It’s March 2023, and with the Oscar’s just 1 week away I thought now would be an opportune time to look back on what the last year in cinema was like as a 31-year-old man who constantly craves the meditative solitude and escape provided by my local movie theatre. Despite watching about 4 to 5 movies in theatres a month for years, this was the first time that I even thought to reflect on what were my actual top movies of the year. And it’s been an interesting exercise reflecting on my experience, which has helped me better understand my own taste in movies. I hope, if anything, by reading this list you may find a new favourite movie yourself that you might have missed, or that you might not have thought to watch otherwise. So thank you in advance for indulging me! 

A few disclaimers:

This list is personal to my own taste. I acknowledge that movies at the top of my list may not be objectively the “best” movies, or the best movies for everyone, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

There will notably be a severe lack of horror on this list. Horror is just a genre I don’t do well with (quite sadly, because there are some incredibly smart and amazing horror movies out there that I wish I had the courage to watch). 

This list only includes the movies I watched in theatres, with the exception of certain movies on streaming platforms that either weren’t available theatrically in my market (Toronto, Ontario) or I didn’t get a chance to watch due to an extremely limited release. 

So with all that said, let’s start with the movies that didn’t make the list, and for good reason: 

• Amsterdam – a story about three quirky friends doing quirky things in a post-World War I world. A talented cast who do their best to tell a story who’s plot I couldn’t even retell if I tried. But the ultimate question remains, when everyone is quirky, is anyone truly quirky? 
• See How They Run – Copy and paste my critique of Amsterdam and it would still work quite well for this film. An equally impressive cast, that was again, unfortunately, equally as forgettable. 
• Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore – my honest reaction coming out of the theatre was, “well that was a movie, I guess”. Dissecting my specific gripes about this movie would require its own separate article.
• Don’t Worry Darling – while not terrible, it would unfortunately also require a whole other article to fully express my feelings about this movie. 
• Morbius – There was no saving this movie. Was it as bad as I had expected it to be? No. But was it a good movie? Absolutely not. 
• Jurassic World: Dominion – I don’t think explanations are necessary for this one.

And now here’s a list of movies that didn’t quite make the list, but that I still enjoyed, in no particular order: 

• Thor: Love and Thunder – as a true MCU fan, there is no MCU movie that I won’t watch again and again. And while I have immense respect for the storytelling feat that is the MCU, this one just didn’t move the needle for me. And we also need to give Tessa Thompson more to do please and thank you. 
• RRR – What an absolutely crazy and epic movie! I have to give credit for the sheer scale of the movie, the at-times ridiculous set-pieces, and the raucous dance and fight choreography. Will I watch it again? Probably not, especially with its long runtime. But am I glad I watched it? Most definitely. 
• Where the Crawdad’s Sing – Went in totally blind having never read the book, and had an enjoyable experience discovering all the twists and turns. Was it the most memorable movie? Not really. But kudos to Harris Dickinson for being one of the most prolific actors of 2022 (see See How they Run and Triangle of Sadness). 
• Ticket to Paradise – I thoroughly enjoyed watching George Clooney and Julia Roberts just have fun. Kaitlyn Dever is a pleasure to watch as always. A fun movie that won’t go down in history as the greatest rom com of all time. 
• Bodies Bodies Bodies – As mentioned, the horror genre in general is a bit troublesome for me, even though this one is not quite “horror”. While I did enjoy the movie, ultimately it wasn’t a movie that spoke to me specifically, and focused a bit too much on the aspects of Gen Z culture that are a bit grating for me. 
• Strange World – While the visuals were beautiful and inventive, we’ve seen the themes of family and multi-generational trauma tackled in a better more emotionally resonant way by the same studio, Disney Animation (see Encanto). While I’m still glad that I watched it, I was really hopeful for more. 
• Elvis – The only best picture nominee to not make it onto my top 30 list. I know intelligently that this is an objectively well put together movie. Austin Butler is amazing and deserves the accolades. But between Baz Lurhman’s stylistic choices and Tom Hanks’ character, this movie was a bit too unsettling for my own taste, and was genuinely hard for me to get through. 
• Fire of Love – A great documentary, an interesting subject matter, and yet another hit from National Geographic. Is it a subject matter I’m particularly interested in? No, not really. But if I were to compare this to Free Solo, which was also not a subject matter I was interested in but was utterly captivating and raised my heart rate for 2 hours afterwards, this one didn’t quite meet that standard for me. 
• Black Adam – I actually was really excited for this movie and had a great time watching it. But to be honest I was more interested in the Justice Society of America and not Black Adam. The JSA cast and the look of the characters didn’t disappoint, and it’s always good to see Pierce Brosnan have a genuinely good time. But that doesn’t detract from the fact that the movie was a bit of a mess. 
• 3000 Years of Longing – An interestingly imaginative concept, with a beautiful aesthetic and amazing cast. Nothing to complain about on this one, but it wasn’t particularly game changing for me either. 
• The Good Nurse – Watched this at TIFF and initially felt lukewarm until I was able to hear some of the backstory of the actual case from the cast and the real-life nurse herself as part of the Q&A panel. This really helped me better understand the acting choices and why certain scenes played out the way they did, but otherwise without that context I wasn’t blown away by the movie. 
• I Wanna Dance with Somebody – An underrated performance from Naomi Ackie, and a polished retelling of the story of Whitney Houston that I didn’t know too much about. But it ultimately really felt like just that, a retelling. 
• Bros – I had a great time watching this movie, and it felt like a return to form for the theatrical romantic comedy. But as more time passed I couldn’t tell you what made this stand out from other romantic comedy movies in the genre. And in this day and age, having a diverse LGBTQIA+ cast, while ground-breaking in its own right, wasn’t enough to elevate this movie beyond the limitations of the genre. 
• Lightyear – Not a bad movie, but not a great one either. Having not rewatched this movie past its theatrical release, I’m honestly not sure why this one didn’t hit. It was trying so hard but just didn’t quite hit those emotional notes that we’ve come to love from Pixar movies, which was a real shame. 
• Bullet Train – A stylish, fast-paced, and chaotic action-packed film starting an ever so-charismatic Brad Pitt and a star-studded supporting cast. While not necessarily a movie I will return to, it was indeed a fun summer movie. 

And now onto the list, starting with #30 to #21:

• #30: Causeway – I went into this movie with very little knowledge of what to expect, and was very pleasantly surprised by the quiet but nuanced performances from both Jennifer Lawrence and Bryan Tyree Henry. A movie about real people connecting over real trauma and learning to overcome it in small but important ways. And while it wasn’t as impactful as some of the other films on this list, I was glad to be able to catch this on streaming after missing it at TIFF.
• #29: She Said – a movie that would have won the Best Picture award if it was still 2015, She Said captures the events from the perspective of the New York Times reporters who revealed to the world the atrocities of Harvey Weinstein and kicked off the #MeToo movement. A very straightforward retelling but saved by the amazing performances of its two empathetic leads, Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan, who elevate what would have otherwise felt like an extended history class. 
• #28: The Woman King – An epic action-packed women-led film from Gina Prince-Bythewood who, between this movie and the Old Guard, is really killing it when it comes to action. Viola Davis crushes it in the lead role, and continues to deliver a masterclass in performances depicting both strength and vulnerability. Maybe one too many cut away shots of unimportant nameless white European men getting stabbed by spears, but otherwise a solid movie. Not necessarily a movie that is for me or would normally be up my alley (historical action-heavy period pieces aren’t exactly my go-to) but have to respect the work that went into this one. 
• #27: All Quiet on the Western Front – so remember what I said about historical action-heavy period pieces not being my thing? But credit where credit is due. Having read the source material, the film really does elevate the story with its stunningly bleak visuals and incredible cast who deliver on the emotional pathos. But at the end of the day it’s still an all too real and depressing look at one of the worst and most meaningless wars in human history, and not a movie I would return to regularly. 
• #26: Decision to Leave – I feel so conflicted on this one! It’s a movie that I so wanted to love, and I can objectively say it is an amazingly crafted film. It is a stunning and genuinely interesting murder mystery. But between the melancholy tone, the odd structure, and the immense amount of romantic tension between the two leads that never quite felt settled for me, I left the movie more confused in my thoughts than outright enjoying it. Would recommend, but wouldn’t put it in my top tier list. 
• #25: Batman – There were some great moments in this movie (the opening montage for one), some great performances all around, and a great new direction for the franchise (love seeing this early career Batman). But ultimately this just felt like a fresh take on a franchise that at this point feels so tired. I wish we didn’t have to keep reinventing the wheel every 5 years but at this point it seems like it’s the only thing that works in the DC universe.
• #24: Babylon – Call me crazy, but going in with low expectations, I left this unnecessarily long movie feeling pretty energised and entertained. The aspects of the movie that are meant to celebrate the joy of film and old Hollywood through the earnest eyes of Diego Calva were the highlights. But that was all too often completely overshadowed by the absolutely debaucherous and outright disgusting scenes of the Hollywood underbelly. Damian Chazelle is still quite clearly a talented director, and his ability to capture frenetic energy on film feels unmatched. So while this wasn’t the greatest movie, I still left a satisfied customer. 
• #23: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent – How can you not leave this movie with a smile on your face? Kudos to Nicolas Cage, who I feel like is the only actor of his calibre who could put together a movie like this that cheekily pokes fun at his prolific and odd career. A great reminder that as serious as film can be, we can also just go to the cinema to have a good time. 
• #22: Empire of Light – Now while we can go to the movies to have a good time, it doesn’t mean we have to. Is this the greatest movie of all time? Probably not. Does it have way too much to say about mental health, racism, gender roles and boundaries in the workplace, and the transcendence of love? You reread that question and you tell me. But damn are Olivia Colman and Michael Ward not just great in this movie? And wouldn’t we all just be so blissful if our lives were directed by Sam Mendes, and lit by Roger Deakins, with music composed by Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor? And maybe I’m listening to the soundtrack now while I write this… 
• #21: Doctor Strange & The Multiverse of Madness – In my slightly younger days, rushing to go watch the next Comic Book or Harry Potter movie was so ingrained in my existence that it turned me into the movie lover I am today. So this genre has always been near and dear to my heart. While nowhere near the top of my MCU tier list, I thoroughly enjoyed watching this movie in theatres and on repeat at home. Elizabeth Olsen is such a gem in this role, even though the MCU doesn’t quite know what to do with her. 

