My picks for best films of 2013:
1--Gravity (Alfonso Cuaron)
Gravity is a film with tension to spare. Filled with gorgeous visuals, creative direction, and a stellar performance by Sandra Bullock, it makes for the best film I've seen in 2013. So much of the film is a wonder to behold that I don't really want to see how much of it was accomplished behind the scenes. Special effects artists: I love your work. It's magic. But knowing how the trick was accomplished hurts the trick, you know? Anyway. Fantastic film.
2--Frances Ha (Noah Baumbach)
I can honestly say I wasn't a fan of this during the first twenty minutes or so. Then something clicked and I started relating to the character and her ordeals. Frances Ha is both funny and sad, embarrassing and charming, and ultimately a revealing look at creative youth. Does the film owe a lot to Woody Allen (especially the visual style of Manhattan)? Yes. Does that diminish my appreciation for the film? No. This is Baumbach's best film and Greta Gerwig is fast becoming one of my favorite actresses.
3--The World's End (Edgar Wright)
Is it as good as Shaun of the Dead? Well, no. But it's a modern comedy classic anyway. Bold, stupid, and a different kind of brilliant. I love this film.
4--Mud (Jeff Nichols)
Young director Jeff Nichols is not well known to general moviegoers, but he's slowly building up a filmography full of great movies. I liked Shotgun Stories. I really, really liked Take Shelter. And I love Mud. I am continually shocked by what a great actor Matthew McConaughey has become in recent years. The rom-com actor has quickly become one of the more daring leading men of independent film. His performance as the title character Mud is the best work of his career.
5--Prisoners (Denis Villeneuve)
A dark, twisted thriller with great performances from Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. I think much of the film's greatness is thanks to cinematographer Roger Deakins, who instills almost every frame with a cold sense of dread. A superior thriller.
6--Captain Phillips (Paul Greengrass)
Tom Hanks and newcomer Barkhad Abdi do excellent work here in Greengrass' true-story thriller. Tom Hanks' final scene is probably the best work of his career.
7--American Hustle (David O. Russell)
I love this cast, especially Bale, Lawrence, and Adams. Every actor does some of their best work here. The film owes much to Scorsese's GoodFellas (except instead of gangsters we're dealing with con artists), but it still has the style and voice of director Russell's finest films.
8--The Place Beyond the Pines (Derek Cianfrance)
The film operates in a way that I found rather fascinating. Without saying too much, the film focuses on Ryan Gosling's character as if it is his film, then Bradley Cooper enters the film and it becomes his film, then it radically switches things up again. Interesting storytelling. Watching the film felt much like reading a good book, where we act as the only witnesses to the good and bad deeds of the characters on display.
9--The Conjuring (James Wan)
I'm so happy this film became a financial and critical success. We need more horror movies like this. I'm also happy for director James Wan, who is unfortunately remembered as the creator of torture porn because he started the Saw series. First of all, the initial Saw film is still pretty good. But more than that, Wan proves that he's come a long way with The Conjuring, and doesn't require blood and pain to create a good scare. So many cool shots in this film. So many good moments. So many creative scares. It's a shame that good horror film making isn't respected more. This is the work of a true talent.
10--Pacific Rim (Guillermo del Toro)
I don't believe there was a film I was looking forward to more in 2013. I love Godzilla and kaiju. In a way, I might even think of this film as a disappointment, as it took me two viewings before I came to fully appreciate it. I do wish that the characters felt a little bit more fresh, and I would have liked a somewhat more epic story than just the final days of the resistance, but it is what it is. It's fun, colorful, optimistic storytelling. The visuals of Pacific Rim are so grand and beautiful. It's not Guillermo del Toro's best film, but it's probably Hollywood's best attempt so far at the modern giant monster film.
I'd also like to give some honorable mention to. . .
The Act of Killing--Chilling documentary. Never seen anything quite like it. Don't know if I ever want to see it again.
The Wolverine--The best superhero flick of the year. Every superhero story need not be about saving the world or a city. I quite liked this more personal story and would be happy seeing more like it.
The Lords of Salem--Rob Zombie's best film and a great piece of horror.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire--The first film was good but this is a big step up. I loved some of the comments from uninformed moviegoers at the end "I guess with an ending like that they're hoping to make a third one, huh?" Heh.
Much Ado About Nothing--Joss Whedon does Shakespeare at his house with some of his friends and films it all. It's a fun movie for fans of Whedon's past works, but in addition to that it's also a fine Shakespeare adaptation. Nathan Fillion steals the show.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug--I don't have a lot of love for An Unexpected Journey, but this is a step in the right direction. Still not up to the level of The Lord of the Rings, but it's a fine fantasy film, and it makes me excited to see Part 3.
The Wolf of Wall Street--Good but not great Martin Scorsese film.
Blue Jasmine--If Cate Blanchett doesn't win Best Actress at the Oscars then something is very wrong.
Spring Breakers--I might hate every character in the movie, but I was entranced by the film. James Franco's a mad man.
Man of Steel--It's my favorite Superman movie. . . What?
Drug War--Johnnie To is one of the best action filmmakers in the world. The final 20 minutes of Drug War are amazing.
Before Midnight--So raw, so angry. Sad, yet maybe hopeful. Maybe. It's not as charming as Before Sunrise or Before Sunset, but it's an interesting, bold take on life and love when the best days of being together are in the past.
Europa Report--A 'found-footage' sci-fi thriller that works quite well.
Blackfish--I'm never going to SeaWorld again.
Stoker--Chan-wook Park's first English film isn't quite as good as his Korean works, but the visual storytelling and dark ideas are still there. This is a film I look forward to revisiting.
Lone Survivor--A very good war film. Thrilling action but emotional, too. Peter Berg's best film.
All
in all, a very good year for film. Looking forward to seeing all the
greats that I missed, plus all the new 2014 films on the horizon.
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