Since 2011, I have been pulling together a list of the best movies of the year according to the Brisbane-based critics who I run into regularly at preview screenings. Films to have topped prior year lists have been Drive in 2011, Argo in 2012, Gravity in 2013, Boyhood in 2014, Mad Max: Fury Road in 2015, La La Land in 2016, Get Out in 2017, The Favourite in 2018, Parasite in 2019, Nomadland in 2020, Nine Days in 2021, and The Banshees of Inisherin in 2022.
To come up with an overall top 10, I’ve used a simple points system and applied it to the list of each critic. It is as follows:
- 3 points for the top film on each list.
- 2 points for the films ranked between 2nd and 5th on each list.
- 1 point for the films ranked between 6th and 10th on each list.
If two films finished on the same score, the film that appeared on the greater number of top 10 lists is ranked higher (as an indication of wider approval). If that's the same, it goes to an average of the individual rankings of each film.
The 10 list includes movies released in Australian cinemas and also those made available on streaming platforms.
It was no surprise to see Oppenheimer top this year’s combined list. Four critics named it as their favourite movie of 2023 with another four including inside their top 5. Christopher Nolan’s epic has been dominating the awards season thus far and is a strong Oscars frontrunner.
Emerald Fennell’s much-talked-about Saltburn finished well ahead of the chasing pack in second place. Of the 11 critics surveyed, 9 had it in their top ten list which highlighted its broad appeal. Rounding out the placings was Todd Field’s Tár which was bolstered by the incredible performance of Australian Cate Blanchett.
It was a solid year for non-superhero action flicks with two sequels making it inside the top 10 – Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and John Wick: Chapter 4. Australian cinema was also represented with the box-office hit Talk to Me earning a spot.
Two renowned male directors made the cut – Yorgos Lanthimos with Poor Things and Martin Scorsese with Killers of the Flower Moon. On the flip side, two spots went to female filmmakers for their feature directorial debuts – Celine Song for Past Lives and Charlotte Wells for Aftersun.
As always, it’s a great list of movies. Hunt them down on streaming services if you missed them in cinemas.
On that note, here are the top 10 movies of 2023 according to Brisbane critics…
Brisbane Film Critics - Top 10 of 2023
1. Oppenheimer
2. Saltburn
3. Tár
4. Poor Things
5. Killers of the Flower Moon
6. Past Lives
7. Aftersun
8. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
9. Talk to Me
10. John Wick: Chapter 4
You can view a table of all the votes and final scores by clicking here.
A big thanks to all who submitted their lists. If you're a Brisbane critic would like to contribute in future years, please reach out to me on social media.
You can check out information on all the Brisbane critics (along with their choices for the best and worst of 2023) below.
|
 Matthew Toomey
Born in Brisbane, Matt Toomey was introduced to the world of cinema when he landed a job at a video store fresh out of high school in 1995. A few years later, he started his own website and reviewed movies regularly on a community radio station. In 2005, he joined the team at 612ABC and can be heard reviewing the latest releases every Thursday morning. He can also be heard weekly on regional ABC throughout Queensland.
Website: thefilmpie.com
Twitter: @ToomeyMatt
|
| |
| Top 10 Films: |
| 1. |
Close |
| 2. |
Aftersun |
| 3. |
Oppenheimer |
| 4. |
Saltburn |
| 5. |
Tár |
| 6. |
Past Lives |
| 7. |
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed |
| 8. |
Godland |
| 9. |
Living |
| 10. |
Of an Age |
| |
| Best Australian Film: |
| Of an Age |
| Best Animated Film: |
| Oink |
| Best Documentary: |
| All the Beauty and the Bloodshed |
| Best Performance: |
| Eden Dambrine (Close) |
| Worst Film: |
| My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: |
| Book Club: The Next Chapter |
 |
|
 Sarah Ward
Sarah Ward is a film critic, arts and culture writer, and film festival organiser. She is Concrete Playground's editor, national film and television editor, film and television critic, and Brisbane editor. Sarah is ABC radio Gold Coast’s film critic, as well as Screen International’s Australia-based film critic. Her work also spans Goethe-Institut Australien’s Kino in Oz, Flicks, SBS, SBS Movies, the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, AACTA, Birth.Movies.Death, Junkee, FilmInk, Lumina, Senses of Cinema, Broadsheet, Televised Revolution, ArtsHub, ScreenHub, Metro Magazine, Screen Education and the World Film Locations book series — plus the Brisbane International Film Festival, Queensland Film Festival, Sydney Underground Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival and Sydney Film Festival.
