How can 2013 be over already? It seems like only yesterday that everyone was swept up in anticipation of "Man of Steel", followed swiftly by the disappointment of actually seeing "Man Of Steel". I had the pleasure of seeing 55 movies this year, 35 of which I gave positive reviews. Of those 35, 10 stand out to me as the cream of the crop. As always, I judge these films not only by their technical achievements, but by their impact on me as an individual. By doing this, I hope to create a balanced blend of elite films and crowd-pleasers. This is not a "10 Best" list; this is more of a "Top 10 Movies Likely To Satisfy A Wide Spectrum Of Audiences" list.
"Seriously?" Yes, seriously. "Warm Bodies" is a movie that everyone forgot about after it came out in January, a typically dreadful month for movies. It's an absolute shame, because this zombified "Romeo & Juliet" tale by "50/50" director Jonathan Levine is one of the sweetest and funniest romantic comedies in recent memory. This movie had all the elements to fall into the "Twilight" trap, and just skate by on pretty actors glaring at each other. But "Warm Bodies" is actually really well thought out and clever, using zombification as a metaphor for young love. You'll probably balk at this selection, considering movies like "Blue Jasmine" and "Nebraska" didn't make my list, but as far as cheesy romantic comedies go, this was the best of the year.
Experimental movies are not usually my cup of tea, but "Upstream Color" is essential viewing for anyone who truly wants to know what the medium of film is capable of. Writer, director, editor, and star Shane Carruth, the man responsible for the overrated cult hit "Primer", forgoes traditional narrative by sculpting a patient poem of tonality. His marriage of sound and image is transcendent of everything we've come to expect from film. It's a challenge, but as long as you open your mind and allow "Upstream Color" to wash over you, you will enjoy a cinematic experience that you'll want to talk about for hours.
After making the unexpected family-friendly "Hugo" in 2011, Martin Scorsese is back to his old hard R self with "The Wolf Of Wall Street". Edited down from an NC-17, "Wolf" is an endless stream of hard drugs and deviant sex, all revolving around the world of stock brokers' 1990s. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Jordan Belfort, who is the Jay Gatsby of debauchery. If there's one thing he's addicted to more than drugs and sex, it's money. "Wolf" is a consistently high energy, entertaining, and funny movie that will also shock more sensitive audiences. Scorsese fans will notice familiar beats here, as all of his movies about corrupt people tend to be a bit similar, but there's enough uniqueness here to let this film stand out from the rest.
Alfonso Cuaron's 3D adventure "Gravity" was easily the greatest theater experience to be had this year. With characters floating in actual three-dimensional space, Cuaron actually gave legitimacy to the tired 3D gimmick and almost made it an essential device to view the film. It's for that reason, however, that "Gravity" is so low on this list. While a magnificent theater experience, it is yet to be seen how "Gravity" will fare on subsequent viewings at home. Chances are it will still be considered great, as the themes of closure and rebirth are strong enough to sustain the film. But some greatness could be lost in that transition to the small screen. Still, "Gravity" is a remarkable technical achievement that could change cinema forever. So that's worth something.
One film had me glued to the edge of my seat this year, and that was "Captain Phillips". Featuring the greatest performance by Tom Hanks in nearly a decade, "Captain Phillips" is a gripping, tense thriller made more amazing by the fact that it's a true story. Director Paul Greengrass imbues the film with his trademark naturalism, and the fluid way in which each scene unfolds lends the whole experience authenticity. At some points you'll swear you're watching a documentary because the footage and performances are so unpolished and real. This is not for the faint of heart, but it is for those who love great suspenseful filmmaking.
Not everything needs to be oppressively realistic and in fact, movies are supposed to be an escape. That makes "The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty" a perfect choice for this list. Ben Stiller stars as Walter Mitty, a dull magazine worker that frequently gets lost in his incredible daydreams. When the opportunity to go on a real adventure arises, Walter takes a chance and discovers what it truly means to be alive. "The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty" is a joyous celebration of the power of self. As director, Stiller captures the wonders that the real world has to offer, but lets us know that we can only experience them if we are willing to take ourselves there. This is a feel-good movie that happens to feature stunning cinematography and some beautiful music.
The third and presumably final film in the series by Richard Linklater, "Before Midnight" is nothing short of a masterpiece. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, as a couple 18 years into a relationship, have extraordinary chemistry. Whether their characters are flirting or fighting, they have a casual naturalness to them that states they are familiar with each other. This relationship feels broken in. The whole movie consists of around eight long scenes, and the execution of each is mesmerizing. "Before Midnight" is a thoughtful rumination on love, and one that we all can relate to.
Nobody does down-on-their-luck characters like the Coen Brothers. The eponymous Llewyn Davis just might be the saddest character the familial pair have brought to life, as they chronicle his continued failures through the folk music scene of 1960s Greenwich Village. Oscar Isaac draws sincerity and empathy towards this poor folk musician, who manages to turn his slightest successes into crushing defeats. The music is outstanding, with T-Bone Burnett and Marcus Mumford working from old songs by some such as Dave Van Ronk. While the music hammers home the melancholy mood, there is an undeniable life in "Inside Llewyn Davis" that makes us smile and laugh. This masterful straddling of tones combined with excellent performances and incredible music makes this a winner.
This year, few films were more important than "12 Years A Slave". Steve McQueen's unwavering epic about the atrocities of slavery through the eyes of a wrongly enslaved free man is a bone-shattering experience. The atrocities of slavery have been noted in past films, but never as brutally and honestly as in "12 Years". McQueen doesn't allow us to look away, and indeed kidnaps us away from our comfortable lives to face this terrible chapter in American history. Filled with beautiful imagery that will haunt you for years after, this will truly open your eyes and help you grasp what occurred on our soil not that long ago. This was the first time I've ever been to the movies and walked out feeling as though I had learned something.
A three-hour long French romance doesn't seem like it should be on the average moviegoers must-watch list. But "Blue Is The Warmest Color" is perhaps the greatest coming-of-age story ever filmed, and should be required viewing for all teenagers undergoing major life transitions. Adèle Exarchopoulos stars as Adèle, a high-school age girl that is slowly discovering that love is very, very complicated. Featuring explicit lesbian sex scenes, "Blue Is The Warmest Color" drew a lot of controversy and was banned in Idaho. If you watch this movie and only walk away thinking it's "pornographic", then you are missing the point of those graphic scenes in the context of the greater picture. This is a beautiful, moving, heartfelt movie that will connect with you on the deepest levels.
