The following is a list of my personal favorite films. It ranges from films like Drinking Buddies which is a film that will be forgotten but is joyful to watch, to Spring Breakers which I believe defines a generation and really captures the culture that we live in. I have also added a few scenes and trailers for each film in hopes to influence the reader to check out some of these titles.
If you have time I would definitely recommend checking out David Ehrlich’s supercut of his top 2013 films. A part of me truly believes that images are best with overlapping music and quick cuts and this video makes me enjoy some of the movies on his list I did not enjoy in full form.
Also, here is a list of all the films that I watched in 2013, the ranking is arbitrary the only numbers that I really focused and thought on are 1-20 and the bottom five, the rest are just thrown in there at the time I watched them and have no real meaning other than the rating I gave them.
Also, here is a list of all the films that I watched in 2013, the ranking is arbitrary the only numbers that I really focused and thought on are 1-20 and the bottom five, the rest are just thrown in there at the time I watched them and have no real meaning other than the rating I gave them.
14
Drinking Buddies
(Netflix Instant)
Joe Swanberg has stretched his limitations trying for what you can call a more “mainstream” film. In doing so he has elevated his cinematography and actors but while keeping his “mumblecore” themes and style of improvised dialogue. The chemistry, both vocal and physical, between Jake Johnson and Olivia Wilde engage the audience as the ideas of domestic partnership are discussed within the characters’ relationships. We can look to the late night scene on the beach as one that really extends the film as something more than a mainstream Romantic Comedy. Jake Johnson’s decision to stay on the beach opens up complications that exist between the two characters engaging the audience to dig into the characters the same way the performers do. The nuance of Olivia Wilde’s acting and the character she creates pushes on the relationship between the characters highlighting life’s complexities.
13
This Is Martin Bonner
(Netflix Instant)
A practice in minimalist film making featuring a character who is just a good guy leaving not much conflict in the film at all. The allure of the film comes in how the two characters can be compared by where they are positioned in life despite being such opposites in character. Filmmaker Chad Hartigan inserts his influence in the places where his presence can be felt that attracts beautiful shots of the Nevada landscape but he also knows when to back out and let the actors and the situations carry the film.
12
The Spectacular Now
Our introduction to actor Miles Teller as being a dominate up-comer, playing the character of Sutter who is “stuck in neutral” while dealing with teenage alcoholism. Similar to Drinking Buddies it is the chemistry between Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley (as seen here) combined with the darker themes that elevate The Spectacular Now above the surplus of generic coming of age stories.
11
Captain Phillips
Dull title, dull trailer yet the film is the opposite. Captain Phillips is a tense hostage thriller featuring one of the better Tom Hanks performances. Although the subject matter of a celebratory American “victory” seems to be at the forefront, the film is not a work of jingoism instead director Paul Greengrass finds the tragedy and humanness within the victory.
10
The Wolf of Wall Street
As I complete this write up Yahoo! features an article on the front page titled “Nine easiest ways to make a million dollars”. Lottery hopefuls and deserving millionaires is the society in which we live and is projected in Wolf of Wall Street. There is no question that Jordan Belfort is a villain, a truly horrible and despicable character but exactly how can we hate him when it is society that created him? We get lost in his life defined in its excess but quickly turn once the excess becomes disgusting and overwhelming. Like all great satire it gets lost on many. Jordan Belfort is a Frankenstein we created and we can argue that there must be additional punishment for him both in real life and in the narrative but it is the society that has created him (reflected in the last shot) and it is society who should be angry as Jordan Belfort rubs how he cheated all of us in our faces.
9
Mud
Similar to a fairy tale, Mud is a story about love through the innocently pure scope of children.The film is also another entry in the constant continuity of outstanding performances by Matthew McConaughey as the title character. Although it has been omitted in year end lists and is not large in scope, Mud captures the disappointment present in human nature and the inevitable loss of innocence.
