Okay everybody! That time of year again, to relive the best films of the year and the worst...and we're getting rid of the worst first. You know how it is, eat the vegetables first, before getting to the entree. Also, bear in mind that some of these films may be in a different order than you expect, so if you see a film that got a higher or lower rating end up higher on the list, don't be so surprised. Sometimes, my opinion may change overtime, and I just don't have time to change the review a bit. Anyways, let's just get this over with, because we've got a lot to talk about here.
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Worst of 2013
#15: The Lone Ranger (2013)
This film has been appearing relatively high on people's worst of the year lists, and it's very understandable. And while I do see this as a major disappointment and failure, I don't hate it quite as much as others. I liked the performances from Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp as the Lone Ranger and Tonto, the production design is really damn good, and the action scenes are extremely fun, especially the dueling trains climax where we hear Hans Zimmer's rendition of the William Tell Overture. However, there are a lot of scenes that go on too long (most of it is just padding), it focuses way too much on Tonto, and some plot points are handled in the rest of the film very sloppily. Not the worst like everyone thinks, but still disappointing.
#14: Epic (2013)
Blue Sky studios has always been a very mixed bag with animated films. Sure, it has a few good films here and there, but they've also got a lot of misses as well. This is one of those misses. While the animation is really nice to look at, the story and characters are cliched and annoying as hell. It's another one of those films that tries to tell a compelling story about an outcast trying to save a hidden world within the forests, only throw in comic relief slugs that make Skids and Mudflap from "Transformers 2" look tolerable. Seriously, if you had taken out those two, the film would at least be a bit more likable. But even then, I didn't care for these characters, I wasn't too enthralled by the story, and it just got under my skin as just pure annoyance.
#13: Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters
Like I said in my review, I'm not too familiar with the Percy Jackson series, but even if I was, I'd hate this movie more. Heck, just ask my cousin, who is a huge fan of the books. It's hard not to compare these films to Harry Potter, especially when the first film was directed by Chris Columbus, but you see a lot of similarities, especially with our three protagonists. There are some fun moments, but the film was just boring to sit through, which is sad because it's a film based around Greek Mythology. I don't know whether or not this film will get a sequel, but at the rate each film is released, I don't know if it will continue.
#12: Warm Bodies
The zombie apocalypse is stopped by the power of love...it sounds fucking dumb, but that's the best way I can summarize this film. While the performances and make-up are good, the rest of the film is just a boring romantic comedy. It's sad, because I do like the cast and the director, but the way the film was executed just didn't seem to mesh well with me. Maybe it could have been better if I had read the comics it was based on, but I doubt that would do anything.
#11: The Purge
Platinum Dunes attempt at making a film that wasn't a remake is something that I was kind of looking forward to. However, all of that went down the drain for the sake of a home invasion film, which just makes it a rip-off of "The Strangers." There was another film that had a similar plot, "You're Next," but I didn't get a chance to see that movie.
Hopefully the series will turn out to be an anthology series that shows different parts of the world handling the Purge, because they really opened the door for something like this. But, I won't get my hopes up for that one.
#10: Bullet to the Head
Don't get me wrong, I love Sylvester Stallone action films, but this one was just a pain to sit through. I mean, I wasn't expecting this film to be a masterpiece or anything. I mean, I'm the kind of person who said that "The Expendables II" was one of my favorite films of the year. But when you compare this film to "The Last Stand" with Arnold Schwarzenegger, this film just feels like a chore to get through. And don't give me that argument of "oh, but it's like one of those 80's action films, it's suppose to be stupid and fun." The film is stupid, but I didn't have fun, because it wasn't enjoyable to sit through. If you liked it, I'm not taking that away from you. For me, I couldn't stand it.
#9: Machete Kills
Much like with "Bullet to the Head," this film was to appeal to those who love the Grindhouse films...the only problem is we already got that, six years ago. "Planet Terror" and "Death Proof" worked as tributes to the Grindhouse film era, but this film tries to act like a satire on those films. The key word being "try." The overuse of CGI, the unbalanced pacing, the spoiling of the movie because of the fake trailer to the third film playing at the beginning and end of the film, it's just a mess. As much as I do enjoy this cast, even they couldn't make this film fun to sit through.
