Top 10 Movies of 2013

The year 2013 didn't start off strong, but it has given us it's fair share of gems late in the year. And I got the pleasure to see a lot of them. However, let it be known that these aren't necessarily reviews of these movies; this is a biased list of the movies I enjoyed the most this year. So without further ado, let's get started with a couple honourable mentions.

Honourable Mentions:
Dallas Buyers Club
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Upside Down - This is a very little known film, which is actually a shame, because once I saw this movie I couldn't stop thinking about it. It's probably one of the most unique films I've seen in awhile and it was directed in such a great way, that I was immediately sucked in. Upside Down takes place on two planets that are literally so close to one another that if you look up, then you would see the people and buildings of the other planet. People and objects from each planet retain gravity to their respective planet, so if a person is on the other planet, they will be upside down, or fall back to their own. In that, the central plot is that of a love story of two people, each from the different planets. The writing is rather generic and the acting is good. But the special effects, directing, and camerawork are really what make this movie great. I wanted to learn so much about these worlds, because it was such a cool premise/setting. Upside Down is a relatively short movie, and it's on Netflix; so if you get the chance, I urge you to see it.
The Hunt - Another movie that's relatively unknown is The Hunt, a Danish film that I gave 9 out of 10 Noodles. And it rightly deserves that rating because it is a very well-crafted film. Mads Mikkelson gives a spectacular leading performance, as a kindergarten teacher whose whole life falls apart once a student tells a little white lie, leading to people thinking he molested her. The events of the movie play out so realistically and you feel like you know each of these characters. And the raw emotion of this film is astounding. It's not an easy watch, and doesn't have much replay value. But The Hunt is one of the best made films of the year, in terms of technicality, enticement, and talent. It's also on Netflix, so fill up your watchlist.

Man of Steel - Man of Steel really polarized audiences. Many people didn't like its focus on action and that veered away from being an inspiring tale. I, however, am not influenced by popular opinion, because my opinion is that I can probably watch this movie every week. I'm a huge Superman fan, and have a bunch of comics. I used to watch the old Christopher Reeve films when I was little; but those are really dated now. I think Man of Steel did a great job of introducing Superman and was casted very well in almost every character. The special effects are incredible, and the musical score by Hans Zimmer is probably my favourite of the year. I personally feel that this movie brings a lot of enjoyment; the action scenes, though plenty, are high-octane, intense, and awesome. The hero and villain were both portrayed greatly, and Man of Steel, to me, has proved itself to be a great comic superhero movie.

10. Prisoners
Prisoners didn't get the real buzz it deserved. It was oddly released in September, but boy was it still a great film. The story of two neighboring families whose little daughters have been mysteriously kidnapped one night, and the efforts taken to find them, has become one of the most emotionally investing and real modern stories I've seen in awhile. You really get the feeling of loss that the characters in the movie get, and that's great testament to the acting and writing. It's, of course, a very depressing movie, and it's very emotionally heavy. That's what it was going for and it perfectly hit its mark, because the emotional intensity of this movie really sticks with you after watching it. Just as well, this movie's Oscar-nominated cinematography by Roger Deakins is probably some of the best cinematography this year. The movie is shot so smartly, and in such a way that it makes you feel cold when watching it. That's how I'd describe the movie, in fact; Prisoners is a very cold movie. But that just might be why it's one of this year's best.

9. Despicable Me 2

Undoubtedly the funniest movie this year to me, Despicable Me 2 is another movie I can watch over and over again. I loved the first movie, especially the minions (c'mon, you know everyone loves the minions); and this one brought all the flair of that movie, with fresh laughs and situations, that I honestly can't choose which of the two I like better. This one really capitalizes on the minion humour, and that's something I can never stop loving. I just wanna keep watching minions doing stuff forever. The main character, Gru, is hilarious too though, as well as the situations he's thrown into. The humour in general is just all over the place; there's laugh-out-loud parts, scenes of subtle humour that you have to be quick to catch, scenes of slapstick comedy. Despicable Me 2 is a nonstop entertaining ride; because the few times when it's not utilizing comedy, it's either showcasing cool action/spy scenes or heartfelt family scenes that make you go "awww." It's a movie that essentially anyone can enjoy as long as they're open-minded, and it's the funniest movie of 2013.

8. Captain Phillips
While Despicable Me is the funniest movie this year, Captain Phillips is definitely the most suspenseful. This movie is a straightup thriller, conveying the true story of a cargo freight ship captured by Somalian pirates, and what the captain does to keep his crew safe. This movie kept me at the edge of my seat for pretty much its entirety. You care for these characters, especially Captain Phillips himself who's played excellently by my favourite actor, Tom Hanks. And style of tension is so great, as the movie can slow down but still keep you invested and in anticipation. Kudos to Paul Greengrass, because his direction is really what takes this movie to the next level. And it stays at that high level all the way until the credits roll; Captain Phillips is one of the most intense and realistic movies this year.

