The 10 Best Movies of 2013

Yesterday I went into all of the more horrific offerings 2013 had on the table, but it wouldn't be fair to leave it at that because it's been an incredibly stacked year for films this year.  It was extremely difficult to narrow this year down to 10 (and I imagine it'd be even more difficult if Dallas Buyer's Club, Her, and Nebraska could have played within 40 miles of my house, so no those won't be on my list because I wasn't able to see them).  Also, you will notice (from the movies that have a review on this website, no not every movie I saw this year had a review) that my movies aren't necessarily in the order that I rated them, just because I gave it a higher score does not guarantee it a spot on the list.  The reason for this is because I review a movie for what it is, flaws and all, and this is a list of my ten personal favorites, meaning that 7/10 might rank higher for me personally than a 9/10.  So without wasting more filler space typing random intro jabber, here were my personal best films of 2013.

My Top 10 Worst Movies of 2013

While 2013 has been a fantastic year for films, before I talk about my favorites of the year I would like to talk about some of the worst that this year had to offer.  Also, a small note before you rage about some of my choices, I didn't just pick movies that were technically the worst, with films like Scary Movie 5 and Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters, you knew what you were getting into, there are  movies on here that I just deemed as wrong in principle, and extremely disappointing (there are the flat out awful movies too, and some that are both).  Here are my top 10 worst movies of 2013.

Saving Mr. Banks Review

What a surprise!  When I went into this film I was literally expecting a sentimental-fest trying to force me to have an emotional reaction similar to the Butler and the Blind Side, but instead I got a film that was not only exceptionally well made, but possibly one of my favorites of the year.  It was poignant, funny, and incredibly well acted, while telling a truly interesting (and true) background story that is nearly as good as the film that it is the background of.

47 Ronin Review

Hollywood never ceases to amaze me, in just the period of one month they have been able to rip apart two (possibly three once I see Walter Mitty) classic stories and turn them into over-produced, over-budgeted, and over-bloated atrocious blockbusters.  However, while the Hobbit could have been redeemable with a long and extensive cut, the only way to redeem the story of 47 Ronin in film form would be to trash this cinematic disaster entirely.  While setting a new standard of wooden acting, 47 Ronin tarnishes Japanese culture by turning it into another churn in the rusty old milking machine.

The Wolf of Wall Street Review/Brief Analysis

I'm going to start this review off with a cautionary warning to people who don't know much about it but are interested in seeing it, if you can't take a 3 hour movie that has lots of graphic nudity (and sex), cussing, and drug use throughout pretty much the entire film, do not go see it.  I cannot for the life of me re-iterate how annoyed I was with many of the dramatic walkouts during my screening, it's one thing to leave and hate the movie, it's another to thwart your self righteousness down everybody else trying to watch the film by making a dramatic exit so everybody knows you don't tolerate that kind of filmmaking.  If you are feint hearted, can't stand cursing, of a young age, or you don't like vulgar content in movies this is definitely not for you, you are going to hate, and you are going to tarnish the movies reputation as a bold, well-made (yet heavily flawed) work of cinema as well as most likely ruin the experience for all those around you.  

Top 10 Blockbusters of 2013

Everyone's always talking about the smaller films of 2013, for good reason they definitely outshone most of the blockbusters this year, but it is worth giving some credit to the films that went all out at being pure entertainment.  Here are my top 10 thrill rides of 2013.

Inside Llewyn Davis Review

Sidenote before I start the review, i'll get back to the top 10 lists a little bit later tonight (I was with family Christmas Eve and Day and so I didn't feel like, nor did I have time for writing.  Top 10 of the year will still come New Years Day though).  Also, Wolf of Wall Street will be tomorrow, I should be able to get a Mr. Banks review in on Saturday, and a couple of the other Christmas releases throughout the week next week. (No one really thrives on my reviews anyways, so I'm sure the spread entries will be fine.  I do the blog more for myself anyways.)  Now, onto the actual review.

Inside Llewyn Davis, being a Coen Bros film, was probably my most anticipated film of 2013, and I will say it definitely did not disappoint.  There is a distinct blend in the film between comedy and the heavy subject, and it balances out in a way a harmony would, there is some clash, and then resolution.  The Coen Bros have done a fine job in the past, and they continued to excellence with Davis.

Top 10 Villains of 2013

Continuing my ten top ten lists of 2013 is bringing the best villains in cinema this year.  I am going to make this a little different though, and give my top 5 best villains of 2013 and the top 5 worst villains of the year (who honestly, are truer villains, just in a real world sense).  So make way for the top (Best and worst) villains of 2013!

Top 10 Cinematic Breakouts of 2013

Everyday I'm going to make a top 10 list of something until New Years Day where I will give my top 10 movies of 2013 (this is mostly to give me a bit more time to catch The Wolf of Wall Street, Inside Llewyn Davis, and Saving Mr. Banks).  Today the focus is going to be on directors, actors, and actresses who I felt were the biggest breakouts (meaning fairly new) of 2013.

American Hustle Review

David O. Russel has been on a winning streak lately, and American Hustle in no way changes this.  The acting is at absurd levels of well done and it may just be Russel's most entertaining outing that he has made.  Although the plot can get a little muddied and it's very easy to get lost in the vast enterprise of the whole thing, American Hustle roars loudly with fun thrills and a bustling climax.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Review or Why The Desolation of Smaug Represents Everything Wrong With the Filmmaking Industry Today

After seeing the Desolation of Smaug I came up with one thing, the entire movie seemed like what would happen if you let Zach Snyder get his hands on a Middle Earth movie.  The Desolation of Smaug is an overbloated action piece that only exists to give Jackson a giant CGI toybox that he can use to make another mountain of cash off of.  The Jackson who once had respect for the source material, who cared about the characters and how to develop them, and who tried fervently to create the best film possible is no more, he is now washed in his own corrupt, greedy, ego feeding only off of the new Hollywood blockbuster trend of, "Bigger is better".  While the Hobbit the Desolation of Smaug has some impressive CGI and visuals, that is all the film can boast, as it is the pure definition of what is wrong with most Hollywood movies today, in that it is completely style of substance.

Philomena Review

I will be completely honest here, I usually am a stickler for people pronouncing words and titles right (I cringe when I hear people murder the pronunciation of words), but I could not for the life of me figure out how to pronounce Philomena until I saw the film.  Onto the actual movie, Philomena was an intelligent, finely balanced tune that avoided the pitfalls it so easily could have stumbled upon, and exposes a certain crime that most would have had no knowledge about, while also smartly playing the religious vs. atheistic themes throughout the film.

Frozen Review (Better Late than Never)

After seeing Frozen, I am going to say the exact same thing I said after seeing Wreck-It Ralph and Tangled (except with much more enthusiasm, and for real this time), and that is that Disney is back.  Despite my initial reference to Wreck-It Ralph and Tangled, I have to say Frozen is definitely a good step above each of those films and is comparable to Walt's 90s films such as The Little Mermaid and Aladdin (although not quite to the Lion King and Beauty and the Beast status some claim it to be).  With smart humor, a nearly Disney cliche defying plot, and memorable music, Frozen reigns in as, not only the best animated film of the year by far, but one of the most entertaining outings 2013 has to offer.