Best Pictures 2013

It only took about five months this year, starting with Gravity and ending with Philomena, but I have finally seen all nine of the best picture nominees of 2013. And it's time for my annual rundown of the "best" films of the year.

1. A pleasant surprise for me, Philomena was quite enjoyable. Following another trend of the Oscars this year the story was based in truth. It turned out to be a fun take on the road movie genre. I mean how can you go wrong following Judi Dench and Steve Coogan on a hunt for her adopted son. The characters were really entertaining (an extremely religious woman on a trip with an atheist? I'm sold.) The screenplay was wonderful. Obviously, since it was nominated for an Oscar. Overall this was a touching story that turned out to be much better than I expected. However, never has a movie made me dislike nuns more than this one.

2. Usually I'm a fan of "shaky cam" films, but something about Captain Phillips did not sit right with me. It might have been the fact that the shaky cam mixed with being on the ocean. But it also could have been the odd quick zooms with the shaky cam. It was all really overdone. I really think this might have been my least favorite of the nominees this year. simply because of the camera work. That and the fact that Captain Phillips' (played by Tom Hanks) wife was in one scene and then never again.  Another story based on true events the screenplay was well done, but I felt the whole film could have been better. However, the acting was great, especially Barkhad Abdi. He nailed his role perfectly. 

3. Another surprise for me, Nebraska grew on me throughout the film. With one of the best soundtracks I've heard in years (aside from Inside Llewyn Davis and American Hustle, what can I say it was a good year for music in movies), it really drove the story. Another road movie, I was entertained by each character. Though Bruce Dern as Woody Grant did get a little old and tired for me, he was great as the character of an aging alcoholic. Will Forte was better than I thought he would be, being an actor who plays generally unintelligent slapstick comedy roles. June Squibb played one of the best characters of the film.

4. Despite my initial reactions to Gravity and the various interpretations of what space is like, Gravity was outstanding. Story-wise, like many of the films this year, I felt that it was quite weak. I didn't care at all for either of the main characters. But from a filmmaking standpoint this film was incredible. The visual effects and the subtleties performed in the sound were perfection. Oftentimes sound in space films is poorly done. Clooney brings nothing new to the table (ever), but Sandra Bullock was as good as ever. Overall Gravity takes the viewer on a wild ride through space, unfortunately with lackluster characters.

5. Her is a testament to why the Academy needs to create an Oscar category for voice acting. Scarlett Johannson brings all the nuance, sexiness, and beauty from her acting and puts it all into her voice for this film. I was floored. The script is great and pulls you in for most of it, however the ending didn't really work for me. I appreciated the overall idea of making a commentary on our current society (everyone with their faces in their phones/tablets; always being connected). Joaquin Phoenix proves that his role in The Master was no fluke, even though this is a much more tame character.

6. Another 'based on a true story' story, this film proves that Requiem for a Dream wasn't the only thing Jared Leto could act in. Though again playing a character addicted to drugs, I didn't even recognize him when he first appeared on screen. This story of a renegade, homophobic, HIV positive, bull rider (Matthew McConaughey) packs a dramatic punch. He's not the most likable protagonist, but he grows on you. Overall though Dallas Buyers Club didn't impress as much as it could have. The acting was incredible. If Leto doesn't get the best supporting actor something is wrong.

7. Leonardo DiCaprio plus Martin Scorsese usually means an outstanding movie. That is not the case with Wolf of Wall Street. It honestly felt like I saw The Great Gatsby all over again, but set in more modern times instead of the 20s. Drugs, parties, and an overly exuberant host. DiCaprio plays Jordan Belfort, a penny stockbroker who scams his way through life. It's a character that gets old very quickly. And, contrary to Dallas Buyers Club where drugs are portrayed more negatively, almost every drug done in this film is shown to be wonderful and make whoever takes them more functioning than when they are sober. At a running time of three hours it could have been so much more than watching people take drugs and scam people. After an hour I thought it was over, but then more useless parties and drugs happened. Even the opposition was almost non-exisistent. It certainly seemed that Belfort could do no wrong. Scorsese is usually known for his ability to show corruption in a dark and exciting way, but trying to bring that world into the daylight did not do him any favors. In my opinion this is his worst picture. That's not to say it was awful, but it wasn't up to his standards.

8. David O. Russell most recently known for Silver Linings Playbook teamed up with the same actors from SLP (Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and Robert DeNiro) and from The Fighter (Christian Bale and Amy Adams). The story overall was nothing new, but the various performances were spot on for the characters. It was a fun to go along for the ride, but like a disappointing final drop of a roller coaster the big reveal at the end was mediocre at best. Jennifer Lawrence brought the perfect amount of crazy to her character making her seem all too real. Her ability to play a character who is much older than her was impressive. Bale and Adams showed the same chemistry they had in The Fighter and it was a lot of fun to see them play off one another again. Cooper proved last year that he could act as something other than a pretty face and charming personality. He does again, here, but not with the same bravado he did in Silver Linings Playbook. While at times some scenes seemed to bring nothing to the table I hope upon multiple viewings this will change as it often does. The wardrobe and set design was incredible all around. Russell really transports the viewer into the world around these characters and that's what makes it fun to watch.

9. One of the most beautifully shot, acted, and made films of the year, 12 Years a Slave is my pick for best picture. The subject matter will always have gravitas, but Steve McQueen really drives it home in this film. Probably most well known for Children of Men Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Solomon Northup, a free man who is kidnapped and enslaved. The range of emotions Ejiofor goes through in this film is just incredible. And McQueen knew that. Instead of quick cuts between various camera angles he chose to lengthen his takes and force the audience to watch the pain and struggle on the character's faces. I couldn't look away even if I wanted to. It might feel like an affront to your eyes at times, but it works so well for this type of film. Michael Fassbender does what he does best and loses himself in the character. He becomes his character. The final performance that was perfect here was that of Lupita Nyong'o. The pain she shows in her face and in her voice is gut-wrenchingly beautiful. Covering every type of character from this time, 12 Years a Slave deserves every nomination and will hold up for years to come.