My Favorite Movies of 2013

2013 has come and gone and yet its contributions to the world of cinema remain.  I am here with a list of what I deem my 10 favorite movies of 2013.  Please note I am not deeming it “the best” movies of 2013, only my personal preferences.  I hope this list inspires spirited debate and shows you a movie or two you haven’t seen and encourages you to delve a bit deeper into this wondrous art form.  I’ll not delay any further dear readers!  Feast your eyes and brains on the following….

13. Dredd: This movie came out in 2012 but continues to make me want to slice off my own face with its sheer greatness.   Simply put, its awesomeness spilled over into 2013 and forced its much deserved inclusion here.  Gritty heroics don’t come much better than Dredd. 

12. The Dark Knight Returns: This one had a release schedule so tricky I considered drinking battery acid while grappling with its possibilities for inclusion on this much anticipated and soon to be much ballyhooed list.  In short, the movie was essentially divided into parts with each part adapting 2 issues of Frank Miller’s landmark 1984 four issue miniseries.  Part 1 was released sometime in that rustic, far off time of 2012 while Part 2 was released in early 2013. However the Brothers Warner – slave to the corruption of the ring – decided to release both parts as one full length feature in autumn 2013.  In the end (classic phrasing) and due to this scattered release schedule I could not on good faith include it on the list proper, hence this specialty placement.  DC Animated continues to put out exemplary filmic adaptations and reinterpretations on their classic stories and this is no exception.  It’s difficult to imagine any fan of the original comic – or of Batman, or of comic books in general – not feeling the excitement when watching this.  I won’t spoil the plot for the uninitiated save to say the story chronicles an aged Batman coming out of retirement for one last case wherein he must contend with a new rising threat in Gotham as well as several classic rogues and all culminating in a battle with a most unexpected adversary.  The comic remains a landmark of the genre and the movie adaptation only enhances its legacy. 

11. Hannibal: Savvy folk will be quick to point out this entry is not movie but in fact a television program on the NBC network.  This would explain its spot as number eleven on a classic ten item list yet you are no doubt wondering why it is even worthy at all of receiving a much coveted spot here.  Upon its initial announcement, no one in the history of mankind was more skeptical of a Hannibal Lecter TV show than yours truly.  I had a great literary love affair with the books while in middle school (where a physically abusive Wonder Woman was one of my most prominent fantasies, so little has changed in my life) and would eventually go on to view all the feature films.  For those who care to know: Manhunter and Hannibal are great and rank among my faves, Silence of the Lambs is quite good (I know I’m probably the only person in the universe to rank Hannibal above above Silence but I am no longer afraid of reprisals), Red Dragon is bad and Hannibal Rising is gosh-awful (great adaptation of the book in that regard).  Suffice it to say I was far from the only one who thought Dr. Lecter had long since been overexposed and rendered inert in that Freddy Krueger diminishing returns kind of way.  A TV show seemed like nothing more than a great way to put one last nail in that coffin.  But oh how delightfully wrong I was.  Hannibal is rich, elegant and sumptuous high art television.  The three leads – Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen and Laurence Fishburne – captivate while the intricate and unfolding tale and truly beautiful gore paint this narrative in the red stained hues of a legend reborn better than ever.  I will say it: Mikkelsen’s Lecter is superior to Hopkins and this show superior to any of the movies.   It warrants inclusion here because it is much more cinematic than most movies I saw this year (the elegance of the gore really cannot be overstated).  With the weight, pathos and body count of a Shakespearian tragedy it is a darkness I constantly long to enter again.  It restored my faith in television.  The fact that I love this show almost certainly means it will be cancelled after the next season. 

10.  See way down below.

9. The Counselor: Beginning my list proper with one of the most reviled movies of 2013 is certainly a bold, audacious move but it is precisely this risk taking attitude which brought me to where I am today.  This is such a fascinating movie and that is the key to my heart and its placement here.  This movie was generating great early buzz and why wouldn’t it?  Directed by Ridley Scott with a cast featuring Michael Fassbender, Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Cameron Diaz and Brad Pitt and sporting the first ever screenplay by Cormac McCarthy, author of No Country for Old Men, The Road and Blood Meridian (or The Evening Redness in the West) it seemed tailor made for greatness.  Anticipation was certainly high right up until the movie was screened.  But where the Cohen brothers were somehow able to distill McCarthy’s clipped pulpy prose from No Country for Old Men into a brilliant film for the ages, The Counselor feels very much like one of his books transcribed to a movie.  Actors vomit reams of his trademark hardboiled dialogue with not a single line ever feeling natural.  Yet somehow my interest in this movie only grew stronger with each passing minute.  From Cameron Diaz’s now infamous windshield scene to a rather innovative garroting and the apocalyptical predictions of the denouement, I wanted nothing more than to watch this movie again once it was over.  I fully understand why this movie was so despised. But something eminently interesting will always be a thousand times more valuable to me than something generically good.  I cannot wait to purchase it on blu-ray and watch it 37 times in a row while etching a mark in my skin for each viewing.  It surely is a mess.  But what a glorious mess. 

