My Pop Culture Saviors of 2023: The Best in Film, TV & Music

While pop culture pundits around the globe scrambled to do their best to encapsulate 2023, a year that meant so many different things to so many different people...I slacked off. I neglected to carry out my duties as an entertainment whatever-you-want-call-me. In fact, ever since the pandemic, I found it difficult to focus my efforts on curating my end-of-year picks (As they say, life gets in the way, and my life hasn't resembled anything like the one I lived pre-2020 – for a number of reasons).

But that doesn't mean I didn't keep track of the movies, TV series, and music that delighted me and reinstated my faith in pop culture's ability to inspire and challenge. After all, pop culture is a reflection of who we are and where we are at a certain time in our lives. And I like to think I still possess a passion for diving deep into our collective obsessions, especially mine, and taking a snapshot of a year that didn't disappoint. 

Allow me to share my picks...in no particular order:

All of Us Strangers

Andrew Haigh's gorgeous meditation on loneliness, longing, and grief is a perfect companion piece to his unforgettable Weekend from 2011. Star Andrew Scott gives an outstanding performance, tapping into the emotions and insecurities of gay men of a certain age that are rarely explored on screen. It's one of the few films that linger long after the closing credits have rolled. *2024 update: A well-deserved addition to the Criterion Collection.

The Holdovers

Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Dominic Sessa are an unlikely trio to help ring in a new, offbeat holiday classic. The shagginess of the cinematography and Alexander Payne's direction, combined with the wonderful and thoughtful script, should make this required, annual viewing for years to come.

"Runaway" by Pink

Pop's rebel queen dropped new music this year, but it's this energetic shot of 80s adrenaline that is easily her best track. Sadly, no official music video has debuted, but the lyric video perfectly matches the vibe of this irresistible anthem, with its repurposed edit of neon-lit aerobics videos.

Somebody Somewhere (HBO)

Bridget Everett and Jeff Hiller are TV's Best Best Friends, navigating life in their small Kansas town, tackling topics like religion, ailing parents, and sibling strife with a tenderness you can't find anywhere else on television. 

Past Lives

Celine Song's quiet and beautifully understated romance soars with its moments of unspoken emotions and subtle gestures from actors who understand the power of "show-don't-tell." This is a film that deserves to be carefully watched (turn off those second screens if you're streaming this from the couch) to be fully appreciated. 

"Lifetime" by SG Lewis

This breezy-groovy gem from the DJ-singer's unskippable AudioLust & HigherLove delivers pure joy with its harmonies and sparkling production. Also worthy: the electro-vibey "Infatuation" and the 80s-synth-tastic "Missing You."

American Fiction

A brilliant satire that doubles as an adult family drama seen through the eyes of a Black man (a fantastic Jeffrey Wright) who struggles to straddle the line between commercialism and artistic integrity while balancing personal obligations to the ones he loves. 

Poker Face (Peacock)

Rian Johnson's ode to 70s detective series gives star Natasha Lyonne her best work to date. Each one of its brilliantly scripted episodes unfolds like a beautifully wrapped gift, supported by a cast of delicious-to-watch guest stars (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Judith Light, Stephanie Hsu – to name a few).

"Surrender to You" by Jamie Hannah

The most sweepingly romantic song of the year goes to this track that sees the British singer-songwriter "with disco ball moonlight all over my skin" deliver a ghostly falsetto that guides listeners on a dream-like journey. Also worth a listen: "Dragonfly."

Barbie

Not only was Greta Gerwig's summer phenomenon worth the hype, it exceeded expectations, delivering a one-of-a-kind blockbuster. It is the spoonful of sugar for the medicine we need in entertainment, an indictment of patriarchal systems and institutions – all disguised as a pop confection.

"Paralyzed" by Roosevelt

The German-born singer-producer-DJ delivers a track worth jamming out to, whether you're getting high on a rooftop in Brooklyn or overdosing on Celsius energy drinks at a house party in Silver Lake. 

Shrinking (AppleTV+)

Jason Segel heads a wonderful and lovable ensemble in this dramedy that delicately explores grief, empathy, and the unlikely support systems we're capable of creating for ourselves. 

May December

Todd Haynes's borderline-camp drama has all the makings of a vintage TV-movie-of-the-week, but it's hauntingly executed with the acting pedigree (Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman, Charles Melton) needed to elevate it to prestige status.

"Pearls" by Jessie Ware

Or, The Pride Anthem That Never Was. The British songstress gave us another reason to "shake it til the pearls fall off" with this retro dance floor dish. 

@TheFirstEcho