Sight and Sound, the BFI’s international film magazine, announces the results of their Best Films of the Year poll 2023, with Martin Scorsese’s period crime opus Killers of the Flower Moon taking the number one spot.
One of the great chroniclers of American life, and an undisputed giant of cinema, Scorsese charts the complex human relationships at the centre of a grand conspiracy against the Native American Osage Nation in his 26th feature. This riveting drama, which had its UK premiere at the 67th BFI London Film Festival in October, is one of the unmissable big-screen events of 2023 and marks Scorsese’s first number 1 placement on Sight and Sound’s end of year poll – which is voted for by around 100 of the world’s top film critics.
Martin Scorsese said: “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.
“I’ve been subscribing to Sight and Sound for 60 years. And when I look through the pages of the latest issue, it always lifts my spirits. Why? Because it’s made and maintained by people who care. People who love our art form. Please keep it that way.
“Thank you for your recognition of Killers of the Flower Moon.”
Killers of the Flower Moon actor Lily Gladstone commented: “I’m so happy. Everybody poured so much into [the film]. It was such a labour of love for everyone. And when I was watching it, it really truly did feel like one of the most epic films I’ve ever seen. I think it achieved what I was hoping it would, in that it felt like one of the great films of the 30s, 40s, 50s. Back then native peoples were relegated to being the bloodthirsty savage – and now we have Molly. People just fell in love with Molly Burkhart. And that had the impact that we were hoping for.”
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The full Top 10 in Sight and Sound’s Best Films of 2023 poll are:
1. KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON (Martin 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’s winter 23/24 issue is available digitally on 11 December and on newsstands from 14 December.
