2013 Films, Ranked.

10/10

Not only is it (by far) the best film of the year, it's also one of the best films in the last 10 years. McQueen's direction is brilliant, sometimes breathtaking. While his other films are more niche, this one is more mainstream and grand, yet it still maintains his style of filmmaking. The acting was outstanding and will likely earn both Ejiofor and Fassbender an Academy Award. The story is heartbreaking and real. Like his other films, McQueen doesn't hold anything back. The score surprised me, and it's by far the best work Zimmer has ever done. Just go see it; it's essential cinema.

9/10

This is the Coen Brothers' best work since No Country For Old Men. It shares a similar tone and atmosphere to A Serious Man. The characters are all interesting, and the acting was outstanding. Oscar Isaac was magnificent as the lead and this film wouldn't have worked without the type of subtle performance he gave. The music is wonderfully performed and accessible. This film stuck with me ever since I watched it. A new Coen classic.

9/10

This is a film that I can find many faults in if I really wanted to hate it. It's too raunchy at times (how the hell did this get an R rating while films like Shame get NC-17?), the direction is all over the place, it's overlong which hurts rewatchability, it's repetitive and so on. Needless to say, if someone said they didn't like The Wolf of Wall Street, I'd completely understand... but I loved it.

Scorsese amazes me. How has this director managed not to only stay with the times, but time and time again be a visionary even after so many years in film? The direction is unique and unlike anything I've seen before; it combines many classic Scorseseisms with a new, fresh yet timeless techniques that keeps the viewer interested for 180 minutes. This film was beautifully directed, with only minor issues in two of the cuts which I found were a bit odd in continuity.

The writing is superb, especially the dialogue. There is not a dull or boring moment. I've seen 90 minute films that felt longer. It's zing zang boom filmmaking and you'll likely be in awe. The acting.. don't get me started. If this doesn't get Dicaprio an Oscar (and it won't) than he should just give up and forget about it altogether. The way he represents himself on screen, well.. you root for the bad guy. He's a fantastic anti-hero. You feel as he's persuading you throughout the film, and the way he seemingly mixes emotions is pure talent.

Just go see it. This is Scorsese's best effort since The Departed. There's a chance you might not fall in love with it, or even like it, but that's what happens with risky filmmaking and you can't help but applaud that.

9/10

What a perfect picture in every way. A lot of people loved Midnight in Paris, and I certainly thought it was good, but if that was a return to form for Woody Allen then Blue Jasmine is his masterpiece. The dialogue, the set, and the characters are all vibrant. Every single shot looked meticulously placed and you can't help but marvel at it. It's funny and entertaining. The acting is top-notch and Blanchett deserves every award she gets. The music fits to a tee. It's a fantastic film all across the board and it'll surprise you.

9/10

What a fulfilling, complete film. It's never dull or boring even with a 140 min run time because it keeps changing things up and has three very distinct acts. In fact, I feel that it was too short for its high ambitions. I would not have been against it being three hours long.

The direction is superb and the one shot takes that are frequently used are breathtaking. Acting was great with Gosling stealing the show. It's not perfect, but the flaws that some people mention are rather nit-picky. Not going to forget this admirable story and its hard-hitting themes anytime soon.

8/10

More or less a flawless film. A coming of age tale in the vain of Stand By Me but more of a love story. Amazing performances all-around. The ending wasn't perfect, but overall it's a must watch.

10/10 The best horror remake since The Ring. I wouldn't call it a remake though. It's more of a re-imagining of the classic horror story. It takes the perfect amount of goodness from the horror classic to make it nostalgic without the "been there, done that" feeling and adds many new elements to it that make it its' own.

While this may not hit cult classic status like the original trilogy has, this is still an amazing horror film. The effects are admirable. You can tell they didn't use computer generated effects by the quality. I'm not a gore fan in horror films because they usually substitute the story for the gore, but this wasn't the case here. While I didn't laugh as much as I did with the original Evil Dead films, this was still one of the funnest theater experiences I've had in a while.

A lot of love was put into this re-imagining by Raimi and the promising director Alvarez. The female lead was also wonderful. She absolutely steals the show with some very memorable scenes and a face made to show fear. As a huge fan of the original trilogy, I couldn't help but think that this "remake" is something that I could appreciate alongside the originals.

8/10

I really loved this film. It's funny and satirical, yet sad at the same time. It has unique cinematography to it that has a grainy, video/VHS look. This story has been done before (an episode of That 70s Show comes to mind), but never like this. The acting is outstanding all-around, and Dern was excellent. My only gripe is that the dialogue at times felt it was only there for the film work rather than for realism (meaning characters could have prevented conflict through common sense dialogue). But at the end, this is an all-around fantastic story. It's an accessible film and I look forward to revisiting the Grant family.

