2013 – My Top 5 Films

by dreynolds91

Another year has passed and 2013 was, in my opinion, not the most exciting or memorable year for cinema. That said, there were still plenty of brilliant films released and in this blog, I’ll take a look at my top 5. Do bare in mind there are still a number of films I am yet to see.

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5. The Place Beyond The Pines

The Place Beyond The Pines

Perhaps a surprise inclusion, ‘The Place Beyond The Pines’ does have its flaws due to it being overly ambitious and let down by a final act, but despite that, it really is a good film. The concepts and theories it explored meant I left the cinema thinking about the film again and again; it really stuck with me. Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper were both terrific, the cinematography was also brilliant and were it not for the story becoming a bit too coincidental in the final act, it probably would have been tipped for Oscars.

4. Rush

Chris Hemsworth in Rush

‘Rush’ may not have been a huge summer blockbuster, though this was not helped by its appeal to only a very niche market, but it is a terrific sports-drama which tells the story of James Hunt and Nicki Lauda’s F1 rivalry in the 70s beautifully. Hunt and Lauda’s highly contrasting personalities but respect for each other are so well captured by Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl respectively; the latter with a chance of an Oscar nod having already received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor. ‘Rush’ did well to highlight the glitz and glamour, as well as the dangers, of being an F1 driver and made for a fast-paced and action-packed film. The cinematography is also beautifully executed and everything does have a 70s feel. Despite its run in theatres not being on a massive scale, ‘Rush’ has not gone unnoticed and has received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Drama, and don’t be surprised if it does receive a couple of nominations at this year’s Oscars.

3. Django Unchained

Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz in Django Unchained

‘Django Unchained’ strictly speaking was a 2012 release, but it wasn’t released in the UK until mid January so I regard it as a 2013 film. Tarantino managed to create yet another brilliant film, and this time he ventured into the genre of western. Some felt that ‘Inglourious Basterds’ was disappointing and that Tarantino had lost his spark, ‘Django’ has silenced his critics. The duo of freed-slave Django (Jamie Foxx) and bounty hunter Schultz (Christoph Waltz), along with supporting roles from Leonardo DiCaprio and Samuel L. Jackson, all help make ‘Django Unchained’ an exciting, funny and unique western.

Tarantino is well known for his imaginative screenplays, intense dialogue scenes and violence, and ‘Django’ did not disappoint. Tarantino received an Oscar for his screenplay and rightly so. What makes Tarantino so good is his faith in long dialogue scenes. He is not afraid to have conversations, altercations and speeches last for longer than your average film as he has faith in his stories and characters, and for this, credit must also go to the actors themselves. ‘Django Unchained’ does not quite match up to ‘Pulp Fiction’, and I don’t think another Tarantino film ever will, but it’s certainly in his top 3.

2. Gravity

Sandra Bullock in Gravity

Contrast to ‘Rush’, ‘Gravity’ was a massive release, coupled with a huge amount of hype. It wowed critics with its stunning visuals and exceptional performance from Sandra Bullock. Some people were disappointed with ‘Gravity’ and felt that it didn’t live up to the hype, and based on what I’ve heard and read, this was down to the plot being too simplistic and there being little in the way of character development. For me, none of this matters for a film like ‘Gravity.’ The film is not about a complex story or character development, it is about being thrown into an unthinkable situation with Bullock and experiencing it with her. ‘Gravity’ won’t win any awards for its screenplay, but it will probably sweep all of the technical awards up for grabs in 2014 and will probably receive some for its direction.

What I liked most about ‘Gravity’ was the camera work used. It seems to be the trend to disorientate the audience through the use of shaky-cam and other frustrating techniques. This may work for some people, but not for me, I hate it. The shots in ‘Gravity’ are all so smooth and it’s never over edited. The opening shot alone lasts for 13 minutes but never bores, it is flawless, and this is consistent throughout. Bullock’s performance has also been highly acclaimed, and rightly so.

Some might argue that ‘Gravity’ is more style over substance, but this is not the case. I personally haven’t found myself as on edge in the cinema since Danny Boyle’s ‘127 Hours’, which in a way is similar to ‘Gravity’.

1. Captain Phillips

Tom Hanks in Captain Phillips

Put simply, everything about ‘Captain Phillips’ is perfect. Tom Hanks reminded us once again of what a sensational actor he is, and Barkhad Abdi showed us what an actor he could go on to be. Both are imperative to the success of ‘Captain Phillips’. The film is emotionally charged, never lacking in pace and terrifically shot. Paul Greengrass avoided exaggerating Captain Phillips’s abilities as he is never represented to be a hero, he is simply the captain of ship who is thrown into an unthinkable situation, and way out of his depth. Whether Greengrass fabricated the truth of the events I cannot say. The film has received a number of nominations at the Golden Globes and is likely to receive a number at the Oscars, where it has a strong chance of winning a few.

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So that’s my top 5 films of 2013. This list was chosen from the following films:

Iron Man 3, Star Trek Into Darkness, Man of Steel, The World’s End, This Is The End, The Conjuring, Prisoners, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

In addition:

Worst film of 2013: Man of Steel

Most Disappointing: Iron Man 3