8. Blancanieves: A black and white silent film retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves set in 1920’s bullfighting Spain?  The hell you say!  That is certainly what I was saying when I first heard about this gem.  I was also intentionally slamming my hand repeatedly into my automobile door in frustration at having to endure yet another  Snow White movie after 2012’s lethal double dosage of the dull and forgettable Mirror Mirror and the too awful to forget Snow White and the Huntsman.  Yet here, against all odds and known natural laws of science, was an adaptation which felt fresh yet retained enough familiar elements that the effect was somewhat akin to having an old love try out a sexy new hair style.  Maribel Verdu has a reputation for being reliably great and her portrayal of the evil step mother is no exception.  However it is surely the two actresses which portray Snow White – Sofia Oria as the child and Macarena Garcia as the more grown up – which give the movie an incalculable charm and unexpected pathos and grace.  The accompanying flamenco soundtrack (the blu ray comes with a code for a free download of this!) and old Hollywood film style are the enriching spices which makes this a sumptuous retelling of a classic.

   

7. Prisoners: Dark, moody, atmospheric and above all: narratively compelling.  My heart was yearning for a fantastic mystery ever since every single one began to disappoint around the turn of the century.   The truly swell thing about this movie is the way it seems to plays to the standard convention of mysteries in the form of all the red herrings.  These initially all appear to be unrelated before a far more carefully constructed design is revealed. Basically – in a shell of nut – this is the movie I so wanted from The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.  Since this also features cinematography by Roger Deakins it means it is also the best looking movie of the year (just like last year’s Skyfall).  

6. Only God Forgives: After making three of the manliest movies ever in a row with Bronson, Valhalla Rising and Drive, what does director Nicolas Winding Refn do as an encore you are no doubt screaming at the top of your tar stained lungs.  He makes a flick which seems to undermine any of the obvious grand machismo of the former works while still giving us plenty of ironic tough guy moments to fully satisfy our inner heroic cavemen.  Essentially, he satiates our ever growing blood lust while also forcing us to think.  Those who call this movie Lynchian are only looking at the pretty colors and not paying attention whatsoever to the story or its thematic subtext (this is no insult to David Lynch whom I would gladly give my life for).  This exploration of the male id is thematically light years away from what makes Lynch’s movies tic.  Challenging in all the ways Drive was welcoming this movie can only be described as Winding-Refnian.  This flick also has my favorite fight scene of the year. 

5. Man of Steel: I will not go as sense shatteringly deep into this movie as I could because I plan on writing some kind of much longer Superman retrospective and film review(s).  My anticipation for this movie was almost as high as my anticipation for my own death.  And what did I get from it?  Probably my favorite live action Superman ever in Henry Cavill.  A great General Zod in Michael Shannon.  Wonderful, heartfelt scenes between Clark and his parents.  A fascinating Krypton .  Superman being Superman in equal measures uplifting and badass.  All this and a pitch perfect score by Hans “Paint Thinner” Zimmer.  I was feeling like garbage when I walked into the theatre and felt truly inspired when I left.  I’ll pull out the tired and lazy trick of asking myself questions one more time to finish this one.  Do I think this movie is perfect?  Absolutely not.  Are there things I want improved upon in future installments?  Most definitely.  Does it feel like I finally received the Superman movie I always wanted to see?  100% yes. 

4. To the Wonder: Ah Terrence Malick, how I await your every film, your every move.  It’s easy to describe this as a simple companion piece to The Tree of Life but that would do a great disservice to the narrative and emotional resonance.  In fact, any description would be a pointless endeavor and I love saying this because it means I can be lazy and write less.  There are so many lazy, worthless people in this world and I am one of them.  Malick’s movies are to be experienced.  Javier Bardem’s monologue near the end…there is nothing relevant I could say about it.  Malick’s movies portray a reality and a beauty I always search for in real life.  A spiritual movie. 

3. American Hustle: The latester which made a mad sprint for the finish line in the final moments of the race.  This is the freshest movie on the list for me and the one with the fewest viewings which means it has the potential to drop the farthest or even disappear from the list entirely at one point.  However my first impressions were so favorable that I considered going home and cleaning my flat and then slitting my wrists in the bathtub while listening to my favorite Enya album once it was all over.  The whole cast turns in uniformly great performances with Christian Bale and Amy Adams in particular providing some subtle and effective work amongst all the over the top debauchery.  The soundtrack also includes an amazing cover of Jefferson Airplane’s White Rabbit – one of my all time favorite songs – by Mayssa Karaa.  I cannot recall seeing a funnier movie this year, nor a movie whose running time passed by so briskly, simply leaving me basking in the sweaty afterglow and desperate for more.  The thematic heart of this movie is essentially quite simple: at any given moment we all cling to some kind of constructed dream, some kind of façade, to get us through life.  Yet this truth continued to hit me hard in the face over and over again with aplomb and humor in a deliriously satisfying example of art imitating life (imitating art).

