10. You’re Next
I’ll probably get a lot of shit for including this nasty little horror/thriller/comedy on my list from all the cinephiles the world over, but I loved it. You’re Next is director Adam Wingard’s most accessible work to date and likely his best. It isn’t your typical home invasion story, in fact there is nothing typical about it. The story centers around an extremely dysfunctional family gathering for an anniversary party that takes an unexpected turn. Australian actress Sharni Vinson gives a standout performance as the film’s unlikely heroine and A.J. Bowen is great as always. It’s a grimy little slice of horror sleaze that’s sure to leave people clamoring for a sequel, which I, for one, hope they don’t make.
9. Borgman
Alex Van Warmerdam has been cranking out movies in the Netherlands for quite a while, but I’ve only discovered him in the last few years. Warmerdam’s odd and almost nihilistic sense of humor tickles my fancy. In Borgman, a strange drifter and his equally odd group of friends insert themselves into the life of a seemingly normal family. The family is continually manipulated in increasingly strange ways until the climax brings about a very unsettling finale. Warmerdam merges the fantastic and grim with the mundane life of a “nuclear family” in a fairytale-like manner. It’s a must see for fans of absurd cinema. For everyone else, you’ve been warned.
8. Blue Caprice
I’m not sure how a film this good gets completely overlooked during Oscar season. Alexandre Moors fictionalized account of the events that led to the “Beltway Sniper” incident isn’t just good, it’s great. Isaiah Washington gives an impeccable performance as John; a man with so much paranoia and rage building inside him it leads him to commit unthinkable acts of violence on randomly targeted people. Tequan Richmond also gives an inspired performance as John’s protégé who is brainwashed into thinking that his actions are for the greater good. I found Blue Caprice both compelling and quietly eerie.
7. The World’s End
Yes, I’m putting this film in my top 10. Deal with it. The World’s End isn’t just a silly romp about a night of drinking and battling aliens. It’s a film about addiction, growing up, and getting on. Simon Pegg gives one hell of a performance as Gary King. Gary refuses to grow up and let go of the good times he had in his 20’s. King gathers his merry band of (former) misfits unwillingly to recreate a night of debauchery they had 20 years ago when suddenly they realize that something about their hometown is different. Very different. Say what you will about Edgar Wright’s catalog of films. The World’s End is truly his best work to date, and one of the smartest films I’ve seen all year.
6. Gravity
Who knew you could feel claustrophobic in space? That’s how I felt for the entire running time of this 90 minute disaster flick. That’s right, I said disaster flick. Many of you went in expecting a science fiction epic. Gravity is not a science fiction film. According to Neil Degrasse Tyson it’s not even a science fact film, but that’s an entirely different argument. Gravity is a disaster film that takes place in space, and it’s a damn good one. Some complain that the film is thin on character and heavy on action, but I disagree. Bullock’s character and issues are slowly revealed over the course of her ordeal which makes the cathartic ending all the more relative when you finally get there and catch your breath.
5. Blue is the Warmest Color
Adele’s life is forever changed when she meets a young blue-haired woman named Emma. As their relationship blossoms, Adele discovers true desire and what it means to be a strong adult female. Blue is full of breathtaking cinematography and near perfect performances by both leads. Despite the graphic nature in which the sexual acts were filmed, the story is actually quite moving. I might have rated it higher if I didn’t feel the sex scenes were exploitative and sometimes unnecessary.This isn’t your typical girl meets girl, loses girl, finds girl again film. This is a film about personal growth, love, and the connections we make in life.
4. The Act of Killing
This is the only documentary I’ll be including in my top films of the year. It’s not because I dislike the genre, but because I generally make a separate top 10 for those films. The Act of Killing is such an important film that it needs to be on here. The film follows Anwar Congo and his friends as they recount their rise from sellers of black market movie tickets to one of the most notorious death squads in Sumatra during the 1965-66 Indonesian killings. Congo himself is said to have killed over 1000 people during this time. The documentary allows the former death squad members to recreate their actions on film. These recreations allow the men to reflect on their former lives and the impact it had on those around them. What is truly amazing about the film is that it treats Anwar and his cohorts as human beings and not just evil entities. It allows the viewer to feel empathy for those who have lost their lives during this tragic time, and also for those who committed terrible atrocities for what they believed to be right.
3. Inside Llewyn Davis
The film follows Llewyn Davis, a former merchant marine and now folk singer, whose former singing partner has committed suicide. Davis navigates the Greenwich village folk scene in 1961, encountering oddball characters and caring for his only friend: a cat. In typical Coen brothers fashion, Davis is a film full of eccentric characters, awkward exchanges, and very dark comedy. Despite the trailers selling this as a drama, Inside Llewyn Davis is probably one of the funniest films you’ll see all year. Funny in an uncomfortable way at times, but funny none the less. Oscar Isaac shines as the titular character giving what is certainly an Oscar nomination worthy performance.
2. The Wolf of Wall Street
The internet is abuzz with critics and moviegoers alike brutalizing Scorsese for his portrayal of Jordan Belfort’s actions. From the mid-1980’s through the early 90’s Belfort and his company Stratton Oakmont defrauded the public to the tune of 200 million dollars. I think it’s pretty clear from the start how Marty feels about Mr. Belfort. He’s a bad guy, a very bad guy who exploits other people for personal gain and pleasure. This is a film that will not sit well with most people. It’s packed full of sex, drugs, a bit of violence, and some seriously foul language. Wolf of Wall Street is full of some the darkest comedy I’ve seen in years. It is Scorsese’s primal scream in cinematic form and should not be missed. Wolf is clearly the work of an auteur who, at 71, still has a lot left to offer.
1. 12 Years a Slave
Nothing hit me quite as hard as Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave.The loneliness of the landscapes, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong’o’s brilliant performances, and an ending that is so perfectly staged that it still brings tears to my eyes with every repeat viewing, make this the best film I’ve seen all year. Much like The Act of Killing, 12 Years a Slave is not an easy watch but it’s an important one. For me, there isn’t another movie that has stuck with me more than this. It is a film that I hope will be discussed, revered, and taught for years to come. McQueen is a force of cinema that continues to make great films. I can only hope that he will receive a much deserved Oscar win for director this year.
Yes, there are other films that likely belong on this list and I contemplated putting them in as ties for 3rd, 4th, and 5th place. I just decided not to. If you’re interested, some of those other films are: Short Term 12, The Spectacular Now, Prisoners, All is Lost, Sightseers, Spring Breakers, Mud, Before Midnight, and Upstream Color. The latter of this list made some Worst Of lists that I’ve read. There are also films I haven’t seen that might have made it, had I gotten to them. They are: Her, Fruitvale Station, Nebraska, The Hunt, The We and the I, Drug War, Museum Hours, You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet, August: Osage County, The Great Beauty, and Dallas Buyers Club.
In this cinephile’s humble opinion, 2013 was a great year for cinema. It gave us breakout performances such as Nyong’o in 12 Years A Slave and Oscar Isaac in Inside Llewyn Davis. Great scripts, like Short Term 12, Inside Llewyn Davis, and The Wolf of Wall Street. And we saw some of the best cinematography in recent memory in films like Gravity, Blue is the Warmest Color, and Prisoners. This was, without a doubt, one of the strongest years in film in a very long time.
Great list!