Rath Awards 2023

 

As is always the case, it's wild that another year has passed and here I am again, wrestling with the massive, yet fulfilling, lift that is the Rath Awards, which are in their 13th Year! (Holy effing cow!) 

It's an exciting year too because damn(!), in nearly every regard this was an incredible time across these types of mediums, specifically our two biggest categories of gaming and movies. 2023 was a year that will go on record as some of the "best ever". Reading over last year's synopsis I shared a similar sentiment, but I swear I really mean it this time! 

By now, you should be aware that this post is a behemoth, a "scroller" as they call it (no one calls it that). But hey! If you can sit through multiple 2.5-3 hour movies this year, I'm sure you'll be fine here + bathroom breaks are welcome at any time. So pull up a chair, pour a beverage of your choice, and get comfortable for the 2023 Rath Awards. 

Should you be interested in checking out any previous RA's - the older ones are a hoot IMO - all links can be found below.

Previous Rath Award links:

2022 // 2021 // 2020 // 2019 // 2018 // 2017 // 2016 // 2015 // 2014 // 2013 // 2012 // 2011

For some reason, I feel like the music portion of this gets harder year after year. I'm probably less impressed by entire albums compared to the past and the industry as a whole feels a little more driven by singles. There's also the aspect that outside of work/writing and the gym, I don't listen to a whole bunch of music and each of those places has fairly specific music I use to be most effective (Oppenheimer OS anyone?). All that to say that the Music section of this year's Rath Awards is truncated quite a bit, but no less important.

BEST HIT SONG

Last Night by Morgan Wallen

get him back! by Olivia Rodrigo

Cruel Summer by Taylor Swift

Flowers by Miley Cyrus

Paint the Town Red by Doja Cat

Dance the Night by Dua Lipa

Winner: get him back! by Olivia Rodrigo
Runner-up: Last Night by Morgan Wallen

Eliminating T-Swift as her song was technically not a 2023-made hit, the win goes to Olivia Rodrigo's earbug that's effortlessly catchy and features lots of fun layers about a girl who hates a guy and loves him still. It's a total jam and beats out a really competitive field of other hits.

TOP ARTIST

Taylor Swift

Beyonce

Olivia Rodrigo

Morgan Wallen

Doja Cat

Dua Lipa

Winner: Taylor Swift
Runner-up: Beyonce

I mean...was it going to be anyone else? I'm 100% an unashamed Swiftie; I think Taylor Swift is probably the most versatile and changing artist we have out there right now. If you don't like her by this point, I almost feel sorry for you given how much airtime she gets, especially in a year where she almost singlehandedly (along with her runner-up) stimulated the economy with her Eras Tour. My wife and I were not fortunate enough to go - I have my limits with what I'll pay for a ticket - but even for us, there were great re-recordings of previous albums (which are unfortunately not eligible for Rath Awards) and the film release of the concert.

BEST ALBUMS OF 2023

I'm changing up my format in certain portions of the Rath Awards, and this is one of them. Instead of listing nominations and a winner, this is going to be an overview of my Top 4 Albums of the year. Why 4? Because I didn't have 5 and unfortunately Taylor Swift's 1989 re-recording doesn't qualify. I don't make the rules, okay! Wait...

#4 - Desire I Want to Turn Into You by Caroline Polachek | Who is this artist you ask? Beats me! Near the end of the year I often review "Best of" music lists from top magazines to see if there are any potential winners that I'm missing. I reviewed ~5-6 that I noticed on multiple lists and the only "winner" was this total mood album. I love 85% of what's on here a lot and it's one of the best parts of listening to music: getting turned on to new artists. 

#3 - METRO BOOMIN Presents Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse | It's rare that albums "inspired" by films make it on here (the original Black Panther is a prime example). But Across the Spider-Verse is also a rare film. This album - even better than the first - features a ton of hits, none of which are better than "Am I Dreaming", the chill-inducing song as the credits roll at the end of this incredible film. Music + movie = perfect pairing. 

#2 - GUTS by Olivia Rodrigo | I can't say I'm Rodrigo's biggest fan because she unfortunately suffers from being overplayed on the radio. But I got to GUTS early, despite really not enjoying her first single "Vampire" (it's the worst song on the album) and found an entire album that I loved. Equal parts angsty pop-punk hits and more solemn vocals, this is an outstanding sophomore effort from her and one of the best of the year. 

#1 - UTOPIA by Travis Scott | A Travis Scott fan, I am not. Rap is probably the genre I've fallen off with the most since I started Rath's Reviews. I know Travis Scott from some of his bigger hits, but I had never listened to a full album of his prior. UTOPIA tries a lot of things and isn't for everybody. I loved the hell out of songs like "HYAENA" that fueled some of my hard workouts and others like "MODERN JAM" got me in party moods. This is an album where the whole thing shines. 

It feels useless after all the years I've been doing the Rath Awards to comment on how TV is in a Golden Age. The tube in our rooms has gotten even bigger over the years...to the point of being too much at this point. I can't even keep up anymore and as of writing this, find myself easily 5-6 shows behind where I'd like to be. The streaming wars are out of hand and while there's lots of good content to be found, there's more noise than ever before. Luckily, I feel like I avoided most of it this year, much to the delight of my time-management-obsessed heart.

MOST ANTICIPATED

The Boys Season 4

House of the Dragon Season 2

The Penguin Season 1

Shogun Season 1

Fallout Season 1

Yellowstone Season 5

Winner: The Boys Season 4
Runner-up: Fallout Season 1

House of the Dragon is the real casualty here as I am genuinely excited for it too, but it's hard to top a show that's in its...ahem...prime (see what I did there) and is coming off even higher anticipation from the fantastic spinoff, Gen V. And while we're at it, the Fallout premier trailer looks like it nails the tone of the games so well, it's almost equally as intriguing.

