The 25 Best Films of 2023
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The post The 25 Best Films of 2023 appeared first on Consequence.
Our Annual Report turns to the world of film with our 25 Best Movies of 2023 list. Find all of our awards, lists, and exclusive features recapping the year’s best in music, film, and TV here.
At the beginning of 2023, the world of cinema felt like it was standing on a bit of a precipice — sure, in 2022 people had at least gone to see Tom Cruise fly around in a jet plane again, and Cruise was due to also ride a motorcycle off a mountain in the summer. But Cruise alone couldn’t keep theaters afloat; Americans would need more reasons to go to the movies.
Thankfully, those reasons arrived in droves: Multiple animated features redefined what the medium was capable of, while established and emerging auteurs delivered some of the best work of their career. There were heartbreaking true stories, captivating thrillers, daring dramas, and delightful adventures — and perhaps you might have heard something about a little phenomenon known as Barbenheimer. (Or Oppenbarbie, should that be your preference.)
Like any year, there were some flops in the mix and some disappointments from the greats, but there was so much for film fans to be grateful for over the last 12 months, only wetting the appetite further for what’s to come in 2024. Here are the best movies of 2023.
— Liz Shannon Miller
Senior Entertainment Editor
25. All of Us Strangers
All of Us Strangers (Searchlight Pictures)
Directed by: Andrew Haigh
Cast: Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell, Claire Foy
Studio: Searchlight Pictures
Adapted from the Japanese novel Strangers, Andrew Haigh’s latest is sentimental about the fragilities of life and the slipperiness of queer existence. A lonely writer named Adam (Andrew Scott, never warmer and sadder than here) is coping with the prospect of new love with neighbor Harry (Paul Mescal, brilliantly brittle) and the missed opportunity to know his long-lost parents (Claire Foy and Jamie Bell). Until, that is, a magical circumstance allows Adam to drop by his parents’ house to see them, crystallized on the day before their death, the same age that Adam is now. It’s a conceit that’s never explained, and good for Haigh on his restraint — that’s not the point. Instead, Strangers soaks us in the melancholy of a modern queer man reassuring his parents, forever stuck in the AIDS-panicked ‘80s, that things will get better for him, a tale anchored by beautiful turns from Haigh’s four leads. — Clint Worthington
24. They Cloned Tyrone
They Cloned Tyrone (Netflix)
Directed by: Juel Taylor
Cast: John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, Jamie Foxx, Kiefer Sutherland, David Alan Grier
Studio: Netflix
Juel Taylor’s funky, acerbic debut was another great surprise this year, a well-paced mix of ‘70s conspiracy sci-fi, blaxploitation, and Peele-ian social commentary. And at the center of it is one of 2023’s most invigorating acting trios: John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, and Jamie Foxx as three low-rung members of an impoverished Black community who find out their degenerated social setting isn’t as organic as it may seem. All through its deeper ideas of social control and racial hierarchies, They Cloned Tyrone never forgets to be charming and downright fun — aided largely by Foxx’s red dwarf of charisma and costume designer Francine Jamison-Tanchuck’s eye-candy costumes. — C. Worthington
23. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (Paramount)
Directed by: Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley
Cast: Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Hugh Grant
Studio: Paramount
As Consequence covered upon this film’s original release, Hollywood’s track record with adapting the world’s most famous RPG for the screen has had a lot more failures than successes. But directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein knocked this fantasy adventure out of the park by remembering one key fact about D&D: It’s a game designed to be played with friends, for fun. The charming cast, led by Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, and Justice Smith, made it easy to fall in love with this rough-and-tumble found family of eventual heroes, and the wit and skill with which the world of the game was brought to life have us keeping our fingers crossed that a sequel will be greenlit sometime soon. — L.S. Miller
