Movie lovers, rejoice. Great storytelling is still alive, well, and kicking like an over-caffeinated donkey. 2013 seemed like it was going to be a year film buffs would remember almost from the start. By the time it was over, there was no doubt about it.
Before we start the list (arranged in descending order for the most dramatic umfh), I feel obligated to say that this is all only my opinion. Film is subjective, and what I found amazing, riveting and engaging, someone else might find boring, predictable and just plain stupid.
That said: one of the best things about movies is the discussions they open up. So, if you strongly disagree about some of my choices (or would just like to share your opinion, whatever it may be), I urge you to leave a reply below and start a dialogue.
Finally, I did not get a chance to see some of this year’s most acclaimed movies — namely 12 Years a Slave and Nebraska — so it’s very possible I missed out on some real gold.
With all that out of the way, let’s get on to my picks for 2013’s best films.
13. SPRING BREAKERS
This was one of the first movies I saw this year, and boy, did it make an impression. Unrelenting, hypnotizing and unforgettable. Like many great works of art, Spring Breakers takes a decisive moral stand. It presents the world of spring break for everything that it is – a nightmare flimsily disguised as a fantasy.
Also, say what you will about James Franco, but his performance here is one that absolutely glues your eyes to the screen and dares you to look away. It’s a peculiar role, and one many actors would be too afraid to tackle. But he does so with a fierceness that is incredible to watch.
12. THE WAY, WAY BACK
Movies about angsty teenagers are a dime a dozen, so it’s always a real treat when one comes along that manages to defy expectations. This certainly does that. Just as much about the adults as it is about the teens, The Way, Way Back is funny, heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting. It’s a feel-good movie the way feel-good movies should be done.
Special props to Sam Rockwell (who is always a joy to watch) and Steve Carell, who branches off and plays someone unlike anyone else he’s ever played — a genuine jerk.
11. MUD
The fact that a movie this good didn’t even crack the top 10 tells you a whole lot about film in 2013. Like writer/director Jeff Nichols’ previous work Take Shelter, this is a deliberately paced character study with a unique down-on-the-bayou feel.
As fantastic as Matthew McConaughey is (and boy, did he have a run of quality performances this year), the real star of the show is Tye Sheridan, the young actor who basically carries the movie on his shoulders. I can’t wait to see what he does next.
10. AMERICAN HUSTLE
Let me get this out of the way: This is a flawed film. HOWEVER — and this is a big however — if you gave me Blu-ray copies of every movie on this list, I’d probably pop in American Hustle more often than any of them.
It’s a blast from start to finish, a treat for both your eyes and ears, and one of the most enjoyable movie going experiences I’ve had all year (twice). In particular, I want to point out the opening scene which is simply Christian Bale (who in my opinion gives the performance of the year here) putting on a hair piece. It’s so simple, yet so effective in telling you everything you need to know about the character. Brilliant storytelling, and a whole heap of fun, even if the entire package is slightly uneven.
9. BLUE JASMINE
Man, Cate Blanchett really killed it here. We all know she’s going to win the Oscar, and damn right, if you ask me. She’s impossible to take your eyes off of. I’ve heard a lot of people say this is a return to form for Woody Allen. I can’t speak to that, as I’ve only seen half a handful of his movies, but for a movie that is essentially people in rooms talking for an hour and a half, this is a blast.
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll thank your lucky stars your life isn’t as dysfunctional.
8. THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE
As great as so many movies were in 2013, one genre seemed to disappoint: the blockbuster. I’m sure many of you will disagree, but personally, I found practically every big-budget extravaganza disappointing. In particular, Thor: The Dark World, The Great Gatsby and especially Star Trek Into Darkness.
So by the time The Hunger Games: Catching Fire rolled around, I had lost a lot of faith in big-budget/special effect pictures. And then I watched it. Holy crap.
This is top-tier filmmaking from first frame to last. I won’t say much more about it, in case you haven’t seen it yet, except SEE IT. The first Hunger Games was a really solid teen action-drama, but this transcends the genre. It’s The Dark Knight of teen sci-fi/action movies. If you still can, definitely try to see it on the big screen.
7. KILL YOUR DARLINGS
This was yet another surprise. I saw this for one reason: Dane DeHaan. He is someone I consider to be amongst the finest actors working today, especially for his age. And while I certainly got a great DeHaan performance, I also got a whole lot more.
This is a dark, engrossing film that pulls no punches and makes no apologies. If you enjoy films that deal with the darker side of youth, and explore interesting subcultures, this is for you. Check it out. Really great editing in this, too.