BEST NEWCOMER

The Last of Us

Silo

The Diplomat

Ahsoka

Gen V

Blue Eye Samurai

Winner: The Last of Us
Runner-up: Gen V

The Last of Us took a classic, momentous game and turned it into riveting, equally momentous television. Laced with tension, character development, and storytelling prowess, its only fumble was rushing the end. Even with that, it's still one of the best videogame-to-other-medium conversions of all time.

BEST EPISODE

Long, Long Time - The Last of Us

Rock N' Roll Suicide - Daisy Jones and the Six

Connor's Wedding - Succession

With Open Eyes - Succession

Sunflowers - Ted Lasso

Forks - The Bear

The Bear - The Bear

Shadow Warrior - Ahsoka

A Midnight Dreary - The Fall of the House of Usher

The Raven - The Fall of the House of Usher

Glorious Purpose - Loki

Winner: Long, Long Time - The Last of Us
Runner-up: Connor's Wedding - Succession

There's still a part of me that can't believe what Succession did. It's a runner-up episode that I'll remember my confusion, my shock, and my utter engrossment into the TV for a long time. But there may have only been a few hours across any medium that were better that Long, Long Time this year. Expanding on the game's narrative to show us more of the people left in the world, it was a heart-warming and heart-breaking look at love after/during the apocalypse. Featuring two gargantuan performances, it hardly left a dry eye in people's homes.

BEST PERFORMANCES

In another shakeup this year, I'm eliminating the actor/actress performance categories and instead commenting on the Top 3 performances of the year, regardless of gender. This has been an idea bouncing around in my head for several Rath Award's by now and it feels like the right time to follow suit! Academy, are you watching!?!?

#3 - Tom Hiddleston as Loki in Loki | In an MCU that's struggling a bit (but not as much as some would have you believe), Hiddleston's Loki has emerged as one of the bright lights and an increasingly compelling character. Season 2 of Loki could perhaps be the best season of any Marvel show thus far and while the sci-fi time travel and multiple universes are cool, it's Hiddleston's anchor that makes the show extra special. 

#2 - Ebon Moss Bachrach as Cousin Richie in The Bear | If there was a single character that had a more satisfying arc than Richie in The Bear's second season, then I'd love for someone to point it out to me. Richie went from being the most annoying part of the show, to one of its best elements. His episode, Forks, is an easy 3rd Place for the Best Episode award above, and his entire performance this season has been nothing short of transformative. 

#1 - Carla Gugino as Verna in The Fall of the House of Usher | This show had me hooked like very little else this year as a dark, cant-tear-your-eyes-away tribute to the horror works of Edgar Allan Poe. And anytime Carla Gugino - taking up several different mantles - was on the stage, it was easy to stop whatever else I was doing and pay f**king attention. Her villainous, yet just, "Raven" extracted some bloody sort of revenge on the Ushers and I for one hope there is somehow a second season. A new family perhaps?

BEST SHOWS OF 2023

In another shift from the norm, I'm doing away with my "Best Comedy" and "Best Drama" approach and instead giving you the shows that I enjoyed this most throughout this year, regardless of if they made me laugh, hide, gasp, or cry.

#5 - Ted Lasso | The third and supposed final season of Ted Lasso seemed to get a lot of hate and I, for the life of me, can't figure out why. This show still has all the same wit, charisma, and charm it always had, now with more fully fleshed out characters. I've loved nearly every moment of it, and season 3 was no different. 

#4 - The Last of Us | You may be surprised to find this as low as #4 on my list, but really it comes down to the rushed ending. Up until then, this was a masterclass in storytelling, world building, and characterization. Even those final two episodes were great, just overly packed with too much to do and not enough time to breathe. Otherwise it's likely this could have taken the top spot. 

#3 - The Fall of the House of Usher | God, I loved this show so much. So macabre, so moody, but yet so damn good. I had fun with it, I was horrified by it, and I was obsessed with seeing its mysteries unfold. It was one of the few shows on this list that I finished quickly (~1 week which is quick for me). It was just...*chef's kiss*

#2 - Succession | There's a reason Succession has not been very visible in previous Rath Award years: it's a highly interesting show that's hard to love because all of its characters are detestable. However, something in Season 4 clicked for me (and I think the showrunners) that they were going to have fun wrapping up this story at the expense of its awful characters. Immediately, this slight shift of focus made the whole thing more interesting, and I was hanging on every episode - especially after that one - to see what happened next. 

#1 - The Bear | The Bear's first season is great television. The Bear's second season is all-time classic television and some of the best I've watched in a very long time. It has found a balance between being "annoying", focusing on the characters, making us care about the characters (see Richie's Best Acting win above), and moving a compelling plot forward. Without a doubt in my mind, it was some of the best television, movies...anything I watched in 2023. 

If there was one area this year that could potentially take the crown for "Best of the Year" and potentially even "Best of the Last 5 Years", it would be the gaming year of 2023. And that's not even considering that I missed out on some biggies (e.g. Legend of Zelda) and have yet to fully play everything I want. Even with that consideration however, there really has never been a gaming year quite like 2023. It will be Legend for years to come. Unfortunately, it's led to a rather wide-open 2024 with very few big games announced or anticipating release that year, meaning there's no need for a Most Anticipated award at this time!

BEST SOUNDTRACK / ORIGINAL SCORE

Hi-Fi RUSH

Hogwarts Legacy

Star Wars: Jedi Survivor

Starfield

Alan Wake II

Baldur's Gate 3

Spider-Man 2

Winner: Hogwarts Legacy
Runner-up: Hi-Fi RUSH

There was a lot to love about my Most Anticipated game from last year's awards. Unfortunately, I feel like Hogwarts Legacy will be overshadowed because of how monumental this year became. Still, it feels good to give it some sort of recognition as the music was a huge component to making the world feel like it was back at Hogwarts again.

