Best Films of 2013

13 January 2014

Part one, the worst films of 2013, can be read here.

From the low-water mark to the zenith...

The following article starts with my loves of the year, and then moves onto the best.

MY TOP 20 FAVOURITE FILMS OF 2013

Honourable mentions: DRUG WAR, GRIGRIS, HORNS, OUTRAGE BEYOND, THE LUNCHBOX and WHY DON’T YOU PLAY IN HELL?

20. CLOUD ATLAS

David Mitchell’s wondrous novel looked to be too complex and sprawling to be transferred to the big screen. Somehow a team up, of the director siblings behind THE MATRIX and the RUN LOLA RUN helmer, fashioned a three-hour extravaganza. Re-ordering the narratives and heightening the romantic notions, the fallout of slavery and corporate greed is still maintained while making the points more quietly. Jettisoning much of the pessimism is unfortunate, the result though is still a resplendent glory.

19. THIS IS THE END

Welcome to humour as war: the sheer barrage of comedians and gags trump an uneven pace. Imagine a cross between the films of Robert Altman, THE CABIN IN THE WOODS and PINEAPPLE EXPRESS. THIS IS THE END is a showcase for the cream of the vanguard of America’s new wave of comics. From Michael Cera and Aziz Ansari to Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Jason Segel, and they are just the cameos. My full review here.

18. NEW WORLD

The writer behind I SAW THE DEVIL was always going to have one’s attention. Here, Park Hoon-jung directs his own script. And what a thriller he has fashioned. Set in the modern world of cops and gangsters, he still manages to riff on a major theme in CONAN THE BARBARIAN, as well as BREAKING BAD. As NEW WORLD progressed, one suddenly had an ending in mind that was desired, but not dared hoped for; but lo and behold the filmmakers delivered it. Wow. My full review here.

17. AMERICAN HUSTLE

Weirdly amoral, but what a charged ride director David O. Russell (THE FIGHTER, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK) has concocted. Charisma dialled to maximum from a talented, sexy cast, in a crime caper made to feel grand by big performances and no respite. A blast (slightly hampered by questions arising as to the arguable glamorisation of characters who are hugely exploitative.)

16. KLOWN

The antics we witness on this douche-bags-take-a-trip story makes THE HANGOVER PART II appear tame in comparison. Lets hope future comic pieces rise to the challenge of besting the outrage-benchmark now set. What might have been a tired man-children needing-to-learn-to-grow-up tale, instead, due to the engaging protagonists and excellently conceived scenarios, becomes a cracking comedy. My full review here.

15. FIST OF LEGEND

For non-fans of fisticuff cinema, perhaps the generic title has already put you off watching. Then there’s the main storyline of cage fighting. But hold on a minute, FIST OF LEGEND is not what you think it is. Action aficionados needn’t feel let down either. Just give it a chance. It makes sly commentary on society while veiled as an action flick, and has a strong sense of humour. Amidst the pathos and battered bodies, there are so many laugh-out-loud moments. My full review here.

14. THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES

I didn't think BLUE VALENTINE would be bettered, but the director has taken heartbreak to saga level. It is an exploration of the difficult to articulate bond between father and eldest son. THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES is a look at mutual expectation and duty. That’s the microcosm. The macrocosm is about a patriarchal justice system prone to corruption at worst, self-serving ambition at best – a melancholy portrayal, but wholly believable. My full review here.

13. STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS

INTO DARKNESS is a technical marvel and an adrenal injection, forcing an almost immediate re-visit to soak up everything again. Not as initially beguiling as its predecessor, few things are; taken together though, the two films are a formidable double-bill. Bring on part three. My full review here.

12. SUNSHINE ON LEITH

Actor turned director Dexter Fletcher takes the songs of Scottish pop-folk duo The Proclaimers and turns them into a joyous heartstring pulling musical. Err, say that again?! You read that right. Building on a confident debut, WILD BILL, a pseudo-gangster-western set on a London council estate, Fletcher has grown in leaps and bounds. Out of nowhere he has fashioned a movie that can stand tall next to any of its modern song-and-dance rivals. A romantic look at being wanted and depended upon. My full review here.

11. THE PAST

Three aces in a row from director Asghar Farhadi. A narrative onion of emotional culpability. An amazing, tightly wound domestic drama.

10. BAD WORDS

We are allowed to revel in a character so foul-mouthed and angry, whose hilariously eviscerating put-downs save him from being unpalatable. How refreshing to have someone so bile-soaked. Bravo to Jason Bateman for his directorial debut, which he also stars in. My full review here.

