Here it is---the creme de la creme, the pinnacle of my 2013 film going year. I knew 2013 was a good year when I had to leave such great films as Mud, Fruitvale Station, Philomena, Dallas Buyers Club and Before Midnight off the list entirely. Regardless, here are my personal picks for the ten best films of 2013.
(10) This Is The End
Last year it was 21 Jump Street...this year it's This Is The End. It seems every year audiences and critics alike are getting treated to a truly hysterical summer comedy. This film is also definitive proof that really good friends can make a comedy together without it being too self indulgent or too much of an inside joke. Take note Adam Sandler.
(9) Captain Phillips
With a stunning leading performance from the always excellent Tom Hanks and an impressive first time performance from Barkhad Abdi...this based on a true story film about modern day Somali pirates who kidnap the captain of a ship is both incredibly intense and very sad.
(8) 12 Years A Slave
Arguably the most powerful and hardest to watch film on this list....12 Years A Slave proves to be a terrific film due to its surprisingly important and incredibly relevant subject matter and excellent performances from everyone involved as well as intense direction from Steve McQueen...a man who is no stranger to tough subject matter.
(7) Prisoners
An incredible and powerful kidnapping thriller....Prisoners feeds on the question "what would you do if this happened to your kids?" Even as someone without kids...I was still consistently asking this question during the film. With a script and direction that keeps you guessing up until the last few seconds and a career high performance from Hugh Jackman as well as excellent supporting work from Paul Dano, Terrence Howard, Melissa Leo, Jake Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis...this is a damn near perfect film.
(6) The Spectacular Now
With excellent chemistry from stars Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley, both of whom have proven to be extremely talented young actors elsewhere and a script reminiscent of the days of John Hughes and Chris Columbus...The Spectacular Now is the sweetest teen love story this side of Say Anything... and is destined to become just as classic and timeless as that film.
(5) The Way Way Back
Yet another home run for the directing and writing team of Nat Faxon and Jim Rash who claimed Oscar gold for their script of The Descendants...The Way Way Back is a coming of age story about an awkward teenager finding himself as a water park employee that is in equal parts drop dead funny and extremely touching. Liam James as the teenager proves to be a young actor worth looking out for and the always superb Sam Rockwell gives his best work yet as his wisecracking boss.
(4) You're Next
Who knew a horror film nowadays could be this inventive, invigorating and downright scary? With its darkly funny script and cast of talented actors...You're Next gives generic home invasion films such as The Purge and The Strangers a very, very bad name.
(3) American Hustle
With its Martin Scorsese Mean Streets/Goodfellas vibe and an incredibly gifted cast that will blow the whole audience away....American Hustle is a down and dirty dark crime comedy that proves yet again that David O Russell can do no wrong and that Jennifer Lawrence is the most important thing in any film that she's in.
(2) The Wolf Of Wall Street
Not only does it have a completely unrestrained performance that only Leonardo DiCaprio could pull off...it's also a three hour film about some of the most reprehensible people in the history of cinema that left me wanting more. That's something that only director Martin Scorsese and screenwriter Terrence Winter (creator of "Boardwalk Empire" and long time writer of "The Sopranos) could pull off. This is a dark comedy making fun of people who caused real pain and suffering to others that actually worked brilliantly unlike Michael Bay's Pain And Gain.
(1) Nebraska
With career high performances from excellent performers such as Bruce Dern, Stacy Keach, Bob Odenkirk, June Squibb and Will Forte...this total gem of a black and white film is something truly special. First time writer Bob Nelson proves a force to be reckoned with and director Alexander Payne continues to show why he's the master at making films about mid life crises. Come Oscar night I'll be rooting for Dern. His performance as an old man who believes he's won a million dollars via the internet will surely take anybody's breath away. It is a truly awe inspiring performance and film.
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