6. DALLAS BUYERS CLUB
Now we’re really talking. This is one of the finest character arcs I’ve seen in a very long time. Most great actors give an award worthy performance once every few years – this year alone, Matthew McConaughey gave three (we’ll get to the third). He’s unbelievable in this, as is Jared Leto, who transforms himself in the role of a pre-op transgender woman.
Those two performance are worth the price of admission alone, but Dallas Buyers Club also has an incredibly tight, smart script that’s only made better by Jean-Marc Vallée’s confident direction.
5. HER
Romantic movies aren’t usually my thing. Sure, there’s plenty I do like, but for the most part, I find them to be very typical and not particularly interesting. Spike Jonez’s Her almost seems like a response to that complaint.
The film follows genre tropes more closely than you might expect, but it does something utterly fresh and unique with them. Perhaps what I enjoyed most was the subtle sci-fi setting, which while a major part of the film, never overbears the characters, as it does in so many other sci-fi movies.
Though a few moments might not land as well as intended, this film is really something special.
4. MONSTERS UNIVERSITY
Prequels are hard to get right. Actually, I take that back. Prequels are almost impossible to get right. After all, movies are all about change — characters going through arcs — and by definition, a prequel means we will be seeing characters that have yet to go through the change that drew us to them in the first place.
The result is usually sloppy, unnecessary and most of all not nearly as interesting as the previous movies. But somehow, Pixar pulled it off.
Monsters University has no right to be as good as it is. Yet, it is. It really, really is. It stands shoulder to shoulder with almost any of Pixar’s best, and like them, it is a spectacular achievement – made all the more so when you think about how much of a train wreck it could have been.
3. INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
Like Monsters University, Inside Llewyn Davis is a movie that shouldn’t work. It has no real plot, its protagonist doesn’t really change at all by the end, and yet… it is never once dull, never once pointless, and never for a moment not compelling. Indeed, it is the exact opposite.
If Coen brothers’ humor is your thing, you’ll probably find this a melancholy, but hilarious movie. If it’s not, you’ll probably be depressed for days. Either way, you’ll likely find yourself sucked into the cold world of the early 60s New York folk scene.
And if you wanna talk about Oscar snubs, few things fit the bill better than Oscar Isaac not getting nominated for his performance here.
2. THE WOLF OF WALL STREET
Once again, Martin Scorsese shows all the kids how it’s done. The legendary filmmaker may be 71 years old, but here he has crafted a film more full of unrelenting life and energy than anything even remotely comparable by his much younger peers. This is Goodfellas for the 21st century.
The fast pace, almost constant voice over and subject matter certainly makes this a spiritual successor to both Goodfellas and Casino, but thanks to an entirely different cast, scriptwriter and cinematographer, it manages to stand on its own.
Like in those films, Scorsese takes a strong moral stand while also presenting these characters with absolute honesty. The Wolf of Wall Street is not for the faint of heart, but if you can handle it, this is a movie that will entertain you like crazy, then make you hate yourself for being so entertained in the first place. It’s riveting stuff that will stay with you long after the credit rolls.
PS: Though he’s only in the film for the first 20 or so minutes, Matthew McConaughey hits his third home run of the year here. Well done, Matthew. Now leave some work for the rest of Hollywood.
1. THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES
I went to the theatre to see this movie early in 2013, knowing next to nothing about it. By the time the lights came up, I knew I had witnessed something really special. This isn’t just the best film of the year. This is the best film of the last several years. Walking out of the theatre, I knew there was hardly any chance I would see a movie this good by the time 2013 ended. While The Wolf of Wall Street made me doubt that, in the end, I had to give it up to Pines.
To me, this is nothing short of a modern American masterpiece. It features career defining performances from all the leads — especially Eva Mendes and Bradley Cooper – and is the quickest 2 hours and 20 minutes you’ll have at the movies this side of The Dark Knight.
It’s the kind of movie that won’t do the math for you. It forces you to think, to put the dots together in your head, and it refuses to succumb to your expectations. A lot of people will be turned off by some of the directions this movie goes in, but all that means is that this is a movie that takes real risks. And oh lord, is it refreshing to see that.
From the acting, to the gorgeous cinematography, haunting score, and razor sharp editing, The Place Beyond the Pines is indeed a cinematic masterpiece.
Also, although this is predominately an actor’s movie, I don’t consider it an overstatement to say it features the finest chase scene I have ever seen.
If you haven’t checked this movie out yet… do it.
The chances we’ll get a year so full to the brim with great movies is rare, but let’s just be grateful we got this one, eh?
What were some of your favorites from 2013?
