My 5 Favorite Movies of 2013

5.Captain Phillips- At first glance one might assume Captain Phillips to be incredibly racist. After all, it’s a film about working class Americans- mostly white- being attacked by underprivileged Somalis. In truth, it weaves a far more sympathetic story towards them than you might expect. Seeing that the four man pirate crew gets more screen time than anyone, other than Captain Phillips, a good portion of the film is spent trying to understand their motives. They didn’t take to the high seas after seeing Johnny Depp prance about in Pirates of the Caribbean. And it’s not even about money for money’s sake.

On the acting front, it’s stellar performances all around. Tom Hanks is unsurprisingly good at lead, but the real star is Barkhad Abdi- the pirate leader- Muse. Despite the lack of any prior acting experience, the Somali native gives one of the most memorable displays in recent memory as the main antagonist.

Even though the ending is rather clear from the get-go, it’s the intensity of every moment which matters. There’s rarely a second to breath as the cat and mouse game between the container ship crew and the pirates unfolds.

I love entertainment which challenges our preconceptions. It’s easy to say Somali pirates are all terrible people. Captain Phillips has no notion to disagree with the idea of what they're doing is wrong. However, these situations are never clear cut and it’s important to understand the true motives behind any action.

While a thriller at heart, there’s certainly not a lack of purpose.

4.The Wolf of Wall Street- Over the top is an apt descriptor of Martin Scorsese’s dramedy on corrupt stockbroker, Jordan Belfort. The lavish lifestyle led by DiCaprio and crew is both a tempting fantasy and an abhorrent abuse of power. It’s a cautionary tale against Wall Street. Beneficial isn’t out of the question, but it can and will undoubtedly be taken advantage of by those in power. We aren’t meant to understand the how, but to fear the who.

As I mentioned in my I Watch Things Too piece, that’s a rather poignant message.

There are more than a few surprises to speak of too. Not in the sense of big twists, but firstly within the comedy. These aren’t the type of laughs you’ll find in your standard comedy. It’s more about the taking in of the outrageously perverse and laughing it off. Average Joe, the audience, is looking in on the 1% in disbelief, but cracking up the whole way.

The second surprise is Jonah Hill. Moneyball saw his rise to the serious role but as Belfort’s best friend, Donnie Azof, he’s able to combine a new style of comedy to his repertoire and some serious acting chops. Whenever he and DiCaprio are on screen there’s a synergy which makes the very lengthy film feel entirely worthwhile.

Not every scene is needed, but few get in the way of the viewer’s enjoyment. While the big screen may not be ideal, especially if your theater is as bad as mine, I’m not sure there is a more widely encompassing and accessible piece of Oscar-bait this year.

3. Pacific Rim- This is probably the most surprising of the bunch. While every other film on this list was Oscar-bait from the day it was born, Pacific Rim is the complete opposite and I love every minute. It’s the unfortunate summer-blockbuster that never got the mainstream attention it deserved.

Director Guillermo del Toro is known for his creativity, see Pan’s Labyrinth, and despite Pacific Rim’s clear inspirations, there’s an undeniably unique style. It’s bombastic skyscraper sized robot action, but not completely mindless like Transformers. It’s mechs versus kaiju, but not Evangelion. It’s something both familiar and new.

While you’ll come and stay for superbly captured action, there’s some incredible world-building at work. From how the mechs are piloted by two humans forming a literal mental bond, to the Ron Perlman ran black market selling kaiju remains, it’s an atypical summer smash.

The occasional machismo may initially turn some off, though I feel it’s rather fitting, but again Pacific Rim remakes the mold. Opposite -and equal- to Charlie Hunnam is Rinko Kikuchi who’s Mako Mori becomes the most intriguing character of all.

Pacific Rim may not be making an appearance at the Oscars, though the visual effects outclassed several of the nominees, but don’t discredited it. It set out to bring the best of so many worlds to Hollywood and it did so with exceptional results.

2. 12 Years a Slave- Slavery in America is no stranger to Hollywood or entertainment in general, so it can be rather difficult to tread old ground with fresh eyes. Considering 12 Years a Slave is on this list, it’s safe to assume director Steve McQueen found a way.

To some extent, the basic structure of film making is bypassed in the interest of storytelling. There’s no standard formula strictly adhered to. No, 12 Years a Slave wants to tell you the true story of Solomon Northup, a freeman kidnapped and sold into slavery. It’s strange to have a lack of concise direction yet still be 100% engaging. There’s not much build-up. It’s a series of events getting by on being so incredibly well done on every front that you don’t really care where it’s going, you just want to be there for whatever happens next. Many scenes are lengthy and more than a few shots are held for an extensive period. In this, the moments most integral are captured with crippling efficiency.  

Through music fitting of Saw- and distinguished cinematography- the more horrific scenes become iconic. Every one of Solomon’s emotions resonate like the bite of a great white shark. Mentally draining doesn't even begin to describe it.

At no point in did I sit and say “well that could have been handled a lot better.” Which- trust me- is extremely rare. Of course there are flaws, like some hushed or easily misconstrued dialogue, but when measured up to the all-around excellence they shrivel up and die. 12 Years a Slave can be brutal but my, oh my is it worth every bit of pain.

1. Her- Nothing on this list is more timely and creative than Her: the story of a man who falls in love with an A.I. Yes, anime fans; we may be familiar with A.I. relationships, but American cinema isn’t.

Acceptance is often at the forefront. Despite being an even more tech-happy culture, Her’s near future setting isn’t so alien that the idea of a relationship between a human and a “computer” isn’t taboo. Though initially the world-building doesn't support that clearly enough; one of the few flaws. Theodore’s, the protagonist, confliction and how it gives way to arguments between him and his A.I. girlfriend, Sam, is much more of an internal strife of morals and societal values. Heavy-handed struggles aren’t slapping you around. There’s a message, it’s conveyed, and that’s, that.

In fact, most aspects swear the oath of subtly. Visually L.A. isn’t strikingly different, but nevertheless its one setting you’ll surely be enamored with. It isn’t far-fetched, but at the same time it’s just enough more technologically advanced than we are that you get that “when do we get flying cars,” feeling.

What sets Her apart from the rest is individuality. From the plot, characters, and all the way to its presentation, there’s an air of something much of the western audience may be familiar with. Her is a romance through-and-through, but not in cheesy and overdone way. It’s genuine, meaningful, and timely. For that, it deserves to be my favorite movie of 2013.

Honorable Mentions

Steins;Gate: Fuka Ryoiki no Deja vu- An epilogue of sorts to the stellar anime, Steins;Gate. The ending is no shocker and it’s too short, but the journey is such an impassioned and satisfying experience for fans of the anime.

Gravity- An intense sci-fi thrill ride from start to finish. However you may feel about Sandra Bullock is inconsequential, this film is another top-notch production from Alfonso Cuaron.

The Wind Rises- I admit, I haven’t actually seen this one: much to my displeasure. It’s Hayao Miyazaki though, the king of anime movies and one of the best directors we’ve ever seen. It has to be good.