22. You Hurt My Feelings
You Hurt My Feelings (A24)
Directed by: Nicole Holofcener
Cast: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tobias Menzies, Michaela Watkins, Arian Moayed, Owen Teague, Jeannie Berlin
Studio: A24
Julia Louis-Dreyfus and director Nicole Holofcener reunite for a tale of miscommunication, bruised egos, and, yes, hurt feelings. After Louis-Dreyfus’ Beth accidentally overhears her husband Don (Tobias Menzies) criticize her latest creative endeavor, she’s thrown into a crisis of character that exposes both the inherent silliness of hurt feelings and how genuinely affecting those experiences can be. Bolstered by great performances and a tastefully comedic tone, the film manages to get deeply emotional without ever becoming crushingly depressing — quite a feat in 2023. — Jonah Krueger
21. Poor Things
Poor Things (Searchlight Pictures)
Directed by: Yorgos Lanthimos
Cast: Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, Christopher Abbott, Jerrod Carmichael
Studio: Searchlight Pictures
In adapting Alasdair Gray’s 1992 novel, Yorgos Lanthimos once again delivers an examination of humanity through the lens of silly people and sheer absurdism. Through fish-eyed shots and Lanthimos’ signature style of dialogue, Emma Stone’s Frankenstein’s Monster (or rather, Willem Dafoe’s Monster) Bella Baxter learns and examines the arbitrary nuances of a quickly developing world as Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo) prances her around Europe. For Lanthimos, it’s a surprisingly joyful joint; and yet, the film manages to retain all of the artistry and humanistic curiosity that made his previous work so enthralling. — J. Krueger
20. Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé
Beyoncé, photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood
Directed by: Beyoncé
Cast: Beyoncé, Blue Ivy Carter, Megan Thee Stallion, Kendrick Lamar, Diana Ross, Jay-Z, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, LaTavia Roberson, LeToya Luckett, Tina Knowles
Studio: AMC Theaters
As the icon/auteur also did with 2019’s Homecoming, Beyoncé pushed past standard expectations of the traditional concert film by drawing the viewer into her process as a creator, making Renaissance not just a document of her blockbuster tour, but a full-fledged self-portrait of an artist. While those unable to make it to any of her tour dates do get more than a taste of the concert tour’s production and scale, the behind-the-scenes elements are just as compelling: We live inside Beyoncé’s anxieties over daughter Blue Ivy making her debut on stage as a dancer, learn about the physical challenges of performing post-surgery, and most importantly come to understand her dedication to her craft (even when it means telling other people that they’re wrong). — L.S. Miller
19. The Color Purple
The Color Purple (Warner Bros.)
Directed by: Blitz Bazawule
Cast: Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halle Bailey, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Fantasia Barrino
Studio: Warner Bros.
Those familiar with the book or previous film adaptation of Alice Walker’s story of repression and triumph might be surprised by the joy packed into director Blitz Bazawule’s musical version. Because yes, this is a full-throated musical, the songs from the Broadway adaptation fueling the journey of Celie (Phylicia Pearl Mpasi/Fantasia Barrino) from abuse victim to a life of success and happiness. It’s not just Celie’s story, though, with the film’s supporting cast getting plenty of powerful moments, the standout being Danielle Brooks as the irrepressible Sofia — making her a Best Supporting Actress shoo-in, and the essential anchor to the film’s message about standing up for yourself, no matter what. — L.S. Miller
18. Anatomy of a Fall
Anatomy of a Fall (NEON)
Directed by: Justine Triet
