Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan’s epic biopic, was an intense cinematic experience that I found commendable for its staunch adherence to an insider’s point of view. The catastrophe brought about by the A-bomb is not shown first-hand but Nolan did not allow that omission to amount to historical amnesia. He showed courage in making the film unapologetically discursive, delving deep into scientific-political intrigue and courtroom proceedings, to the point that many people found it a tedious watch.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was an incredibly heartwarming Marvel movie that offered ample food for thought. Devoted to Rocket Racoon, the film showcases an animal uprising that makes for inspiringly picturesque moments and a powerful message against animal abuse. I loved the way the sheer aleatory power of love comes though, cutting across species and defying predictable patterns.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse was a novel celluloid experience for me, since I had never seen comic-book tropes and graphic representational methods so overtly reproduced on screen. The Latino identity of the superhero was refreshing and my biggest takeaway was the stylistic foregrounding of its graphic/literary origin, which gave a trans-generic postmodern feel to it. (List your Top 3 Holly/International films of 2023... December 25)

Dhee Sankar

Oppenheimer: Christopher Nolan’s ‘explosive’ magnum opus is not only a visionary and visual extravaganza about an epic event that changed the course of the world but also a relentless autopsy of human ambition and its merciless repercussions, reflected through an outstanding Cillian Murphy.

Killers of the Flower Moon: This historical period piece set in Osage County teleported me seamlessly into its oily but bloodied terrain and further into the destructive character of the power-hungry ‘whites’, purely by Martin Scorcese’s masterful direction and a pitch-perfect cast. I was in awe of Lily Gladstone’s understated yet riveting act as a native Osage.

Saltburn: Emerald Fennell’s depraved and disturbing film scores high in brazenly exposing its unapologetic themes of obsessive infatuation, surplus, indulgence, social acceptance and limitless greed. I loved and loathed Barry Keoghan’s scintillating show as a twisted ‘Mr. Ripley’, in equal measure!

Anamitra Bhaduri

Perfect Days by Wim Wenders is about Hirayama, who works as a toilet cleaner in Tokyo. His life appears ordinary but as the story unfolds, the audience gets a glimpse of a private life in which he listens to classic English rock music, takes pictures with his camera at lunchtime, selects and stores them, reads a book every night and sings along at a bar with friends. The simplicity of his life never becomes mundane as he finds pleasure in every single thing and embraces it with a smile. I was mesmerised by the performance of Koji Yakusho as Hirayama.

The Korean movie Unlocked cautions against the dangerous consequences of anyone’s mobile phone falling into the wrong hands. I will also pick Leave the World Behind on Netflix, which I only watched for Julia Roberts. It conjured up many thoughts and questions that remained unanswered but still, it was a good watch for me.

Pallabi Chatterjee

As a fan of Christopher Nolan, it was an incomparable experience to watch Oppenheimer. The performances of Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. and the visuals were next level.

Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) took me on a merry-go-round ride with my favourite Mission: Impossible franchise. The chases and action scenes were superbly entertaining. Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One impressed with its impossible ultra-modern sci-fi concept. Director Kenneth Branagh created a supernatural environment with Agatha Christie’s Hallowe’en Party and his A Haunting in Venice left a deep impact on my mind. With its intense performances and elegant visuals, this whodunit found a place in my preferred list of 2023.

Sarbani Banerjee

Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse: The story was outstanding, depicting the significance of canon events in the journey of each Spider-Man and how Miles Morales wants to break with tradition to save his family.

Oppenheimer: For history buffs, it was a must-watch film that deals with the life of Robert J Oppenheimer, the man behind the atomic bomb, which changed the face of the world. Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film is an absolute masterpiece.

Leave the World Behind: This film depicts the horror of an apocalypse from the perspective of a family stuck in a remote vacation spot. What I found interesting is how the popular Friends TV series was referenced here. It ended on an ambiguous note, with the famous theme song of the show that hit hard with its well-known lyrics, imbued with a different meaning due to the context.

Resham Das

Watching my favourite Tom Cruise reprising his role as the charming Ethan Hunt in the seventh instalment of the popular Mission: Impossible series was a major highlight. From the riveting plot to the striking action sequences, Dead Reckoning — Part One brilliantly encapsulated the finest elements of a crunchy action film, entertaining the audience to its fullest. Oppenheimer will be remembered as one of the greatest films of all time. Powered by Nolan’s prowess as a master storyteller, the film treats the audience to an unparalleled cinematic experience. My favourite animated film of 2023 is Elemental. Exploring the concept of ‘opposites attract’, the film follows the whirlwind romance between fire element Ember and water element Wade and their journey of discovering their true connection amidst all challenges. Be it their subtle gestures of love or the incisive one-liners, the film had a realism that struck me as fascinating.

Aayman Anwar Ali

Oppenheimer: Nolan’s collaboration with long-term associate Cillian Murphy has always resulted in cinematic brilliance. Murphy executes every scene and emotion with the sheer brilliance that we have come to expect of him, effectively bringing to the screen a man torn between responsibilities to his country and mankind. Nolan mounted Oppenheimer on a massive scale but never let emotions be suppressed under the grandeur. The Trinity testing scene will be remembered for ages. Add to that the top-notch score from Ludwig Goransson and Hoyte van Hoytema’s cinematography and exceptional sound design.

Anatomy of a Fall: Justine Triet’s tightly woven screenplay plays out as a brilliant suspense drama along with well-executed courtroom sequences. Sandra Huller is a scene stealer. Every confrontation, every silent moment, every expression, the tiniest conversations, the moments of bonding with the son are tackled masterfully. Triet ends the film with an ambiguous open-ended closure, letting us interpret what might have happened. Therein lies the film’s beauty.

The Zone of Interest: Jonathan Glazer’s film is a haunting depiction of Auschwitz during the Nazi regime. The premise might sound familiar to cinephiles but the treatment of the subject was different. Presenting the harrowing events that occur beyond the walls of a Nazi commander’s house, where days pass pleasantly, Glazer succeeds in hitting you hard without actually showing the suffering of victims. Complementing his vision are Lukasz Zal’s stark frames, the haunting background score by Mica Levi and solid performances by Huller and Christian Friedel.

Indranil Ghosh

My favourite movie would be Oppenheimer. Christopher Nolan has always been a visionary filmmaker and through this film he has weaved a masterpiece which delves into the life of the brilliant physicist, giving us a peek into the complexities of his character, dilemmas and internal struggles. Cillian Murphy’s acting is impeccable. I also loved Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Killers of the Flower Moon, helmed by Martin Scorsese.

Adishree Ghosh

Oppenheimer is an extraordinary film that captivated my senses from start to finish. Killers of the Flower Moon is a brilliant masterpiece with equally brilliant acting by Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. No Hard Feelings, directed by Gene Stupnitsky, in which Jennifer Lawrence’s performance is nuanced and masterful. Its comedic value adds to the film’s realism and sets it apart from others in this genre.

Debojit Swarnaker