Best picture rankings for the 2023 Oscars
For the past six years, I have watched every movie nominated for best picture at the Oscars. Below are my rankings for the 2023 Oscars. This year I had a clear favorite.
Best Picture
Everything, Everywhere, All at Once 9.5/10
Funny, moving, inventive - it’s a visually stunning, mind-bending experience of a film. Its masterful storytelling weaves together multiple realities and timelines into a thrilling and emotionally resonant cinematic experience. The film's exceptional performances, stunning visual effects, and inventive use of genre conventions also make it a standout achievement in filmmaking. It should win everything, everywhere, all at once. It’s my pick for Best Picture (but also best actress, best supporting actor, best director, best original screenplay). Jamie Lee Curtis may win best supporting actress, but I think Angela Bassett gives a superior performance in Black Pantha - Wakanda Forever.
The Banshees of Inisherin 9/10
The hauntingly beautiful cinematography captures the raw, rugged beauty of Ireland's west coast, and its emotionally powerful performances bring to life the complex relationships and inner turmoil of its characters. The film is an allegory of the Irish Civil War - its exploration of Irish folklore and its themes of grief, loss, and redemption make it unique and compelling.
All Quiet on the Western Front 8.5/10
All Quiet on the Western Front presents a powerful anti-war message that transcends time and place. The film's realistic portrayal of the horrors of war, its unflinching critique of nationalism and militarism, and its moving portrayal of the human cost of conflict make it a standout film in 2023. Should win for best cinematography and best international feature film.
Tár 8/10
Cate Blanchett is superb in this movie - presenting a complex character who abuses our positional power. Lydia Tar's unraveling psyche and deteriorating relationships take center stage in a riveting portrayal of a fall from grace. There were parts in the final third that reminded me of Lady Macbeth’s phycological unraveling after the murder of King Duncan.
Triangle of Sadness 8/10
There is always at least one Oscar movie I go to and have no idea what it’s about or what to expect. The title made me think this was going to be a depressive dirge of a film. I couldn’t have been more wrong! The second third was riotously funny - I especially liked the drunk American boat captain (Woody Harrison) quoting Marx to a drunk Russian Oligarch who was quoting President Ronald Ragan back at him! Some great things - reminiscent of Don’t Look Up (but done much better and tonally more consistently in this film). Biting satire about the billionaire class and celebrity.
Top Gun: Maverick 7.5/10
A fantastic blockbuster of a movie - a real crowd-pleaser. A simple story told really well. Great sound, great editing, and great cinematography. Its breathtaking aerial sequences push the boundaries of what's possible in action filmmaking. A really good film, but a best picture Oscar-winning movie? No. I do hope it wins best sound and best film editing - it will be deserved.
Elvis 7.5/10
One of the last movies I watched because I thought I would hate it. I didn’t. Baz Luhrmann is one of my favorite Directors, and he weaves is magic on this one to make it feel topic and relevant. Exceptional production design, costume design, and cinematography transports viewers to the vibrant and turbulent world of Elvis Presley's rise to fame. Austin Butler is excellent as Elvis. One of the biggest problems - Tom Hanks was miscast in this movie. His performance is distracting, and his accent is inconsistent. If Brendan Fraser doesn’t win best actor, it will be Austin Butler. May win for costumes and make-up.
Women Talking 7/10
Predominantly set in one location - this film relies on a great script, and a great ensemble cast. It follows a group of women from a Mennonite colony in Bolivia who gather to discuss how to respond to a series of sexual assaults perpetrated by a group of men from their own community. This film could translate really well to the stage. May win for best adapted screenplay.
The Fabelmans 7/10
Written and directed by Steven Spielberg, this semi-autobiographical film follows a young boy growing up in 1960s Arizona. The film is a nostalgic and deeply personal exploration of family, memory, and the power of cinema. Anything that Stephen Speilberg makes is going to be good and there is a lot to love about this film, Michelle Williams in particular, who is one of her generation’s great actors. There are some great sequences. But for a film that is about falling in love with film-making, it felt safe and uninventive.
Avatar: The Way of Water 6/10
Almost the exact same movie as the first, but a self-indulgent 30 minutes longer (3 hours), set in water instead of the sky, and Jake Sully now has kids who he needs to protect. Proof that a financially successful film does not equal a good film. Will probably win best visual effects.
Women King (8.5/10 - Not nominated!)
I’m a bit shocked that this excellent film hasn’t done much better in the awards. Viola Davis is brilliant and should have been nominated for best actress and Lashana Lynch should have been nominated for Best supporting actress. I rate this movie ahead of several nominated and it could have been nominated for best director and best picture. It had a “Braveheart” vibe to me - Braveheart but with African women.