7. Star Trek Into Darkness
For a great chunk of this year, Star Trek Into Darkness was my favourite movie of the year. 2013 didn't start off greatly, but this movie signified the start of when this year finally picked up. I loved the first Star Trek in 2009; I thought it was a great reboot to the series, and it was greatly favourable to viewers who weren't fans of the shows. Star Trek Into Darkness plays off that, in that it's an incredibly awesome sci-fi action movie that's enticing even for those not familiar with the series; but it also has a lot of material there for longtime fans. I'm a Star Trek fan and I enjoyed every minute of this movie (besides the sort of abrupt ending). It's great to see everyone on the crew of the Enterprise, as their all beloved characters and have great chemistry and dialogue with one another. And Benedict Cumberbatch is menacing and perfect as Khan; that's all that needs to really be said. This movie has a great blend of action, excitement, humour, and heart to it. While it's no longer at the top of my list for this year, it still remains one of the best.

6. Gravity
One of the most talked about films this year is Gravity. And after seeing it, I had to agree that it is a very astounding film that should be talked about. Gravity is actually really simple; a medical engineer is in space with an astronaut, and then a catastrophe takes place resulting in them drifting off in space. Though space is big and the "vast unknown," Gravity has this ability to make you feel claustrophobic. Sandra Bullock's portrayal is impressive, as you can genuinely feel her freaking out and desperately doing anything to survive. However, I feel a connection with this movie to 2009's Avatar. Not because they're in space, but because of its cinematic value. The writing and dialogue are good but not great; but on a technical scale, this movie is an absolute marvel (much like Avatar was). The visual effects and sound editing are absolutely intense and on point. Alfonso Cuaron absolutely deserves to be called Best Director for this movie because it is his direction that really makes this film great. Unless you plan on becoming an astronaut when you grow (because this film will definitely dissuade you from that desire), I would recommend Gravity to anyone, because it's a very entertaining and intense film, with amazing special effects, convincing characters, and all encapsulated in a brief runtime of 91 minutes.


5. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

We all know that The Lord of the Rings trilogy is my collectively my favourite movie of all time; so it's a given that I look forward to each Hobbit movie, since they're prequels to LotR. While the first Hobbit film was bit of a letdown due to its issues in tone and pacing. However, Desolation of Smaug turned the series around in the right direction as it had a tone more akin to the original trilogy, as well being filled with action and excitement that is intense, but also family-appropriate. It's a long movie but it's exciting and upbeat for almost the full runtime. The dragon, Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch), is one of the best villains I've seen in a movies in awhile. All of the characters are growing more likable in this series, as well as the events. Desolation of Smaug is a definite improvement over An Unexpected Journey and is hopefully a sign that the finale will truly not only be an awesome Hobbit movie, but an excellent action fantasy film altogether.


4. Elysium

The third movie in space on this list (fourth if you count Man of Steel in the honourable mentions), Elysium was perhaps one of my top 3 anticipated movies of this year. That anticipation paid off because it's one of my favourite movies this year. Neil Blomkamp's film debut District 9 was one of my favourite movies of all time, as it portrayed sci-fi in a very gritty and realistic way, while retaining drama and social commentary. Elysium did just that, and added world-building and some of the coolest action of the year. An increasingly engrossing film, Elysium had a knack for drawing me in. I was so sucked into this world where Earth was essentially a crumbling slum. The characters, too, are all enticing characters; as they're acted and written so well. Matt Damon's protagonist is incredibly likable and ambitious; while Sharlto Copley as the villain is so menacing and psychotic. The special effects are so convincing and on point that I sometimes couldn't tell if certain things (for example, a robot, or a spaceship) were actually made props or just really well-done special effects. The settings, too, were incredibly convincing. Everything about this film is convincing in its own way, especially the societal themes of it; being a metaphor for our real-world issues of immigration, healthcare, etc. This film's greatness is highly testament to the amount of love Blomkamp pours into it. He wrote the script personally, he directed every shot to fulfill his vision. And even if this film isn't perfect for you, you still gotta appreciate how passionate of a filmmaker he is. That's what makes this movie awesome. It's an epic sci-fi action movie with awesome special effects and a unique story; but it's also a passionately made film, that I happen to love.


