created feels so welcoming despite how unwelcoming the time period actually was.

49. The Eyes of Tammy Faye (d. Michael Showalter, 2021) A masterclass in acting from Jessica Chastain!

48. Friends & Family Christmas (d. Anne Wheeler, 2023) Hallmark’s first lesbian holiday film, and it’s exactly what it says on the tin - except with a leading couple that feels more authentic than a lot of the other Hallmark movies I’ve seen. It’s a fake dating story with references to Carol and Taylor Swift; I was grinning like an idiot. 🎥 I watched this on the channel!

47. Mrs Harris Goes to Paris (d. Anthony Fabian, 2022) Genuinely one of the fluffiest feel-good films I have ever seen, and I’m absolutely not complaining. Give me more older women fighting for what they’re worth & inspiring others to do the same, please! 🎥 I have a short review here!

46. A Matter of Life & Death (d. Emeric Pressburger & Michael Powell, 1946) I think you can feel an entire generation working through post-war trauma with this love story set during WWII about an angel coming down to earth to pick up a soldier who missed his appointment with death. Also, said angel is a camp icon, and immediately grabbed a spot on my list of all-time favorite characters, it needs to be said. And, given that Michael Sheen has listed this as one of his favorite movies and Good Omens has included easter eggs to it in a few scenes, it’s not hard to see the influences this film had both on Aziraphale’s character and on the overall story. (In a good way, obvs.)

45. Love Actually (d. Richard Curtis, 2003) I should’ve watched this years ago, but at least I’ve seen it now! A classic that’s officially going on my rewatch list every holiday season. 🎥 I watched this on the channel!

44. Renfield (d. Chris McKay, 2023) The definition of bringing pulp back. Vampires and therapy are the perfect mix, and both Nicolas Cage and Nicholas Hoult nail the heck out of this comedic, campy script. It’s not trying to be anything more than a fun time, and I respect that! (Definite gore warning on this one, though.) 🎥 I watched this on the channel!

43. Closet Monster (d. Stephen Dunn, 2015) This is a pretty typical coming-of-age, coming-out-of-the-closet tale, but with a twinge of surrealism that’ll have you crying over a talking hamster. Also, mega trigger warning for homophobia.

42. Joy Ride (d. Adele Lim, 2023) The humor during a lot of the earlier scenes may not have been my personal fav, but I utterly adored the heart beating through this. The family elements had me sobbing.

41. Maleficent (d. Robert Stromberg, 2014) I wasn’t expecting this movie to have a metaphor for sexual assault as one of the inciting incidents, but it made for an incredibly powerful film. I also love the mother/daughter relationship between Maleficent and Aurora; it’s refreshing (& heartwarming) to see a story prioritize motherly love above all else. 🎥 I watched this on the channel!

40. The Special Relationship (d. Richard Loncraine, 2010) Did I know a single damn thing about British politics before watching this movie? No. Did we pause this film every five minutes or so for my friend to explain how different aspects of Parliament work? Yes. Honestly, though, I loved this as both an incredibly informative film and also as an amazing display of Michael Sheen’s acting ability.

39. Your Name Engraved Herein (d. Kuang-Hui Liu, 2020) This is a beautiful, intimate film about young love and lost time, with contemplations about the lives you could’ve lived had you been born in a different era or a more accepting society. It’s heartbreaking.

38. The Marvels (d. Nia DaCosta, 2023) It’s a team-up movie starring just about all of my favs, some endearing family moments, and jokes that hit my exact brand of humor. Some choppy editing aside, I feel like it’s not trying to be anything more than a fun, feel-good time, and it nails those vibes perfectly. I wish this existed when I was a teen! 🎥 I posted a longer review with my thoughts here!

37. Rafiki (d. Wanuri Kahiu, 2018) Hi, the sapphic Romeo & Juliet-esque story you’ve been waiting for is here - but it’s also infinitely more than that. Two young women fall in love despite their fathers being political rivals, and despite it being against Kenyan law. And yet, despite the homophobia surrounding them and pressures from their families, they find joy in the pastel world they create together. An utterly beautiful film. (Major trigger warning for homophobia, though.)

36. A League of Their Own (d. Penny Marshall, 1992) Sports movies aren’t usually my jam, but I loved this one! The dynamic between Dottie & Kit was incredibly relatable, and y'all know I love watching women win.

35. Heartlands (d. Damien O’Donnell, 2002) Sorry, can’t come to the phone right now, I’m too busy thinking about Michael Sheen’s curly hair. Such a cute & heartwarming little romp through the countryside ft. one of the most precious lead characters to ever come into their own onscreen. The cinnamon roll meme? He invented it. If you need a new comfort movie, this is it.

34. The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love (d. Maria Maggenti, 1995) Nothing I’m going to say here is going to capture this film better than the title already does. This is such an endearingly indie 90s sapphic love story about two teens coming of age and falling in love. Heartwarming as frick !! Warning: you might end up feeling like Mr. Farouk from Heartstopper, though. I did 😭

33. Scream VI (d. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett, 2023) I know it was a minor element in the film, but I genuinely enjoyed the commentary on how the internet bullying seeped into Sam’s internal world despite her knowing it was stupid. Loved her support system rallying around her, loved the sister dynamic at the heart of the story, and it can’t be understated how much I utterly adore the Core 4. 🎥 I watched this on the channel!

