Every 5 years, I like to review my list to see what’s been a mover and shaker since the movies came out 5 years ago. Here’s the result of that new revised 2013 list.
Honorable Mention:
And without futher ado, the new Top 10 Films of 2013:
| 10 | Frozen |
| The first great musical from the reenergized Disney Animation studio. Not only are the songs wholly spectacular, but the story is a wonderful, moving tale about a bond between 2 sisters who care about each other. |
| 9 | Fruitvale Station |
| A haunting portrait of the last day in the life of Oscar Grant. Director Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan became household names/forces of nature because of this film. |
| 8 | Drinking Buddies |
| Completely charming rom com about normal 20/30 somethings trying to figure out their lives/relationships with one another. Olivia Wilde is a revelation, and the dialogue sounds like conversations normal people have while still being cinematically compelling and interesting. |
| 7 | Upstream Color |
| Experimental filmmaking at its best by writer/director/sound editor/actor/visual effects supervisor Shane Carruth. The story is a highly emotional study of identity and connection through sound and images… and pigs, obviously. |
| 6 | Short Term 12 |
| Brie Larson gives one of the performances of the year as a supervisor of a Short Term stay for foster kids. The story showcases kids that fall through the cracks in society and how fragile their emotional state becomes. Also giving one of the best performances in the movie? The soon to be great Lakeith Stanfield. |
| 5 | The Conjuring |
| Saw Director James Wan leaves torture porn to create this spooky horror movie built around atmosphere and suspense. The scares never come where you expect them to, and Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson’s ghost whisperer characters ground the supernatural story leading to a really intense and satisfying conclusion. This movie is so good, it spawned several sequels and spinoffs. |
| 4 | 12 Years a Slave |
| The most grisly depiction of slavery ever to hit the big screen. Director Steve McQueen uses long takes and visceral imagery to drain the humanity out of the institution and drain the emotions out of every audience member. |
| 3 | Her |
| A contemporary examination of connection and love between a person and technology. Writer/Director Spike Jonze tells a love story for the modern age without a hint of artifice or condescension. |
| 2 | Gravity |
| Haunting elemental study of survival in space. Director Alfonso Cuaron invented most of the visuals himself, resulting in views of such visual spectacle that one has to see to believe, including the transformative first 25 minutes. |
| 1 | Before Midnight |
| Beautiful study of love, marriage, and the day-to-day struggle to maintain it. Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, and Ethan Hawke turn walking, talking, and fighting into an art form achieved by only a brilliant few. In a few years, this might overtake Before Sunrise to be the best of the trilogy. |