We will be updating and refining this list throughout the year as new films are released. Here are our picks for the 20 best movies of 2023 (so far). With new work from masters like Martin Scorsese and Wes Anderson on the immediate horizon - and staggering instant classics like Celine Song’s “Past Lives” set to open in theaters in just a few weeks’ time - there’s reason to hope that our already excellent year in film is only just starting to heat up. “M3GAN,” “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret”), while auteur-driven fare like Ari Aster’s “Beau Is Afraid” and Makoto Shinkai’s “Suzume” have taken such great pleasure in confounding them. But the most pleasant surprise of the movie year so far is that several of this winter and spring’s new releases have wildly over-delivered on expectations (e.g. Many of the early highlights - including heartstopping immigration dramas “R.M.N.” and “Tori and Lokita,” as well as the more narcotized likes of “Godland” and “Pacification” - are inevitable holdovers from last year’s Cannes lineup, while more recent festival breakouts like “Rye Lane” and “A Thousand and One” have already made their way down the mountain from Sundance. Nevertheless, The Secret Society for Slow Romance is an entertaining and optimistic comedy with an authentic indie spirit.2023 is only five months old and many of the year’s most anticipated films are still waiting in the wings for their summer or fall debuts, but the year has already provided an absolute smörgåsbord of cinematic delights for those who know where to look (or are lucky enough to live in the kind of place where AMC isn’t the only game in town). Opposites attract, right? However, in this case, the romantic aspect is somewhat lacking. Her reactions and mannerisms are comically heightened. Lorae is more infectiously dynamic and quirky. Ekanayake’s Rene is characteristically rigid and composed. While the movie meanders (be it intentional or not), the blank, self-serious humor remains quite effective because of the performances. The occasional extreme close-up is endearingly off-putting. Even when the characters sit at a table to talk, there is movement and engagement by virtue of the energetic cinematography. But the director has a kinetic way with the camera, combining handheld camerawork with beautiful wide shots of the sprawling city. The filmmaking style is rough around the edges, relying a bit too much on music to evoke the dreamy atmosphere. The romantic comedy is proudly eccentric in every aspect. The couple talks about the indie production and distribution process, but they do so in a manner that still resembles a form of banter. Their interactions are awkwardly funny, no doubt, but they are also enlightening when it comes to the life and career of an indie filmmaker. That’s not to say he isn’t offbeat as well (one of his movies was about a ninja going on dates). Rene is more serious-minded, giving advice about mental health and underscoring the importance of empathy. Allyson is a high-spirited director with a lot of kooky ideas and opinions. Despite taking place during the pandemic, Ekanayake keeps the tone and rhythm generally breezy and pleasant, in large part due to how the characters are written and portrayed.
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