3. 12 Years A Slave

This is probably the most well-made film of 2013. Years from now, I wouldn't be surprised if 12 Years A Slave is considered a classic. It's this generation's Schindler's List (which, to me, is probably the most perfectly crafted movie ever made), in that it digs deep into a terrible time in history and conveys it to us without holding back. Undoubtedly, 12 Years A Slave is an incredibly emotionally heavy film. You get connected to all these characters, and then wonder how such hatred and bigotry could've ever existed. The movie tells the disturbingly true story of Solomon Northup, who is played excellently by Chiwetel Ejiofor (my pick for this year's Best Actor), a respected successful free black man living in New York. He is, however, captured one day and sold into slavery; resulting in the most brutal 180 turn a person's life could take. The acting is so fantastic in this film. Ejiofor is so compelling and really carries the movie because it is, in fact, about his character's life. The supporting cast is amazing: Michael Fassbender is the absolutely menacing slave-owner; I just wanted Django to come in and shoot him down at so many points. New actress Lupita Nyong'o plays another slave and is incredibly impressive in the role; we got Benedict Cumberbatch, Brad Pitt, Paul Giamatti, Paul Dano, Sarah Paulson. The acting is amazing, and there's the writing, too, that helped bring these true characters to life. It's written in such a way that you know it's taking place in the 1800s, but you still understand what's taking place. Steve McQueen's directing was astounding, and he did a great job of turning a $20 million budget movie and making it look like it cost $100 million. The setting was spectacular, you really felt like this is what it would look and feel like.

While this film has so much going for it, I have to say the best thing about it was its absolute and disturbing realism. It displayed the travesty of the slave days in America in such an unapologetic manner. 12 Years A Slave completely accurately captures the brutality of it, and it does it so well that it still left me speechless when I was driving home after the movie. This movie is by no means an easy watch but definitely one that everyone should see at least once. It's a tough and emotional ride, but one of the most intense and astounding movie experiences I've ever had. I normally say that each decade has one absolutely perfectly crafted film; not necessarily my favourite, but made in such a way that it's essentially an engrossing and emotional story that really gets you in every way. 70s has The Godfather. 80s has Amadeus. 90s had Schindler's List. 2000s have got There Will Be Blood. The 2010s are still just starting, but I have a feeling that this decade's perfect film is 12 Years A Slave.

2. Her

This is the most recent film on the list that I saw, and I'm glad I saw it before I made this list because it's (obviously) one of the best of the year. The story of a guy falling in love with his computer sounds quirky, and this story kind of is quirky. But it's also incredibly engrossing; it really draws you in and makes you believe that this is happen. I was totally on board this whole film and in support of this weird relationship between Theodore and his OS system, Samantha. Joaquin Phoenix's performance in this film is so likable and so realistic; it's one of my favourite acting performances of recent years. Scarlett Johanssen, too, as the voice of Samantha, was so great, and played a big part in making this relationship convincing. Even though she was a computer, she felt so human. And that's a big thing about this movie: it tells a futuristic story about a quirky relationship between a guy and his computer, but it has such a human theme to it. Her has such a great feeling of humanity and love, and it's a great social commentary about these subjects. But it's also an entertaining film, because the drama and weirdness going on with the characters was so compelling; and then there was also comedy that was gut-bustingly funny. Something I forgot to mention in my review of this film was the production design. This is one of the best portrayals of the future I've ever seen in a film, because it had a sense of awe in its futuristic features, that were cool and desirable; yet, it also seemed like a possible future, like it could be attained in maybe a couple decades. It was a believable depiction of the future, and I loved that; which probably helped to make the overall story so convincing and engrossing. Her is definitely one of the best written films I've seen in awhile, and it's got great performances, passionate directing, and spectacular charm to complement that.

1. The Wolf of Wall Street

Was there any doubt? This was my only 10-Noodle movie this year and it rightly deserved that as it broke my Top 50 Movies of All Time list! Wolf of Wall Street is another true story on this list, and it's brought to life by one of the all-time greatest filmmakers, Martin Scorsese. He again does a legendary job in bringing the exciting life of stockbroker Jordan Belfort to the big screen in such an amazing way. This is a three-hour movie, but it went by so quickly because this movie's pace is so high-octane. Dialogue is witty and realistic, situations are eccentric and extraordinary, comedy and drama alternate seamlessly. This movie is entertaining, especially the first two thirds, that showcase Belfort's rise to power and the things he does when he's at the top. It's so fun and filled with such vibrant characters that I couldn't help but appreciate it. DiCaprio is perfect in this role, as he is in many movie; Jonah Hill gives his best performance of his career; and everyone else is so great and real. The events of this film were real, and probably terrible, because these characters were living such lavish and bizarre lifestyles by essentially ripping off investors. And like 12 Years A Slave, this movie doesn't shy away from anything. However, the movie is laugh-out-loud; you can't help but laugh at the things some people say or the way situations play out. And the genius of this film's writing and directing, is that you feel like you shouldn't be laughing at these things, but you just have to anyway. But Wolf of Wall Street also displays the dire consequences, in the last third of the film that depicts Belfort's fall from grace. The movie may slow down and start to veer away from comedy, but it remains absolutely compelling because it's also such a great drama. The movie's momentum never stops, and it keeps such a consistent focus throughout while blending so many great cinematic elements together; and still remains incredibly entertaining. The Wolf of Wall Street is undoubtedly my favourite movie of 2013.