MOST FUN

Hi-Fi RUSH

Hogwarts Legacy

Party Animals

Spider-Man 2

Winner: Spider-Man 2
Runner-up: Hi-Fi RUSH

If there was an award for Most Fun Game in Rath's Review's History, Spider-Man 2 would likely make a deep run at winning. In the bonkers year of gaming that was 2023, this title and its developers should take pride that it was just. damn. plain. fun. And even better? It was non-stop fun with rarely a dull moment. 

BEST GRAPHICS

Hi-Fi RUSH

Dead Space

Resident Evil 4

Star Wars: Jedi Survivor

Forza Motorsport

Spider-Man 2

Hogwarts Legacy

Alan Wake II

Mortal Kombat 1

Winner: Alan Wake II
Runner-up: Mortal Kombat 1

There were a lot of pretty games this year, with a plethora of different styles and impressive graphical features in each. Alan Wake II however is stunning, detailed, and most importantly, nails its lighting. Important for a game that's about the light, but also impressive when playing in 4K. Not to be forgotten, those environment backgrounds in Mortal Kombat 1 are still *chef's kiss*

BEST CAMPAIGN

Dead Space

Hi-Fi RUSH

Resident Evil 4

Star Wars: Jedi Survivor

Spider-Man 2

Alan Wake II

Baldur's Gate 3

Winner: Resident Evil 4
Runner-up: Hi-Fi RUSH

Remember to note that campaign does not equal story, that award comes next. Campaigns are rated on how well they entertain with gameplay, changes to it, surprises, pacing, and more. It should be no shock then that a game with one of the best campaigns of all time - one that rarely, if ever lets up on the gas - wins this award. Resident Evil 4's campaign is a masterclass in keeping gamers engaged from start to finish.

BEST STORY

Hi-Fi RUSH

Hogwarts Legacy

Star Wars: Jedi Survivor

Starfield

Spider-Man 2

Baldur's Gate 3

Alan Wake II

Mortal Kombat 1

Winner: Spider-Man 2
Runner-up: (TIE) Hogwarts Legacy and Starfield

When I think about the titles that kept me on the edge of my seat during the cutscenes this year, there are three that come to mind. And full disclosure, some that are nominated, I haven't even finished yet...but hey - I have a day job so I can't just play videgames all day. But I digress. Starfield's sci-fi was big and mysterious, Hogwarts Legacy was a breathe of fresh air back into that world, but Spider-Man 2's story had me hooked. Combining Miles Morales and Peter Parker paid off and where most movies get bogged down by multiple villains, Spider-Man 2 handled it with ease. The future is bright for this series and honestly any future Insomniac Marvel titles.

BEST GAMES OF 2023

This is another award that's changing for the better. Let's give credit and talk about my Top 5! Movies get rankings every year, why not games?

#5 - Hi-Fi RUSH | The way this game was introduced with a shadow drop will forever be cool to me. Even better though? The game was actually fantastic. Part music rhythm game, part platformer, part fighting game, and combined with a whole lot of attitude and humor (funniest game of the year, easily)...it was a total blast. There's a reason you've been seeing it get tons of nominations and was a great way to kick off the year. 

#4 - Baldur's Gate 3 | Okay, okay...before you come for my head I should preface: I am not very far in Baldur's Gate 3 at all. Hours have been put into it, but I'm taking it slow as this is a genre that's far outside my wheelhouse. I find it difficult and there are times I want to play something where I feel more progression. But I can understand the hugeness of the title. This is a polished game and other than not being super accessible to just pick up and play, it's been highly impressive during my best play sessions. Once I can dedicate more focused time to it, I wouldn't be surprised if it inches further up this list. 

#3 - Alan Wake II | I've also not finished this game yet, but feel like I've made enough of a dent to understand that it tries a lot of new things and succeeds at many of them. It's an engrossing crime noir with plenty of frights (I've shouted at my TV several times) and a wild story. As someone who hasn't played the original, but is a fan of the developers, Remedy, it's awesome to see them consistently positioning themselves as some of the best in the industry.

#2 - Resident Evil 4 | This was so close to taking my top spot, and honestly? Perhaps it was just the fact that I had to ask: am I really going to give GOTY to a remake? So at the very least it gets the #2 spot because this remains one of the best videogames ever made. And the from-the-ground-up remake is the new gold-standard for this type of thing, essentially creating a new game, 2023-based gameplay, and added/improved sections to go along with the superbly advanced visuals. If you have never played RE4 at this point, WTF are you doing?

#1 - Spider-Man 2 | I eventually got bored of Spider-Man 1 and Miles Morales. It took a while, but I distinctly remember hitting a wall with them. With Spider-Man 2, I couldn't put it down...even with the plethora of other games I had stacking up. It's Insomniac's best game, period (which is saying a lot given how much I like the Resistance games) and is another AAA feather in the exclusive cap for PlayStation. The story sings, the gameplay rocks so damn hard, it looks and sounds immaculate, and the whole thing just never stops being FUN. I can't wait for whatever comes next with this world. 

Similar to gaming, I felt like film had one of its best years in recent memory. Lots of big hitters impressed (some didn't) and we got some all-time classics - or near classics - sprinkled throughout the year. And lest us not forget probably one of my favorite movie-going days ever: long live Barbenheimer!! What a time to be alive...

BEST RETRO REVIEW

Heat

Batman

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Winner: Heat
Runner-up: Batman

Admittedly, there've not been many retro reviews in 2023. That all circles back to time and the distinct lack of more hours of it, but I digress. Heat is awesome! It's the best older film I watched this year by a considerable margin and holds up well several decades later!

BEST MONTH

Winner: July
Runner-up: March

July was an absolute banger in 2023. If I remove the unfortunate low-scoring The Out-Laws from the mix, the average for July goes to an 8.9/10, which is insane. We got the aforementioned Barbenheimer day, a new Mission Impossible (that had an unfortunate release date), and a memorable new horror film that left its mark. July was a month to remind us why we go to the movies...3 of the 4 films above are "originals" and, let's be honest, the Mission Impossible films just don't miss. 

