My top 10 films of 2013
I can’t believe another year is over.
365 days, countless amount of films, festivals, screeners watched and attended it’s been a very busy and successful year for AfterTheCut. With the year coming to an end it’s time for the top 10 of the year.
It’s been a drama filled year in terms of films, as space and pirates have tormented Hollywood and hairpieces and tossing midgets have brought us the biggest laughs. As we look forwards to 2014, we look back at the best of 2013.
1. Gravity
- I saw it twice in theaters and was blown away both times. An absolute adventure at the theater with the best performance from Sandra Bullock of her career. Alfonso Cuaron delivers a masterpiece with space and debris being the most ruthless villain of 2013. Review
2. American Hustle
- Just like the film at number one, I too saw David O. Russell’s ABSCAM film twice. From the career performance by Amy Adams to the hilarious Christian Bale, to a perfect nutty house wife in Jennifer Lawrence, the film simply doesn’t miss a note. A fun, quotable and mesmerizing ensemble of a film, it’s a modern classic through and through. Review
3. The Wolf of Wall Street
- It’s Martin Scorsese and Leo, they don’t miss. The true story of Jordan Belfort is the most insane, debauchery filled film you will see, maybe ever. It’s hilarious, it’s bat-**** crazy and it’s simply an amazing wild ride. DiCaprio is as charismatic as ever before, Jonah Hill delivers the performance of a lifetime and you simply can’t wait to see what happens next for all three hours.
4. The Spectacular Now
- It’s the relationship film of the year, with heartfelt, honest and emotionally devastating performances from Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley. While we’ve seen the coming of age relationship films before, James Ponsoldt knows how to handle relationships, pacing and alcoholism, all which have been major strong themes in his films. Review
5. Captain Phillips
- Tom Hanks simply keeps reinventing himself. After seeing the film, getting color back in my white knuckles, I felt the urge to give Hanks all the Academy awards. I don’t know if he will win in a stacked year but the performance is the best of his career, and that’s saying something!
6. Short Term 12
- A big winner during the festival circuit, Destin Cretton’s drama featured mind blowing performances from Brie Larson and youngsters Kaitlyn Dever and Keith Stanfield. A beautiful film that explores troubled youth from different angles and the girl who is in charge of mending their wounds while dealing with her own. Larson won’t get the praise she deserves for this role, but she will here. Do yourself a favor and make it a point to see this film.
7. The Pretty One
- A film I saw at Tribeca this year that hits theaters in February 2014 featuring Zoe Kazan, is one that has stayed with me all year. When you never forget a film, or it’s performance and story, it has to end up in your best of the year list. I feel like many will echo my sentiments when they see Jenee LaMarque directorial debut. Kazan continues to prove to me she is quickly becoming one of the best in Hollywood. Review
8. Her
- Joaquin Phoenix is the cream of the crop in Hollywood, there is no sugar coating it. And while the Academy may not like him, he still churns out phenomenal role one after the other. Spike Jonze’s Her is a brutally emotional yet heartfelt drama that shows the love of a realtionship build and fizzle away in an unconventional manner. Scarlett Johansson is a force with her voice alone, never seen but effectively heard.
9. The Place Beyond the Pines
- It was number one on my most anticipated list of 2013 for a reason, and it delivered. A three act drama starring Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper with breakout performances from Dane DeHaan and Emory Cohen in the third act that make the film go from good to brilliant. Review
10. Lone Survivor
- It’s a film that won’t go wide till 2014 but it lands on my 2013 top 10 list because it’s simply that damn good. Mark Wahlberg, Ben Foster, Emile Hirsch and Taylor Kitsch are spot on as Peter Berg delivers the best war film in recent memory. Review
* The one film of 2013 I have not seen that I wanted to fully compile this list was Twelve Years a Slave , Given the high praise and my anticipation for it, it may have cracked the top 10 had I seen it.