Last year there was so much great music that I made a downloadable album of my favorite songs. This year, instead of listing a single film for "best of the year" I am going to list my top ten movies of 2013:
Best Films of the Year
10: Rush
I'm a sucker for real life stories and films that are set in the '70s. This film realistically depicted two racers who were at their peak-- racers with whom I was unfamiliar yet had a compelling rivalry and friendship. One of the men, Niki Lauda, claimed that there was no Hollywood-ization of the events at all and it was completely accurate. Well, when I learned that the scene in which racer James Hunt beats down a reporter who insulted Lauda was entirely fabricated it took something away for me. Regardless, it's a hell of a story.
9: All is Lost
The old man still has it! I've watched quite a few duds from decades past in which Robert Redford just went through the motions. Then there are gems such as "The Natural" and "All is Lost" when he just dives headlong into the part. There are very few dull moments in this film. You will especially love it if you're a fan of ships and sea travel.
8: Spring Breakers
It's the best Harmony Korine film AND the best James Franco role ever. I feel as if I don't need to elaborate beyond that sentence, but I will also state that it reminded me of Trainspotting (not as good, but...) in the manner that it relies on an exhilarating attitude.
7: 12 Years a Slave
Although I don't think that it's the best film of the year, it's receiving a lot of Oscar buzz. If it earns a best picture award and/or best director award for Steve McQueen, more power to him. I believe that his previous work is better, yet I think that it's time for him to earn recognition for his talent. Although Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Fassbender are among the best actors of their time, I couldn't get past their absolutely god awful attempts at Southern accents.
6: Mud
Speaking of genuine Southern guys, Matthew McConaughey absolutely owned this film. When I was a small child in Georgia almost everything that occurred to the child protagonists in this film could have happened to me. Everything felt real-- except the scenes with the small army of guys with guns. Many film critics agree with me on this point: if those disposable assassins weren't thrown into this film it might have even been considered the best movie of the year.
5: Dallas Buyer's Club
This film reminds us yet again about the acting colossus that Matthew McConaughey is capable of being when he isn't milking every dollar from shitty romantic comedies. It's a very touching look at a scary period in American history.
4: Captain Phillips
It has the best acting that I've seen from Tom Hanks since "Saving Private Ryan." Some of its dialogue was literally laughable to me ("Maybe in America.... Maybe in America.") But it's just a solid and tense film about a real life story. The scenes in which the crisis is finally concluded are absolutely fascinating.
3: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
I thought that the first Hobbit film was fairly good, yet it wandered too much into children's territory with the talking trolls and cutesy themes. In this film, Benedict Cumberbatch and The Hobbit's team of CGI artists make Smaug as imposing and realistic as possible. I enjoyed every minute of the film.
2: Blue Jasmine
It was the only film that I watched three times this year-- I would have watched my #1 choice three times if it was released months ago instead of during Christmas. The first time I watched it I liked it. The second time I watched it I really liked it. The third time: LOVED it. I've known for a long time that Cate Blanchett is a remarkable actress, but I can't remember a move in which she delivered a better performance. Andrew Dice Clay even kicked ass. It's one of the rare character study films that I love.
1: The Wolf of Wall Street
The first person who says that he looks like me in a suit gets kicked in the crotch.
It's my third favorite Scorsese film (with "Casino" and "Goodfellas" at numbers 1 and 2 respectively). People are complaining that it's a raunch fest that has no redeeming value. Bullshit. It's a satirical commentary about America itself. Does the debauchery go on too long? Could they have deleted some of it so that the film wasn't 3 hours long? Of course-- that is its only flaw. But nothing is quite as stirring as watching a man be as vile and disgusting as his country allows him to be-- and ultimately getting away with it. I've noticed that in the best Scorsese films (this film, "Casino," Goodfellas," "King of Comedy") the protagonist serves jail time yet ultimately either emerges unscathed or even more successful than he was before his imprisonment.
"For a brief, fleeting moment I forgot that I was rich, and I lived in a place where everything is for sale."
Pure genius.
Best Acting Performances
Dicaprio won best actor from me last year, and he wins it again this year for "Wolf of Wall Street." He always seemed as if he was willing to sacrifice parts of his body for the demanding physical comedy that this film required, then he could turn around 180 degrees and perform the dramatic and sober parts just as convincingly. He obviously has 100% faith in Scorsese.
The best actress was undoubtedly Cate Blanchett. She played a drug-riddled manic lunatic so well that some critics speculated that she was actually abusing drugs during the filming of "Blue Jasmine." I think that she is a lock for an Oscar.
Honorable Mention:
the gorgeous and ultra-talented Adèle Exarchopoulos in "Blue is the Warmest Color," who went all in very similarly to Dicaprio in "Wolf."
Most Disappointing Film of the Year
I am surprised by the critical acclaim and favorable audience reception that "American Hustle" has received. To me, it's poorly written, poorly edited and features a group of players about which I couldn't care less. I literally wanted all of the characters to die violently. David O. Russell has made great films in the past. I couldn't bring myself to care about this one.
Best Album of the Year
"Evil Friends" by Portugal. The Man... As I wrote earlier, this year was pretty bad for music. But I'm proud to introduce this band to the uninitiated. They have experienced a moderate amount of fame and success in L.A., yet, as I've discovered through the most prominent east coast music sites, the rest of the country is unfamiliar with them. It's very unfortunate because these guys are very conversant musicians.
Best Song of the Year
It's gotta be
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