Cast: Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado-Graner, Antoine Reinartz, Samuel Theis, Jehnny Beth, Saadia Bentaieb, Camille Rutherford, Anne Rotger, Sophie Fillières
Studio: Neon
One of the most unexpectedly compelling whodunnits of the year, in part because it leans so effectively into the messiness that comes with the search for definitive truth. Did a prominent writer (Sandra Hüller, making her first of two appearances on this list) kill her husband? Or was it an accident? Or… was it something else? Director Justine Triet dives hard into the nooks and crannies not just of the titular event, but a complicated marriage that, like most marriages, is impossible to understand from the outside. It’s not a movie that offers easy answers — because like in life, easy answers are never easy to come by. — L.S. Miller
17. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Paramount)
Directed by: Jeff Rowe
Cast: Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu, Brady Noon, Ayo Edebiri, Maya Rudolph, John Cena, Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Natasia Demetriou, Giancarlo Esposito, Jackie Chan, Ice Cube, Paul Rudd, Austin Post, Hannibal Buress
Studio: Paramount
One of many ways 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse shook up the industry was by establishing that there was room for a wide range of visual styles within the realm of kids-targeted animation, setting the stage for projects like the best TMNT movie since the 1990 original. (At least, in the eyes of this life-long Turtles fan.) The rough yet beautiful design fits perfectly with this fresh narrative take on the heroes in a half-shell, which emphasizes the “teenage” part of the title. Leaning hard into the four boys’ yearning to live amongst the humans as the high school-aged kids they are, Mutant Mayhem delivers solid comedy, great action, and some of the year’s best voice performances. — L.S. Miller
16. The Zone of Interest
The Zone of Interest (A24)
Directed by: Jonathan Glazer
Cast: Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller
Studio: A24
Based on the novel by Martin Amis as well as the true story of Commandant Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel) and his family’s time living nextdoor to Auschwitz, writer/director Jonathan Glazer proved that there are still new ways to tell stories about one of humanity’s darkest periods. Glazer shot his searing Holocaust drama mere yards from the actual site of Auschwitz, the beauty of the Polish countryside a shocking contrast to the ugliness of the story. And the Big Brother-inspired approach to filming Glazer’s cast, with cameras hidden within the two-story recreation of the Höss family home, brings an almost voyeuristic feel to the narrative. Sandra Hüller in particular proves captivating here — between this and Anatomy of a Fall, the German actress has proven herself to be a talent worthy of note. — L.S. Miller
15. The Boy and the Heron
The Boy and the Heron (GKIDS)
Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Soma Santoki, Masaki Suda, Aimyon, Yoshino Kimura, Shōhei Hino, Ko Shibasaki, Takuya Kimura
Studio: GKids
Hayao Miyazaki didn’t need to go out on another high — his 2013 masterpiece, The Wind Rises, already gave him that — but the formerly-retired master animator chose to come back and do it anyway. So here we are, with another fantastical but emotionally mature tale of loss, grief, and closure, centered on a young boy whose grief over his mother leads him to a magical land where she may still be living. The Boy and the Heron mixes Miyazaki’s breathtaking aesthetic style (pastoral greens, pastels, rounded character designs) with the abstracted blaze of flame and the withering rush of paper. It’s a film rich in the man’s signature textures as he wonders whether he can (and should) hand the world to the next generation of animators. Let yourself be spirited away by its rhythms, and you’ll be transported. — C. Worthington
14. The Iron Claw
The Iron Claw (A24)
Directed by: Sean Durkin
Cast: Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney, Holt McCallany, Lily James
Studio: A24
Foreknowledge of the Von Erich “curse” is not required for this thoughtful, often melancholy look at the real-life wrestling dynasty haunted by too many untimely deaths. Zac Efron delivers an Oscar-worthy performance as Kevin Von Erich, transforming himself into a golden god of a man who in many ways is still a little boy, thanks to the complicated, often toxic dynamics of his family. But the cast from top to bottom is extraordinary, with Jeremy Allen White and Harris Dickinson in particular shining in and out of the wrestling ring. Writer/director Sean Durkin doesn’t overcomplicate his telling of this story, keeping the action simple and clear; it works because the true facts are so dramatic on their own. Embellishment is unnecessary. — L.S. Miller
13. Priscilla
Priscilla (A24)
Directed by: Sofia Coppola
Cast: Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi, Dagmara Domińczyk
Studio: A24
It might be a surprise to hear that one of the most frightening movies of the year is a chronicle of Elvis and his incredibly young wife, Priscilla, but it’s true. Sofia Coppola shifts the focus away from The King in this quietly devastating look into Elvis and Priscilla’s romance, beginning with their introduction in Germany and following the pair until their separation in 1973. Coppola has always had a knack for offering interiority to lonely women in gilded cages, and with the excellent Cailee Spaeny at the center, Priscilla fully takes flight. — Mary Siroky
12. Theater Camp
Theater Camp (Searchlight Pictures)
Directed by: Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman
Cast: Noah Galvin, Molly Gordon, Ben Platt, Jimmy Tatro, Patti Harrison, Nathan Lee Graham, Ayo Edebiri, Owen Thiele, Caroline Aaron, Amy Sedaris
Studio: Searchlight Pictures
“It says here you’re allergic to polyester. Why?” Molly V. Gordon and Nick Lieberman’s side-splitting mockumentary about the insular yet endearing world of an upstate New York theater camp was one of the year’s most delightful surprises. It’s lean, assured, and confident in its balance between improvisational gags and pitch-perfect jabs at theater kids’ preternatural self-seriousness. But amid all its jokes at the expense of blinkered artistic types, there’s a big beating heart in the middle, as the triumphant third-act musical, Joan, Still, demonstrates with homespun charm. From start to finish, it’s cardboard transformed into gold, as only a scrappy theater kid can manage. — C. Worthington
11. Cassandro
Cassandro (Amazon Studios)
Directed by: Roger Ross Williams
Cast: Gael García Bernal, Roberta Colindrez, Perla De La Rosa, Joaquín Cosío, Raúl Castillo, El Hijo del Santo, Bad Bunny
Studio: Amazon
Gael García Bernal’s revelatory performance as Saúl Armendáriz — the exótico luchador who wrestles under the name Cassandro — is one of his finest. The film tracks Armendáriz’s evolution from the shy, introverted “runt” character to the brash, empowered lucha libre God, and throughout, director Roger Ross Williams pairs his journey with moody, touching sequences. The film takes an inspired look at the performance of lucha libre wrestling and masculinity as a whole, demonstrating Cassandro as a boundary breaker and a queer icon. Armendáriz’s life hasn’t been easy, but all it takes is one look at Gael García Bernal’s beaming smile in the wrestling ring to understand him. — Paolo Ragusa
10. May December
May December (Netflix)
Directed by: Todd Haynes
Cast: Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, Charles Melton
Studio: Netflix
Todd Haynes reunites with Julianne Moore to fictionalize the infamous tabloid story of a disgraced school teacher, who pled guilty to sexually assaulting her sixth-grade student, then went on to marry him. May December begins with actress Elizabeth Berry (Natalie Portman) traveling to Georgia to meet up with Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Moore) and her husband Joe Yoo (Charles Melton) for the purposes of research, as Elizabeth plans to play the role of Gracie in an upcoming film. However, Elizabeth’s visit instead unfolds as a tale of immorality, trauma, and deceit. The film’s slow pacing not only highlights the central characters’ flaws, but ensures that their respective complexities intensify with each dark reveal. — Sun Noor
09. Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret.
Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret (Lionsgate)
Directed by: Kelly Fremon Craig
Cast: Rachel McAdams, Abby Ryder Fortson, Elle Graham, Benny Safdie, Kathy Bates
Studio: Searchlight Pictures
Simply put, there should be more movies like Kelly Fremon Craig’s lovely take on this Judy Blume classic. It’s warm without being cheesy, grounded without being too self-serious, and features an utterly delightful central performance from Abby Ryder Fortson as the titular Margaret. But it’s Rachel McAdams who leaves the most lasting impression as Barbara, Margaret’s mother, in a truly three-dimensional turn that allows her to utilize her dramatic and comedic skill sets in equal form. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. should enter the canon of films for adolescent mothers and daughters to enjoy together, but excels in the fact that it’s something just about anyone can enjoy. — M. Siroky
08. The Holdovers
The Holdovers (Focus Features)
Directed by: Alexander Payne
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa
Studio: Focus Features
Featuring perhaps one of the best debut acting performances of all time (Dominic Sessa), Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers has officially entered the cozy Christmas comfort movie classic lexicon. This ’70s story, centered on three lonely individuals who find unlikely camaraderie over the holidays at a snowy New England boarding school, is anchored by Paul Giamatti; his chemistry with Sessa is impeccable, and he makes balancing on the knife’s edge of cantankerous and sympathetic look easy. Rightfully so, there’s also enormous buzz around Joy Da’Vine Randolph’s supporting performance as Mary, and the combination of great performances, nostalgic cinematography, and an airtight script makes The Holdovers something magical. — M. Siroky
07. Godzilla Minus One
Godzilla Minus One (Toho)
Directed by: Takashi Yamazaki
Cast: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Sakura Ando, Kuranosuke Sasaki
Studio: Toho
What’s fascinating about Godzilla Minus One is that writer/director Takashi Yamazaki takes two genres that might not normally make a lot of sense together — a period drama about a traumatized Japanese soldier attempting to rebuild his life in the immediate aftermath of World War II, and a Godzilla movie — and somehow creates a picture where both threads aren’t just well-executed on their own, but are woven beautifully together. It’s a deeply emotional post-war tale and a thrilling kaiju adventure, with stellar effects work bringing to life everyone’s favorite chonky boi. With a climatic third act that’ll make you stand up and cheer for the little guy, Godzilla Minus One is an instant crowd-pleaser that defies all expectations. — L.S. Miller
06. Asteroid City
Asteroid City (Focus Features)
Directed by: Wes Anderson
Cast: Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, Liev Schreiber, Hope Davis, Stephen Park, Rupert Friend, Maya Hawke, Steve Carell, Matt Dillon, Hong Chau, Willem Dafoe, Margot Robbie, Tony Revolori, Jake Ryan, Jeff Goldblum
Studio: Focus Features
Folks, we simply can’t embrace an awards season without re-focusing the spotlight on Asteroid City. While Wes Anderson’s distinct visual style is on full display here, this cosmic, Western, sweetly sad meta-narrative is a reminder of how the beloved director is also an excellent writer. Asteroid City features a wild number of excellent performances, including those from Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Jeffrey Wright, Margot Robbie, and Steve Carell. Plus, you can always count on Wes to pull in some of his favorite players for cameos, and while this writer is partial to Adrien Brody’s appearance, it’s undoubtedly Jeff Goldblum’s that steals the show. Asteroid City also delivered an underdog contender for Best Original Song at this year’s Academy Awards — justice for “Dear Alien (Who Art in Heaven).” — M. Siroky
05. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Sony)
Directed by: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson
Cast: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Brian Tyree Henry, Lauren Vélez, Jake Johnson, Jason Schwartzman, Issa Rae, Karan Soni, Shea Whigham, Greta Lee, Daniel Kaluuya, Mahershala Ali, Oscar Isaac
Studio: Sony
If superhero films have started to feel homogenous, Spider Man: Across the Spider-Verse is the counterargument. After its ambitious, boundless predecessor left a lasting effect on the way the film industry treats animated films, Across the Spider-Verse doubles down on its expansive approach and makes even bolder choices. Most importantly, Across the Spider-Verse tows the line of being a bridge to the trilogy’s third act while also serving as a thrilling standalone work — a difficult task for sequels these days.
Directors Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson mash up countless artistic styles with extraordinary verve and pace, making the peeks into new characters like Pavitr Prabhakar and Spider-Punk more expressive and inspired. In addition, Across the Spider-Verse’s insistence on a vibrant, visually-dazzling approach makes it a remarkable watch. Let’s hope the third film is just as captivating. — P. Ragusa
04. Oppenheimer
Oppenheimer (Universal)
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, Kenneth Branagh
Studio: Universal
Christopher Nolan’s latest feels like a capstone to the director’s career-long pursuit of precision, of awe-inspiring craft that plays with its own sense of deliberate aesthetic distance. Here, it’s channeled into the life and work of J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy, rail-thin and enigmatic), whose work on the atomic bomb in World War II both ended a war and, as Jennifer Lame’s punctuated editing alludes, may well end the world.
