...fortunately 2013 was not a terrible year for movies, despite having a few dozen stinkers. Sure this last year only had two super hero movies, BUT 2014 is going to be a great year for all us nerds and nerdettes. It's also a shame that I can only pick 13 movies (Because of my ridiculous constraints only put on by myself) but trust me there was a tonnnnnnnnnnnnnnn of good stuff. Honorable mentions go to Captain Phillips, Before Midnight, Elysium, Kick ass 2 , and the Conjuring. In that order. SO I guess this could be top 18. Maybe you'll get that list in 2018. If you're lucky.
13.
Prisoners : This is a movie that despite seeming to be very simple took many audiences by the collar and shook them till they couldn't cry no more. One of the truly dark and gritty movies not just of the year, but of our entire generation I wish this movie would pick up as much traction in the public eye as it deserves. A stunning cast, wrapped in a stunning screenplay, with a stunning story nothing short of a genre defining thriller.
12.
About Time : Say what you will about crying, and being a man, and romantic dramatic movies, and say what you will about the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, but while watching this movie I loved, and laughed, and cried all at once. Ignorant to other time travel movies and Ideas, About Time has you absolutely fall in love with its characters stating early on "If I'm going to make my life how I want it, it's going to be about love". The story truly follows suit. It isn't cliched or boring, it's fun and... very happy. There aren't a lot of purely romantic movies that come a long this sweet or happy anymore and it was simply a breathe of fresh air into a genre I had condemned. That was also kind of a pun because of the tornado warning .
This is the End... HAHAHAHAH no that was simply atrocious.
11.
At the World's End : See now this a comedy, and another British made movie. This movie is not only proof that the mighty trio of Frost Pegg Wright can produce something that is serious, well acted, well written, engaging and sad WHILE STILL MAKING A GOOD COMEDY. This practice appears to just fly over head with many comedy writers and directors these days who don't see the value in balanced film making. You really feel for the characters, and while i'm too young to totally relate to them I certainly feel that in the future looking back to this movie I'll find its message all too true and that's both scary and inspiring in a movie that shows such depth and growth within itself. A must say that the reason it isn't higher on the list is because there were better "comedies" this year.
10.
The Hobbit : The Desolation of Smaug : EXCITEMENT BANG BOOM DWARVES LAKES NO PLACE FOR A HOBBIT PRECIOUS MAGIC GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH. So I somehow had time to see this movie three times (It's really long) but as far as I'm concerned that should be all I need to say. It's a three hour long movie that's exciting, action packed, gorgeously well made, and just plain fun enough to warrant at least 3 viewings. Admittedly I'm not as big a fan of the first Hobbit because it's tone is a little more scattered, and there are some fairly long dull stretches of awkward humor,and while the Desolation still has that, it feels a lot more fleshed out in comparison. As opposed to a dull "We're half way there" kind of ending it ends on a grimmer, the tides are turning sort of feel. I certainly enjoyed it, and I most certainly can't wait for part 3.
9.
Don Jon : When I first heard that Joseph Gordon Levitt was doing so much outside of acting I immediately felt way less accomplished. When I heard he was coming out with a show about user created content from hitRecord, I was uncertain that his lack of experience in content creation and control would make a great show. While we still have yet to see how it turned out I can now put any inkling of his creative incompetence to bed. Don Jon is one of most original and interestingly crafted movies I've ever seen. A lot of the people I've talked to about it mentioned it being kind of an uncomfortable watch with their friends, but I feel that enhances the experience. The films honesty about its subject is clear from the beginning and while that may turn some people off we don't need those people involved. Losers. The originality, and the acting certainly make up for the somewhat strange awkward subject matter. Not really a family time movie, but certainly one of the most memorable movies of 2013.
8.
You're Next : PSSSSSSHA I'm not letting anyone forget about his masterpiece! This year was fairly flat for the true horror genre, I mean the Conjuring was really well made and all that but in my mind nothing holds a candle to the experience that was You're Next. Was it traditional? No. But was it fun? Hell yes. I don't really think the two movies are in the same league and that's why I personally will remember this over other scaryish movies this year. It was as fun for me as Cabin in the Woods was just a short time ago. I truly loved it and I wish for more like it.
7.