Websites: concreteplayground.com
screendaily.com/sarah-ward/1100859.contributor
goethe.de/ins/au/en/kul/sup/kio.html
flicks.com.au/author/sarah-ward/
awfj.org/blog/author/wardsarah/
Twitter: @swardplay
|
| |
| Top 10 Films: |
| 1. |
Poor Things |
| 2. |
Killers of the Flower Moon |
| 3. |
Past Lives |
| 4. |
Aftersun |
| 5. |
Oppenheimer |
| 6. |
EO |
| 7. |
Close |
| 8. |
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed |
| 9. |
The Boy and the Heron |
| 10. |
Saltburn |
| |
| Best Australian Film: |
| Limbo |
| Best Animated Film: |
| The Boy and the Heron |
| Best Documentary: |
| All the Beauty and the Bloodshed |
| Best Performance: |
| Emma Stone (Poor Things) |
| Worst Film: |
| Rebel Moon: Part One - A Child of Fire |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: |
| Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves |
| |
| Top 10 Films: |
| 1. |
Oppenheimer |
| 2. |
Maestro |
| 3. |
Poor Things |
| 4. |
Tár |
| 5. |
Killers of the Flower Moon |
| 6. |
Dumb Money |
| 7. |
Saltburn |
| 8. |
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 |
| 9. |
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One |
| 10. |
John Wick: Chapter 4 |
| |
| Best Australian Film: |
| Talk to Me |
| Best Animated Film: |
| Suzume |
| Best Documentary: |
| Squaring the Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis |
| Best Performance: |
| Cate Blanchett (Tár) |
| Worst Film: |
| Knock at the Cabin |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: |
| Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour |
| |
| Top 10 Films: |
| 1. |
Poor Things |
| 2. |
Babylon |
| 3. |
Past Lives |
| 4. |
Talk to Me |
| 5. |
Barbie |
| 6. |
Aftersun |
| 7. |
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One |
| 8. |
Air |
| 9. |
John Wick: Chapter 4 |
| 10. |
Saltburn |
| |
| Best Australian Film: |
| Talk to Me |
| Best Animated Film: |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem |
| Best Documentary: |
| Milli Vanilli |
| Best Performance: |
| Emma Stone (Poor Things) |
| Worst Film: |
| Mafia Mamma |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: |
| Champions |
|
 Ella Donald
Ella Donald is a writer, change and communications professional, and PhD candidate. She has written for publications like GQ magazine (Australia, Middle East), CNN, The Guardian, and ABC.
Website: elladonaldwriter.wordpress.com
Twitter: @ellafdonald
|
| |
| Top 10 Films: |
| 1. |
Killers of the Flower Moon |
| 2. |
Babylon |
| 3. |
Tár |
| 4. |
Volcano |
| 5. |
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed |
| 6. |
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One |
| 7. |
Women Talking |
| 8. |
Renaissance |
| 9. |
Wham! |
| 10. |
Theatre Camp |
| |
| Best Australian Film: |
| Of an Age |
| Best Animated Film: |
| The Boy and the Heron |
| Best Documentary: |
| All the Beauty and the Bloodshed |
| Best Performance: |
| Park Ji-min (Return to Seoul) |
| Worst Film: |
| Book Club: The Next Chapter |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: |
| Reality |
| |
| Top 10 Films: |
| 1. |
Oppenheimer |
| 2. |
Broker |
| 3. |
Tár |
| 4. |
Theatre Camp |
| 5. |
Saltburn |
| 6. |
November |
| 7. |
Past Lives |
| 8. |
Godland |
| 9. |
Dumb Money |
| 10. |
Biosphere |
| |
| Best Australian Film: |
| Shayda |
| Best Animated Film: |
| Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse |
| Best Documentary: |
| Vjeran Tomic: The Spider-Man of Paris |
| Best Performance: |
| Greta Lee (Past Lives) |
| Worst Film: |
| Mafia Mamma |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: |
| Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves |
|
 Rob Hudson
Rob Hudson is the editor of popular culture website modmove.com and reviews film, theatre and music.
