Nerd 5: March 2014

This is probably my favorite article of the year to write. It takes a year to write, a year to view everything that will go in here. It’s a very personal, for many reasons, featured on this list are the the films that connect to me, that I find to be amazing films and reach far beyond what other films are trying for. These films have to say something, they give you a reason to connect with their character, story and visuals, and show that filmmaking is an art form not just a purely commercial endeavor, even if they were created in a high commercial arena.

2013 is a special year; it is a really good year for film. All of the films on the list are amazing and could be number 1 in a different year. But instead they make up one of the strongest top 10s that I have seen. On top of that, there is at least 10 other films that deserve to be on the list or talked about among the greatest films of year, but sadly there is just no room. The least I could do for these great films is list them here.

Number 20-11: 20. About Time 19. 42: The Story of an American Legend 18. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire 17. Much Ado About Nothing 16. American Hustle 15. The Way Way Back 14. Saving Mr. Banks 13. Dallas Buyers Club 12. The Wolf of Wall Street 11. Blue is the Warmest Color

Also at the end of the article is the list of all every 2013 film I’ve seen (a majority of them in theaters, thanks again MoviePass!), this year’s total is 125 films seen. And now without anymore here are my top 10 films of 2013

10. The World’s End – Edgar Wirght’s finale instalment to the Cornetto Trilogy starts out our top ten. This film is FUN from start to finish. Although not a box office smash hit The World’s End is the perfect example of what a summer blockbuster should be. Fun, touching, emotional, visually interesting, and well told. Wright and lead actor Simon Pegg took a lot of time and care with their script and together have crafted characters that are full developed and fascinating to watch. There is a surprising amount of depth to this picture, Wright and Pegg really found the perfect situation for their characters to learn, grown and thrive; everything on the screen happens for a reason which is far more than can be said about most summer films. Pegg stands out in this film; his performance is superb and finds the heart and honesty in this crazy sci-fi world. The World’s End is a good time, with crazy good fight chorography, cinematography, and all the spectacle you could ask for, it’s also the most mature film of the entire trilogy. The World’s End is a simply a good time at the movies.

9. Fruitvale Station – First time director Ryan Coogler delivers a blast to your heart with Fruitvale Station. He tells the true story Oscar Grant and his fateful new year’s eve 2008 and allows the audience to feel and connect with this person, his family, and friends and why his life is the way that he is. An important film that speaks the continuing race relations and intolerance in America Fruitvale Station should be remembered and viewed for many years to come. Michael B. Jordan breaks out in this role, he’s not showy, he is perfectly playing a modern day everyman and has carved a well-deserved career out with this role.

8. 12 Years a Slave – A brutal yet brilliant film that shows American slavery in a way that we’ve never seen it before. Driven by director Steve McQueen’s stunning visuals, pacing and tone 12 Years a Slave is a powerhouse of a film. The entire cast delivers stunning performances and is never afraid to give there all in every moment. The only drawback to the film is that I never want to watch it again, that’s how brutal this film is. 12 Years a Slave is an important and great film.

7. Frozen – Frozen is Disney Animation Studios at their finest. Going back to their 90s roots creating a Broadway style musical pays off big time as Frozen is destined to become a Disney classic. Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel) lead this wonderful cast of characters and takes you on a wonderfully amazing and breath taking journey. One of the most beautifully animated films of all time also works on every level as a film.

6. Philomena – A film that came out of nowhere to take the world by storm, staring Steve Coogan and Judi Dench Philomena is a sweet and charming film that will knock you on for a loop when the film finally gets to the heart of the matter. Director Stephen Frears skillful balances comedy and drama with this film and earns every moment in the film. This true story is moving at every turn and a pure joy to watch.

5. Her – This is a film that actually has something to say about the time that we live in. Spike Jonze’s Her asks real questions about our society, questions about where we are now and where we are going and I dares to ask them in a way that we can understand. Her is visually stunning, with some of the most meticulous and amazing production design, the best original screenplay of the year and some of the most best and most proactive acting directing of the year. Her is an amazing love story that will forever be etched into my mind.