Frozen : Being that I only saw EVERY animated movie put in to theaters this year I can definitively say that Despicable Me 2 was great, and Frozen was AMAZING. It's been a while since Disney went forwards with such an old school princess movie. Brave and Princess and the Frog did their best to change the formula up and while those aren't terrible they really don't have the same joyous feel as Frozen. It's a very yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! movie. Honestly it's such a pleasing movie to see, the animation is stunning the writing is witty and original, the characters are all lovable and memorable, and while I personally think it could use a few more songs, the music is pretty incredible.
6.
12 Years a Slave : If Prisoners is a genre defining thriller (which it is) then 12 Years a Slave is a genre defining... slave drama with British actors acting american. A whole new genre! No movie has ever painted a more grim image of what it was like to be a slave back in the day, and I doubt any movie will come so close to making me physically uncomfortable to watch with black people with just how raw the whole experience is. And to top it off it doesn't just cast white looking white people or even racist looking white people (Like some parts of Django) it casts honest to goodness actors that make the whole film even more core shakingly ball-bustingly difficult to watch.
5.
Gravity : Personal story time. I'm terrified of heights. And flying. And the idea of going to space. Sooooo honestly I didn't want to go see this movie. After reading many many MANY positive reviews I caved and boy I was glad I did. This movie is an endless rush of intensity, and being that it's entirely carried by Sandra Bullock. Admittedly she is one of my least favorite actresses working today, she has a fairly high slot in my worst movies of the year list as well if you need proof! So when I was done with Gravity I suppose I liked her a little bit more, but she would still be my biggest complaint of an otherwise flawless film.
4.
Kings of Summer : Top 4 are where I expect to throw people off, mainly because I didn't know that a lot of people actually didn't see this movie. At the time of writing you can still go rent this movie at a red box despite it coming out sometime in the middle of the year. To preface , a group of three young boys move out of their respective homes, build a house in the woods, and declare themselves men while their families worry on a journey to find them. It's a funny well acted film, with some clever writing and simple gritty camera work that at times totally throws you around the bend. For the lead young actors being mostly unknowns its surprising how well they carry such a realistic teenage boy adventure movie, that occasionally blurs the line with weird little internal fantasy off shoots. It's one of the better "boy" movies, taking the being your own man and living in the wild to a fun extreme we've never seen on film.
3.
Pacific Rim : DUH DUH DUUH DUH DUH DUUUUUUUUUUUH nuff said. Wait I can say one more thing "TODAY, WE ARE CANCELLING THE APOCALYPSE". Go see it.
2.
Evil Dead : I am a huge fan of the original Evil Dead. Having seen them at a fairly young age my expectation of goofier horror movies is always a lot higher, hence why I enjoyed the more parodying nature of You're Next over the raw quality and chills of the Conjuring. And while both those movies are great there was no other movie in 2013 that fed my desire for an over the top gore fest like the Evil Dead remake sequel thingy. I know it's not for everyone but I think at the time of writing it's been my most re watched movie of the year. It's a roller coaster that throws a bucket of sh*t in your face every 9 seconds, and goes so far as to match, if not top, the sexual themes and symbols of the original. I can't imagine a better way to have made another entry into this series, and maybe soon we'll get even more.
1.
American Hustle : So a lot of lists I've seen so far have things in common with this one. Mostly having Her near the top despite it opening wide on Jan. 10th, having Wolf on Wall Street despite the fact that Leo won't get the Oscar for best actor AGAIN, and Gravity. There are some critics out there that would have you believe that Wolf on Wallstreet's cast and three hour running time give it an edge over American Hustle and they would be wrong. While both period pieces understand their times no one can put a finger on the style that this movie bleeds. Every second of dialogue, every outfit, every location, every single frame of the film wants you to know it's the 70's and what that truly was like for the average american, and all you do is wish you were there. Top it off with a cast that all deserve to split the best actor trophy I can't count how many ways, a soundtrack of absolute must have vinyls, and one of the best "How else would this have all gone down" twists I've ever seen in a con/heist movie. The signature style of Sir Bad ass O. Russel is more than welcome in my movies any time.
And that was 2013. Like I said there were a lot of good movies, and good 30 or 40 will still be relevant a few years down the line. Anything really good that I didn't even mention I probably didn't get the opportunity to see (Fruitvale Station for example). Hears to a new year, and some new movies. Let's hope its just as good. What review am I gonna put up next? The very first movie that comes out in Jan..... Paranormal Activity The Marked Ones!
...
SH*T!
Here we go again.