#8: Jack the Giant Slayer
After being delayed for almost a year, "Jack the Giant Killer," which was re-titled "Jack the Giant Slayer," finally is released to the public. I can understand their reasoning, so it won't lose money when "The Dark Knight Rises" came out, but even then the film was a total bomb at the box office. It was such a bore to sit through this film, even when it was an action scene. I'd also like to ask, why was this film changed to "Slayer," when Jack only takes down only two or three giants total? Yeah, way to make a really pointless title change. Hopefully, Bryan Singer's next film will be a little bit better to sit through.
#7: Escape From Planet Earth
From the animation studio that brought you "Reboot" and "Beast Wars," comes this pile of crap. I was really interested to see how this film would turn out, being the studio's first major film, but this really backfired into such a cliched childish mess. The animation is mediocre at best, the writing is bland and pathetic, and the characters just suck, along with the voice acting. It doesn't matter how big of a star you can get, it would have been easier just to get actual voice actors to do the work better. If this is going to be the same kind of treatment given to the "Ratchet & Clank" movie, then I'm going to be really pissed off.
#6: The Great Gatsby
While it's technically not as bad as some of the other entries, this one especially pisses me off more. For starters, I was fresh off of reading the book for my English class at the time, and I didn't like the book. I didn't like these characters, I thought the story was boring and uninteresting, and it was very lackluster. The Robert Redford film, I didn't care about either, but I'd at least watch that film over this new one. The DiCaprio version of "The Great Gatsby" is absolutely terrible, most of that stemming from Baz Lurhman's god awful directing. If you want a prime example of how horribly executed this remake is, just watch both renditions of Gatsby's death scene back to back, and you'll understand clearly why it sucks.
#5: R.I.P.D.
The film that ripped off "Men in Black" and "Good Vs. Evil," and then took a giant shit on it. Not a damn thing about this film was enjoyable, nor was it even fun in the slightest. Now I know that this film was based on a comic of the same name, but would that actually make it any different? It's still a terrible rip-off. I mean, people ragged on me for liking "Pacific Rim," but at least that film was fun, had likable characters, and didn't shy away from what it was doing. This one, never has an original thought, and by the end we just end up hating all these characters.
#4: Texas Chainsaw 3D
Way to take a horror icon and make him a bumbling wimp. To the makers of this film, you should all be ashamed for making a complete joke out of one of the most terrifying films ever made. Tobe Hooper's iconic work of horror about a group of teenagers encountering a family of cannibals, still stands the test of time and remains one of the true pioneer works of early slasher films. They never really did recapture the same kind feel that the first film had, with the sequels getting more and more ridiculous, the Platinum Dunes remake and prequel being okay but nothing great...then we have this film that makes itself out to be a direct sequel to the original film, but not once shows any respect, dignity, or effort into it at all.
#3: The Hangover Part 3
The third installment to a comedy that wasn't really that good to begin with, and it's the absolute worst sequel to a comedy I have ever witnessed in theaters. The one thing that I will give credit for this film is that it did try to differentiate itself from the previous films, but that doesn't make it better. The attempts at humor that they try to deliver here are pathetic and extremely unfunny, especially from Zach Galifianakis's character of Alan being a complete selfish asshole to his friends and family. Also, there's no hangover in this film, for a film that's called "The Hangover Part 3." And no, that after credits scene doesn't count.
#2: Movie 43
Okay...first of all, fuck you for thinking this was a good idea. Second, fuck you for thinking any of these sketches were a good idea. Third, fuck you for getting all of these talented people attached to this film, and all of it amounting to nothing. Fourth...fuck you.
