Another year has passed and another slew of films has been given to us viewers; ready for loving, hating or anything in between. I've already celebrated the worst, now it’s time to celebrate the best!
A majority of personal “best of” lists only showcase the creator’s top ten (or twenty) favorite films; with the occasional honorable mentions. This year I've decided to honor a much larger and diverse range of films I consider the best, consisting of the following groups:
- My Top Ten Favorites of 2013: (The Cream of the Crop; Listed in Numerical Order)
- Distinctive Exceptional Award: (Given to a film of exceptional quality, yet feeling out of place with the other groups)
- The Other Ten: (Numbers 11-20; Listed in Alphabetical Order)
- Special Awards: (Specific Awards Aimed at Certain Film Genres)
With over 25 different films making my list, I've decided to split it into two parts. Part 1 (this blog) will consist of The Other Ten and Specific Awards while Part 2 will consist of the Distinctive Exceptional Award and My Top Ten Favorites.
This year I ended up seeing a total of 81 films from 2013 (both in and out of theaters); trying my hardest to see as many recommended films as possible. Yet despite my best intentions, I still missed out on a good chunk of interesting films, including: Act of Killing(The), Ain't Them Bodies Saints, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, August Osage Country, Before Midnight, Inside Llewyn Davis (which hasn't come to theaters here yet), Kill Your Darlings, and Muscle Shoals. Evidently none of them will be appearing here as a result; however all of these leftovers will be eligible for my mid-year/best of 2014 lists (assuming I enjoy them of course).
Last but not least, every personal list brings disagreement with others; here are some helpful notes to remember while reading:
- These are my personal opinions on films I considered the best of 2013. They were not created from any group collaboration or critics’ choice, nor are they supposed to represent a majority consensus.
- Like many things in life, opinions change. What I consider the #10 best of 2013 may end up six years down the road as my #1 of the decade (re-watching a film can certainly change your initial opinion).
- These are my personal opinions! You do not have to agree with them, you do not have to like them. There is no such thing as a “wrong” opinion when it comes to something as subjective as cinema. My number one may be your most hated, and your most beloved may be my rock bottom; yet neither one of us is “wrong”, just entitled to his/her own opinions.
Now then, let’s begin:
The Other Ten:
Here are the honorary films that just didn't make the top ten cut, but were too good to not acknowledge. The films are organized in alphabetical order along with information on each one’s director, genre and a short summary on what I thought; links are provided at the title name for those I reviewed.
Genre: Drama/Survival
I've been trying to figure out why I enjoyed All is Lost so much. The idea of a near silent movie involving a single actor is intriguing enough, but doesn't automatically make it great. I've come to the conclusion that the key factor for my enjoyment was Redford’s ability to express without speech. Surprise, anger, angst, optimism, desperation, determination and fear are all conveyed clearly through facial expressions alone. It’s almost as if I’m in Redford’s shoes, feeling his pain and frustrations; getting a better understanding of how dire the situation is than I would've if dialogue was frequently used.
Enough Said
Genre: Comedy/Romance
It’s surprising to say, but I find it very difficult explaining just what made Enough Said so good. It ultimately comes down to three aspects: characters, dialogue, and presentation. The characters are likable, three-dimensional and act with a sense of level-headedness. Their dialogue is funny, interesting, and possess a sense of realism; calm/logical but not robotic, emotional but not to the point of hamminess. The presentation brings these two aspects together wonderfully; giving sharp pacing, lovely plot flow, and a well-rounded conclusion…huh, maybe it wasn't that difficult.
Her
Genre: Romance/Sci-Fi
While the last third’s drama got a bit too over-blown for me; the other two-thirds were simply wonderful. The film’s got atmospheric music, beautiful color design, and a not-to-distant future (wisely left undated) that’s as fascinating as it is thought-provoking. Her could very well be the future we’re heading for; what that means is up for personal interpretation, but don’t let that discard its remarkable ambition and creativity.
Genre: Comedy/Drama
A very simple film that looks at two interesting subjects (theater voice-overs and gender changing roles) with surprising wisdom. In A World does not try to be anything superior than an enjoyable comedy, but ends up doing so as a result. Its charm and wit are effective in entertaining, allowing the real life truths to sink in without feeling forceful or in-your-face; resulting in a dual effective film of comedy and drama.
Genre: Drama/Historical
The Butler just screams “Oscar bait film”, which is how most people saw it. That’s likely not far from the truth (and if so, seems to have backfired horribly as a result); yet being Oscar bait certainly doesn’t mean a film’s bad. As I’ve said before in its review, The Butler acts as a wonderfully paced three act play; containing many great performances (particularly from the presidents) and a story that struck an emotional chord in my heart. The film pleasantly surprised me, and if you give it a chance maybe it will surprise you.
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Payne is great at writing well-developed characters, and this film is chop-full of them. Even side characters are given time and effort to develop personalities (albeit, mostly dry ones due to the setting). Of course it’s the main relationship between father (Woody) and son (David) that takes the film from good to great. Without it, Nebraska would lose half its heart, be left without a strong relationship, and lose a satisfyingly touching ending.
