Here are my favorite films from 2013, and some reasons why each is so special.
In NO particular order....
HER-----Is is science fiction, or romance, or satire or social commentary. It's all these, and it feels so right for today's world. A lonely man falls in love with his computer operating system, and no one else seems to find it strange.
MUD---Matthew McConaughey steals the show as an on the run con man waiting for his girlfriend in a swamp, and he befriends (and educates) two pre teen boys in the ways of life.
PHILOMENA---Based on a true story, Judy Dench wonderfully plays an older woman searching for her son who was taken from her 50 years earlier by Irish Catholic nuns and adopted off to America.
This could be a spoiler film, with an Oscar for Dench who's never won a Best Actress award, and given the likability of the characters (Steve Cooghan wrote and co-stars as a pessimistic writer who's helping her find the son) this could walk off with the Best Picture award too, in a close race.
THE HOBBIT: DESOLATION OF SMAUG----Peter Jackson's skillful fantasy film seems to be taken for granted, but this one had the awesome special effects, suspenseful story and curious and likable characters to keep it just as iconic as LOTR.
YOU WILL BE MY SON------A smart melodrama from France, seen at SIFF and then briefly at a local art theatre, shows the dilemma an aging man has with his award winning winery. His close friend and manager is dying of cancer, and his enthusiastic son doesn't have the skills to take over his reigns, he feels. He turns to his manager's son, causing a lot of tension and throwing the winery into chaos. It's an epic tragedy, laced with romance and comedy.
AMERICAN HUSTLE----Director David O. Russell's skillful, amusing juggling of a dozen well defined characters who live on the edge of respectability--all involved in the ABSCAM scandal from the 1970's. Especially enjoyable is the MUSIC, the COSTUMES, the HAIR DOs, the ART DIRECTION and the ENERGY.
THE WOLF OF WALL STREET----I didn't think I'd like the vulgarity and the politics of the greedy folks on Wall Street---we've certainly read about and lived through the disgraceful greed that propels any such group. Here's a case of a very energetic, entertaining TRAIN WRECK--horrible in it's morals and excesses, but it's hard to ignore. Some scenes of drunken debauchery seem too long, but I didn't mind, especially because the impish devil Leo DiCaprio was featured in most of them.
BLUE JASMINE---Here's a fine Woody Allen film, smart, intelligent, funny, curious, moving. And leading the charge is a fascinating performance by Cate Blanchet. It's one of those characters that keep you on your toes, and you can't take your eyes off her. She plays a high class but scorned, duped wife who must move in with her lower class sister when her husband dies, leaving her penniless. As her mind begins to unwind, her world begins to spin with lies and dreams. It's a frightening experience detailing mental illness and the war of the classes. If the resent resurgence of the Allen scandal from over a decade ago keeps Cate from winning the Oscar, that would be a pity. That leaves the opening to Dench.
GRAVITY---A short, beautifully made dream like film that has you floating in horrifying space--it's short on dialogue and plot, but it is the most unique looking film of the year.
ENDER'S GAME----This science fiction story of a young teen recruited to become a great general in a war of the worlds had me intrigued at every turn, and the ending, for me, was especially devastating. Themes of betrayal, deceit, suspense and great moral dilemmas left me wanting to cry.
Lee Daniel's THE BUTLER----This ambitious film takes place over 50 years and puts historical events into the timeline of an African American man who worked for eight presidents starting from Eisenhower. He becomes somewhat of a passive witness to the workings of the Civil Rights Movement, and we watch how these events change him, his wife and his family and friends over the course of the years. The film has some faults and missed opportunities, but it has a cumulative power and a strong sense of creating time and place. The costumes, make up, music and fine actors really make this an involving, emotional film.
STORIES WE TELL---We think we are watching a documentary about the life of the Canadian film maker Sarah Polley and her family and a big family mystery, but along the way there are surprises, announcements, twists and reversals that start to challenge everything we've seen. It's astonishingly unique.