9. COMPUTER CHESS

In the same vein as BEST IN SHOW, we are given privileged access to an insular group of dorky but hugely entertaining odd bods. It is the turn of the decade, the 1980s that is, and a weekend retreat for designers of computer chess programs. Awkward and with poor social skills, I still rejoiced being in their company for 92 minutes. My full review here.

8. THE BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN

Emotionally devastating. In the same league as AMOUR. An energetic bluegrass soundtrack accompanies an intimately epic love story.

7. INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS

An unlikeable lead never evolving or learning lessons, how unbelievably refreshing in a sea of stale character arcs. The last scene is a brilliant choice. Might INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS be the most accomplished cinematic work to capture the Beat Generation of authors, poets and singers? Elitism and snobbish behaviour has never been so engaging. My full review here.

6. FADING GIGOLO

Writer/director/star John Turturro, together with his cast and crew, has bottled romantic, sensitive, witty longing. Woody Allen absolutely kills it as his pimp “Dan Bongo”. It’s hard not love this film. My full review here.

5. THE LONE RANGER

Johnny Depp and THE LONE RANGER have been dealt a real beating in some quarters. One feels this is massively unfair. Yes the movie is chaotic, but it is also wildly ambitious. THE LONE RANGER wears the veil of breeziness, while the turbulent undercurrents of mournful rage go on behind. Director Gore Verbinski proves once again he is in that elite camp that can handle pandemonium on a $200 million+ scale, with panache. My full review here.

4. HER

Humorous and ruminative, HER might just have created a new subgenre: The philosophical heartbreaker. My full review here.

3. THE GREAT BEAUTY

A hubristic title, but never once is there a feeling that the film doesn’t deserve it. A sublime and touching portrait of aging achingly gracefully. THE GREAT BEAUTY has surely cemented director Paolo Sorrentino as one of Europe’s elite filmmakers. My full review here.

2. BEFORE MIDNIGHT

What a gamble! What a pay-off! Can you think of a trilogy on an upward trajectory? Not only that, where no part has misfired, and the final two segments are arguably fault-less? Exactly. High five team Linklater-Delpy-Hawke! There is an exploration of long-term ardour, parenthood and happiness. All done with humour, passion and pathos. These ingredients might have turned out too rich, or over-baked, but in the adroit hands of the filmmakers, it is a tasty, satiating cinematic meal. And what an ending. My full review here.

1. GRAVITY

Sandra Bullock. George Clooney. Director Alfonso Cuarón. Space. Fear. One of the most visceral cinematic experiences of my life. My full review here.

From my favourites, to the best…

THE FILMALUATION AWARDS

The following are listed alphabetically in each category for my nominations, with a runner-up, and then the very lucky winner!

Have you got your formal attire on? Okay, let’s begin…

Best Supporting Actress

Cameron Diaz – THE COUNSELLOR
Scarlet Johansson – HER
Jennifer Lawrence - AMERICAN HUSTLE
Vanessa Paradis – FADING GIGOLO
Imogen Poots – THE LOOK OF LOVE
Léa Seydoux – BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR
June Squibb - NEBRASKA
Kristen Scott Thomas – ONLY GOD FORGIVES

Runner-up: Kristen Scott Thomas – ONLY GOD FORGIVES

Winner: Cameron Diaz – THE COUNSELLOR

Best Supporting Actor

Barkhad Abdi - CAPTAIN PHILLIPS
Woody Allen – FADING GIGOLO
Daniel Brühl - RUSH
James Franco – SPRING BREAKERS
Richard E. Grant – DOM HEMINGWAY
Tommy Lee Jones - LINCOLN
Rob Lowe – BEHIND THE CANDELABRA
Tom Wilkinson – BELLE

Runner-up: Tom Wilkinson – BELLE

Winner: Barkhad Abdi - CAPTAIN PHILLIPS

Cameron Diaz – THE COUNSELLOR

Barkhad Abdi - CAPTAIN PHILLIPS

Best Actress

Amy Adams – AMERICAN HUSTLE
Cate Blanchett – BLUE JASMINE
Julie Delpy – BEFORE MIDNIGHT
Adèle Exarchopoulos – BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR
Paulina García – GLORIA
Greta Gerwig – FRANCES HA
Luminita Gheorghiu - CHILD’S POSE
Scarlet Johansson – UNDER THE SKIN
Marine Vacth - JEUNE ET JOLIE
Zhang Ziyi – THE GRANDMASTER

