As always, we've had a mixed bag in the cinema this year. Reboots, prequels, sequels, spin-offs and yes, the rare beast that is the original movie. We've had great sci-fi, comedy and drama entries, as well as a cluster of solid releases from the animated and horror markets. We've had flops, obvious successes and surprise hits. Stars have emerged, records have been broken and heartstrings pulled. Here's some of my favourites from 2013:
Captain Phillips
Captains Phillips manages to tell a horrifying true story without adding a truly happy ending; something which seems so rare these days (it's for a similar reason that I loved Zero Dark Thirty so much last year too). For a film so devoid of happiness, I felt thrilled when I emerged from the theatre, slightly groggy and exhausted, because I knew I'd just witnessed a miraculous piece of cinema, bolstered of course by Tom Hanks's winning performance (I'm rooting for him at the Oscars in March).
If you haven't seen this, Paul Greengrass's latest, then I implore you to buy the DVD when it hits shelves in February - the cast is pitch-perfect, featuring familiar faces and even some unknowns delivering surprising dramatic heft. The real-life story is sensational, it's beautifully filmed and it is (in my humble opinion) more tense than Gravity; even if it's not a technical marvel. Without a doubt, Captain Phillips is my favourite film of the year.
Gravity
I know, the boring, obvious choice, but how can it be ignored? Gravity packs an almighty wallop to cinema-goers. With only two main cast members (and a small handful of voice performances), it leaves the audiences stranded in space with Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock) and Matt Kowalski (Clooney). I expect most of you have seen the film billed as "the cinema event of the year" which blends Avatar-style 3D visuals, two fine lead performances and the tension levels of a terrific, old, Hitchcock classic.
We all know that the film's best selling point is its visuals (Emmanuel Lubezki pulled off some blinding cinematography there), but the screenplay belongs in a much lesser film. This shouldn't completely detract from the wonderful performance from the equally lovely Sandra Bullock nor Alfonso Cuarón's directorial talent. It's surely amongst the favourites to win big at the Oscars this year and I can see why.
The World's End
Moving on to something of a significantly lighter tone now, the final instalment in Edgar Wright's hilarious Three Cornettos Trilogy is my personal favourite; with typically funny lead performances from Simon Pegg and Nick Frost and highly stylised direction - it manages to mock two different genres at once, with a sublime sense of insanity.
The whole film is interspersed with a lot more emotional depth than you'd expect, something missing from the first two films. It gives the talented cast a chance to show off some comedic prowess as well as something a bit deeper. This usually fails in comedies (see We're the Millers, Bruce Almighty, etc.) but the strength of the tremendous cast carry it through. It's been dismissed as slightly ridiculous by some, but that, for me, is very much the point. It's not taking itself seriously and it doesn't want us to do so neither.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
The most pleasant surprise of the year, Catching Fire saw Jennifer Lawrence and co. return to Panem, with a darker, bolder and more gripping instalment of the franchise. It turned out to be one of those bizarre experiences where I enjoyed myself far more than I imagined I would. I liked the first film, but this one took it to new levels (this isn't coming from a dedicated fan of the books either).
The stakes seemed higher, with a stronger emotional bond between us and the characters, which could easily be attributed to the consistently superb Jennifer Lawrence and the new characters, specifically Jena Malone's Johanna and Sam Claflin's Finnick. The action is gripping and the dystopian world is filled out a lot more this time. It's become a richer franchise than any of us imagined, not just a series of fluffy teen romances with action slotted inbetween.
Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa
Some of you may not have heard of this small British film, based on the hit BBC sitcom of the same name (which is getting a small release in the US next year - courtesy of Magnolia Pictures) but when I sat down to watch it in August, I had a brilliant time. It makes for simple viewing: it doesn't feature much depth, criticises society or feature any particularly intriguing characters, but, that said, the titular lead (portrayed hilariously by Steve Coogan) is as simultaneously endearing and repellent as ever, with a complete lack of forethought providing much of the humour. It's a very British affair (I'm not sure how some of the jokes would translate across the pond) but I encourage you to give it a look. The trailer doesn't do it justice, so if you're feeling wild take a trip to the theatre/buy the DVD when you can. I hope you enjoy its absurdity and quirkiness as much as I did. It's not setting the world on fire and is perhaps slightly below the quality of The World's End but it's a splendidly silly time at the movies.