#1: A Good Day to Die Hard
Yeah, there wasn't another film this year that pissed me off as badly as this one, which is kind of a bitter sweet feeling. On one hand, there wasn't a film worse than this one this year, but on the other hand I had witnessed the worst sequel I've ever seen. It's insulting to "Die Hard" fans, it's insulting to action movie fans, the direction is awful, the acting is awful, the story is terrible, everything about this film just sucks the life out of me. Do yourself a favor and don't bother watching this film. There has been word that a sixth "Die Hard" film will be in the works, and I hope it turns out better than this. We can't let the series end on a note like this, we just can't! If it does happen, keep John Moore away from it as far as possible.
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Alright, time to get the good stuff. Here are my top 15 favorite films of 2013!
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Best of 2013
#15: Side Effects
Steven Soderbergh's mystery thriller revolving around anti-depressants is really fascinating and definitely one of his best films. The performances in this film are excellent, especially from Jude Law and Rooney Mara. I love seeing the two work off of each other and I love seeing the details unfold as it goes on. I really loved seeing this film twice in theaters, and both times were just as excellent.
#14: Anchorman 2 The Legend Continues
A comedy sequel that's handled right, and thank goodness for that. If you've seen the original film, then there's a strong chance you'll like this one just as much. The jokes are very fresh, the crazy moments fit in extremely well, everything you'd probably expect and anything you wouldn't expect are present in this film, and the climax is deeply satisfying. If a third film does come out, then I'm all for it.
#13: Fast & Furious 6
This was a deeply satisfying film to sit through. I enjoyed watching this film as much as I hated "A Good Day to Die Hard," giving me an over the top action film that did anything but disappoint. For a series that started off as a mere rip-off of "Point Break," I never expected them to bring it up to this level of excitement. Sure, the fifth film brought it up a notch, but this one truly perfected it. Plus, there are fights against a tank on a freeway, and a fight on a cargo plane, and they're fucking awesome. I'm really looking forward to what the next film will bring, if it does come into play after Paul Walker's tragic passing.
#12: Carrie (2013)
This takes the spot as the most underrated horror remake I've seen. Almost every film reviewer I've seen talks about how it's nothing but a cash grab and not having a real purpose for existing. That's bullshit. This film is a whole lot better than what people say it is. The subject of bullying is still a major problem in our day and age, even worse than how it was back when the original film was released, and it's what Stephen King's book trying to get across, not just being a horror story. What Kimberly Pierce did with her version was update it, during a time when bullying has gotten more out of hand than before, especially in the digital age. I think people need to give this a second look with this in mind.
#11: The World's End
Edgar Wright's newest installment to the Cornetto Trilogy was deeply satisfying. I loved the charm and clever jokes that they deliver with each passing second. Whenever you see Wright working with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, it's something you have to witness whatever way possible, like with "Hot Fuzz" and "Shaun of the Dead." I also love how much like with the other films, there's something you'll catch in a second viewing that you missed the first time, making it funnier and funnier. Also, I love Simon Pegg's coat in the film. I want one too.
#10: Gangster Squad
For a film that was part of a huge controversy, I'm really glad this film still got released. Ruben Fleischer may have given us "Zombieland" and "30 Minutes or Less," but "Gangster Squad" kicks both their asses, fills them full of lead, and then tears them apart with two cars. Sean Penn's performance as Mickey Cohen is fantastic, making him a real sadistic fucker, but also very fun to watch. In fact, everyone in this film is fun to watch: Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Robert Patrick, Giovanni Ribisi, Anthony Mackie, Nick Nolte, and Michael Pena. Everyone criticizes this film for not being "L.A. Confidential," which to be fair is a much better film, but this one isn't trying to be that. It's just trying to be a fun gangster flick, and I enjoyed every second of it.
#9: Gravity
While it's a very simple story with some heavy themes on belief, it actually didn't bother me as much as it could have. Not only that, but it was definitely a visual experience worth seeing. Alfonso Cuaron's visual masterpiece was definitely an experience worth sitting through. This is one of those films that actually used the 3D correctly, making it enhance the film rather than being just a gimmick that's grabbing money from the pockets of movie goers. I'm guessing that Cuaron will go on to win Best Director at the Oscars, since he's already accomplished that at the Golden Globes, but who knows.