Runner-up: Amy Adams – AMERICAN HUSTLE

Winner: Adèle Exarchopoulos – BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR

Best Actor

Christian Bale – AMERICAN HUSTLE
Daniel Day-Lewis - LINCOLN
Michael Douglas – BEHIND THE CANDELABRA
Chiweyel Ejiofor – 12 YEARS A SLAVE
Johan Heldenbergh - THE BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN
Oscar Isaac – INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
Jack O’Connell - STARRED UP
Joaquin Phoenix – HER
Toni Servillo - THE GREAT BEAUTY
Denzel Washington – FLIGHT

Runner-up: Joaquin Phoenix – HER

Winner: Daniel Day-Lewis - LINCOLN

Adèle Exarchopoulos – BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR

Daniel Day-Lewis - LINCOLN

Best Writing

Honourable mentions: AMERICAN HUSTLE, BELLE, COMPUTER CHESS, FLIGHT, THE GREAT BEAUTY, THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES and THE SELFISH GIANT.

12 YEARS A SLAVE
A HIJACKING
BEFORE MIDNIGHT
BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR
FADING GIGOLO
HER
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
THE BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN
THE LUNCHBOX
THE PAST

Runner-up: FADING GIGOLO

Winner: Spike Jonze - HER

Best Director

Honourable mentions: Park Chan-wook (STOKER), David O. Russell (AMERICAN HUSTLE) and the Coen brothers (INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS).

Andrew Bujalski – COMPUTER CHESS
Alfonso Cuarón – GRAVITY
Paul Greengrass – CAPTAIN PHILLIPS
Spike Jonze – HER
Abdellatif Kechiche - BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR
Tobias Lindholm - A HIJACKING
Richard Linklater – BEFORE MIDNIGHT
Steve McQueen – 12 YEARS A SLAVE
Paolo Sorrentino - THE GREAT BEAUTY
Ramon Zürcher - THE STRANGE LITTLE CAT

Runner-up: Paulo Sorrentino - THE GREAT BEAUTY

Winner: Alfonso Cuarón – GRAVITY

Spike Jonze – HER

Alfonso Cuarón – GRAVITY

Best Animated Film

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS 2
MONSTER’S UNIVERSITY
THE WIND RISES

Runner-up: CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS 2

Winner: THE WIND RISES

Best Horror

BIG BAD WOLVES
IN FEAR
OCULUS
PROXY
R100
THE CONJURING
WILLOW CREEK

Runner-up: R100

Winner: BIG BAD WOLVES

THE WIND RISES

BIG BAD WOLVES

Best Action Film

COLD EYES
DRAGON
FAST & FURIOUS 6
FIST OF LEGEND
LONE SURVIVOR
MAN OF TAI CHI
RED 2
STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS
THE LONE RANGER

Runner-up: COLD EYES

Winner: THE LONE RANGER

Best Comedy

ALAN PARTRIDGE: ALPHA PAPA
BAD WORDS
CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS 2
COMPUTER CHESS
IN A WORLD…
KLOWN
THIS IS THE END

Runner-up: BAD WORDS

Winner: KLOWN

THE LONE RANGER

KLOWN

Best Soundtrack

CAN A SONG SAVE YOUR LIFE?
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
MAN OF STEEL
OBLIVION

Runner-up: INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS

Winner: CAN A SONG SAVE YOUR LIFE?

Best Documentary

GOD LOVES UGANDA
JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI
LEVIATHAN
MISTAKEN FOR STRANGERS
MY FATHERS, MY MOTHER AND ME
THE ACT OF KILLING
THE ARMSTRONG LIE
THE SPIRIT OF ‘45
THE UNKNOWN KNOWN
WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS

Runner-up: MISTAKEN FOR STRANGERS

Winner: THE ACT OF KILLING

CAN A SONG SAVE YOUR LIFE?

THE ACT OF KILLING

Best Film

Honourable mentions: AMERICAN HUSTLE, BELLE, THE LUNCHBOX, THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES, THE SELFISH GIANT and THE STRANGE LITTLE CAT.

12 YEARS A SLAVE
BEFORE MIDNIGHT
BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR
FADING GIGOLO
GRAVITY
HER
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
THE BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN
THE GREAT BEAUTY
THE PAST

Runner-up: BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR

Winner: 12 YEARS A SLAVE

12 YEARS A SLAVE

BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR

Congratulations to the award winners, dry your tears of victory.

So that’s it for another year folks! Bring on 2014!