BEST SEASON

Winner: Summer
Runner-up: Spring

Given how fantastic our "Best Month" winner was, it should be no surprise that the summer of 2023 came away with the "W" here, especially when you tack on another 10/10 scorer with Across the Spider-Verse. And while I may praise Dial of Destiny and Elemental more than some (many?), recent rewatches confirmed my original thoughts on them; they deserve to be here and were great experiences during an overall awesome summer at the movies. 

RATH'S WRATH (aka WORST MOVIE)

Infinity Pool

Shazam! Fury of the Gods

Ghosted

The Out-Laws

Heart of Stone

Beau is Afraid

Rebel Moon: Part One - A Child of Fire

"Winner": Ghosted
Runner-up: The Out-Laws

Ghosted was the first film in a long time to be SO bad that it made me angry. It was f**king terrible. I can't even remember why I gave it a 3.5 as opposed to a 1...perhaps for our leads? It was filled to the brim with lazy everything. Lazy writing, lazy acting, lazy cameos, and lazy effects/greenscreen. Hell, even this screenshot in the jungle looks fake AF! *takes deep breaths*

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Shazam! Fury of the Gods

Renfield

Beau is Afraid

The Killer

Saltburn

Rebel Moon: Part One - A Child of Fire

"Winner": Shazam! Fury of the Gods
Runner-up: Saltburn

This was a tricky award this year because I think there may have been some films that - at first impact - felt like bigger disappointments. But hindsight can be a cruel thing and in this regard, not only did Shazam! 2 stink, it made me struggle to like Zachary Levi, who seemed to be adamant that audiences and critics who rejected the incredibly average film, were out to get him. He's a star I've always liked so that inability to "take one on the chin" along with this movie feeling like it wasn't trying at all and...well...here we are.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Scream VI

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Evil Dead Rise

Indiana Jones & the Dial of Destiny

Talk to Me

Bottoms

Gran Turismo

Godzilla Minus One

Winner: Bottoms
Runner-up: Scream VI

There are a lot of really pleasant surprises this year and the runner-up in particular is probably a "one for me" mention as Scream definitely has its fan base, and it was the sixth film I found the most fun. But damn...Bottoms is just a continuously funny movie. A recent re-watch did nothing but double down my love for it. It's a modern, raunchy, effortlessly hilarious film that feels like it came out of nowhere. It deserves a wider audience!

FILM I MOST OVERRATED

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Shazam! Fury of the Gods

Cocaine Bear

Fast X

Ghosted

Elemental

The Flash

Strays

Fair Play

The Creator

"Winner": The Flash
Runner-up: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Not a great year for superhero films, especially if you're DC right now. I generally know that I'm probably more kind to these films by ~1 point, depending on how epic they feel. Something about The Flash felt fine in the theater (probably the mostly good humor), but felt hollow after the fact. Ezra Miller's off-camera problems are part of it, but mostly it's just boredom that none of this adds up to anything anymore and even if this had, it's really sloppy about it. If I were to re-rate it, I think The Flash would lose ~1-2 points. 

FILM I MOST UNDERRATED

Scream VI

Evil Dead Rise

Saltburn

Godzilla Minus One

Winner: Scream VI
Runner-up: Evil Dead Rise

Generally speaking, underrating things is not my issue. But this year, there were two 7.5/10 horror films where I gave them the rating I felt was tempering my excitement, rather than trusting my gut. Evil Dead Rise would probably gain a half point to be a solid, 4-star fright. Scream VI, however, is bluntly: fantastic. It's consistently engaging, smart without being too cocky, has a great cast you become connected to, and the NYC setting is fun. If I were to update my rating (and this is with a re-watch too), I'd give it a big jump to a 9.

MOST ORIGINAL

Infinity Pool

Elemental

Asteroid City

Talk to Me

Barbie

Beau is Afraid

Saltburn

Poor Things

Winner: Poor Things
Runner-up: Barbie

A late entry for this award, but no less deserving. Poor Things is based on a story, sure, but the vision and execution are also part of what makes something "original" and this is nearly unmatched in zaniness, color palette, and design this year aside from...well...our runner up, Barbie.

BEST ENSEMBLE CAST

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Fast X

Asteroid City

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part I

Oppenheimer

The Super Mario Bros Movie

A Haunting in Venice

Killers of the Flower Moon

The Marvels

Winner: Oppenheimer
Runner-up: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

As I typed out nominees for this award, I realized it was actually a very competitive year. Many of these films were gifted improvements by their cast (looking at you Jason Momoa in Fast X) while examples like our runner-up nailed casting overall. But really...Oppenheimer was a massive cast. Tons of big names adding a lot of value with the core stars doing heavy lifting. It's one of the most robust casts Nolan has ever put together, and it paid off.

MOST ANTICIPATED IN 2024

Dune: Part II

Argylle

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

Civil War

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Inside Out 2

Deadpool 3

Joker: Folie a Deux

Gladiator 2

Winner: Dune: Part II
Runner-up: Deadpool 3

Many of these are tempting and there's also a sad omission of Beyond the Spider-Verse, that seems to be MIA from a release date. Deadpool 3 feels like it has all the makings for success (and the weight of the MCU on its shoulders), but really it comes back to Dune. Denis Villenueve's Part I epic has the opportunity to become even better if Dune Part II delivers the goods. And, with Villenueve's track record, that's almost a sure thing.

BEST ACTION

Creed III

John Wick: Chapter 4

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Fast X

Extraction 2

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part I

TMNT: Mutant Mayhem

The Covenant

The Marvels

Napoleon

Godzilla Minus One

Winner: John Wick: Chapter 4
Runner-up: Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part I

I mean...one of the easier awards this year, TBH. John Wick Chapter 4, while exhausting, is an action masterpiece. It's endlessly creative, violent, humorous, and jaw dropping. If this was a "Best Action of the Last Decade" award, it would even be threatening the top spot...most likely against its previous entries.