Only God Forgives
Genre: Crime/Drama
Viewers are split by Only God Forgives; some love it while others despise it. The film is undeniably slow paced, confusing to follow, and contains some very black on black morality. I too was at first put off by the pacing and plot, but was kept from hating it due to entrancingly beautiful cinematography and an awesome character named lieutenant Chang (whose very way of walking was badass). After finishing the film, I looked up various reviews that analyzed it to help better understand. One such review helped me gain a better comprehension of the film’s symbolism; giving me a whole new appreciation that has only grown overtime (here’s the review if you’re interested http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/teamt/leon-thomas/renegade-cut/41450-the-devil-in-only-god-forgives).
Genre: Epic/Thriller
I said it best at the end of its review: “The combination of Prisoner’s absorbing plot, wonderful casting, and beautiful cinematography brings the film together in a stunning epic that dives right into the heart and soul of man. The look of Prisoners is both visually engaging and a treat to watch; adding to the well-made mystery encompassing the film. This is a film where its slow pacing will not dissuade average “fast-paced” viewers, as its mystery and characters will keep your attention to the grand finale.”
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Genre: Adventure/Survival
There’s an assumption that reusing a similar plot from one film to its sequel will result in a poorly recycled film that holds none of the first’s weight. This can be true if the director makes it poorly (The Hangover Part II, Die Hard 2, Airplane 2-The Sequel); as an effective director can make a film just as good, if not better, than the first (Karate Kid Part II, Evil Dead 2, Chamber of Secrets). Catching Fire is an example of the latter; a film that uses the first’s concept (teens put in a competition to fight to the death) while adding darker moral themes, better character development, the removal of shaky cam (thank god!), and a surprise twist that caught me for a loop. I really enjoyed the first Hunger Games, so the fact that Catching Fire was just as good (if not better) gives me great confidence that this series wasn't just a one-time fluke.
The Impossible
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Genre: Disaster/Drama
There are times near the end where The Impossible gets frustratingly cheesy and cliché. One particular scene involves our main family searching for one another at a hospital and JUST barely missing each other over and over and over (getting to downright idiot levels by the end). If it wasn’t for the remarkable performances from both adults and children, downright terrifying look at a tsunami’s devastation (with real-life effects that bring startling realism to the scenes), and a horrifically shocking yet respectful approach of the aftereffects from such a disaster (causing myself to quiver with emotion), I’d might have not placed this on my list.
Special Awards:
The special awards are given to films I thought were the best in one of six different categories: Comedy, Horror, Romance, Animation, Superhero, and Popcorn Flick. If any of these six films were good enough to make my top ten, they’ll appear there instead with the award mentioned underneath. Out of the six categories, only comedy made my top ten of 2013.
Favorite Horror: The Conjuring
Genre: Horror
A mix of new CGI and old fashion scares creates The Conjuring into both a fine tribute to 1970s horror films and its own unique creation. Effort is clearly put into the story and characters; a very rare feature to find in horror films this day and age. It treats its audience with intelligence and rewards those who follow with an exciting conclusion of horror, mystery and surprise. The Conjuring proves that not all new age horror films have to be part-parody to effectively work (it’ll be a double miracle if a half-decent sequel’s made).
Favorite Romance: The Spectacular Now
Directed By: James Ponsoldt
Genre: Drama /Romance
This movie came SO very close to making my top ten (maybe even top five). If not for the finale (where a literal crash sends the film into more formulaic territory) this could have been one of my favorite romance-dramas of the past decade. For what I got however, The Spectacular Now still holds as a great film; having two absolutely fantastic performances, a surprisingly dark and in-depth plot, and a spot on my list as favorite romance of 2013.
Favorite Animation: Frozen
Genre: Fantasy/Musical
Ok, ok I change my mind; after listening to it again, I’ll admit Let It Go is a catchy song…and also addictive. Frozen brings Disney back to its on again/off again lover the musical; combining charm, comedy, CGI, and character (the four C’s) to create a successful new addition to Disney’s roster of family films…now to go listen to Let It Go again, which despite title protest, I cannot.
Favorite Superhero: The Wolverine
Genre: Action/Superhero
Leave it to me to go see and review every 2013 superhero movie…except for the one that ended up being my favorite (-_-#). I’m honestly not a huge fan of the X-men films (feeling lukewarm about the last two additions), so it came as a pleasant surprise to find The Wolverine stylishly pleasing and highly entertaining. The change in scenery (set mostly in Japan) along with a more realistic quality (focus is put more on non-super action, with the mutants that do appear having more restrained powers) helped recreate the X-men image into something refreshing and fun to watch.
Favorite Popcorn Flick: World War Z
Genre: Action/Apocalypse
Truth be told, I liked the movie more than the book. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed the read, but it never made sense just how entire nation armies could that easily lose their nerves and get defeated, when a single elderly nun could sway off packs of zombies for over nine days. The book’s slow, awkward zombies are changed by the film into sprinting maniacs that can infect others in mere seconds. The after-effects of this (extreme panic and civilized destruction) make more sense here; upping the risks and giving more realistic weight to the entire situation. World War Z is a pure adrenaline shot of entertainment to watch and recommended as the best popcorn flick of 2013!