#8: Pacific Rim
All I can say is fuck the haters, I loved this movie. I saw it opening night with my cousins and we had a blast sitting through this delicious delight of the summer. Guillermo Del Toro still remains among my favorite directors working today, and I was so damn satisfied that my most anticipated film of the year was one of my favorites. It really did bring out my inner youth, remembering the days of watching mech anime on Toonami, especially "G Gundam," with the pilots controlling the jaegers with their entire body movements. It still really pisses me off that this film wasn't as big of a success as it could of been, making only about $411 million, and yet the "Transformers" series had its last installment make over $1 billion. That's unfair as hell! Hopefully a sequel may come into play, and possibly a crossover with the new "Godzilla" coming out.
#7: The Wolf of Wall Street
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Worst of 2013
#15: The Lone Ranger (2013)
This film has been appearing relatively high on people's worst of the year lists, and it's very understandable. And while I do see this as a major disappointment and failure, I don't hate it quite as much as others. I liked the performances from Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp as the Lone Ranger and Tonto, the production design is really damn good, and the action scenes are extremely fun, especially the dueling trains climax where we hear Hans Zimmer's rendition of the William Tell Overture. However, there are a lot of scenes that go on too long (most of it is just padding), it focuses way too much on Tonto, and some plot points are handled in the rest of the film very sloppily. Not the worst like everyone thinks, but still disappointing.
#14: Epic (2013)
Blue Sky studios has always been a very mixed bag with animated films. Sure, it has a few good films here and there, but they've also got a lot of misses as well. This is one of those misses. While the animation is really nice to look at, the story and characters are cliched and annoying as hell. It's another one of those films that tries to tell a compelling story about an outcast trying to save a hidden world within the forests, only throw in comic relief slugs that make Skids and Mudflap from "Transformers 2" look tolerable. Seriously, if you had taken out those two, the film would at least be a bit more likable. But even then, I didn't care for these characters, I wasn't too enthralled by the story, and it just got under my skin as just pure annoyance.
#13: Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters
Like I said in my review, I'm not too familiar with the Percy Jackson series, but even if I was, I'd hate this movie more. Heck, just ask my cousin, who is a huge fan of the books. It's hard not to compare these films to Harry Potter, especially when the first film was directed by Chris Columbus, but you see a lot of similarities, especially with our three protagonists. There are some fun moments, but the film was just boring to sit through, which is sad because it's a film based around Greek Mythology. I don't know whether or not this film will get a sequel, but at the rate each film is released, I don't know if it will continue.
#12: Warm Bodies
The zombie apocalypse is stopped by the power of love...it sounds fucking dumb, but that's the best way I can summarize this film. While the performances and make-up are good, the rest of the film is just a boring romantic comedy. It's sad, because I do like the cast and the director, but the way the film was executed just didn't seem to mesh well with me. Maybe it could have been better if I had read the comics it was based on, but I doubt that would do anything.
#11: The Purge
Platinum Dunes attempt at making a film that wasn't a remake is something that I was kind of looking forward to. However, all of that went down the drain for the sake of a home invasion film, which just makes it a rip-off of "The Strangers." There was another film that had a similar plot, "You're Next," but I didn't get a chance to see that movie.
Hopefully the series will turn out to be an anthology series that shows different parts of the world handling the Purge, because they really opened the door for something like this. But, I won't get my hopes up for that one.
#10: Bullet to the Head
Don't get me wrong, I love Sylvester Stallone action films, but this one was just a pain to sit through. I mean, I wasn't expecting this film to be a masterpiece or anything. I mean, I'm the kind of person who said that "The Expendables II" was one of my favorite films of the year. But when you compare this film to "The Last Stand" with Arnold Schwarzenegger, this film just feels like a chore to get through. And don't give me that argument of "oh, but it's like one of those 80's action films, it's suppose to be stupid and fun." The film is stupid, but I didn't have fun, because it wasn't enjoyable to sit through. If you liked it, I'm not taking that away from you. For me, I couldn't stand it.