BEST SOUND / SOUND EDITING

Creed III

Scream VI

John Wick: Chapter 4

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Fast X

Extraction 2

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part I

Oppenheimer

Talk to Me

Gran Turismo

The Creator

Napoleon

Godzilla Minus One

Maestro

Winner: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Runner-up: (TIE) Creed III and Godzilla Minus One

There's A LOT going on in Across the Spider-Verse, most of which needs an accompanying sound effect, music effect, or some sort of sound to go along with it. Mixing with a lot of quality music (hint hint), the effects are endless and based on the "Verse" of the Spider-Verse, creating a lot of variability and impressive effects for the entire 2.5 hours. In a competitive field, this deservedly stood out on top.

BEST SOUNDTRACK

Creed III

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Fast X

Barbie

Gran Tursimo

TMNT: Mutant Mayhem

The Marvels

The Iron Claw

Winner: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Runner-up: Barbie

Given that I had this placed in one of the year's best albums, this award should be no surprise. Across the Spider-Verse, much like its predecessor, weaves its music into the film effortlessly AND the music was made (in most cases) specifically for the film.

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

John Wick: Chapter 4

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

The Little Mermaid

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Asteroid City

Oppenheimer

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part I

Bottoms

The Covenant

Killers of the Flower Moon

Napoleon

Poor Things

Winner: Oppenheimer
Runner-up: (TIE) Bottoms and Poor Things

It was going to take an all-timer original score to beat Ludwig Goransson's monumental original music for Oppenheimer and, alas...no one was able to. And as much as I like my tied runner-ups for what the music adds to their film, there really wasn't anything close to Oppenheimer in the original score category this year. It was the beating heart of the film, the river that kept it flowing, and a key component to the emotional crux and tension. As someone who listens to a lot of original movie scores, I wouldn't be surprised if I view this as one of the "best ever" as it settles further in to my listening patterns. 

BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

The Little Mermaid

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part I

Oppenheimer

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

The Creator

The Marvels

Godzilla Minus One

Winner: Godzilla Minus One
Runner-up: The Creator

Consider this the year of the "Budget" winners. Both The Creator and Godzilla Minus One achieved spectacular special effects with a fraction of the cost of some of Hollywood's best looking, bloated-budget blockbusters. Potentially there are better looking films on this list, but the fact that Godzilla did it with (by some estimates) < 10% of the same budget is incredible in its own right.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

John Wick: Chapter 4

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Asteroid City

Oppenheimer

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part I

Barbie

A Haunting in Venice

Beau is Afraid

The Creator

Killers of the Flower Moon

The Killer

Godzilla Minus One

Saltburn

Maestro

Poor Things

Winner: John Wick: Chapter 4
Runner-up: Oppenheimer

I'd actually already written out this award as an Oppenheimer win until I recently re-watched John Wick: Chapter 4 and remembered just how consistently gorgeous it is AND how much it has to keep track of at any given point. It's a masterclass in action cinematography (among other things) and wins the award from a combination of difficulty and beauty. 

BEST VILLAIN

Jonathan Majors as Kang in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Damien in Creed III

Mia Goth as Gabi in Infinity Pool

Ghostface in Scream VI

Bill Skarsgard as Marchsese de Garmont in John Wick: Chapter 4

Chukwudi Iwuji as The High Evolutionary in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Alyssa Sutherland as Ellie in Evil Dead Rise

Jason Momoa as Dante in Fast X

Melissa McCarthy as Ursula in The Little Mermaid

The Hand in Talk to Me

Robert De Niro as William Hale in Killers of the Flower Moon

Godzilla in Godzilla Minus One

Barry Keoghan as Oliver Quick in Saltburn

Winner: Jason Momoa as Dante in Fast X
Runner-up: Chukwudi Iwuji as The High Evolutionary in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

I may have been a tad too high on Fast X as a whole, but one thing I certainly don't regret praising is Jason Momoa's wild, bizarre, yet energy-creating villain. He brings a lot of new pizzazz to a franchise where the "family" narrative is wearing a tad thin (but they're still fun as hell) and he may have had the most fun in this role as anyone else we've seen perform this year.

BEST HERO

Paul Rudd as Ant-Man in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Michael B. Jordan as Creed in Creed III

Melissa Barrera as Sam Carpenter in Scream VI

Keanu Reeves as John Wick in John Wick: Chapter 4

Shameik Moore as Miles Morales in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Vin Diesel as Dominic Toretto in Fast X

Halle Bailey as Ariel in The Little Mermaid

Dar Salim as Ahmed in The Covenant

Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Margot Robbie as Barbie in Barbie

Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part I

Archie Madekwe as Jann Mardenborbough in Gran Turismo

Xolo Mariduena as Jamie Reyes in Blue Beetle

Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan in The Marvels

Ryunosuke Kamiki as Koichi Shikishima in Godzilla Minus One

Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird in The Hunger Games: A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Emma Stone as Bella Baxter in Poor Things

Winner: Melissa Barrera as Sam Carpenter in Scream VI
Runner-up: Ryunosuke Kamiki as Koichi Shikishima in Godzilla Minus One

Given that Scream VII just might as well not happen now, we're left with the excellent Scream VI as a potential end-cap to the series. A massive reason for its success is the Carpenter sisters being protagonists worth rooting for and compelling characters, none more so than Melissa Barrera's Sam who must struggle with the demons on her family tree while trying to save her friends. In a year of some big name heros, it's perhaps two of the smaller ones that win/runner-up for this award.

FUNNIEST FILM

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

No Hard Feelings

Asteroid City

Barbie

Bottoms

Theater Camp

The Super Mario Bros Movie

Dumb Money

Poor Things

Winner: Bottoms
Runner-up: (TIE) Barbie and Poor Things

Bottoms is what comedies used to be like: raunchy, not pulling its punches (literally too), and packed with zingers from wall to wall. It's an expert blend of writing, physical comedy, and a realistic-but-definitely-absurd-world that made me laugh harder and more consistently than most anything in the last several years. Despite tough competition, it easily wins this award and will likely age as a comedy "classic" in my memory.