2. The Hunt: This Danish flick came shockingly close to claiming my number one spot.  I think the only thing which stood in its way was my unusually good mood at the time of writing this post which prevented me from going with something on the more cynical side of things.  I won’t reveal any plot details here - and all you clowns who must first read the description on the back of the blu-ray case or from IMDB need to stop sucking the life out of humanity and learn how to grow the fuck up.  Those who have been reading my blog for the past 47 years will have noted my constant imaginary love affair with Mads Mikkelsen and his performance here is heartbreaking in its honesty.  A truly frightening non-horror movie that is frightening precisely for its accuracy of these occurrences and their consequences.  Highly recommended to all responsible adults.     

1. Before Midnight: There is something strange about commenting on a movie that is almost entirely dialogue.  I could focus on lead actors Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy and their pitch perfect performances.  The Greece setting is lovely to behold as is the accompanying soundtrack (Haris Alexiou’s song during the credits always melts my heart).  I could also say the look into a marriage – a look that applies to any long standing relationship – captures the complexity and emotional layers inherent to such a relationship better than almost any movie I can recall.  Honestly, I feel irresponsible saying these things because the movie is far more nuanced, eloquent and beautiful that my contributions here could not possibly add anything significant.  It was the most immersive and pleasurable cinematic experience I had this year.  I think the only relevant thing about this film I can say is this: If Before Midnight is truly the end for these characters then it is ending on what is so far the best note of the series.  But this film makes me hope this series never ends.  Beautiful. 

And there you have it!  List done, load shot.  Nothing left to do but drink a bottle of wine and pass out on the sofa.  Yet there are still a couple more items to discuss, including that mysterious tenth movie which was somehow left off the list.

That #10 left off the list: Lords of Salem: Rob Zombie borrows liberally from Ken Russell, Roman Polanksi, Stanley Kubrick and some other hip folk to make a movie which still could somehow only come from his mind and which is easily the best and most stylish movie of his career.  Zombie is easily one of the best directors in horror today and one of the only true auteurs of the genre.  The imagery in this is incredibly striking – everything from makeup to lighting – and the lead performance by Sheri Moon Zombie is invaluable and light years ahead of her previous work.  The atmosphere is suffocating in its creeping thickness and the way Zombie flips the standard horror conventions of witches, demons and genre music is deserving of all manner of praise.  In terms of pure artistry this easily belongs on my list so why it’s mysterious exclusion?  Honestly, the seemingly pro Satan message frightened me a bit too much and it became difficult to promote or recommend in that regard.  The fact that it is not actually on the list but instead listed here would seem to make no difference whatsoever but I never said I was intelligent.    

Here a few honorable mentions to keep the fun rolling:

Riddick: Chronicles of Riddick disappointed for its reach far exceeding its grasp.  This latest installment returns the series to its Pitch Black roots and it is the far better movie for that reason.  Highbrow fools call this sci-fi schlock.  Yet this is obviously a passion project and I call it art.   

Smashed: blu ray release in 2013, theatrical in ‘12, great study of an alcoholic couple and what happens when one decides to quit drinking. 

Enough Said: Honest, charming and heartfelt romance, could easily work its way up the list in due time and with subsequent viewings. 

The Conjuring: Great American horror movie.  I almost died of shock at there being 2 great American horror movies made this year.  This was one of my most fun theatre experiences in ages.  Still not quite sure of its staying power but that first trip was a righteous doozy! 

All is Lost: Robert Redford and the sea.  Lots of water.  Lots of Redford.  Oddly captivating. 

Out of the Furance: Bale broods, Affleck rages, Harrelson terrifies, the movie grits and grinds and hits hard. 

The Iceman: Michael Shannon doing his thing as mob-enforcer family man.  Lightweight but engaging. 

I considered making a list of the worst or most disappointing movies of 2013 but then reconsidered.  There is already so much negativity in the world.  Still, I’d be remiss in not mentioning at least a few.  Gangster Squad is too easy but it was also a movie of pure unadulterated horseshit.  And I cannot recall any movie in recent memory which matched the dull, bloated uselessness of World War Z, a movie made me want to eat my own feces.  As for three independent (because indie superiority makes me so mad) movies – one drama and one horror and one documentary (or however you would classify Room 237) – which had insane amounts of buzz and to which critics lavished altar like praise but which disappointed me almost as much as my own life, those can only be Upstream Color, Berberian Sound Studio and Room 237.  But what do I know?  I’m just a guy trying to earn a living. 

And there we have it!  What great joy it is to engross oneself in the art of cinema, no matter how good or bad!  I hope my dear fans enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed writing.  I’ll see you all back here real soon for more epic tales of my useless existence and be sure to tune in this time next year for the best movies of 2014 (the new Hercules movies and I, Frankenstein are already fighting for a coveted spot)!