It’s cliché and often said every year when it comes
to the movies, but this year, more than ever, it is true. It was a great year
at the movies. The year 2013 presented one great movie after another, and I
found it incredibly difficult to put together a list of just ten movies from
the year that I loved. I had to make it
13, which felt appropriate with it being the Top 13 films of 2013. These are films that left a positive impact
on me in some form, and I walked away from them and couldn’t get them out of my
mind. They left me with something to
ponder and often moved me to tears. Each
film mentioned is special in its own way and all of them are now out on Blu-Ray
and DVD. The reason this list took so
long is because I wanted to take my time and make sure that I did the list
properly and saw as many films from 2013 as possible. Without further ado, here are my top 13 films
of 2013:
13) Spring Breakers
It was difficult to find a film that polarized
cinemagoers more than Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers, which no surprise came
out around the spring of 2013. It is a
colorful, hypnotic, and mesmerizing experience.
It really blew my mind from a visual standpoint, and when you mixed in
the soundtrack along with the performances, especially James Franco, I was left
with a movie that truly haunted me and stuck with me. It is not for everyone, that is for sure, and
many people I’ve told to see it have hated it.
I loved it and loved how original, unique, and outside the box it
was. Plus, it doesn’t hurt when you have
four beautiful women in the film as Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Rachel
Korine, and Ashley Benson. Many walked out of the theater during the showing or
were bored to tears by it. There is not
a lot of middle ground with this one.
12) Fruitvale Station
Based on a true story, Fruitvale Station is the
Michael B. Jordan show. Known for his
outstanding work on such shows as The Wire and of course Friday Night Lights,
he proves he is leading man material here as he carries the show. The film runs at under 90 minutes and follows
a day in the life of Oscar Grant, a flawed yet goodhearted young adult who is
just trying to put his drug past behind him and start new for his girlfriend,
played by Melonie Diaz, and his baby girl.
His mother, the talented and powerful Octavia Spencer, just wants to see
her son do right. What happens and
unfolds is tragic and known beforehand, so it is no surprise when it does
occur, yet director Ryan Coogler keeps the suspense going and the filming
tight. It truly feels like a day in the
life of Oscar and as if we are a voyeur following his every move. The last 15 minutes of the film are as
powerful as any movie of 2013. At the
end of the day, it is Michael B. Jordan who is just giving us a sample of what
is to come in the years from this tremendous actor.
11) 12 Years a Slave
This is a tough but necessary watch. It shows how far we have come, how things
used to be, and what slaves truly had to endure. A free man, now forced into slavery, has to
leave behind his family to try and survive with many lashings and long nights
at the hands of the sinister Michael Fassbender, who turns into a scary good
performance. Many moments in the film
are nearly impossible to watch and even harder to swallow when you see it
happen on screen. Director Steve McQueen doesn’t shy away from it,
however. Brad Pitt also turns into a
solid supporting performance. He isn’t
on screen long, but his presence is felt.
Film can be used for many avenues, but when it can teach us something
and show us something, it really shows how influential it can be and how
affecting the medium is. The film shook
me for days and really hit me hard. This
is a powerful film that needs to be seen by everyone. It is an important part of our history, even
if it is an ugly part, because it shows how different things are now.
10) Captain Phillips
This movie runs at over two hours, but not a second
of it is dull or boring. Every moment,
every sequence, and every action has a purpose.
Tom Hanks turns in one of his best performances in a long time as
Captain Richard Phillips who is held prisoner while his cargo ship is being
held hostage by Somali pirates. Hanks
keeps it together and has to play many different sides to his character in the
film. He needs to be a family man. He
needs to be in control. He needs to show
no fear. It is a lot to take on and it
is an emotionally draining performance that Hanks puts his heart and soul into
every step of the way. The suspense at
the end of the film is off the charts. Paul Greengrass takes us right in there and
doesn’t hold back. This is a great film.
9) Disconnect
Disconnect is a film, much like 12 Years a Slave,
but in a far less important way, that needs to be seen. It shows the dangers and miscommunications
that go on in our lives because of our use of technology and how reliant we are
on it. It has a great cast which
includes Jason Bateman in a rare dramatic role, the always reliable and intense
Frank Grillo, Hope Davis, and Paula Patton.
The film had me in tears and really shook me to my core many times
throughout viewing it. It should be
required viewing in every household.
Technology is great and has many benefits, but it can be used incorrectly.
When it is, the dangers can be endless.
This film was released in early 2013 and not nearly enough people have
seen it. I hope it finds an audience on Blu-Ray and DVD now.
8) Enough Said
This is a romantic comedy for adults to enjoy
without any of the unnecessary raunchy material or dirty jokes. Not that there is anything wrong with that
sort of thing, but this is a simple (in a good way) love story between two
middle aged single parents who are just trying to figure out each other and
life without their children. It is
directed perfectly by Nicole Holofcener, who always has a keen
visual eye and creative mind for romantic comedies for adults. It also features an amazing performance from
the late great James Gandolfini, who shows that great
actors are great actors. They can do
anything. He just knocks this performance out of the park and his chemistry
with Julia Louis-Dreyfus is just perfect. This is a sweet film that more people need to
see, much like Disconnect. It just made
me feel good and put a big smile on my face.