BEST ANIMATED FILM

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Elemental

TMNT: Mutant Mayhem

The Super Mario Bros Movie

The Boy and the Heron

Winner: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Runner-up: TMNT: Mutant Mayhem

I saw more animated films this year than any other year of Rath's Review in the past (I'm 90% sure of that) and was pleased with all of them, while finding a couple that rose to the top. Almost untouched however is Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, an excellent "Instant Classic" entry in the Spider-Verse series. Featuring an epic hero's journey story, perfect music selection, and actually kind of insane animation, it's the gold standard for animated features right now. It's unfortunate that we'll likely have to wait a while for the highly anticipated "Beyond the Spider-Verse".

BEST INDIE FILM

Asteroid City

Talk to Me

Past Lives

Anatomy of a Fall

Maestro

Poor Things

May December

The Iron Claw

Winner: Anatomy of a Fall
Runner-up: Poor Things

While I feel guilty for missing several key independent films this year, there was still a lot of greatness throughout. Personally speaking, I felt like 2023 was dominated by blockbusters (most of them good, some of them not) which is distinctly different than years past. Within the indie scene, Anatomy of a Fall stands tall in my memory. It's a simple film, sure, but gripping thanks to subtle performances and one of the best scripts of the year. 

BEST BLOCKBUSTER

John Wick: Chapter 4

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Barbie

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part I

Oppenheimer

Godzilla Minus One

Winner: Barbie
Runner-up: (TIE) Oppenheimer and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

When you think of blockbusters, you think of adventure, some laughs, some action, and you think of box-office success. And now...you probably think of pink, thanks to Barbie. There were a lot of great blockbusters this year and even with some tightly contested runner-ups, Barbie truly ruled the year's box office, gave us a hilarious, fun, heartwarming film, and was a huge part of the now-iconic Barbenheimer day.

BEST DIRECTOR

Chad Stahelski - John Wick: Chapter 4

Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson - Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

James Gunn - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Christopher Nolan - Oppenheimer

Greta Gerwig - Barbie

Guy Ritchie - The Covenant

Martin Scorsese - Killers of the Flower Moon

Celine Song - Past Lives

Yorgos Lanthimos - Poor Things

Winner: Christopher Nolan - Oppenheimer
Runner-up: (TIE) Greta Gerwig - Barbie and Yorgos Lanthimos - Poor Things

When I think about all 3 of these directors (I had a hard time choosing, okay?) the word that comes to mind is vision. Each of their films is a true vision of what they wanted to provide audiences. Uncompromised and unique. The edge goes to Christopher Nolan because of how he took arguably "boring" material and lots of information and made it compelling, exciting, and memorable. He's one of the best of our time (IMO the best working today, period) and Oppenheimer was yet another successful notch in his impressive belt.

BEST PERFORMANCES

Another shake-up with the Rath Awards and something that's already been done in the TV section: removing the gender barriers of Actor and Actresses, and instead just letting you know which performances I found to be the best this year. There's a long list of nominees that feels bad to leave off the table, but alas...someone's gotta win!

#5 - Dar Salim as Ahmed in The Covenant | The Covenant was a surprise hit for me personally. I watched it on a plane and was glued to the [small] screen and my seat. Dar Salim is the beating heart of the entire thing and partnered with Guy Ritchie's electric direction makes the whole film feel real, visceral, and moving. 

#4 - Margot Robbie as Barbie in Barbie | Margot Robbie looked the part of Barbie before she ever uttered a word in any trailer. The world was sold on her being the titular character, but we probably weren't ready for how introspective the script would be and how much it would demand of Robbie. It's a prime example of expert comedic delivery and timing, with the emotional stakes (as a doll learning to interact with emotion for the first time, no less) that makes this performance stand out. 

#3 - Bradley Cooper as Rocket Racoon in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Leonard Bernstein in Maestro | Bradley Cooper had a busy year in 2023, and pulled lots of various duties. Because its MY awards, I can recognize his entire resume for the year which includes a fantastic end-cap to a beloved trilogy in which he's the heart of the film and a slightly misguided indie film with a 6-years-in-the-making performance from him. They're miles apart in similarities, but that just shows Cooper's range.

#2 - Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer | It kills me a bit to leave off many of the other strong performances in this beast (Robert Downey Jr. especially), but I'm also incredibly happy for Cillian Murphy to have finally gotten the spotlight in a Nolan film...and in one of his best, no less. His performance in Oppenheimer captures all the nuances of a man with immense pressure on his shoulders and the guilt that follows his heroic effort. 

#1 - Emma Stone as Bella Baxter in Poor Things | I'm not sure there was another film this year that hinged so much on a single performance as Poor Things. Had the role of Bella Baxter gone to anyone lesser...anyone less willing to play full out, I think it would have been a massive failure. Instead, Bella's journey welcomes us in and allows us to see her mature into an "adult" (it's complicated) while Stone provides us a showcase of why she's one of the best in her craft.

BEST SCENES OF 2023

As I do every year, I'll emphasize my love for this award, even if it's the biggest lift. Reflecting on some of my favorite movie moments each year brings a smile to my face. These are the reason we go to the theater (or stream, in some cases). To laugh, to cry, to be wowed, to be moved. Out of the many scenes I saw this year, here are 15 that stuck with me.

#15 - Escaping the Prison | Extraction 2 - The Extraction films are good fun, even if only to witness the impressive "extended take" sequences they include. Extraction 2 had a doozy of one at the beginning and it was one of the more impressive action sequences of 2023, in a year full of them. 

#14 - The End | Talk to Me - Talk to Me was an impressive indie horror film that felt as unique as it did frightening. There are memorable moments, but none more so than a final second "twist" that while not entirely unforeseen, is both dark and incredibly well-executed. 