8/10

Tom Hanks absolutely steals the show. You forget you're watching acting, which says something about the actors and direction. I'm not the biggest fan of Greengrass' camera work, at times it seems a bit amateurish and there was never an amazing shot, but it does make the film more realistic and personal. It's an exciting, thrilling biopic, and that's not something you see very often. The ending is a total tearjerker and it's at that moment that you realize this is one of Tom Hanks' best performances.

8/10

This. Movie. Is. Awesome.

I loved almost everything about it. There was only shot I would've changed. The humor is there at all the right moments, and the horror is also there and it's gruesome but not overwhelmingly so. No it's not scary, but it's more of a horror comedy in my eyes. I get a huge excitement when a good, original horror film comes out and this is one of the best ones in recent memory. There was just one thing that didn't make much sense when I thought back on it, which is why this gets an 8 instead of a 9 from me. Adding this one to my collection for sure.

7/10

Even though I'm a manly man's man man dude man, I'm a sucker for Princess movies. I grew up on them, and Frozen definitely brought back some memories. The story here was fantastic, as was the animation and 3D. The songs were decent, although were a little too in the style of today's current pop music, which is understandable for a kids movie. It's not as emotional as Brave and not as fun as Tangled, but it's up there with those two in terms of quality. I think it bests those two in story.

The running time just flew by. Olaf stole the show, and brought fun to an otherwise serious story. The beginning felt a bit rushed to set up the main story line, but that's also understandable. It had a couple of jaw-dropping scenes, and I'm thankful Disney can still pull off those moments that kids will never forget.

8/10

Wow, what a surprise. Outstanding performance by the Mads. If you love realistic foreign films then give this one a shot. Great drama, interesting story and filled with uncomfortable tension.

7/10

Her is an emotionally draining film that has very high highs and very low lows. To me it's Spike Jonze' best vision to date. He has a way of writing characters that just feel real and relatable. Joaquin Phoenix gave one of the best performances that I've ever seen him give and it's a shame he didn't get the recognition he deserves. I also loved Amy Adams in this and thought her performance was superior to the one she gave in Scorsese's American Hustle (no that's not a typo).

Like most (if not all) Jonze-written movies, this one will give you a weird feeling as the credits roll. I suppose it depends on the kind of mood or situation you're in, and it's not a knock on the film, but it might give you a depressed feeling. The predictability of it was a little disappointing, and the second half of the movie wasn't up to par with the first half. It's extremely similar to Lost in Translation, which is in many ways ironic. It's a film I can appreciate but at the same time I don't believe I'll ever want to revisit it. With that said, it's probably one of the most important and relevant movies of our time.

9/10

Outstanding sequel. I was never a huge fan of the original Star Trek series or movies, so I went into this film strictly as a fan of the original 2009 movie. The villain was beautifully revealed and puts most movie villains to shame. It's not as thought-provoking its predecessor, but it didn't need to be. This is purely a spectacle with Star Trek characters. It delivers in all areas and doesn't disappoint. By far the most fun I've had at the movies this year. It might not be the best movie to watch if you're a huge Trekkie or if you're expecting a complex story line. That's not really what Abrams was going for.

7/10

This is one of those "slow burn" build-up films that explodes in the final act, similar to We Need to Talk About Kevin from a few years ago. You come to sympathize with this man and like him, and that worked to a tee because the film is very emotional in its final act. I also liked they way the film started with actual footage. It gives you a glimpse of the outcome, and I imagine they did this to keep the viewer's attention during the first hour. This film has great acting (although a little overrated in my opinion), and a very emotional payoff. One of the bigger surprises of the year.

8/10

Similar to Avatar, Gravity is more about experience than story. The music, art, direction, and 3D are all breathtaking. It moves along at a brisk pace (that's uneven at times) and it ends far too soon. The story here isn't outstanding, but it fits what they were trying to do. I think it's at times too reliant on music to make the viewer "feel" something, but many films do this nowadays. While I don't agree that it's a crowning achievement in cinema that some claim it to be, it's certainly a leap in the right direction.

Just to add, I'm not a huge fan of films that take a huge dip in quality when viewing at home, and sadly this will be one of them. The theater experience is great, but it'll be a distant memory and watching it on TV just won't feel the same. This is where you need a great story, and not simply one that's [mostly] there for the visuals. Once you pull away the 3D, the surround sound, and the huge screen, there's little reason to re-watch Gravity a second time. But don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it and it stayed with me for a couple of days after watching it. Very memorable experience.

9/10

I loved the sh#t outta this one. Essentially it's a thriller with Hitchcock suspense, Fincher mystery, and (obviously) a Soderbergh atmosphere. The story here is admirable and smartly-written. Acting is all-around great and Mara gives another memorable performance.

7/10

I may be in the minority but I actually liked An Unexpected Journey a little more. It felt more like a complete film, and revisiting Middle Earth for the first time in years elevated that story, even with all its flaws. Smaug was a great film though, bogged down by a bunch sketchy and impractical story elements (even for a fantasy). It's much more action packed and it flies by even at 160 mins. They ended this film on a huge cliffhanger and I can't wait to see There and Back Again.