Website: modmove.com
Twitter: @modmove
|
| |
| Top 10 Films: |
| 1. |
Oppenheimer |
| 2. |
Saltburn |
| 3. |
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse |
| 4. |
The New Boy |
| 5. |
Asteroid City |
| 6. |
Sisu |
| 7. |
The Eight Mountains |
| 8. |
Till |
| 9. |
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem |
| 10. |
Killers of the Flower Moon |
| |
| Best Australian Film: |
| The New Boy |
| Best Animated Film: |
| Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse |
| Best Documentary: |
| Squaring the Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis |
| Best Performance: |
| Barry Keoghan (Saltburn) |
| Worst Film: |
| The Haunted Mansion |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem |
|
 Baz McAlister
Walkley Award winning journalist Baz McAlister is a writer and deputy night editor at The Courier-Mail and The Sunday Mail, and co-hosts 'Force Material', a podcast about the secrets, history and influences of Star Wars.
Website: bazmcalister.wordpress.com
www.forcematerial.com
Twitter: @bazmcalister
|
| |
| Top 10 Films: |
| 1. |
Sisu |
| 2. |
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 |
| 3. |
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One |
| 4. |
Infinity Pool |
| 5. |
BlackBerry |
| 6. |
How to Blow Up a Pipeline |
| 7. |
No One Will Save You |
| 8. |
Talk to Me |
| 9. |
John Wick: Chapter 4 |
| 10. |
Saltburn |
| |
| Best Australian Film: |
| Talk to Me |
| Best Animated Film: |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem |
| Best Documentary: |
| A Disturbance in the Force |
| Best Performance: |
| Barry Keoghan (Saltburn) |
| Worst Film: |
| Ghosted |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: |
| Totally Killer |
| |
| Top 10 Films: |
| 1. |
Talk to Me |
| 2. |
John Wick: Chapter 4 |
| 3. |
Oppenheimer |
| 4. |
Air |
| 5. |
Poor Things |
| 6. |
Past Lives |
| 7. |
Saltburn |
| 8. |
Evil Dead Rise |
| 9. |
Infinity Pool |
| 10. |
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One |
| |
| Best Australian Film: |
| Talk to Me |
| Best Animated Film: |
| Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse |
| Best Documentary: |
| Hot Potato: The Story of the Wiggles |
| Best Performance: |
| Andrew Scott (All of Us Strangers) |
| Worst Film: |
| Big Shark dir. Tommy Wiseau |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: |
| No Hard Feelings |
|
 Jacob Richardson
Jacob is a Brisbane-based filmmaker and film critic, who runs Film Focus Magazine. He also writes film reviews for local publications the Village Voice in New Farm and Hamilton, and for a range of regional NSW papers.
Website: filmfocusmagazine.com
instagram.com/filmfocusau
Twitter: n/a
|
| |
| Top 10 Films: |
| 1. |
The Blue Caftan |
| 2. |
Aftersun |
| 3. |
Oppenheimer |
| 4. |
Polite Society |
| 5. |
Saltburn |
| 6. |
Spoiler Alert |
| 7. |
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse |
| 8. |
Living |
| 9. |
Killers of the Flower Moon |
| 10. |
Past Lives |
| |
| Best Australian Film: |
| Sweet As |
| Best Animated Film: |
| Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse |
| Best Documentary: |
| The Last Daughter |
| Best Performance: |
| Rosamund Pike (Saltburn) |
| Worst Film: |
| Allelujah |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: |
| Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves & Wonka |
|
 Peter Linning
Pete Linning is the managing editor of Super Quick Reviews, and a reviewer for 4ZZZ’s Film Club.
Website: www.superquickreviews.com
|
| |
| Top 10 Films: |
| 1. |
Oppenheimer |
| 2. |
Tár |
| 3. |
The Blue Caftan |
| 4. |
The Killer |
| 5. |
Infinity Pool |
| 6. |
Godland |
| 7. |
Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves |
| 8. |
Aftersun |
| 9. |
Sisu |
| 10. |
Barbie |
| |
| Best Australian Film: |
| Talk to Me |
| Best Animated Film: |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem |
| Best Documentary: |
| All the Beauty and the Bloodshed |
| Best Performance: |
| Cate Blanchett (Tár) |
| Worst Film: |
| Napoleon |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: |
| Anyone But You |
Garry Williams
Peter Gray
David Edwards
Nick L'Barrow