#13 - Railcar Climb | Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part I - There are a lot of fantastic moments in the new M:I movie, so it was hard to choose just one. I nearly went with the chase through Rome, but found the railcar sequence to really hit it out of the park on a second viewing.

#12 - City Attack | Godzilla Minus One - Another film with many choices of "best scene" to pull from, it was this terrifying moment in Godzilla Minus One that I felt a tonal shift of, "Oh my God, this Godzilla is terrifying". Destroying a city and then using his atomic breath to set.off.a.nuke makes it very obvious this monster is an enemy, not some misunderstood "hero". 

#11 - Murder on the Dancefloor | Saltburn - I may not have liked Saltburn as much as many (though admittedly, perhaps I was too harsh on it), but missing memorable scenes it is not. I found the ending dance through the empty house to be the most effective thanks to a perfect music pairing, Barry Keoghan going ALL out, and some wonderful cinematography.

#10 - Parade Chase | Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny - I can't quite figure out the hatred for Dial of Destiny, especially having watched Crystal Skull only a week before. This is a high-ranking Indy adventure in my eyes and while not every action sequence is stupendous, this one during a parade for returning astronauts is ripped straight out of a Indy movie of old mixing history, humor, sly winks, and action all in one. 

#9 - Hallway Ass-Kicking | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 - Superhero movies can sometimes live and die on their action sequences, especially when there are multiple heroes and powers that can be combined. In another "extended take" moment on this list, we're gifted with a flat-out awesome action moment as the Guardians massacre enemies within a confined hallway. It's one of Marvel's best action moments in years. 

#8 - The Football Game | Bottoms - This criminally underseen comedy has so many good bits, but it all comes to a head during the football game at the end of the film. The music, comedy, and preposterousness are dialed up in an unbelievable (in a good way) finale.

#7 - Roundabout Shootout | John Wick: Chapter 4 - Potentially the MOST difficult film this year to choose only one moment, John Wick: Chapter 4 could probably have its own list of 15. However, this moment would rank highly - even if it did have the most CGI - because of how technically difficult it may be, and yet how awesome it turned out. During one moment, two assassins are hit by a car into the air and Wick shoots/kills them before they even hit the ground. Just...awesome... 

#6 - Screaming on the Subway | Scream VI - Scream VI is just a great movie and one I considerably underrated. Moments like this - where our heroes are separated on a crowded, Halloween night subway that features several partyers wearing Scream masks - is an exercise in claustrophobic tension. I was so tightly wound during these moments that I forgot to breathe. 

#5 - Symphony No. 2 | Maestro - If there was a scene I could NOT rip my eyes away from in 2023, it was (perhaps surprisingly) this one. I do have a fairly extensive musical background (played trumpet in high school, I've played in Carnegie Hall) so I enjoyed certain aspects of Maestro a lot. This long, tracking shot featuring a Bradley Cooper that seems like he's been doing this his whole life was honestly mesmerizing. 

#4 - Dragon's Breath | John Wick: Chapter 4 - Joke's on you, I lied. JW4 has two moments on this list because how TF would it not? The dragon's breath shotgun scene felt ripped straight from a videogame and was the quintessential action moment to describe as "f**king awesome". And in hindsight, it could have been such a basic, boring scene in any other action film, but nearly everything here tells me the makers asked, "What could we do to make this special?"

#3 - I'm Just Ken! | Barbie - If you're sensing a theme of films that have multiple moments I could have included, you'd be right. For Barbie, it was the wild, Bohemian-Rhapsody moment of Ken's half music video, half fight sequence that is so damn preposterous, it works. That's thanks in large part to a dedicated and hilarious performance by Gosling (and other Ken's) as well as Great Gerwig's unfaltering vision.

#2 - Escaping Spider-HQ | Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse - It's an astonishing animated feat that I'm not quite sure how so many distinct characters and styles are displayed in a sequence, both from an imagination standpoint or a technical standpoint. There's a lot to love in this incredible sequel, but WOW...this scene is just wildly impressive. 

#1 - Chain Reaction | Oppenheimer - Perhaps a "simple" scene to top this list, sure, but it arrives after the culmination of all that came before it, in only a way that Christopher Nolan could achieve. It holds immense real-world weight, a guilt-ridden performance by Cillian Murphy, and an all-timer original score. It sticks with you long after the music quiets and the screen fades to black, the mark of an ending that features true, thoughtful power. 

TOP 10 FILMS OF 2023 | VOTED BY READERS

Always a joy seeing what films my readers loved the most this year and probably one of my favorite parts about hosting the Rath Awards, outright. It displays the different powers of certain films and the diversity we have as theater-goers in our tastes, while also bubbling up truly great films to the top! Let's take a look...

#10 - Maestro | I'm still torn on this film (as you'll see in my own rankings) as I wish it had told more story, but there are moments of greatness. The performances specifically are outstanding as is the filmmaking on display. Good choice!

#9 - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | It was the only MCU film to receive a vote this year, much less win a position, and for good reason. James Gunn's sendoff was a heartfelt goodbye with these heroes and one of the better post-Endgame films Marvel has created. 

#8 - The Holdovers | As if skipping this couldn't have hurt anymore! The Holdovers seems like a wonderful movie that I'm saddened to have missed in theaters (my own fault + work), though I wished I could have caught its Christmas charm sometime during the Holidays...but I ain't paying $20 to rent a movie, and no, I don't have Peacock. Glad my audience loved it!

#7 - John Wick: Chapter 4 | It's the best action film of the year and definitely deserves a spot on this list. Recency bias may be acting against it, but as someone who recently watched it, make no mistake: JW4 is f**king incredible. 

#6 - Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse | There are a lot of "no duh" choices this year because, damn...we had some all time greats. And Across the Spider Verse was one of them. Rest assured I'll be gloating about it further down the page (hint) as this is a sequel that more than delivered. It...errr...swung for the fences. 