A BAND CALLED DEATH---A smart, funny, self-deprecating documentary about a group of black men in the 1970's Detroit who start a rock band, produce an album, and then get discovered 30 years later. It's this year's LOOKING FOR SUGARMAN, and I loved it.
AFTER TILLER---Sad, illuminating, balanced documentary of the life, murder and aftermath of a doctor who preformed late term abortions.
DALLAS BUYERS CLUB----Bookended by two incredible performances, this story of a homophobic who develops AIDS in 1985 and ends up smuggling drugs in from other countries to help fight the disease for himself and others when the US government will hardly pay any attention to the epidemic, is fascinating. Matthew McConaughy ought to win the Oscar for his trans formative role, and his transgendered assistant played by Jared Leto will most likely win the supporting Oscar.
HERE ARE SOME OTHER EQUALLY STRONG FILMS-----
AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY---Dynamite cast including another wonderful turn by Meryl Streep and some very black comedy and pithy dialogue had me laughing at this lurid family drama.
12 YEARS A SLAVE---I admired the film and many strong scenes, but I don't ever want to see it again. It made me cringe.
NEBRASKA---An understated black and white comedy that strikes all the right notes in dialogue and performance by all concerned.
HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE---Similar to but in ways better than the first one, this film has me very intrigued by the forthcoming third installment.
THE CONJURING----Best haunted house film of the year.
ABOUT TIME---Appealing mixture of sentiment, romance, and drama, with pinch of fantasy, about a father and son who can transport themselves back in time to fix a bad situation when it comes to love.
BEST MAN HOLIDAY---A surprisingly moving comedy drama about a group of friends who meet a dozen years after graduation and find they have some issues to deal with.
FRUITVILLE STATION---A black man is murdered at a subway stop by a security guard--the film back tracks to show his final 24 hours. A moving exploration of family, love and racism. Based on a true story.
CAPTAIN PHILLIPS--Another true story with Tom Hanks in a splendid leading role as a Captain whose freighter ship is boarded by Somali pirates who threaten his crew while seeking money.
THE HUNT---Intense Danish film based on true story, about an innocent man whose life is destroyed by a false accusation of abuse by a six year old girl.
WHAT MAISIE KNEW----A six year old is shuffled between her uncaring and divorcing mother and father, finding comfort in various child sitters.
FRANCES HA---She's out of college, but having trouble growing up.
STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS---It's exciting and suspenseful and fun.
STILL MINE---Elderly couple try to cope with aging issues while trying to retain their independence.
ALL IS LOST---Nearly silent film about man (sterling Robert Redford) trying to keep from drowning in a damaged sailboat in the middle of the ocean. There is a superb surreal ending.
42---Well done film biography of Jackie Robinson, first black baseball player to play in the majors.
FILMS I REALLY DISLIKED-------RUNNER RUNNER, WOLVERINE, WORLD WAR Z, IDENTITY THIEF, CRYSTAL FAIRY
OSCAR PREDICTIONS
I'd like Matthew and Jared to win the OSCAR for DALLAS BUYERS CLUB, Cate to win for BLUE JASMINE, and Jennifer Lawrence to win for AMERICAN HUSTLE, and they all seem to be the leaders, although Dench for PHILOMENA might surprise in lead actress category and Lupita Nyong'o may sneak in for the supporting actress category. I feel certain that Director Alfonzo Cuaron will win for GRAVITY.
The writing categories are more difficult to predict---I'd go for HER (Original Screenplay) and 12 YEARS A SLAVE (Adapted Screenplay) with AMERICAN HUSTLE and PHILOMENA as 2nd choices. GRAVITY should recieve most of the technical awards.
With nine choices for best picture, it's going to be close race. I'd like to see AMERICAN HUSTLE or PHILOMENA or GRAVITY take the top award, but this year they are ALL worthy. What can be better than that?
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