#9: Machete Kills
Much like with "Bullet to the Head," this film was to appeal to those who love the Grindhouse films...the only problem is we already got that, six years ago. "Planet Terror" and "Death Proof" worked as tributes to the Grindhouse film era, but this film tries to act like a satire on those films. The key word being "try." The overuse of CGI, the unbalanced pacing, the spoiling of the movie because of the fake trailer to the third film playing at the beginning and end of the film, it's just a mess. As much as I do enjoy this cast, even they couldn't make this film fun to sit through.
#8: Jack the Giant Slayer
After being delayed for almost a year, "Jack the Giant Killer," which was re-titled "Jack the Giant Slayer," finally is released to the public. I can understand their reasoning, so it won't lose money when "The Dark Knight Rises" came out, but even then the film was a total bomb at the box office. It was such a bore to sit through this film, even when it was an action scene. I'd also like to ask, why was this film changed to "Slayer," when Jack only takes down only two or three giants total? Yeah, way to make a really pointless title change. Hopefully, Bryan Singer's next film will be a little bit better to sit through.
#7: Escape From Planet Earth
From the animation studio that brought you "Reboot" and "Beast Wars," comes this pile of crap. I was really interested to see how this film would turn out, being the studio's first major film, but this really backfired into such a cliched childish mess. The animation is mediocre at best, the writing is bland and pathetic, and the characters just suck, along with the voice acting. It doesn't matter how big of a star you can get, it would have been easier just to get actual voice actors to do the work better. If this is going to be the same kind of treatment given to the "Ratchet & Clank" movie, then I'm going to be really pissed off.
#6: The Great Gatsby
While it's technically not as bad as some of the other entries, this one especially pisses me off more. For starters, I was fresh off of reading the book for my English class at the time, and I didn't like the book. I didn't like these characters, I thought the story was boring and uninteresting, and it was very lackluster. The Robert Redford film, I didn't care about either, but I'd at least watch that film over this new one. The DiCaprio version of "The Great Gatsby" is absolutely terrible, most of that stemming from Baz Lurhman's god awful directing. If you want a prime example of how horribly executed this remake is, just watch both renditions of Gatsby's death scene back to back, and you'll understand clearly why it sucks.
#5: R.I.P.D.
The film that ripped off "Men in Black" and "Good Vs. Evil," and then took a giant shit on it. Not a damn thing about this film was enjoyable, nor was it even fun in the slightest. Now I know that this film was based on a comic of the same name, but would that actually make it any different? It's still a terrible rip-off. I mean, people ragged on me for liking "Pacific Rim," but at least that film was fun, had likable characters, and didn't shy away from what it was doing. This one, never has an original thought, and by the end we just end up hating all these characters.
#4: Texas Chainsaw 3D
Way to take a horror icon and make him a bumbling wimp. To the makers of this film, you should all be ashamed for making a complete joke out of one of the most terrifying films ever made. Tobe Hooper's iconic work of horror about a group of teenagers encountering a family of cannibals, still stands the test of time and remains one of the true pioneer works of early slasher films. They never really did recapture the same kind feel that the first film had, with the sequels getting more and more ridiculous, the Platinum Dunes remake and prequel being okay but nothing great...then we have this film that makes itself out to be a direct sequel to the original film, but not once shows any respect, dignity, or effort into it at all.
#3: The Hangover Part 3
The third installment to a comedy that wasn't really that good to begin with, and it's the absolute worst sequel to a comedy I have ever witnessed in theaters. The one thing that I will give credit for this film is that it did try to differentiate itself from the previous films, but that doesn't make it better. The attempts at humor that they try to deliver here are pathetic and extremely unfunny, especially from Zach Galifianakis's character of Alan being a complete selfish asshole to his friends and family. Also, there's no hangover in this film, for a film that's called "The Hangover Part 3." And no, that after credits scene doesn't count.
