MY TOP 5 FAVORITE FILMS OF 2013!
I'm happy to report 2013 was another fantastic year for cinema, making the top five list and the honorable mentions a difficult but wonderful chore to select from. For me, it was not a strong year for superhero movies, (except "Man of Steel," which was underrated in my opinion) though with the likes of "The Dark Knight Rises" and "The Avengers" last year, it is pretty hard to follow up.
On this list you'll find superheroes of a different sort, men and women undergoing hardships, tight situations and impossible circumstances, some rising, some falling. It was a great year for movies with characters against unthinkable adversity. Keep in mind I'm not a professional critic, and only count movies I've seen from 1/1/13-12/31/13. I'm still heavily anticipating seeing critical favorites like "Her," "August: Osage County," "Dallas Buyers Club," "Nebraska" and "Inside Llewyn Davis." Now that I've covered those bases, enjoy the two movies I left the theater disappointed with, the three movies that in any other year would be top five material, and the five movies that catapulted me into cinematic nirvana, reminding me why I still do this without getting paid.
Hanks did a fine job as Uncle Walt in "Saving Mr. Banks" this year, but it's roles like Rich Phillips that remind you why Tom Hanks is the one of the greatest actors living. It's not a showy role at all; Phillips has to calculate each move to avoid death from these pirates, who have little choice but to rob these ships in their ghastly circumstances in Somalia. Pirate ringleader Muse (Barkhad Abdi) is menacing, but makes Phillips, or as he calls him, Irish, understand he's not in it for the body count. These could so easily be caricature portrayals of good and evil, but under Paul Greengrass' suspenseful, tight direction, it's a thrilling, heart-pounding movie journey where the lines are blurred and time is of the essence.
3. MUDThe year's best original story features a quiet, realistic southern town, anchored by the now reliably amazing Matthew McConaughey in a supporting role. That's right. The two leads, Ellis and Neckbone aren't two Disney stars shoved into a PG-13 movie to further their careers. They're two little southern boys who've come across a fugitive they're not sure they want to help, considering his background. Sam Shepard, Reese Witherspoon and Ray McKinnon (as Ellis' tough love father) round out a terrific cast assembled by Jeff Nichols. Rarely do they come as authentic or original as "Mud." Enjoy the McConaissance.
2. 12 YEARS A SLAVE
In 2013, it's not a year end best-of list if this film isn't on here. Here's the reason: it weighs with you. This tragically true tale of Solomon Northup's revoked freedom gives us glimpses into the stain America will never wash away: the ugly possibilities of mankind. Chewetel Ejiofor's soon-to-be-Oscar-winning portrayal embodies a spirit and dedication to life and righteousness so vigorous his Northup refuses to be broken. Michael Fassbender and Sarah Paulson were truly the most despicable characters onscreen this year, and Lupita Nyong'o's tragic Patsey brought tears to my eyes. Combine this with a devastating score, elegant dialogue and an unflinching camera, you have Steve McQueen's masterpiece that shows a little glimpse of the worst treatment of humans ever.
In 2013, it's not a year end best-of list if this film isn't on here. Here's the reason: it weighs with you. This tragically true tale of Solomon Northup's revoked freedom gives us glimpses into the stain America will never wash away: the ugly possibilities of mankind. Chewetel Ejiofor's soon-to-be-Oscar-winning portrayal embodies a spirit and dedication to life and righteousness so vigorous his Northup refuses to be broken. Michael Fassbender and Sarah Paulson were truly the most despicable characters onscreen this year, and Lupita Nyong'o's tragic Patsey brought tears to my eyes. Combine this with a devastating score, elegant dialogue and an unflinching camera, you have Steve McQueen's masterpiece that shows a little glimpse of the worst treatment of humans ever.
1. FRUITVALE STATION
Now with a description like this year's runner-up, what could possibly top it? I feel the events of "12 Years a Slave" trickled down and were rooted in 2013's best feature film hands down, "Fruitvale Station." Black slavery is in the rear view, but tensions and ignorance and fear culminate in the plague that is racial profiling, which is exactly what happened to Oscar Grant III exactly five years ago to this day. The movie kicks off with the real life footage of Oscar's murder, then progressively shows us simply a day in his life. In an interview Michael B. Jordan, who gives an honest, emotional and touching performance as Grant, said the scene where he picks up an injured dog is symbolic to America leaving the black male to the side, with no one acknowledging it. Octavia Spencer and Melanie Diaz are excellent as his mother and girlfriend respectively. If you haven't seen it, I encourage you to rent it when able. This is an essential film, not an entertaining one, of a human being shot down when the capability of change was all too attainable.
Now with a description like this year's runner-up, what could possibly top it? I feel the events of "12 Years a Slave" trickled down and were rooted in 2013's best feature film hands down, "Fruitvale Station." Black slavery is in the rear view, but tensions and ignorance and fear culminate in the plague that is racial profiling, which is exactly what happened to Oscar Grant III exactly five years ago to this day. The movie kicks off with the real life footage of Oscar's murder, then progressively shows us simply a day in his life. In an interview Michael B. Jordan, who gives an honest, emotional and touching performance as Grant, said the scene where he picks up an injured dog is symbolic to America leaving the black male to the side, with no one acknowledging it. Octavia Spencer and Melanie Diaz are excellent as his mother and girlfriend respectively. If you haven't seen it, I encourage you to rent it when able. This is an essential film, not an entertaining one, of a human being shot down when the capability of change was all too attainable.
______________________________________________________________________________
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
- Gravity- A cinematic visual achievement that's been praised 100 different ways, so I'll tell you why it's not in the top five: the dialogue. Other than that I could not disagree further with Sandra Bullock's Ryan Stone's now famous quote: "I hate space."
- Prisoners- Remember when everyone was talking about this film? I wish they still were. Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal bring down the house in the year's best mystery, along with a terrific ensemble. I found myself rooting for Jackman's Keller to find his daughter by any means...and that scared me.
- The Wolf of Wall Street- This and "Spring Breakers" were the great, insane joy rides of cinema 2013, and "WOWS" blew me away with its visceral, raucous portrayal of really despicable people you find yourself cheering on. An epic life like Jordan Belfort's deserves a movie of this magnitude.
DISHONORABLE MENTIONS:
- Iron Man 3- I've said enough about this dud. This explains it all. (Video has spoilers)
- Now You See Me- It had the worst ending to any movie this year, and a perfectly good waste of Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg. And magicians.
Comments
Post a Comment