Now for the middle of the pack, #20 to #11: 

• #20: Top Gun: Maverick – yes it’s only #20 for me. Pure action movies are just not quite up my alley, and despite my parents’ love of the first movie, it never really resonated with me personally. Despite that, this movie is truly an achievement, not just technically when it comes to the flight scenes, but in terms of properly writing a sequel where new characters can be introduced while old characters can continue to grow in logical and natural ways. I 100% understand why people love this movie – when the day is won and the American flag is waving and Lady Gaga starts belting, even I get those patriotic goosebumps. But was this movie for me personally? Not really. 
• #19: Women Talking – In the Oscars Best Picture race, this to me is the polar opposite of Top Gun: Maverick (I don’t think any of the female characters in Top Gun: Maverick actually interact). I honestly did not think I would like this movie just based on its simple and bleak premise, but I was thoroughly blown away by the incredible performances, particularly of Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, and Jessie Buckley. This has truly been an incredible year for female performances in film.
• #18: Turning Red – Another solid Pixar movie. While simultaneously a bit more silly than its Pixar predecessors but also more grounded and down to Earth, this movie still manages to strike all the right emotional chords while weaving together its themes of multi-generational trauma, the immigrant experience, and the power of acceptance. While I can’t say I personally connected with the journey of Mei Mei and the trauma that comes along with being a girl undergoing puberty, as a fellow Chinese-Canadian growing up in Toronto in the 90s, it was genuinely exciting to be represented in Hollywood. If only we could’ve gotten a theatrical release… 
• #17: Glass Onion – This was one movie for me that kept getting bumped down my list over the last few months, even though I really did like the movie. The performances were great, especially Janelle Monae, and it is truly joyous to see Daniel Craig having fun in a movie (yay for James Bond actors finally being free to let loose). The Knives’ Out “franchise” continues to deliver on the murder mystery premise by being incredibly inventive and wonderfully unpredictable. And the fact that it delivers the same level of enjoyment for me as the first movie is a victory in and of itself. But for some reason while I wanted it to be a top tier movie it just didn’t quite make it.
• #16: Nope – I joke that this is my favourite of Jordan Peele’s three main films, but it’s mainly because I am so bad with horror and it’s hard to really appreciate movies like Get Out and Us when you’re covering your eyes for a lot of it. I am so surprised that so many people felt that the movie was too slow paced and too long, because I felt myself wrapped up in the mystery and suspense from the get-go. Another win in my books for Jordan Peele. 
• #15: The Menu – Oh my what an experience of a movie! A visceral satire that pokes fun at the world of fine dining that ultimately takes a thrilling and dark turn. Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes are standouts of course, but really kudos to Nicholas Hoult who I feel like doesn’t get enough credit for how well he plays the hubris of his intensely idiotic character. The movie felt very polished and fresh, and was a nice end of year palate cleanser for me. 
• #14: Marcel the Shell with Shoes On – A movie about a small shell with a big heart. This one really took me by surprise, having no knowledge of the original short films. A movie about the importance of family and community told through a charming little stop-motion animated shell, this film is filled with moments of earned earnestness intermixed with unexpectedly witty dialogue and genuine laughter. A perfect balance of wholesome fun and introspective ruminations on what it means to be connected in this world. 
• #13:  After Yang – Probably my favourite Colin Farrell performance of the year, which is saying something (see Batman and Banshees of Inisherin). A truly beautiful and nuanced film about human connection, what it means to be loved, and what it means to be part of a family, regardless of where you were born or created (in the case of our robot character Yang). I love when we get to explore these science fiction concepts in a way that is grounded and human (see Everything Everywhere All at Once). And I personally appreciate movies from Asian-American directors as they know how to delicately incorporate subject matter that resonates with me even when it’s not the main focus of the movie, in this case dealing with an Asian daughter who feels out of place with her adoptive family. 
• #12: Tar – Cate Blanchett is one of my favourite actresses, not just because she is immensely talented and charismatic, but because she always does her homework and always takes every role seriously. I could watch interviews of her for hours, and would recommend watching her and Michelle Yeoh’s recent Actors on Actors interview. Her portrayal of Lydia Tar is what truly makes this movie shine, and she had it nailed from her opening monologue. That said, I found myself a bit lost when it came to the more “fantastical” elements of the movie, and maybe that was the point. And given that the movie is a true “tragedy”  in a Shakespearan sense, this may not be a movie that I would find myself watching again on a casual evening. 
• #11: Triangle of Sadness – Yet another movie I went into without knowing very much about it aside from knowing it won the Palme D’Or. So as you can imagine I went into the movie very cautiously after the experience that was the previous years’ Palme D’Or winner (looking at you Titane). But the movie really did not disappoint. An incredibly on-the-nose satire that tackles the topics of classism and social inequities with a sledgehammer. I found myself really enjoying the movie and the performances, to the point where the structure of the movie (a movie in three wildly different acts) didn’t bother me too much. A definite recommend!  