#2: Movie 43
Okay...first of all, fuck you for thinking this was a good idea. Second, fuck you for thinking any of these sketches were a good idea. Third, fuck you for getting all of these talented people attached to this film, and all of it amounting to nothing. Fourth...fuck you.
#1: A Good Day to Die Hard
Yeah, there wasn't another film this year that pissed me off as badly as this one, which is kind of a bitter sweet feeling. On one hand, there wasn't a film worse than this one this year, but on the other hand I had witnessed the worst sequel I've ever seen. It's insulting to "Die Hard" fans, it's insulting to action movie fans, the direction is awful, the acting is awful, the story is terrible, everything about this film just sucks the life out of me. Do yourself a favor and don't bother watching this film. There has been word that a sixth "Die Hard" film will be in the works, and I hope it turns out better than this. We can't let the series end on a note like this, we just can't! If it does happen, keep John Moore away from it as far as possible.
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Alright, time to get the good stuff. Here are my top 15 favorite films of 2013!
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Best of 2013
#15: Side Effects
Steven Soderbergh's mystery thriller revolving around anti-depressants is really fascinating and definitely one of his best films. The performances in this film are excellent, especially from Jude Law and Rooney Mara. I love seeing the two work off of each other and I love seeing the details unfold as it goes on. I really loved seeing this film twice in theaters, and both times were just as excellent.
#14: Anchorman 2 The Legend Continues
A comedy sequel that's handled right, and thank goodness for that. If you've seen the original film, then there's a strong chance you'll like this one just as much. The jokes are very fresh, the crazy moments fit in extremely well, everything you'd probably expect and anything you wouldn't expect are present in this film, and the climax is deeply satisfying. If a third film does come out, then I'm all for it.
#13: Fast & Furious 6
This was a deeply satisfying film to sit through. I enjoyed watching this film as much as I hated "A Good Day to Die Hard," giving me an over the top action film that did anything but disappoint. For a series that started off as a mere rip-off of "Point Break," I never expected them to bring it up to this level of excitement. Sure, the fifth film brought it up a notch, but this one truly perfected it. Plus, there are fights against a tank on a freeway, and a fight on a cargo plane, and they're fucking awesome. I'm really looking forward to what the next film will bring, if it does come into play after Paul Walker's tragic passing.
#12: Carrie (2013)
This takes the spot as the most underrated horror remake I've seen. Almost every film reviewer I've seen talks about how it's nothing but a cash grab and not having a real purpose for existing. That's bullshit. This film is a whole lot better than what people say it is. The subject of bullying is still a major problem in our day and age, even worse than how it was back when the original film was released, and it's what Stephen King's book trying to get across, not just being a horror story. What Kimberly Pierce did with her version was update it, during a time when bullying has gotten more out of hand than before, especially in the digital age. I think people need to give this a second look with this in mind.
#11: The World's End
Edgar Wright's newest installment to the Cornetto Trilogy was deeply satisfying. I loved the charm and clever jokes that they deliver with each passing second. Whenever you see Wright working with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, it's something you have to witness whatever way possible, like with "Hot Fuzz" and "Shaun of the Dead." I also love how much like with the other films, there's something you'll catch in a second viewing that you missed the first time, making it funnier and funnier. Also, I love Simon Pegg's coat in the film. I want one too.
#10: Gangster Squad
For a film that was part of a huge controversy, I'm really glad this film still got released. Ruben Fleischer may have given us "Zombieland" and "30 Minutes or Less," but "Gangster Squad" kicks both their asses, fills them full of lead, and then tears them apart with two cars. Sean Penn's performance as Mickey Cohen is fantastic, making him a real sadistic fucker, but also very fun to watch. In fact, everyone in this film is fun to watch: Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Robert Patrick, Giovanni Ribisi, Anthony Mackie, Nick Nolte, and Michael Pena. Everyone criticizes this film for not being "L.A. Confidential," which to be fair is a much better film, but this one isn't trying to be that. It's just trying to be a fun gangster flick, and I enjoyed every second of it.
