The Top 10 Films of 2013

1. Spring Breakers

I love the fact that this film appears so incredibly superficial while masking a deeply veiled criticism of the vast superficiality of the modern world.  It seemingly celebrates grotesque ignorance and raw injustice, overt sex and gratuitous violence — when, in fact, it condemns the viewer for watching it with glee.  “Spring Breakers” uses all the trappings of cheap click bait, social media pretense, desperate teenage insecurity and the unashamed worship of talent-less trash.  And in doing so, it points the finger at all of us.

2. Her

Spike Jonze’s quietly hypnotic love story between and lonely man and his computer’s operating system is utterly gorgeous.  Joaquin Phoenix simply does not ever fail to deliver.  Scarlet Johansson does an astonishing job in a purely vocal role.  I thought it was good enough to be nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars.  “Her” is moving and thoughtful and visually resplendent.  It is a futuristic film intended for old souls.

3. Before Midnight

Having loved “Before Sunrise” and “Before Sunset”, this third installment had me weeping within the first few minutes.  I was just so absolutely relieved that Jesse and Celine had made it after all these years.  Watching these two indelible characters walking and talking has now become as comfortable as an old pair of shoes.  It is cinematic soul-food.  I am not sure that I have ever truly cared for characters more than these two.  I love them.  I love their ups.  I love their downs.  I love their words… their walks… and their love for one another.

4. Drinking Buddies

This film hit me like a ton of bricks.  I was expecting a silly buddy comedy with about as much depth as a pint of beer.  Instead, I was treated to intense laughter, bittersweet tears and a boat-load of terrific performances.  I recognized these emotions.  The situations really struck a chord with my own life. It is the biggest surprise of 2013.  

5. Gravity

I remember leaving the movie theater with heavy legs after sitting through Alfonso Cuaron’s “Gravity”.  The film was so effective in conveying weightlessness, that I could barely stand as the credits rolled.  Sandra Bullock gives her best performance as the stranded astronaut who has to make her way back to Earth after tragedy strikes (in more ways than one).  It is a beautiful action adventure… and an even better metaphor for struggling through emotional pain.

6. And While We Were Here

Kate Bosworth stars in this sumptuous romantic drama as a married woman flitting around the Italian coast with a much younger man, while her inattentive husband unknowingly conducts business.  I loved every single second of this infidelity study.  Bosworth is extraordinary in the central role.  She is an actress of pure wonder when given the right material  It is one of the finest performances of 2013. 

7. 12 Years a Slave

Sometimes it is impossible to enjoy a film like this, but one can still have the most extraordinary respect for it.  Such is the case with “12 Years”.  It is a film of depraved cruelty as it recounts the redemptive story set amidst America’s greatest shame.  Each and every cast member is magnificent in tremendously difficult roles.  This film is not one I will likely ever revisit… but it is one I admire greatly.

8. Only God Forgives

The director and star of “Drive” re-team in an equally beautiful, but far more obscure, film.  I would imagine that most viewers would not be able to handle the oddity that is, “Only God Forgives”.  The film does not lend itself to cinematic conformity.  It is high-brow experimentation dressed in glorious cinematography.  Sometimes we need to let movies simply wash over us, leaving our minds marinating in the remaining juices.  I can’t really explain the film… but I did like the aftertaste.

9. It’s a Disaster

Here is a small, independent dark comedy about the end of civilization.  A group of friends gather for their weekly dinner party.  Unbeknownst to them, outside, dirty bombs are poisoning the city and all hell is breaking loose.  They only find out the truth when a neighbor knocks on the door wearing a Hazmat suit.  Now, they all need to decide if it is safer outside with the dirty bombs, or inside with the awkward and uncomfortable arguments.

10. The Hunt (DEN)

Mads Mikkelsen keeps churning out magnificent performances.  In this Danish production, he is a kindergarten teacher who is wrongfully accused on touching one of his students.  The witch hunt that follows is one of the more riveting stories of the year.  A superb film.

Olympus Has Fallen ………. 8.9
Captain Phillips ………. 8.8
Jack the Giant Slayer ………. 8.6
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire ………. 8.5
All is Lost ………. 8.5
The Berlin File (KOR) ………. 8.5
The Great Beauty (ITA) ………. 8.4
Side Effects ………. 8.4
The Place Beyond the Pines ………. 8.4
The Past (FRA) ………. 8.4
The Armstrong Lie ………. 8.4
Frances Ha ………. 8.3
Prisoners ………. 8.3
Jeune et Jolie (FRA) ………. 8.3
Hours ………. 8.2
Ida (POL) ………. 8.1
TPB AFK: The Pirate Bay Away From Keyboard ………. 8.0
Ender’s Game ………. 7.8
The Hangover Part III ………. 7.7
Lone Survivor ………. 7.7
The Brass Teapot ………. 7.6
The Wolf of Wall Street ………. 7.5
The Grandmaster (HK) ………. 7.5
Drug War (HK) ………. 7.5
New World (KOR) ………. 7.5
Redemption ………. 7.4
American Hustle ………. 7.3
Lovelace ………. 7.3
Stoker ………. 7.2
Blue Jasmine ………. 7.2
Eden ………. 7.1
Montage (KOR) ………. 7.1
Mud ………. 7.0
World War Z ………. 6.9
Magic Magic ………. 6.8
Inside Llewyn Davis ………. 6.8
The Company You Keep ………. 6.7
Somm ………. 6.6
The Canyons ………. 6.5
Zero Charisma ………. 6.4
Stories We Tell ………. 6.3
Filth ………. 6.2
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty ………. 6.0
Byzantium ………. 5.9
Rush ………. 5.8
Snowpiercer (KOR) ………. 5.8
Oldboy ………. 5.7
2 Guns ………. 5.5
The Bling Ring ………. 5.4
The Look of Love ………. 5.3
The Frozen Ground ………. 5.3
Star Trek Into Darkness ………. 5.2
Gangster Squad ………. 5.2
Warm Bodies ………. 5.1
Oblivion ………. 5.1
Violet & Daisy ………. 5.0
Escape Plan ………. 4.9
Elysium ………. 4.8
We’re the Millers ………. 4.6
+1 ………. 4.5
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone ………. 4.3
How I Live Now ………. 4.2
Identity Thief ………. 4.1
Passion ………. 4.0
Nebraska ………. 3.9
Maniac ………. 3.8
Trance ………. 3.5
This Is the End ………. 3.3
Iron Man 3 ………. 3.2
Pain & Gain ………. 3.2
A Single Shot ………. 3.1
Europa Report ………. 3.0
After Earth ………. 2.9
Upstream Color ………. 2.7
In a World… ………. 2.5
Don Jon ………. 2.3
Upside Down ………. 2.2
The World’s End ………. 2.2
Syrup ………. 2.1
The East ………. 2.1
Mama ………. 2.1
The Numbers Station ………. 2.0
Getaway ………. 2.0
Broken City ………. 2.0
Runner, Runner ………. 1.8
The Purge ………. 1.8
Stand Off ………. 1.7
A Good Day to Die Hard ………. 1.7
Snitch ………. 1.6
The Colony ………. 1.5

Wrong Cops ………. 1.5
Parker ………. 1.5
Delivery Man ………. 1.5
Homefront ………. 1.4
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues ………. 1.4
UnHung Hero ………. 1.3
Man of Steel ………. 1.2
The Internship ………. 1.1
Killing Season ………. 1.0
White House Down ………. 0.7
Now You See Me ………. 0.0