Frozen
The only animated entry on this list, Frozen is a gleeful reminder of Disney's uncanny staying power, displaying accomplished visuals, affable characters and plenty of humour to boot.
Sure, there's been better Disney plots, but Frozen still packs a few twists towards the end and it's certainly not short of Disney spectacle. In a year with Epic, Turbo and Planes to "excite" audiences, we desperately needed something like this to give us a lift and this does, with the directors (Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee) giving us an easy-going, simple adventure with two amiable new Disney Princesses and another memorable treat in the form of Olaf the snowman. I'll say it, I never had my doubts about Olaf. He was never going to be a problem, in fact, he enhanced the story and provided most of the humour. Another gem to add to the Disney pantheon.
Saving Mr. Banks
Whilst it arguably has less dramatic heft than Gravity or Captain Phillips, Saving Mr. Banks is so effusive and affecting that it's worthy of a top ten place. I saw it in a cinema so wonderfully packed with Disney zealots, which I felt amplified my enjoyment of the film's subtle charm and pockets of wit.
Emma Thompson is marvellous as P.L. Travers, the author of Mary Poppins, alongside Tom Hanks's warm interpretation of Uncle Walt. It's no doubt that Thompson's performance is more effective, as her troubled childhood is played back to the viewer in several, increasingly wrenching, flashbacks, we begin to understand that there's a lot more to the cynical author than we first thought. It's a film which I expected to be very two-dimensional, little more than Disney propaganda, but I was pleasantly surprised by the emotional edge it had, even if it was a little fluffy at times.
Enough Said
An easy-going, droll look at mature relationships, Enough Said was a lovely, heartwarming swan song for James Gandolfini, as well as a showcase for both lead actors' comedic and dramatic talents. Both Gandolfini and Louis-Dreyfus are immensely talented and the two have a sweet kind of chemistry which is very hard to produce. Many rom-coms fail to have two leads that really connect, something which Enough Said does not lack in the slightest.
The film's effect is multiplied by Gandolfini's tragic death. Enough Said made me realise how talented he truly was; his character of Albert is vastly different to his most famous role, Tony Soprano. There's plenty of subtleties to both lead characters, reflecting the film's decision to stay very close to real life. This in itself brings an even stronger emotional pull to this lovely story.
Blue Jasmine
Further proof of Woody Allen's extraordinary talent, Blue Jasmine is a compelling, dramatic tale of a synthetic, spoilt divorcee (played by the tour de force that is Cate Blanchett) and how she copes badly with her marital troubles. The rest of the cast are also solid, with Sally Hawkins shining in particular.
Of course, Allen's brilliant screenplay is a key part of this, with the same comedic and dramatic edge that has infused his past successes. There's something incredibly Allen-esque about both the script and the memorable score; a sense of both whimsy and drama.
In my opinion, this is Allen's best for a long, long time as it showcases so many of his talents - his writing prowess, his talent as a character director as well as his ability to string together an absorbing story with memorable characters. Bravo, sir.
Note: many films classed as "2013 films" (including Inside Llewyn Davies, Dallas Buyers Club, The Wind Rises, etc.) haven't been released in the UK yet, but when I see them and if I like them, they're sure to get a spot on the above (or below) list. I'll be updating the article as I see them.
Near misses:
12 Years a Slave - an achingly true story with plenty of acting talent, I never really connected with Solomon Northup's harrowing story enough to merit it a place in the top ten, so it sits at number eleven.
Monsters University - although it was a solid entry in Pixar's famed canon, there were so many good movies this year that I've had to nudge it off the list. It was a difficult decision, as I loved the nostalgia and charm that MU had, but there was too much competition, sorry Pixar!
Now You See Me - an engaging, complex mainstream drama, let down by an incompetent director, who failed to tie up the plot threads well enough at the film's climax. It's flashy, high concept and filled with many great actors, making for an entertaining couple of hours.
Mud - a heartwarming film with the increasingly superb with Matthew McConaughey, Mud sits pretty at number 12.