Now onto the final 10! 

• #10: Puss and Boots: The Last Wish – Would I ever have thought at the beginning of 2022 that a Puss and Boots movie would be in my top 10? Between the incredible art style, signature nostalgic fairy-tale Shrek storytelling, and honest and endearing story about the realities of being an ageing cat superhero, this is a must watch movie for all comers. You don’t have to have watched the first Puss and Boots movie to appreciate this film (I don’t think I ever watched the first one). This movie is the perfect blend of great concept and great execution. 
• #9: Avatar: The Way of Water – While the Avatar franchise will never win any awards for storytelling, the sheer spectacle and grandeur of the film was enough to make for an incredible movie-going experience. It was the first movie in a long-time where I went with a big group of friends, and the genuine excitement amongst my friends and amongst the crowd was electric. James Cameron puts so much care into his movies, and his ability to create these expansive worlds and sweeping visuals while still being able to choreograph interesting and fluid fight scenes seems unparalleled. And yes, while a good chunk of the movie plays out like a cross between a high school drama and a National Geographic show, the fact that it managed to keep me absolutely captivated during its long run time is saying a lot. 
• #8: Wakanda Forever – On rewatch this movie moved down a few notches for me, but the Black Panther franchise is one franchise where you just can’t help but feel the love and passion, whether it’s from the director, the actors, the costume designers and artists, and of course the musicians. When you couple in the fact that the story had to completely change with the passing of Chadwick Boseman, that just adds to the impressiveness of the feat that was completing this movie. The strength of the female cast is astonishing. Between Angela Bassett’s pure conviction, Danai Gurira’s humour and physicality, Letitia Wright’s rage and grief, and Lupita Nyong’o’s genuine warmth, all weaved under a mantle of strength and confidence – that alone is enough to solidify this movie in my top 10. Where it loses out for me is all the extra elements of the plot that I could really have done without, such as the CIA and Ironheart subplots, that ultimately distract from the true heart of the movie.
• #7: The Fablemans – This is yet another movie that kept falling further down my list the more it sat with me. This semi-autobiographical film from Steven Spielberg hit some real highs for me, particularly when it came to Michelle Williams incredible performance (the multitude of emotions that she can communicate with just her eyes is amazing). Gabriel LaBelle was also such a nice surprise. The movie itself you could just tell felt so personal and touching. But I realise that for me the movie didn’t quite stick the landing. The ending “epilogue” puts a bit of a damper on the story, and maybe because of that my memory of the movie isn’t as awe-inspiring as I wish it could have been. Still I would say it’s a must watch, and a real return to form for an incredible director. 
• #6: Aftersun – This was the last film I watched before completing this list, having missed its initial theatrical run in Toronto which was unfortunately incredibly short. And I was so glad I was able to catch it! What seems on the surface like such a quiet and simple concept for a film that follows a seemingly ordinary father and daughter on a rather ordinary family vacation, Aftersun manages to deliver a message and a perspective on living with depression that is so poignant and impactful. And while a movie about depression would seem downright, well, depressing, the chemistry between Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio and the pure heart and joy between the two characters in those small moments of happiness are just everything. 
• #5: Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinnochio – I cannot recommend this movie enough! This for me will henceforth be the quintessential version of Pinnochio, somehow finding a way to take the themes of being a “real boy” to a whole new and meaningful level. If you haven’t yet watched this, I would also recommend watching the short “Behind the Craft” documentary afterwards on Netflix where they go behind the scenes of the painstaking process that went into creating this stop-motion masterpiece. It gives you such an appreciation for the love and care that went into this movie. 
