The Best Movies of 2013

2013 was a year blessed by the movie gods, where one film after another defined and redefined the boundaries of quality filmmaking and storytelling.  Now that the stardust has settled on the Oscars, I have compiled a list of my top 20 films of 2013.  Some of these films are less known and went unrecognized by the predominantly Caucasian male voters of the Academy, but I believe that as passionate moviegoers in the social media era, it is incumbent on us to spread the word.  Here are my top movies of 2013, along with some brief comments:

The Best Movies of the Year

1. Short Term 12 (USA): It was almost criminal that this powerful indie drama was not recognized by the Oscar voters. This gem features a starmaking lead performance from newcomer Brie Larson, and scenes that will both wring and inspire your emotions.  In my humble opinion, the best film of the year.   

2. Her (USA): An eerily visionary satire of our contemporary age and the inseparable relationships we have with machines.  The movie’s novel concept is set in the near future but strikes at one of the most fundamental and prehistoric chords of being: our insatiable desire to connect with others on a spiritual and emotional level.      

3. The Past (France/Iran): An intricately written, complex exploration of human relationships that plays out like a Sherlock Holmes mystery.  This French-language (with bits in Persian) tale was more thrilling and heart-pounding than any mega budget movie of the year, proving again that Iranian director Asghar Farhadi is a director to be reckoned with.

4. Before Midnight (USA): I don’t think any other film have explored romantic relationships with as much dedication as Richard Linklater’s “Before” series.  The thornier aspects of a long-term relationship are at full display here, conveyed by two masterful actors through dialogue packed with such emotional wallop you feel like you are seeing two expert fencers engaged in a piercing swordplay of words.          

5. Blue Jasmine (USA): Another sublime dark comedy of upper-middle-class America from the legendary Woody Allen, Blue Jasmine’s screenplay shines with signature Allen-esque humor and features Cate Blanchett in a career-defining performance as an unlikeable freeloader who nevertheless arouses understanding and sympathy.    

6. 12 Years a Slave (USA): One of the most important films I’ve seen, a motion picture that explores one of the most savage chapters in American history.  This masterpiece’s Best Picture Oscar is well-deserved, containing haunting shots that are perfectly composed by the masterful director Steve McQueen.     

7. The Hunt (Denmark): This Danish film’s simple story belies the complex emotions and themes simmering underneath.  The devastating story and Mads Mikkelsen’s emotionally wrenching performance (winner of a Best Actor award at Cannes) combine to make this a must-see.      

8. Wadjda (Saudi Arabia): A remarkable film that should be noted not just for the landmark circumstances surrounding its making (the first movie by a female director in Saudi Arabia), but also its deceptively simple story of youthful courage and perseverance in the face of adversity that carries an appeal as universal as that shiny bike you’ve always wanted to buy from your local toy store .    

9. Omar (Palestine): A film from a region of the world with a nascent film industry that is too often overlooked, this intelligent political thriller explores the tensions and human cost of the Israel-Palestine conflict with deft and insight.  The impossible dilemmas faced by the film’s characters bespeak the ugly nature and corruptive effects of this longstanding conflict.       

10. Blue is the Warmest Color (France): A character-driven, nearly plotless 3 hour ode to first love that anyone can identify with.  The two leads’ heartbreaking performances are simply put, extraordinary.   

11. The Great Beauty (Italy): A Fellini-esque poem to the absurdities of life and lost love, this bittersweet tale of an aging writer with a serious lack of inspiration deservedly won the Best Foreign Language Oscar.       

12. Inside Llewyn Davis (USA): This story of a folk singer struggling to make it big is no inspirational tale of perseverance against all odds.  Rather it bears all the signature marks of the Coen Brothers: dark humor, borderline nihilism and a nostalgic tribute to the essence of Americana.  This ranks along Fargo and No Country for Old Men as one of the Coen Brothers’ best, with a fanstatic lead performance from Oscar Isaac.    

13. Gravity (USA): An edge of your seat, innovative film with a tour-de-force performance from Sandra Bullock.  Gravity is a movie that pushed the boundaries of what is possible in cinema, and proved that 3D technology, when done right, can create wonders that enhances the cinematic experience instead of languishing as a distracting gimmick for cheap thrills.  

14. Captain Philips (USA): This documentary-like, straight out of the headlines film explores the true story of the 2009 Maersk Alabama pirate hijacking and the forces of globalization that shaped it from the points of view of both the titular captain and the increasingly desperate Somali pirates.  Another stellar performance from Tom Hanks, but it is newcomer Barkhad Abdi’s performance, as the leader of the hapless pirates, that is a true revelation.        

15. The Grandmaster (HK/China): An elegiac, soulful meditation on a bygone era and the philosophical foundations of martial arts from the great Wong Kar Wai.  This film boasts some of the best cinematography ever put on film (especially a climactic fight sequence at a train station).  Although it feels clunky at times, it may be due in part to the extensive editing done to the original four hour cut.  Eagerly looking forward to seeing this film in its full majesty.        

16. Enough Said (USA): You feel a lump in your throat when you watch the late James Gandolfini give one of the best performances of the year as the sweet but lonely Albert trying to get back in the game of love after a messy divorce.  The delightful script and chemistry between Gandolfini and Julia Louis Dreyfus makes this one of the year’s best.     

17. All is Lost (USA): It will forever be a mystery why Robert Redford did not receive a Best Actor nomination for his fearless one man show as a yacht-owner adrift at sea.  With barely any dialogue, it is amazing how Redford holds your attention and conveys a whole sea of emotions through scowls, deep breaths and the occassional F-bomb.     

18. Fruitvale Station (USA): A painful account of racial stereotyping that still exists in Obama-era America.  Although we all know how this ends, it is the gnawing feeling that gets you as you watch the ill-fated Oscar Grant spend his last day and wonder how his senseless death could have been avoided if just one event turned out differently.             

19. Philomena (UK): This touching ‘road trip’ movie about a woman’s search for her long-lost son is veteran actress Judi Dench at her best.  Together with a strong performance from comedian Steve Coogan and a poignant script, Philomena delves into controversial issues about AIDS and the Catholic Church that is especially relevant for our times.              

20. Drug War (HK/China): An intense police procedural from the hands of maestro Johnnie To.  The cat and mouse chase, both literal and psychological, between cop and criminal will leave you breathless.  This film has sequences of nailbiting tension that serve as a testament to To’s mastery of storytelling technique.

The Best Blockbusters of the Year

Fast and Furious 6 (USA): Preposterous, loud and featuring scenes that throw dirt in the face of Newtonian physics, this was the most delirious fun I had at the movies in years.  This blockbuster was leagues above the trash that was Man of Steel and The Lone Ranger.  It is so sad to think that Fast and Furious 7 will be Paul Walker’s swan song at the movies.  

Finding Mr. Right or 北京遇上西雅图 (China): The beautiful and talented Tang Wei proves yet again that she is a star.  This lovely, fish-out-of-the-water romantic comedy rests on the shoulders of her charming performance as the principled but immature Wen Jiajia, a young woman forced to make difficult decisions and grows as a person in the process.