4. Gravity – The biggest spectacle of the year is one of the best films of the year. An amazingly strong performance from Sandra Bullock is almost dwarfed by the size and scope of Gravity. Director Alfonso Cuaron breaks all kinds of ground with his latest film achievement, creating new technology for film, using existing technology in new ways, and creating a completely immersive experience. But what Cuaron does is not forget that he’s making a film, and a film has to have a story, which is what makes Gravity stand above other Hollywood blockbusters.

3. The Spectacular Now – Possibly the most overlooked film of the year, is a moving, emotional and honest tale of a broken teenager Sutter (Miles Teller) trying to figure out his place in the world and struggling to understand who he is. With amazing performances by the entire supporting cast and some of the best color saturation and cinematography of the year The Spectacular Now is one of the best films of this or any year. What makes this stand out from other coming of age films is its commitment to honest portrayals of teenagers, these are not stereotypes they are full on characters who happen to be teens. The Spectacular Now is simply spectacular

2. Nebraska – A beautifully shot, hauntingly soulful, and familiarly awkward trip through the mid-west in the more then capable hands of Alexander Payne, Nebraska is a moving tribute to fathers and sons and family in general. Amazing performances, great direction, and bold choices in filming and production all around; Nebraska is a film that calls to be seen and deserves all the praise that is thrust upon it.

1. Inside Llewyn Davis – I know when I saw the trailer that I was going to love the new Coen Brothers film, but I didn’t expect to it to move me in the way that it did. Inside Llewyn Davis is the best film of the year. It’s brilliantly put together from editing to sound design and soundtrack, from cinematography to costumes, from writing and directing to every moment of every actor on screen, this film is simply flawless. A gripping and moving tale of Llewyn’s struggle with his life and all the surrounding elements that are forcing him to question his entire life, played to perfection by Oscar Isaac. For many reason Inside Llewyn Davis is the hands down the best film of the year.

Complete List of 2013 films I’ve seen, in chronological order. If the film has an * by then I saw it at home not in a theater.

Gangster Squad

Movie 43

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters

Warm Bodies

The Last Stand

Identity Thief

Side Effects

Beautiful Creatures

21 & Over

Jack The Giant Slayer

A Good Day to Die Hard

Snitch

Phantom

Escape From Planet Earth

Quartet

Dead Man Down

The Great and Powerful Oz

The Amazing Burt Wonderstone

Admission

Tyler Perry's Temptation

Olympus Has Fallen

The Croods

G.I. Joe: Retaliation

Spring Breakers

42: The Story an American Legend

The Host

Evil Dead

The Place Beyond The Pines

Oblivion

The Company You Keep

Iron Man 3

Mud

The Great Gatsby

Peeples

Star Trek Into Darkness

Epic

The Iceman

Now You See Me

After Earth

Fast and Furious 6

The Sapphires

Drinking Buddies

This Is The End

Man of Steel

The Internship

World War Z

Monsters University

The Purge

Much Ado About Nothing

The Heat

The Lone Ranger

Despicable Me 2

Pacific Rim

Grown Ups 2

The Wolverine

The Conjuring

The Way Way Back

Turbo

Fruitvale Station

Let Me Explain: Kevin Hart

The To Do List

Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters

Elysium

We're The Millers

Lovelace

Kick-Ass 2

The World's End

The Butler

Planes

The Spectacular Now

Jobs

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

You're Next

Blue Jasmine

The Family

Prisoners

The Stories We Tell*

The Bling Ring*

The Kings of Summer*

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2

Don Jon

Rush

Runner, Runner

Gravity

Enough Said

Romeo & Juliet

Ghost Team One

Captain Phillips

Carrie

A.C.O.D

Machete Kills

Blue is the Warmest Color

All is Lost

We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks*

The Fifth Estate

The Counselor

Twelve Years A Slave

Ender's Game

Thor: The Dark World

About Time

Free Birds

Dallas Buyers Club

Last Vegas

Six by Sondheim

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

The Day of the Doctor

Frozen

Philomena

The Book Thief

Out of the Furnace

Nebraska

Delivery Man

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

American Hustle

Inside Llewyn Davis

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

The Wolf of Wall Street

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Saving Mr. Banks

Her

August: Osage County

Lone Survivor

The Armstrong Lie

The Wind Rises

In A World…*

Happy 2013 at the movies and a great 2014!! See you this year at the movies!!

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Oscar Day Part 2: The 10 Best Films of 2013!!

Oscar Day Part 1: The Heart and The Head