But for all its Bigness, ushered through Nolan’s signature dreaminess and murderer’s row of talented actors (including, it seems, nearly every working white man in Hollywood), Oppenheimer zeroes in on the intellect and moral complicity of its protagonist. He’s a man burdened by the potential of what he can create, and (as made plain in one crucial scene) turns his gaze when faced with its devastating potential. On top of that, it’s as complete a motion picture as you’ll ever seen, functioning as wartime drama, character study, workplace comedy, and courtroom drama with effortless elan. It’s a statement and a question written in the same syntax, rumbling towards you with all the force of a shockwave. — C. Worthington
03. Barbie
Barbie (Warner Bros.)
Directed by: Greta Gerwig
Cast: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, Will Ferrell
Studio: Warner Bros.
Greta Gerwig faced the worst combination of expectations with her bright pink ode to the iconic toy — the idea that a movie about Barbie could be good came second only to the idea that a movie about Barbie needed to exist in the first place. However, it was those exact expectations that contributed to the brilliance of the final product, a powerful tribute to how complicated and challenging it is to live up to the pressures society lies upon us.
That Gerwig pulled off such a deeply felt message while also delivering such a delightful romp of a movie, packed with razor-sharp one-liners and deliriously entertaining set-pieces, is one of the year’s greatest achievements, with every member of the creative team contributing to a truly singular experience. The phenomenal success of Barbie has already triggered the greenlighting of a few similar projects, and fingers crossed those creators paid attention to the key reason Barbie works: It was never really about a toy, in the end — it was about all of us. — L.S. Miller
02. Past Lives
Past Lives (A24)
Directed by: Celine Song
Cast: Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro
Studio: A24
Breakups suck, but what’s even more heartbreaking? Two people, perfect for each other and simply in love, who never even get the chance to be together. Missed connections, bad timing, and unspoken feelings stir up more nuanced emotions than any messy, hateful breakup ever could. What could have been…
That’s what makes Past Lives so poignant. It’s a story with no villains, just a few people carefully trying to navigate life and love. A lesser film would have succumbed to typical rom-com fodder, presenting one of the suitors (likely the one the person of interest is already in a relationship with) as an asshole, as a douchebag, as clearly the worse of the two choices. But Past Lives knows that, often, life’s not so dramatic — sometimes it’s just profoundly sad for everyone involved. — J. Krueger
01. Killers of the Flower Moon
Killers of the Flower Moon (Apple TV+)
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons
Studio: Paramount/Apple TV+
If you were lucky enough to see Killers of the Flower Moon in a full movie theater this fall, you might have borne witness to one of 2023’s most fascinating crowd reactions. About two-thirds of the way through the film, Kelsie Morrison (Louis Cancelmi) asks a lawyer about the legal issues surrounding his late wife’s children and their Osage oil rights: “So if I adopted them proper, if these two kids were to die, would I inherit their estates?” When the lawyer points out, bluntly, that it sounds like Kelsie’s planning to murder those children, Kelsie says, calm and rational, “No, not if it’s not legal and I don’t get the money. Then I’m not gonna do it.”
I’ve seen the film twice now with a large audience, and both times, the moment got a laugh — but a dark laugh, a weird laugh, a laugh that felt guilty and wrong and horrifying. It’s a moment that defines Martin Scorsese’s epic recounting of the Osage murders, a film which says the quietest parts of American-born racism loud and clear, and features some of the filmmaker’s most electrifying and fearless work to date. Flower Moon is about complicity, in the end, and Scorsese includes himself among the guilty. — L.S. Miller
The 25 Best Films of 2023
Consequence Staff
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