Sight and Sound have unveiled their top 50 films of 2023, and Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” was the top vote getter.
The poll was voted on by the magazine’s international pool of more than 100 critics. See the top 10 below and the top 50 here:
1. KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON (Scorsese)
2. THE ZONE OF INTEREST (Jonathan Glazer)
3. PAST LIVES (Celine Song)
4. POOR THINGS (Yorgos Lanthimos)
5. BARBIE (Greta Gerwig)
5. OPPENHEIMER (Christopher Nolan)
7. PASSAGES (Ira Sachs)
8. ANATOMY OF A FALL (Justine Triet)
9. DO NOT EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THE END OF THE WORLD (Radu Jude)
10. MAY DECEMBER (Todd Haynes)
Sight and Sound notified Scorsese of his win, and the filmmaker graciously sent them a note, which can be read below —
“I’ve been so heartened by the response to Killers of the Flower Moon. To have been able to make this picture, at this time in my life, and to see it so appreciated by so many, and by the Osage community in particular. . . for me, it’s grace.
“When I was told that it had topped the critics’ poll at Sight and Sound, I have to say that I was moved. The magazine has been so important to me, for such a long time.
“As far back as I can remember, I’ve seen the cinema ridiculed in so many different ways. Over the last few years, the ridicule has reached a new level. The cinema has been culturally devalued, from all sides and at a constant pace. Anyone who loves the cinema needs to stand up for it. What I don’t mean is the idea of movies as a kind of cultural messaging delivery service, which can actually play a part in the devaluation. What I do mean is the art of cinema. Period.”
Remember when, back in August, we learned “The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth” would be playing in only around 350 U.S. theaters, "maybe fewer"? Well, it's fewer. A lot fewer.