8
Stoker
Chang Wook-Park’s American debut stays true to his dark subject matter and alluringly framed sequences. Some say Wentworth Miller’s script is predictable but the film is more concerned with atmosphere, iconography, and performance rather than plot.
7
Before Midnight
The practise of optimism is toned down in this third installment to the “Before Trilogy”. The first two films mirror the ages of the characters presenting love as a much more hopeful and pure ideal. While optimism is still present in Before Midnight once the couple is taken away from cheery friends and family the film really gets at the base of marriage in the sense that it becomes a battle to stay with one another. By presenting what happens after the “happily ever after” stage of the romance film Before Midnight becomes superior to its previous installments and pushes forth what can be done with the romantic film.
6
The Hunt
(Netflix Instant)
With really haunting subject matter many have critiqued The Hunt for acknowledging its character’s innocence from the start thus eliminating any suspense or further questions into the action. It is this presumption of innocence that makes the film so frustrating specifically toward the community as they quickly turn on the main character of Lucas. The questions of the community are the interesting parts of the film specifically the idea of how overt masculinity is celebrated in society yet we are frightened in the ways we cannot contain it and are quick to turn against it. The frustration and feelings of hopelessness in the system can be read as the intent of the film and in that case it is a success.
5
Her
One of the best metaphors for long distance relationships, Her asks all the big questions about love but is smart enough to know there are no answers to these questions. The character’s relationship focuses on ideas like possession over a significant other and commitment without consequences. Like the film we must get past the nostalgic argument that technology is ruining social society and focus on what technology can do to help society or how the simple acknowledging that someone or something exists is comforting enough.
4
Frances Ha
(Netflix Instant)
Frances Ha, another coming of age film, explores the extended adolescence theme that is present in modern culture through the character of Frances who is extremely likable but does some pretty horrible things as a result of her immaturity. The comedy in Frances Ha comes from uncomfortable situations for both Frances and the viewer creating the displacement that comes with growing up. Many have compared Frances Ha and labeled the film as a contemporary Woody Allen film. Although this is both easy and limiting it works as it is Frances, a strong female protagonist, who represents herself and her place amongst society through some of the strongest dialogue written this year.
3
12 Years a Slave
As a country we have been terrified to confront slavery and the racism that is built into our society. It took a few British artists (Steve McQueen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Michael Fassbinder) to depict American Slavery as being one of the most horrible things to happen something American film has been unable to do. Many slave narratives in film are soft and uplifting, promising hope while having white protagonist steer the story. McQueen gives the character of Solomon Northup agency focusing the narrative on the slave experience and not letting the audience be distracted. This is shown in the scene that has been labeled “Ignoring the Noose” where a still shot watches as a Solomon struggles for his life in the aftermath of an unsuccessful hanging. This shot lingers on for an uncomfortable amount of time but it is this discomfort that makes the film so successful and truthful in its telling.
2
Spring Breakers
1
Inside Llewyn Davis
After the death of his musical partner, Llewlyn struggles to make it in the folk scene. Llewlyn is jaded and resentful to those around him as he must relinquish all vulnerabilities (and even future vulnerabilities) that are created from human relationships. His struggle to “make it” is exactly that as Llewlyn is a man of talent but he is nothing spectacular. The same performance bookends the film that is so structurally sound in the way the character functions throughout his journey. The atmosphere that elevates the plot is created by the scenery as well a soundtrack lacking an unmemorable track. Out of all the films on this list Inside Llewlyn Davis may come as the simplest in terms of character ambition and scope but it is that ambition that is deeply explored making Llewlyn not only the most interesting character of the year but the most perfectly executed film of the year.
"“I’m tired… I’m so tired, I thought I just needed sleep but its more than that”
"“I’m tired… I’m so tired, I thought I just needed sleep but its more than that”
Honorable Mentions:
Ain't Them Bodies Saints
Stories We Tell
Nebraska
Something In The Air
This Is The End