#5 - Killers of the Flower Moon | While I enjoyed learning about this story further beyond the novel, this film is simply too long and too meandering. I won't back down on that point and it's why you won't find it in my Top 10 (spoiler). There's a lot to admire - performances, filmmaking, story itself - but I still believe we'd be looking at a masterpiece if it was 30-40 minutes shorter. 

#4 - Poor Things | Nice job readers, and I'm surprised to see this make it so high! I went into this with tepid expectations after seeing incessant previews for months. It was one of my favorite delights of the year being hilarious and heartfelt. Good selection!

#3 - Godzilla Minus One | Another surprise for receiving so many "Top 3" votes, but hey, this movie ruled and was an entertaining foreign blockbuster from top to bottom. And I know it's been stated 1000x on the internet, but a $15M budget for this? How on earth...?

#2 - Barbie | Hi Barbie Readers! Can't disagree here. Barbie was the "fun" part of Barbenheimer and a delightful comedy with well-earned emotional beats. The message for young girls and women struck a chord with audiences and pissed off...shall we say...the right people? What an entertaining time July 2023 was!

#1 - Oppenheimer | Yeah, let's be honest. Oppenheimer is monumental. It burrows itself into your thoughts, not very normal for a biopic, and was probably the most entertaining and detailed history lesson any of us has ever had. I've said it before, I'll say it again. In Nolan We Trust! 

TOP 10 FILMS OF 2023 | RATH'S REVIEWS

And now for the "Main Event"! It may come at the end of a lot of other winners, but these are the films I'll carry with me in future years. Out of the 66 new movies I saw in 2023, certain ones rose to the top. As usual, I'll include those that didn't quite make the cut sans all the explanation I include with those in the 10-1 spot:

20 | Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves // 19 | TMNT: Mutant Mayhem // 18 | Elemental // 17 | Maestro // 16 | The Iron Claw // 15 | Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny // 14 | Killers of the Flower Moon // 13 | Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part I // 12 | Creed III // 11 | The Covenant

#10 - Godzilla Minus One | If you remember my review, I saw this film while quite distracted by other things in life. So it goes. But it stuck with me afterwards. Many of my small issues faded to the background, and all that was left was a well constructed, frightening, and exciting blockbuster. Godzilla Minus One is thoughtful popcorn cinema. 

#9 - Poor Things | In some ways, this movie may have gone a tad overboard, but once I strip that away, I'm left with very fond memories of a zany, wacky, and often hilarious vision of a film. It's unique in so many ways - filmmaking, camera angles, performances, and story - and stands out, even in a stellar year like 2023.  

#8 - Scream VI | Surprised? Me too, especially after I was so lukewarm to the over-praised Scream V and I'm not necessarily a fan of this franchise. But (there's always a but!), thanks to some memorable core characters (Core 4!), a change of scenery that was desperately needed, and some truly terrifying and brutal sequences, Scream VI was the best - and most fun - horror film of the year.

#7 - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | It truly felt like a culmination of our time with these lovable a-holes after several films, including prominent features in Infinity War/Endgame. It also marks the exit of James Gunn from the MCU and feels like a fun, quite funny, but somber goodbye all around. It's packed with the usual charm, maybe none more fitting or poetic than the final dance number. Even if this crew never gets back together again, we'll know we had a good run (read: trilogy) while it lasted. 

#6 - Anatomy of a Fall | It was one of the final films I watched in the year - a catch-up I missed from earlier - and I was riveted. Anatomy of a Fall has no right being as compelling as it is, but the writing and characterization, in addition to just the right amount of mysterious "did-she?" intrigue makes this French film truly something special.

#5 - Bottoms | I've seen this twice now and laughed just as hard each time. There's a lot to praise in this comedy that reminds me of those from a decade ago, but one worth mentioning is how well it balances feeling realistic, with an absolutely absurd world. One where football players always have pads on, the quarterback, Jeff!, is devastatingly injured by a car bumping his shin, and Marshawn Lynch is a high school teacher. Bottoms is bonkers and a comedy classic. 

#4 - Barbie | There are a lot of ways Barbie could have gone wrong or been a cash-grab of a film. But thanks to the right talent on board, it ended up being one of the best films of the year while also being insanely successful. It seems to have everything and a rewatch later in the year easily confirmed that this is one people are going to be re-visiting for a long time. Also, I faint at this picture every time. 

#3 - John Wick: Chapter 4 | I already loved this movie - and this series - but a recent rewatch solidified how f**king incredible the whole thing is. Exhausting? Yes, though less so when you can pause for a break. Moment after moment is layered with gorgeous visuals, a memorable world and characters, and action sequence after action sequence that put most anything else to shame. It's a high point for a series that feels like it keeps peaking. 

#2 - Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse | Similar to how John Wick is insane with action, Across the Spider-Verse is insane with animation. The level of detail and style is off the charts and would even help an average story to stand out. But instead of an average story, we have a compelling, character-rich narrative that feels epic and intimate (see chosen image) at the same time. Simply put: it's one of the best sequels ever made. 

#1 - Oppenheimer | I've been reading (at the time of writing this) American Prometheus, the biography that Oppenheimer is based on. It makes the film even more impressive, seeing what Nolan extracted and the interwoven narrative he told. There's so much information at hand during a complicated time in human history, but his editing, script, and pacing are miraculous. That a 3 hour long, dialogue-heavy history lesson feels less than 2 hours in length and made $1 billion at the box office speaks to how much talent oozes out of every scene and sound (that original score!) of this behemoth. It's the best of 2023, period.

And with that, these Rath Awards come to a close! This has definitely been rewarding, even while being the most stressful Rath Awards to put together, officially finishing only a day before they go live. Still, I hope you enjoyed your time with my thoughts on Music, TV, Gaming, and Movies in what was truly a spectacular year for most of these mediums.

As always, comment, like, and share this and don't be afraid to start a dialogue with me in the comments section or social media. I love hearing other's opinions on these matters!

I hope that 2023 was prosperous, healthy, and enriching for each of you and that 2024 may bring more of the same to all of us! Thanks for reading!