#9: Gravity
While it's a very simple story with some heavy themes on belief, it actually didn't bother me as much as it could have. Not only that, but it was definitely a visual experience worth seeing. Alfonso Cuaron's visual masterpiece was definitely an experience worth sitting through. This is one of those films that actually used the 3D correctly, making it enhance the film rather than being just a gimmick that's grabbing money from the pockets of movie goers. I'm guessing that Cuaron will go on to win Best Director at the Oscars, since he's already accomplished that at the Golden Globes, but who knows.
#8: Pacific Rim
All I can say is fuck the haters, I loved this movie. I saw it opening night with my cousins and we had a blast sitting through this delicious delight of the summer. Guillermo Del Toro still remains among my favorite directors working today, and I was so damn satisfied that my most anticipated film of the year was one of my favorites. It really did bring out my inner youth, remembering the days of watching mech anime on Toonami, especially "G Gundam," with the pilots controlling the jaegers with their entire body movements. It still really pisses me off that this film wasn't as big of a success as it could of been, making only about $411 million, and yet the "Transformers" series had its last installment make over $1 billion. That's unfair as hell! Hopefully a sequel may come into play, and possibly a crossover with the new "Godzilla" coming out.
#7: The Wolf of Wall Street
Martin Scorsese really managed to
deliver a film that had absolutely no boring moments in it, even at it being a
three-hour long flick. He has everyone in the cast from Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill to Rob Reiner
and Matthew McConaughey express just how far American Excess can go, much like “Pain
& Gain” did, with the big difference being it had much more humor to it. I’m
glad I managed to see this film, and DiCaprio really deserves his Golden Globe
and Oscar nomination. Not
only that, but with what I saw in this film, I can’t even imagine how the NC-17
version would have been. I mean, this is the film that has the word “fuck” said
569 times, and it opens with DiCaprio snorting cocaine out of a hooker’s ass, then have a scene later on where he downs cocaine to the "Popeye" theme to give Jonah Hill CPR.
It’s absolutely insane here.
#6: American Hustle
The best word that describes this film is "sexy." And for that, it's definitely the sexiest movie I've seen this year. I’ve always been fascinated by the works of David O. Russell, and here with “American Hustle,” I find it to be one of his best works yet. I like the directions that make your head spin with this one. You always expect something, only for it to go completely opposite, having you sucked into the film much more. The casting, the direction, and writing, all of it works so well that it’s hard to keep your eyes off of anyone. I also like the lighting and look of the film, with it being in the 70’s, but unlike how we’ve seen them before. It isn’t as loose as “Wolf of Wall Street,” but it has plentiful moments like that between its characters, that I can't help but love it more.
#5: Evil Dead (2013)
Probably the best birthday present Hollywood has ever given me. This re-imagining of my favorite horror film was done with the best amount of care in a long time, thanks to the original trio of Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, and Bruce Campbell filling in as producers. The performances, the make-up, the production design, and the gore all live up to the original, making it a fitting entry into the franchise. There has been word on an "Evil Dead" tv series being in development to link the original trilogy and this remake together, and Bruce has said that he'll return to play Ash once again. I hope it happens, because we all need a bit more Ash in our lives.
#4: Frozen (2013)
Disney's longtime awaited take on "The Snow Queen" is finally brought to life in this film, which also has the same title as a shitty horror film about a ski-lift. Regardless, I really enjoyed watching "Frozen," as it was truly the Disney Princess film that belongs right up there with those of the Disney Renaissance Era. The songs by Robert and Kristen Anderson Lopez are really catchy and memorable, from "Let It Go" to "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" and "In Summer," making it a much more wholesome musical compared to their other works on Broadway. I especially loved how most of the cast consisted of Broadway actors like Idina Menzel and Josh Gad, since they know how to carry a song and the control of their vocal performance. I may have liked "Wreck-It Ralph" more, but I still had fun with it and am looking forward to buying it on blu-ray.
