Best Movie of 2023 – Calling Balls and Strikes
It’s about that time of year when movie reviewers are asked ‘What were the best movies of 2023’? Some people are seriously curious about what movies they might have missed. Others are eager to reminisce on the year’s gems. Still others are inviting a debate. I’m totally fine with that as long as the debate is respectful and good-natured. Still others want to inform me that my choices lack merit because I didn’t include ‘Jawan’ in my list of awesome. The thing to remember here is this:
It says so right at the top
I’m an Average Dude. I work a 40 hour week. I have a family and a house that requires maintenance. I have hobbies. I have friends. I have a life. I do not get paid for my reviews, I do it because I love it. But you can d*mn well rest assured that if this was my 9 to 5 then I’d spend a shite-ton more time in my moviehaus and bringing my takes to you. Man, that’d be an boss way to make a living.
But I don’t. Because like most of us, I can’t. So I have to be selective with the movies I do review. Sometimes there’s a week with two worthies that I really want to see. Bonus for all of us. More often than not, it’s just the pick of the litter. And with that in mind, I’ll give you the pick of the pick of the litter for the year 2023.
Best Movie of 2023 – the short list:
So, I’m going to narrow the field down by making two requirements for Best Movie of 2023 consideration. 1) It had to be a theatrical release. There were some great series and streaming releases. I may ammend that next year or I may do a separate Best Of list for those. 2) It had to have score of at least 4 out of 5. That’s it. Let the debates begin…
The Candidates:
The Covenant – a very little known action movie based on real events in that there are thousands of Afghanistan nationals that aided Americans that are now dead or at mortal risk after our botched withdrawl. This movie didn’t shy away from that truth and had an unashamed best of America spirit about it. Solid entertainment that you should watch.
Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3 – There was no movie that I was more excited to see this year than GotG3. The first one is still in my top 5 Marvel movies all-time. The final installment of the Guardians (at least this iteration of them) was everything you could want in a third and final act. It further developed the characters. It answered questions we’ve had since the begining and even forced us to bring out the hankies. More than once. If you’ve seen the first two, you can not miss this one. If you haven’t seen them, you have a fantastic treat ahead of you.
Spider-man: Across the Spiderverse – I loved the first one. The further adventures of Miles Morales were also a deepening of the character and I loved this one only slightly less than the first. Don’t be put off because it’s animated. The art is absolutely top-shelf and even manages to bring an old element of comics art in a new, fresh way.
MI: Deak Reckoning Part 1 – I wasn’t at all certain we needed another MI movie but I AM certain we still need Tom Cruise action movies, because he still chooses great vehicles and he still delivers. I know it didn’t make the bank they expected, and I have no idea why it didn’t. All I know is that I loved it and will see the second part (and presumably, last MI before they reboot the whole shebang) on opening night.
Sound of Freedom – Angel Studios has a strong showing in this year’s Best Movies of 2023 competition. Sound of Freedom is the first of two. With a budget of next to nothing (comparatively), this movie made it’s money back by a multiple of 17. Not for nothing, but this was an investor funded movie. They made bank. And for good reason. Sound of Freedom is a movie based on the actual story of child abduction and trafficking that has been ignored by Hollywood for years. Angel Studios had the guts to finally make it and were well-rewarded. Read into that what you will.
Next: ADMR Best Movie of 2023 Part 2
Apparently, this is the year of stories too big to be told in a single movie. In fact, there were 3 that have a Part 2 coming at some later date, and two of them made this list (Sorry, Fast X). So in keeping with that fad, next week we will recap the last five nominees. Listed chronologically:
Equalizer 3
Dumb Money
Hunger Games BoSaS (I’m pronouncing that ‘BOH-sass’. It just sounds cool)
the Shift
Wonka
Stop by next week to see who takes the coveted title of Average Dude’s Best Movie of 2023! And maybe, if time and fate are not against me, I’ll give you a little sneak of some new stuff coming in the next year from the Average Dude Movie Reviews. No promises.
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