World War Z - considering the stuff we heard about it during production, I went in with low expectations. I was rewarded with a thrilling, vast drama with a charismatic Brad Pitt at the lead, but it lacks the sophistication and complexity to make the top ten.
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues - a bizarre, fun-filled sequel with a great selection of stars, Anchorman was ultimately too hit-and-miss to really succeed.
Star Trek Into Darkness - a compelling sequel to J.J. Abrams's reboot, Into Darkness upped the ante for Kirk and co. but was ousted by heavy competition for a top ten spot this year.
Honourable Mentions:
- Roger Ebert - a tour de force of cinema, as well as being the only Pulitzer Prize winning critic, his influence on the world of cinema is much bigger than many believe and his loss is one that will be difficult to forget.
- Peter O'Toole - another brilliant man lost this year, whose starring role in Lawrence of Arabia propelled him to international fame. Besides being a talented actor, he was known for being a rather wild man, he once, hilariously, fell asleep in Paris and woke up in Corsica. What a man.
- Paul Walker - only 40 years old, Paul Walker died in a car crash this year. Known best for his role in the enduringly popular Fast & Furious movies, there was an outpouring of grief around the world for his tragic loss.
- Hayao Miyazaki - a gem of cinema who's relatively unknown outside of the community of dedicated film fans, the famous director from Studio Ghibli retires this year and we wish him all the best.
- The Minions - those silly, plump, little yellow blobs have captured the hearts of millions; earning Despicable Me 2 over $910,000,000 worldwide. I look forward to seeing more of them in Minions, slated for a 2015 (like everything else) release.
- J.J. Abrams - the man came into his element this year, notching another success to his belt with Star Trek Into Darkness and becoming director of the next Star Wars film, due out winter 2015.
- Jennifer Lawrence - she continues to rise even higher this year, giving an even more committed performance in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire than seen in last year's installment and another marvellous turn in American Hustle under David O. Russell. Oh, and she won an Oscar too. She's going to be one of those actresses still famous in fifty years.
- Benedict Cumberbatch - he's had quite a year too. First pulling off a relentlessly brutal performance as Khan in Star Trek Into Darkness, then he was the lone bright spot in the otherwise mediocre The Fifth Estate as Julian Assange and not to mention his performance as Smaug the Terrible in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug as well as his supporting role in 12 Years a Slave.
- Matthew McConaughey - appearing in Mud, Dallas Buyers Club and The Wolf of Wall Street, he's become a force to be reckoned with. Certainly a far cry from the man who starred in The Wedding Planner. He's also appearing in Christopher Nolan's anticipated Interstellar next year, let's hope he continues this fine form.
- Sandra Bullock - she's become Hollywood's most bankable actress thanks to the commerical success of The Heat and Gravity, she's got another big film coming up in the form Minions in 2015 and she's finally ditched the glut of bad films she's starred in recently (Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous and The Proposal serve as the prime examples). It's good to see, as she's a great actress, worthy of at least a nomination at the next Oscars.
- Ben Affleck - yeah, I know, the guy who starred in the useless Pearl Harbour now has a mantle-piece lined with prestigious awards. He won the Best Picture Oscar (along with a plethora of others, although notably not a Best Director Oscar) in February and you might have heard that he was announced as the new Batman?
What I want to win: Captain Phillips - just an extremely tense, engrossing thriller, with Tom Hanks giving (for me) the performance of his career.
Who I want to win: Now Greengrass is gone, probably Cuarón. He did an incredible job with such an ambitious project and has a lot of momentum in his favour. Russell would be my second.
Who I want to win: Tom Hanks. Who needs a nomination anyway?
Who I want to win: Probably Adams (the only nominee who hasn't won previously) but if Thompson was there, it would be here - in all her heel throwing glory.
Who I want to win: Leto, through and through. He's a very dedicated actor and he thoroughly deserves it.
Who I want to win: I'd love to see Roberts win, or Hawkins, both of whom have been overshadowed by their co-stars Streep and Blanchett.
What I want to win: Frozen - a lively, funny updated on a Hans Christen Andersen, Frozen was both poignant and entertaining, with rave reviews and an overwhelming take at the box office. What's not to like?
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