#3: The Spectacular Now
If I had known sooner that this film was written by the duo that wrote "(500) Days of Summer," I would have immediately jumped on the next bus to find a theater playing this. But I didn't, so I had to watch it on DVD, which was definitely worth the wait. James Pornsoldt's adaptation of the Tim Tharp novel of the same name is a really charming and enduring tale of high school love, that plays a bit of tribute to John Hughes films of the 80's, much like last year's "The Perks of Being a Wallflower." Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley have excellent chemistry together, making themselves very likable with what they do, and seeing them work past their flaws as much as possible. As someone who's approaching graduation at his high school, it really does bring up thought about how I'm going to handle my future afterwards.
Now the next three films here are a tie, because they share the similar theme of loss of faith, with one set in a war zone, one set during slavery, and the other about the lives of children.
#2a: Lone Survivor
Peter Berg really knew how to make this film based on the Red Wings Operation have an emotional impact on those who have relatives in the army, or have been in the army themselves. As director and writer, he had his heart in the right place, allowing the right amount of drama and emotion to hit in the perfect way. I was completely floored by Mark Wahlberg’s portrayal of Marcus Luttrell, as he really embodies the true soldier tone and fear that they all have. How he wasn’t even nominated for his performance, I will never know. And for this to not be nominated for Best Picture, I feel this film’s been cheated.
#2b: 12 Years A Slave
The tale of Solomon Northup is handled in a very powerful and moving way, thanks to director Steve McQueen. This film really took balls to make, showing us the absolute darkest parts of slavery, through the eyes of one. Chiwetel Ejiofor is a phenomenal actor, and always has been an underrated favorite of mine. I loved him in his work for "Love Actually" and "Kinky Boots," but this really does show his talents well. This is the film that's currently sweeping the awards right now, and will mostly likely win the Oscar for Best Picture. If it does, I'm perfectly fine with that.
#2c: Prisoners
While "12 Years a Slave" was a brutal film to watch, this one was just as psychologically brutal, if not more. Hugh Jackman and Terrance Howard play two fathers who lose their daughters, and they prime suspect is a mentally challenged kid, played by Paul Dano (who was also in "12 Years A Slave"). While Jackman and Howard interrogate Dano, Jake Gyllenhaal plays an investigator trying to find the two missing girls, but suspect Jackman's methods. I was really upset that Jackman and Gyllenhaal didn't get nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, because they really did deserve the nominations. They handle this situation in a very realistic manner that it's extremely hard to sit through, but at the same time you can't take your eyes off of it. I still get goosebumps every time I watch the hammer scene. I also love the haunting music done by Jóhann Jóhannsson, giving it a really gloomy mood and dark atmosphere that really lets the coldness of day seep into the room. Hopefully we'll see more works from Denis Villeneuve as a director, because he really does a marvelous job here.
#1: The Way Way Back
The most relatable and heartbreaking film I've seen in a long time. If you're somebody who has gone through your parents divorce, moving to a new town you didn't want to be, suddenly finding your true calling thanks to a local, then you'll need to see this movie. Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, two of the writers of "The Descendants," gave a very powerful film that I was really interested in seeing, and it did not disappoint. Most of the troubles that Duncan, played by Liam James, goes through in this film have happened to me, so it was like I seeing a movie version of myself, only I never lost my shorts in the pool. Steve Carell and Toni Collette return after "Little Miss Sunshine," this time as lovers, and it was really fresh to see Carell do something that wasn't comedic. Allison Janney, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, AnnaSophia Robb, Maya Rudolf, Rob Corddry, and Amanda Peet really make the film enjoyable. However, none of them compared to the performance by Sam Rockwell as Owen. Rockwell deserved an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actor, and it pisses me off that he got snubbed. If you haven't seen this film, you're missing out on one of the most emotional experiences you'll ever witness.
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Okay, we got that done and over with! Woot! Now then, time to get to 2014. Will we have the same kind of treatment as last year...I don't know. But one thing's for sure, it'll all be worth it in the end.
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