• #4: Cha Cha Real Smooth – Looking online at audience reviews, there really does seem to be a divide amongst critics and fans alike, and I wonder if it has to do with where you are in terms of your stage in life when watching this movie. While to be fair I’m a bit past this period in my life, this coming-of-age story about making sense of a crazy world post-college and trying to reconcile our deluded concepts of “success” with the harsh realities of life, still resonates loudly with me today. This movie tackles these concepts so earnestly, with genuine moments of love and warmth, and a main character that is just so downright relatable. This is a movie that may not be for everyone, but it really hits the mark for me. 
• #3: The Whale – Another movie that, based on reviews, isn’t for everyone. Grounded in Brendan Fraser’s incredible performance, The Whale walks us through the final week of a morbidly obese man coming to terms with his mortality, while his friends and family, many of whom were alienated by the process, attempt to understand how we got to where we are now. To me, I never once felt that this was an exploitative or grotesque portrayal of obesity, but instead, what I got from this was a sad but genuine and realistic depiction, particularly from my perspective as a healthcare professional where I’ve seen this sort of self-destructive behaviour time and time again. In any case, I was so genuinely happy when Hong Chau was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, particularly in this incredibly competitive year for actresses across the board. So well deserved for delivering such a heart-wrenchingly real performance of a healthcare professional struggling to figure out how best to help someone who doesn’t want to be helped. A must watch. 
• #2: The Banshees of Inisherin – This movie totally caught me by surprise. I had heard good things of course, but I went into watching the film thinking that this wouldn’t do it for me. A movie set on an island off of Ireland in the middle of the Irish civil war – not exactly a movie I would’ve thought I would enjoy. But between the amazing performances and chemistry of the two leads Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, and of course the confident and commanding performance of Kerry Condon, this movie somehow finds a way to take a simple premise and weave together a tale of  real humour and real sorrow all in one beautiful package. I can’t really tell you what makes this movie so relatable, but I suppose it’s the honest portrayal of the fragility of friendship and human connection that hits close to home.

And finally, I present you my top pick:

• #1: Everything Everywhere All at Once – I’ve been a huge advocate of this movie since it was released in March 2022, particularly after watching it three times in theatres within a two week period. Combining my favourite movie tropes, from fantastical sci-fi elements, a struggling multi-generational Asian-American immigrant family, and even a bit of a coming-of-age story, this movie takes a wild swing and, in my opinion, wholeheartedly sticks the landing. If you can get past the absurdity of the concept, you are rewarded with a third act that, instead of focusing on building to a big action set piece, instead re-grounds itself in the family and gives each character a moment to shine. The movie resonated with me on so many levels, but in particular it’s Waymond’s monologue in the final act – his revelation that in this at times terrible world, being kind and optimistic is not a sign of naivety or weakness, but instead is a necessity for survival – truly hits home. The more I learn about this movie the more impressive it gets, from discovering that only 6 visual effects artists worked on the film, to watching Stephanie Hsu’s incredible audition tape. This movie and the cast, in my opinion, deserve all the love in the world. 

And that’s a wrap! I have to say that looking back, 2022 was a great year in movies. It’s the first year in many years where I can look at the Oscars Best Picture nominees and really genuinely understand why each movie was nominated. And it’s great to see such a diversity of movies represented this year, from the big blockbusters, to small indie flicks, to big war epics, and powerful women-led films. 

If you’ve made it this far thanks again for indulging me in this reflective exercise. Hopefully you found a new movie to watch this weekend. Or maybe there’s a movie I missed that you would recommend? So until next year, here’s to another great year of movie watching!