8/10

Like District 9, this one will take you by surprise with its originality and vision. This director really knows how to make great science fiction films. There is not a slow moment in the entire film and the action is exhilarating. I thought Jodie Foster over-acted, but Matt Damon was good and Sharlto Colpey was fantastic. It's the kind of movie I can see myself viewing repeatedly. For a summer blockbuster, Elysium delivers.

7/10

This is sort of a mix between The Godfather and Tree of Life. It combines art, music, and beautiful cinematography with a simplistic story told using unnecessarily convoluted storytelling. There are scenes that I found breathtaking and others that were unconventional to the point that it became pretentious. The camera movements were grand and it felt like a lot of people in Italy worked hard on this film. I'd consider it a niche film that 5% will love, 25% will say they love but are lying to themselves, and the remaining won't make it through. I can't blame them. For what it's worth, I say see it once for the four or so unforgettable scenes, the characters and beautiful cinematography, and keep it a memory because you'll never watch this film again.

7/10

This is a stylish thriller that gets better as it progresses. It has a lot of faults, mostly for the unoriginal premise (literally plot is word-for-word from a Hitchcock thriller). The reason I like this film is because of the direction. Park makes sure every single shot is the best it can be and what could have been your average generic thriller turns into a memorable and sinister story. I really loved Kidman and Wasikowska in this. It's not perfect but it's an eerie experience.

6/10

There's a lot I loved about this film. For one, MM gives another outstanding performance. Leto stole the show and I loved his performance. I'm not gay but I'd do him. I hated Gardner's performance, and I thought she was a miscast. The story is great but it feels too preachy at times. MM's character passes out a few too many times, and it quickly gets old. There were also many illogical story elements that took me right out of the experience. Buyers Club is a fair film that had potential to be a great film.

7/10

This one reminded me of Fincher's Zodiac. It has the same eerie atmosphere. The entire film is cliche "plus." It does everything you expect but a fraction better. It has better acting, better pacing, better characters, better tension, and so on, from what you'd expect from an average abduction film, but the problem is that it doesn't do anything special other than being better than average. It's good, not great. My biggest gripe was the direction, which played it too safe. It felt like a 2 hour 30 min episode of CSI, with a talented cast and a promising story.

7/10

American Hustle is a film that lacks the vision director David O Russell gave his previous two films, The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook. It's a story that's both hilarious and grand, one filled with many interesting characters. It has a cameo in it that rivals many in recent memory. It reaches for those moments of brilliance (usually with Jennifer Lawrence on screen) but at the end it couldn't quite get there for me.

To start off, the music is used far too often too illicit emotion and becomes a gimmick. It's downright sloppy. Bale's acting was great at first, but once I realized he's playing a late Robert De Niro impersonation I couldn't look past it. The direction is too similar to Scorsese (which might have been done intentionally, as Bale's character asks in the film: who is the genius, the painter or the forger?). I can't appreciate a film that doesn't give credit where credit is due. Finally, the storytelling could have been better. They had a great story here but it needed better editing. Almost everything felt superficial and overbloated.

American Hustle lacks the heart, authenticity and emotion of his previous two films. Silver Linings this is not.

7/10

I can see why some hardcore fans might hate this one. They did pretty much ruin Mandarin. But I was never a hardcore fan of the comics, so I kinda found it hilarious. The movie starts out slow but quickly gets going and it never stops. I wouldn't say it's better than the first, but it's definitely better than the second film.

7/10

Surprisingly enjoyable. Not up there with Superbad or Pineapple Express, but almost as great. The cast delivers some good laughs and I loved the tone of the film. It's a parody of itself and I thought it worked.

7/10

I think this movie gets a bad wrap because it was advertised as an "outlaw couple" film in the vain of Bonnie & Clyde. It's really not, and to some that may be disappointing. This is a well-acted story with great cinematography. It has a poetic tone to it that sometimes feels a little off or forced but it's a well-made film with a great ending. But in the vain of interesting dramas of 2013, it's a pretty forgettable one.

7/10

An enjoyable, fun, entertaining and funny animated film. I liked the look and characters, and it has some clever moments mixed with some unrealistic moments that remind you that you're watching a cartoon. There's not much here to complain about, highly enjoyable and highly entertaining.

7/10

You know what you're getting with this one and you know if you'll like it or not. If you go into it super serious then you're not going to enjoy it. I knew what it was, and it exceeded my expectations. More suspenseful, better acting, and more fun than I expected. Ending is campy as hell.

6/10

Is it really scary? No, not really. It made me jump a couple of times, but I wouldn't call that being scared. It is however a very intense and well-crafted, if unoriginal, horror story. The acting all-around was great (that's what a big budget can get you), and overall I would say it's on the level of last year's Sinister. Not bad, but not amazing either. A good time at the theaters but the story itself could have been more original.

6/10

As advertised. A cheesy, fun, and entertaining prison break movie. Not much to say, if you know what it is then you'll like it.