The Ten is a ranking of the ten best films watched in a calendar year... so far. New films, old films, theatrical releases, and streaming adventures, all movies are considered. Many films will enter, but only the ten best will make the list. Every movie watched in 2023 has the potential to shake up the list. Be sure to check back often and let me know what you think.
Goodfellas
Occasionally, I need a friendly reminder of the power of cinema. When I do, I often reach for Goodfellas. This movie, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, and Joe Pesci, continues to fascinate me. If you forced me to do so, it is one of those films that would rank high on a list of my favorite films of all time. I wholeheartedly believe the story it tells to be that good.
12 Years a Slave
12 Years a Slave possesses the power to change you in ways few films can. I have revisited this film a few times now and every single time I find something new to appreciate about it. The first time I watched it, it confronted my own white privilege. The second time, I watched the film with my mother. She allowed me to ask questions about her experiences and what it meant to live through the Civil Rights Movement. This last time, I watched with the understanding there is a political movement afoot in our country focused on revising history. None of these journeys have been easy, but each one has been deeply necessary.
The Whale
The Whale is an empathy-inducing-machine. It is a world with a mission. Placing us firmly in the shoes of someone standing on the outside of society, we feel pain and a sense of longing that might otherwise be foreign to us. From my perspective, I found the entire experience to be deeply moving. For now, I do not know if it is an experience I am hungry to revisit soon. That should not deter you. I strongly recommend this film. Afterward, I also recommend you spend some time with how it made you feel.
Close
Awkwardness defines your teenage years. As you grow into yourself, you discover your identity, your likes, dislikes, and the things that bring you joy and pain. It is an age defined by transition. Close spends its time examining the lives of two young friends. We analyze their relationship, as well as their explorations of who they are and who they want to be. The story is hard to watch and challenging. I would encourage you to stay the course. I am confident there is a better version of yourself on the other side of this film.
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight remains the comic book movie by which I judge all others. No longer relegated to the cartoonish corners of the cinema landscape, this film offers a serious take on the genre. By focusing on character development, presenting a nuanced villain hellbent on anarchy, and a hero tested by his limits, this is a film I still hold in high regard. After more than a decade of the Marvel and DC cinematic universe, very little compares to it.
Spotlight
I admit it. I have a natural bias when it comes to films centered on journalism. My education and early career aspirations make it nearly impossible for me to judge these movies fairly. Luckily for me, Spotlight is one of the best crafted films ever made focused on investigative journalism. From pitch to publication, it wonderfully builds a world where the stakes seem high, and the dead ends seem real. Sure, it can over-romanticize the profession. Still, it remains a film by which I judge all others in the space.
La La Land
When I review a film, the first question I ask myself is simple. How did that experience make me feel? Based on a film’s ability to elicit emotion, I begin a deeper process of trying to understand its underlying message. La La Land makes me feel happy and nostalgic for my time spent in Los Angeles. It perfectly captures the energy and creativity that defines LA. It asks the audience to dream boldly. It makes me smile from ear to ear. At times, that is all I need.
Lincoln
I am a sucker for a well-made biopic. Lincoln places us firmly in the center of the Civil War and in the shoes of men and a society wrestling with the abolishment of slavery. Around meeting tables, in the halls of power, and deep in debate, we see power wielded, flexed, and shaped by men who helped turn the tides of our history.
Free Solo
The first time I watched Free Solo was at the cinema. On a large silver screen, I watched in astonishment as Alex Honnold became the first person to free solo El Capitan inside of Yosemite National Park. My second experience with this film was from the relative safety of my home. Naturally, I was worried the film might lose some of its impact. This time around, I found myself less focused on the vistas and towering heights. Instead, I soaked up the people surrounding Alex and their challenges. It provided another layer I felt during my first viewing. This time around, I appreciated it so much more.
Field of Dreams
Field of Dreams reminds me of time spent with my dad. In the front yard, we would practice fielding and batting. On the baseball diamond, he would coach my little league team. You really get to know your father when you see him through the eyes of other children. This film made me miss him deeply, and those summers spent together playing a sport we deeply loved.
Be good to each other,
Nathan
