The 10 Best Movies of 2023

About this video essay:
The 10 best movies of 2023, and some honorable mentions!

Content:
00:00 Introduction
01:06 Honorable Mentions
03:57 1
06:20 2
09:14 3
11:54 4
14:29 5
17:09 6
19:39 7
22:10 8
24:47 9
27:04 10
29:32 Concluding announcement

Further Reading:

[LikeStoriesofOld]

Happy holidays everyone, and thank you so much for your support of these past few years!

[lucyd.]

03:57 Anatomy of a love
06:20 Oppenheimer
09:14 The Eight Mountains
11:54 Godland
14:29 The Killer
17:09 May December
19:39 Killer of the Flower Moon
22:10 Past Lives
24:47 Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret
27:04 The Holdovers

[jfkst]

1. Anatomy of a Fall.
2. Oppenheimer.
3. The Eight Mountains.
4. Godland.
5. The Killer.
6. May December.
7. Killers of the Flower Moon.
8. Past Lives.
9. Are you there God? It's me Margaret.
10. The Holdovers.

[Lime]

The era of superheroes was a blessing in disguise for writers and film makers. A good prolong frustration can lead to the most beautiful and meaningful art. So glad for so many creatives to finally be able to make emotional and everlasting pieces.

[Goosegoosegoose]

Went in blind on The Holdovers for a last-minute date night where we just picked the movie based on whatever fit after our busy work day and I can't even express how much it blew me away with how emotional I felt. My heart was aching for all 3 main characters in different ways and just the way the movie conveys the critical need for human connection to change and grow really was just so powerful, all packaged in a warm, familiar "Dead Poets Society" tone and feeling. So happy it hit yours and others top 10 of the year!

[lesliekingsley]

Thank you for "Like Stories of Old" - it is the most thoughtful and thought-provoking movie commentary & review channel on YouTube. The disarmingly frank and genuine style of commentary is uniquely engaging.

[florianizer]

I really couldn't connect with Oppenheimer, but your description of your first versus repeat viewings is the exact motivation I needed to give it a second shot. Thanks for that.

[bnkrnzh]

Of all the movies I saw in 2023, I enjoyed the Irish language film, "An Cailin Ciuin"--"The Quiet Girl"--the most. It's the film whose story, sounds, images, cast and characters have stayed with me the longest. I think about them every day.

[CalvinRRC]

The last scene of Past Lives actually gutted me. It's everything that makes me want to fall in love and everything that scares me about love.

[gangly]

Oppenheimer is the first film by Nolan that I felt that I didn't HAVE to "read", to use your expression, and thus was a richer, more fulfilling experience for me than his previous work.
I really enjoy your content. Thank you. Enjoy your honeymoon!

[fell]

Godzilla Minus One gave me all I needed from a movie and more. I went in with no real expectations

[lamelania]

I stumbled upon your video and absolutely didn't expect for you to mention "20 days in Mariupol". As a Ukrainian, I'm so grateful you recommended this hard to watch but really important documentary, this means a lot. Thank you! And thank you for other interesting pieces mentioned in video, added some of them to my watchlist!

[keenanhosfield]

Some things I found great about The Killer were the ways the killer improvised for his goals. The recycling bin scene is great, but as was discarding the rifle parts, and finally his haphazard and comical entry into the gym and client suite. It's extremely insular to his perspective making teasing out his motivations difficult; the girlfriend relationship and motivation felt a bit hollow but that seems deliberate - it isn't so much love or human connection he is concerned with and moreso annoyance at his personal life and free time being intruded upon. No grand sweeping romantic ending or displays of affection, dude just wants to chill on the patio

[DThron]

Great list, and absolutely agreed about THE KILLER. I would add that it's incredibly refreshing to see a film that is neither a puzzle to be cracked nor a statement to be recieved, but rather something that, in chewing on what it might mean, allows me to discover my own feelings.

[mikebasil]

A Godzilla movie, as with any giant monster movie, can indeed be an important drama for how overwhelming destruction can influence the human condition. Thank you very much, Tom. Enjoy your honeymoon and Christmas. 🎄

[vbfqewj]

I love listening to how you describe all these beautiful movies. It’s like listening to a master storyteller. Love this one. Subscribed!

[guster]

Your writeup and analysis of Past Lives was absolutely incredibly and so concisely put. Thank you for wording so beautifully why I loved the film so much.

[dexterellis]

Thanks for this. 2023 proved that people want more than just superhero movies. This summer was dominated by two movies that had nothing to do with Marvel or DC.

[bzporto]

Amazing to see The Killer being appreciated.

Edit: he didn’t come out on top. Tilda’s role was supposed to be one of the most important ones.

Her speech about deliberately being oblivious to the inevitable terrible death ahead of people who have such a “job” as they do is supposed to reflect the anguish that awaits him.

There’s even a subtle clock sound in the end, as “your time is coming”.

Reminds me of that amazing Shakespeare’s quote used in Westworld “these violent delights have violent ends”.

[thatpineappleguy]

Please oh please do a video on Godzilla Minus one! It's low budget and international success really represents something special happening in Cinema and in the Godzilla franchise. What a beautiful story as well! Definitely material there.