It is that time of year again when many of us find ourselves looking backwards in order to rightly and effectively look ahead. And for those of us who are obsessive an perpetual list makers, this could be undeniably be considered our most favorite time of year. For those of us built to reflect, it can also be one of the most meaningful.
Of course, the potential lists are endless- film, books, goals, memories and moments, just to name a few. I have noted this about myself in recent years, but the way I am built I am all about finding the narratives that have shaped my year. This is true for the individual narratives that have made an impact on me in 2023. I am also deeply interested in locating the meta-narratives, which for me is simply asking, how did these individual narratives shape me over the course of the year. How has my perspective changed and been challenged from the beginning of the year to the end.
I will get there. That’s what the space between Christmas and New Years is built for, after all. But it begins with narrowing down to the specifics, which for me begins with looking back at what I watched in 2023 an noting my favorites, or what I consider to be the most standout films of the year. As a way to kick this off, I thought I would give some attention to a category I don’t always acknowledge- the biggest surprises. These would be measured by the following parameters:
- Something that I was previously unaware of that ended up really catching me off guard
- Something that I thought would be either not very good or not very interesting which proved otherwise
- A film that did something entirely unexpected
My Top 5 Biggest Suprises of the Year In Film
WONKA
When news first broke about the latest addition to the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory adaptations, I had plenty of reservations. I questioned the casting of Chalamet. I wondered whether an origins story about Wonka was necessary. I was curious about the decision to approach it as a musical. The fact that all such reservations were put to rest with the opening sequence, which is filled with all the natural whimsy and charm befitting the Paddington Directors style and sensibilities, makes this one of my most favorite surprises of 2023. The film struck a tone and style that fit hand in glove with the beloved classic, transporting me straight back to my childhood memories, while bringing in some fresh and modern flourishes.
TETRIS
If I came into 2023 raising an eyebrow over the apparent trend of biopics about products, it is saying something to note that any number of them could have qualified in this spot. Air was one of the most crowd pleasing movie experiences of the year and a real delight, and Blackberry, which will show up on another of my lists, was phenomenal in its script and its direction. I went with Tetris though, because out of all of them this might be the one came most out of left field. I knew next to nothing about it, and the straight to streaming decision was one that kept this even further outside of my awareness. Turns out it was a blast. A story that I never realized could be that entertaining, and a genuine blockbuster that I think deserved the big screen treatment.
CHEVALIER
I went in dark, having never even heard of the film before rolling the die one evening when I was looking for something to see. And I fell in love with the films heart, soul and energy. It’s a period piece, but one that’s imagined with an inventive touch, employing a mixture of narrow frames and quick moving camera work befitting the musical subtext. The result is a richly entertaining and immersive experience, helping to bring the history to life like an orchestrated symphony or grand opera befitting its amazing score.
POLITE SOCIETY
Might be the most quirky and fun “superhero” film you never saw in 2023. It has an indie flare, an anything goes premise, and a cast that’s all in.
DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES
Count me among the ones who wrote this off completely long before its release.
And then I caught wind of the feverish support that followed its initial release. Took me a few weeks, but when I finally managed to catch it on the big screen the quiet hype made all the sense in the world. Perhaps most impressive is the way it brought hardcore players and fans and those who have never played together in the same experience. This is an old school effort that manages to be a great big nod to the adventure films from back in the day. Fast, fun, funny and deeply entertaining, employing just the right blend of CGI and practical set pieces to function as pure escapism of the best kind
The Stories of my Life 