Ever since the 2023 Oscar nominees were released this January, I decided to watch as many of the nominated films as I could before the awards ceremony this Sunday. I managed to watch a lot, and I also loved a lot of the films. So, I’d like to talk about five of my favorites (in no particular order) without giving too much away. I hope you’ll check a few of these out if you haven’t already.

Before that, I do have some honorable mentions: Babylon, A House Made of Splinters, Navalny, The Batman, and Marcel the Shell with Shoes On. 

Aftersun

Aftersun was such a simple but heartbreaking movie, which is exactly the type of movie I love. It’s about a father-daughter vacation in Turkey, and their relationship is portrayed beautifully by Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio. It’s just an all-around great debut film by director/writer Charlotte Wells. [Currently available for rent on Prime Video, etc.]

Everything Everywhere All at Once (EEAAO)

I saw EEAAO last May after hearing so much praise for it, and I’m so glad I believed the hype. I would try to give a synopsis of the film, but I don’t know if I could give one that would do the film justice. It’s such a creative film with a lot of heart. From the dialogue, to the visuals, to the characters and plot, the directing duo known as the Daniels did a great job. I genuinely never knew what would happen next when watching this movie. [Currently streaming on Showtime, etc.]

The Fabelmans

I went into this movie knowing nothing, except that it was a semi-autobiographical film about director Steven Spielberg. I really loved this movie and I related to the characters and their personal conflicts. I’m a sucker for a coming-of-age story, so I may be a bit biased. [Currently available for rent on Prime Video, etc.]

RRR

I actually knew absolutely nothing about this movie, and I didn’t know how much I’d like it after I found out that it had a 3 hour runtime. However, the 3 hours went by so fast due to the gripping plot and amazing action sequences. The title, which stands for “Rise, Roar, Revolt”, really tells you all you need to know before watching. [Currently streaming on Netflix]

Top Gun: Maverick

This movie was also filled with insane action sequences. Throughout the final act, I was definitely on the edge of my seat. It was thoroughly entertaining when I saw it in theaters this summer. Even if you haven’t watched the original Top Gun, I think you’ll still like the movie. I actually liked it a lot more than the original! [Both movies are currently streaming on Paramount+]

All I have to do now is (finally) watch Avatar: The Way of the Water and Puss In Boots: The Last Wish and I’ll be ready for Sunday.