32. Everything Everywhere All at Once (d. The Daniels, 2022) Family drama and multiverse shenanigans all in one, what is there not to love?! I might still be crying from their mother/daughter scene at the end, I’m ngl. Just an emotional ride from start to finish; I loved it. 🎥 I watched this on the channel!

31. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (d. Joaquim Dos Santos & Justin K. Thompson & Kemp Powers, 2023) The biggest love letter to art I’ve ever seen. Absolutely adored the emphasis on creating your own story and writing your own path despite everything everyone else may be telling you. Also, the scenes with Miles’ family continue to hit so hard! I can’t wait for the next one.

30. National Theatre Live: Under Milk Wood (d. Lyndsey Turner, 2021) This is such an intense performance from Michael Sheen, and an incredibly captivating script in & of itself. Takes you on such a journey you forget you’re listening to spoken word with few visuals in front of you; you can see the stories unfolding as if you’re actually in the Welsh town with them.

29. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (d. Kelly Fremon Craig, 2023) My toxic trait is that I’ve been hoping this would be nominated during awards season since I watched it last spring, despite knowing in my heart of hearts it wasn’t going to happen. But it’s one of the best adapted screenplays to me. My mom bought me this book when I was a kid and I brought her to see this film when it came out, truly the circle of life. Incredibly heartfelt performances from everyone - I absolutely loved reading this story when I was younger, and I loved watching it now!

28. House (d. Nobuhiko Obayashi, 1977) My friend and I watched this film because Michael Sheen consistently mentions it as one of his favorite movies, and I’m very glad we did. At face-value, it seems like a campy, slightly-silly, supernatural slasher (?) with a fun group of teen girls crashing one of their relative’s homes during a school break, and it’s a wildly enjoyable film based on that premise alone - and then you finish the film, go online, and read about how it’s actually one huge metaphor for the bombing of Hiroshima and the loss of childhood and loved ones during war, and everything that may have seemed “whacky” or unexplainable just clicks into place. It’s a film I absolutely will be rewatching, because I need to go into it with that new perspective. (Artistically, I’ve also never seen a movie resemble a physical mixed media collage before, and I utterly love how this one does? The editing is really neat!) It’s also not particularly scary or gore-y, so I would say it’s a pretty accessible horror film for those who aren’t the biggest fans of horror!

27. Aimée & Jaguar (d. Max Färberböck, 1999) A sapphic film set during WWII, need I say more? (I will: it’s based on a true story & a very real relationship between a Jewish woman and a German housewife.) As you can imagine, there are quite a few scenes that are difficult and sometimes downright miserable to watch. But there’s also a beautiful emphasis on making your own joy that I really loved. This one was a struggle to track down, so if you’re also having a hard time finding it, I would check to see if you have access to kanopy through your library! That’s where I was lucky enough to watch it. (If you’re looking for a bit of a happier queer film set during WWII, though, may I also recommend one of my all-time favorites, Summerland?)

26. Living (d. Oliver Hermanus, 2022) Written by Kazuo Ishiguro, one of my favorite authors, this is adapted from a prior work that I haven’t seen, but I probably should, since I loved this so much. It’s a slow character study (with gorgeous cinematography) about a man coming to the end of his life and looking back, not quite happy with how he’s lived it - and then making different choices with the time he has left. It’s never too late to leave the world a little better than you found it.

25. The Young Girls of Rochefort (d. Jacques Demy, 1967) It’s an utter crime real life doesn’t look like this film. Hello?! It’s gorgeous. I loved this musical; the songs are bops, the scenery & costumes are beautiful, the way the individual storylines connect & intersect is so much fun to discover, and sometimes !! it’s just nice to believe in romance for a bit !!

24. Entre Nous (d. Diane Kurys, 1983) The sheer joy I experienced when the ending not only reconceptualized the entire film but also made all the minor moments I had questions about editing-wise just click into place. Two women in post-war France become fast friends and then something more, connecting on a deeper level to each other than anyone else in their lives, and I loved watching them grow closer together as they seek out more & more independence.

23. But I’m a Cheerleader (d. Jamie Babbit, 1999) Y'all don’t understand how much I wish I watched this movie in high school! Such a good use of satire to both mock homophobia and simultaneously work through some collective trauma via humor. A camp classic. 🎥 I watched this on the channel!

22. Clouds of Sils Maria (d. Olivier Assayas, 2014) I’m always and forever here for stories about women coming to terms with aging as well as dealing with life in the spotlight, and this combines both aspects perfectly - with the added bonus of Kristen Stewart getting to act her little heart out.

21. What We Did on Our Holiday (d. Guy Jenkin & Andy Hamilton, 2014) This is an absolutely wild film in all the best ways, imo. I refuse to spoil a single thing about it in case you want to watch it yourself, but it’s a (warning: veeeery) dysfunctional family dramedy starring David Tennant! Rosamund Pike! And 3 adorable kids! Chaos ensues!

And now, without further ado, the rest of my favorites list - the top 20 films & series I watched this year!