The time has come to look back on this year. (Sounds a bit dramatic, but I guess it reflects the movies I loved.) I especially enjoyed 2023's filmography and this blog also witnessed how much of a cinephile I am: the Colours of Cinema series was a personal joy to roll out and I am glad that there was much appreciation for them! (You should check them out, by the way.)
If you know me well enough, you would be able to guess the movies on the list. There will be a good mix of Indian and English-language movies, but I do regret missing out on some acclaimed films that are still sitting idly on my watchlist (like Killers of the Flower Moon, 12th Fail, Kaathal: The Core, American Fiction, Poor Things, and more.) Also, this is in no particular order.
Without further ado, here you go—Four Eyes' Favourite Films of 2023!
The Holdovers
'Tis the season and if you're looking for a movie that feels like a cup of hot chocolate, this is it. (I did indeed have the best hot chocolate while watching this.) The wonderful picturisation of a boarding school was something I could relate to as someone who started living away from home this year (hence the sporadic posts). I just loved every scene with the four core characters: the bad-tempered 'house parent', his mischievous 'holdover', the grieving cook (a brilliant Da'Vine Joy Randolph), and the Christmas setting. This is a movie that perfectly balances emotional nuance with humour really well. This could perhaps go down as a Christmas classic!
Chithha
If you are searching for the Tamil movie of the year, it is this. Siddarth shines as the Chithha (uncle) of an abducted niece (vulnerably portrayed by Sahasra Shree). There is no spoon-feeding and the rawness of director Arun Kumar's style is the perfect way to present such a storyline. Every character was enacted so well that every dialogue felt natural and not preachy, especially Nimisha Sajayan's desperate attempts to stop a cycle of trauma-induced violence. Of course, the viral song Unnaku Thaan is a favourite on my playlist now.
OMG 2
The spiritual successor of OMG, this social drama takes a terrific approach to an important stigma revolving around sex education in Indian schools. Akshay Kumar usually shines in this genre but this was completely pulled off by an effortless Pankaj Tripathi. When I first watched this court drama, I appreciated the intentions but was curious about the way Yami Gautam's character as the lawyer defended the accused by using the same argument repeatedly ('Our Indian culture!', 'Absolutely immoral and characterless!'—these must be familiar phrases if you live in India), but I guess that's the whole point. There is no argument that is valid when people oppose sex education for students, especially in a country where many commercial movies perpetuate abuse and sexism. Watch this only if you're ready for it.
Dasara
The festival of victory over evil came a little early this year in March when Nani astonished us with a riveting performance in Dasara. The interval is by far one of the best climaxes Telugu cinema has seen. The pain his character feels is palpable, and Keerthy Suresh is simply excellent. He is my favourite Telugu actor and I enjoyed watching him try his luck (and score) at the pan-Indian game. It's clear I love his movies because his other theatrical release also made it to the list. I also watched a gripping Game of Thrones-like Telugu action thriller called Salaar. It stars Prabhas who is back in form after a series of horrendous high-budget films. I'm mentioning it here because the violence quotient is similar to Dasara's but the never-ending character build-ups were a minus point.
If you want to know my views on what makes an excellent action film, read this.
Barbenheimer
We gotta mention the cinematic phenomenon this year: Barbenheimer. I had no expectations (I hadn't watched the trailers at all) and did not know how Greta Gerwig would adapt the eponymous doll into what became the biggest blockbuster of the year. Right from the sets to the touching performances by Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, everything was sublime! Christopher Nolan's biopic on the most influential scientist of the 20th century was a cinematic masterpiece. Cillian Murphy brought the essence of his titular character to life and the performances by Emily Blunt and RDJ are ones to remember.
I combined the two because I already reviewed Barbenheimer. You should check it out if you're interested in a more in-depth opinion.
2018
I remember recalling the times I was stuck in the 2015 Chennai floods and the cyclone the following year when I watched this Malayalam-language ensemble about the catastrophic floods. Even this year, as I reached out to friends stuck in the floods and watched videos online, I was reminded of how humanity comes together in times of adversity. (This goes beyond natural disasters, like the current genocide in Palestine.) Upholding the popular notion that Malayalam cinema is a game changer in Indian cinema, every cast and crew member made sure to bring this gem of a movie. (Be prepared to have your eyes flooded with tears.)
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Do I need to explain why this is on the list? A milestone in the field of animation, every shot was art. Watching it with friends was one of the highlights for me this year. This movie was a rollercoaster from start to fini- Oh wait, there's a sequel -_- I can't wait for the next part, though. It's thrilling to wonder what's in store in the Spider-Verse.
Ponniyin Selvan: II
Mani Ratnam doesn't have to prove his genius... it's present in every scene in this amazing adaptation of Kalki's historical fiction, Ponniyin Selvan. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan made us empathise with her character, the distressed antagonist. Vikram moved everyone with his performance as the tragic Aditha Karikalan. My favourite part of the movie was in the beginning with a blossoming romance between young Nandini and Aditha and this was accompanied by a haunting song by maestro A.R. Rahman. Watch both parts on Prime Video.
Hi Nanna
I eagerly waited for this movie for the whole year. Right from the enchanting announcement video to the mesmerising songs (by Hesham Abdul Wahab who knows how to tap into our hearts), I knew this would be another feather to Nani's cap. His portrayal of a responsible single father who is following his passion was full of heart, and this is the type of father-child drama I want. (Notice the subtle shade at Animal?) I felt no one could have played his counterpart in this romantic drama other than Mrunal Thakur. She delivers another hit in Telugu cinema and I can't wait for more movies like this.
This was a year to remember. Cinema is a medium through which dreams can transcend into reality, but there is a social responsibility for movies in today's climate. This doesn't mean that movies must be preachy, but entertainment should not propogate dangerous ideas without consequences. I say this only because this year saw a lot of controversy over the choices filmmakers worldwide make. Whether it is casting choices or choosing conveniently problematic plotlines just to chase profits, there was a lot of heated discussion among movie-goers.
This is an honest list of what I loved. I stumbled upon many gems from previous years but this post was to wrap up 2023 films. In the new year, I hope to continue posting passionately. You can expect exciting write-ups about sustainability, media, books (can't wait to share about my current read) and (hopefully) travel moments.
FOUR EYES wishes all the readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Let 2024 be a year of accomplishing goals, chasing dreams and making experiences.
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