It has been a great year for movies. Period. Between some mind-blowing originals and box office clashes, (Who can forget the drama of Barbenheimer?) a lot happened at the movies. As the audiences’ watchlists get all the more diverse, a range of titles has been drawing attention. While mainstream films like Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer understandably pulled fans into theatres, films like Celine Song’s Past Lives were not to be left behind. As the year comes to a close, here’s a look at some critically acclaimed films that gained popularity in 2023.
Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, a 3 hours, 26 minutes long exploration of an almost forgotten chapter of American history - the Osage Nation murders, sounds exhausting but if you give it a chance, it’s also engaging. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and a standout Lily Gladstone, the film is a politically aware about genocide. The white people of Oklahoma carry out a series of crimes against the natives. The film doesn’t drop the ball and plays out a well-thought-out retelling of history.
Celine Song’s Past Lives, a film about two childhood friends reconnecting has a tranquil, almost meditative quality. The film sees Greta Lee’s Nora, who moves to the West from Seoul and Hae Sung (John Magaro) catch up in New York. Through their strolls across the city, we see their chemistry rekindle (although Nora is married). But the film never lets it develop into anything more. Instead, it showcases an out-of-reach fantasy and plays on possibilities and longings. Prepare to be drawn into the deeply moving drama created by Song’s atmospheric world.
Here are some of the best Hollywood and international films of the year:
Killers of the Flower Moon
Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, a 3 hours, 26 minutes long exploration of an almost forgotten chapter of American history - the Osage Nation murders, sounds exhausting but if you give it a chance, it’s also engaging. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and a standout Lily Gladstone, the film is a politically aware about genocide. The white people of Oklahoma carry out a series of crimes against the natives. The film doesn’t drop the ball and plays out a well-thought-out retelling of history.
Past Lives
Celine Song’s Past Lives, a film about two childhood friends reconnecting has a tranquil, almost meditative quality. The film sees Greta Lee’s Nora, who moves to the West from Seoul and Hae Sung (John Magaro) catch up in New York. Through their strolls across the city, we see their chemistry rekindle (although Nora is married). But the film never lets it develop into anything more. Instead, it showcases an out-of-reach fantasy and plays on possibilities and longings. Prepare to be drawn into the deeply moving drama created by Song’s atmospheric world.