7) In a World
Lake Bell is the writer, director, and star of this
quirky independent gem which again, to beat a dead horse, more people need to
see. If this list does anything, I hope
it inspires people to seek out some of these films they might have missed the
first time they were in the cinema or haven’t heard about previously. It
focuses on the often overlooked or undervalued world of voiceovers for
trailers. It is a man’s world most of
the time, but Carol (Lake Bell) is hoping to break that trend and become the
next big star. She is terrific in this original,
distinctive, and very funny film. We definitely need more female voices not
only in the voiceover world but in the film world as well. Lake Bell is someone that I look forward to
seeing more and more of in the future. I
had a great time with this one and really enjoyed its cast full of colorful
characters such as Nick Offerman and Ken Marino. It is a brisk 90 minute movie
that just flies by and has a really sharp script.
6) Short Term 12
This is a film that hit close to home with me:
feelings of abandonment, feelings of being left behind, and feelings of being
all alone. Gallagher Jr. and Brie Larson are outstanding in this
film, especially Brie. She is a wounded
young woman, trying to stay tough and keep it together for the children she is
looking after at the residential treatment facility. I fell in love with all of the kids and their
outbursts, their issues, and their pain.
Brie should have been nominated for an Oscar in this touching, funny,
and heartfelt film that shows a difficult job well done by flawed yet beautiful
people. The tears came out hard and
heavy for this film, and I was moved by it immensely. It is one of those little independent films
you sort of hear about, but then you check it out are blown away by its
direction, its action, and its message. This one hit very, very close to
home. This is an amazing piece of
filmmaking.
5) The
Spectacular Now
Miles Teller takes a break from being in disposable
teen movies to be in a teen movie that truly understands what it feels like to
be a teen and have seen and been through things at a young age. Kyle Chandler is only in the film for about
10 minutes, but he steals the show with a performance that is so creepy yet
heartbreaking at the same time. The real
star maker in this film, however, is the beautiful Shailene Woodley, who just
makes you fall more and more in love with her character every time she is on
screen. She is beautiful yet she doesn’t
know it. She is shy yet kind of sexy at
the same time in a way that isn’t forced. The film also features one of the most tender
love scenes I’ve ever seen on film. This
is a film that packs a heavy punch and is filmed just beautifully. This is a special film about that special
love.
4) Dallas
Buyers Club
Much has been said about Matthew
McConaughey and even Jared Leto’s weight loss for
the film, but even more than that, this is a film about life and living
it. We only get one life at the end of
the day, and it is important to make every single moment count. Ron Woodroof learns the hard way when he is
diagnosed with AIDS. However, he will
not give up, even after he is told he only has 30 days to live. He keeps on fighting and will not go down
easy. He isn’t always likable, and it is
a tough performance as he can be homophobic and kind of a jerk, but you start
to really feel for him and his friendship with Jared Leto’s Rayon. It is truly
the heart and soul of this movie. Jennifer Garner also turns in fantastic work
as a sympathetic doctor. This is another
one of those films that just hit me like a ton of bricks and really made me
feel something. That is the power of
cinema without a shadow of a doubt.
3) Blue
Jasmine
2) American Hustle
This is the film that I wish Wolf of Wall Street would have been but wasn't. David O. Russell knows his cast and knows who he likes to work with, that is for sure. He brings out the best in Amy Adams, Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and now Jeremy Renner as well. I was hooked and drawn in as soon as the movie started and it did not let up for even a second. I loved the soundtrack, which I now have in my collection, and the look and feel of the film is out of this world. There is so much attention to detail and every character is unique, fun to spend time with, and distinctive in personality. I've seen the film three times now,k and every time I find something that I missed from before. There is a lot going on, but it is never confusing or overwhelming. The film flows like a great tennis match. I loved the hell out of this movie.
1) Nebraska
Comedy and drama are two genres that can be difficult to merge together, but Alexander Payne blends them perfectly in this beautifully shot and magnificently acted film. Who would ever thought to put Bruce Dern and Will Forte in a movie together, but they actually work supremely well together. Shot in gorgeous black and white, the film just shines on screen like no other film has this year. June Squibb steals the show as well with some tremendous one-liners. Her comedic timing is off the charts. Bruce Dern reminded me of so many older men that I know in my life such as my grandpa, who just doesn’t know when to quit or how to quit. They are stubborn as a mule but still have a zest for life. Forte also does great work as the son who loves his dad and goes along with all of his crazy schemes and gimmicks even though he knows they are not legitimate. The ending of the film put a smile on my face that just about lasted for days. Nebraska is the best film of 2013 and it looks amazing on Blu-Ray. This is a rare film that has a great script, great director, and terrific cast.
Honorable Mentions:
