5 Best Movies of 2013 (So Far)
Aww July…the first full month of summer – or at least that’s what going to school all those years taught me. In the movie year, July marks the beginning of the end (of sorts) for tent-pole blockbusters. With this weekend’s Pacific Rim and The Wolverine later on, this year follows that trend. However, July 1st (or perhaps June 30th) marks the official halfway point of the year. While first half movies are usually not major awards contenders (fair or unfair), they still deserve to be recognized.
While some may focus their movie-watching efforts on the future, I’m here to highlight a few films from the past. Some of these movies could potentially show up on some end-of-the-year lists come December. Below are the five best movies from January 1st-June 30th.
As you can see, four of the five qualify as “limited” releases…suggesting it hasn’t been too great of a start for major studios.
[Please note some films I haven’t caught up with, including (but not limited to): Before Midnight, The East, Frances Ha, Kings of Summer, Stories We Tell, Warm Bodies, and What Maisie Knew]
Although I have big holes in my Alfred Hitchcock filmography, even I can see the parallels and possible winks and nods towards Hitchcock’s works in Park Chan-wook’s (Oldboy) Stoker. I personally see it most in Uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode), who feels a lot like Norman Bates in Psycho. Interestingly written by Wentworth Miller (yes, the Wentworth Miller that stars in Prison Break), Stoker is a dark-and-twisted psychological thriller that certainly isn’t a film for everyone. However, Chan-wook does a fabulous job directing the beautiful picture (yes, props to cinematographer Chung Chung-hoon) with great performances by lead actress Mia Wasikowska, as a troubled 18-year-old dealing with her father’s death, and the aforementioned Goode, who shines as the creepy uncle. Stoker works because of the tone, beauty, and darkness that should grip you from start to finish.
Derek Cianfrance caught a lot of people’s attention with 2010’s Blue Valentine. I still haven’t seen the film, so I got excited for this film based on Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper. The two actors are both red-hot right now, but somehow star in a limited release crime drama? It doesn’t make a lot of sense. Then I saw The Place Beyond the Pines and could understand why. Cianfrance (who co-wrote the story with Ben Coccio and Darius Marder) presented a very segmented story showing how four main characters develop around one major event. Starting with Luke (Gosling), a stuntman looking for money, and ending with Jason, his emotionally-scarred son, Pines definitely takes a unique approach to storytelling. I tend to side with movies that have a whole lot of ambition because I feel too many Hollywood productions aren’t ambitious enough. Therefore, The Place Beyond the Pines is a winner you should take a chance on.
[You can read Sandrine’s full review here]
Perhaps the least known of the bunch, Sally El Hosaini’s debut My Brother the Devil is a one-of-a-kind drama that doesn’t appear that way on the surface. Following two Egyptian immigrant brothers in London, My Brother the Devil explores gang life in London, the inherent family bond between siblings, and so much more that I don’t want to give away. El Hosaini makes her mark as an up-and-coming director, but James Floyd also shines as one of the brothers. Although I ultimately think this will be passed up by the majority of people, I can’t champion this movie enough as one of the biggest surprises of the year.
[You can read my full review here]
From the most unknown to the most well-known, J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek Into Darkness is the only blockbuster to fully (emphasis on fully) live up to its potential so far. In my opinion, Into Darkness even outdoes its predecessor Star Trek. It continues to test the relationship between Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) and Commander Spock (Zachary Quinto) while adding in a formidable villain (Benedict Cumberbatch). I still won’t ruin who exactly Cumberbatch plays – even if you should’ve seen it by now – but I’ll still commend his versatility as a villain. He is a physical and mental foe while battling between good and evil. Cumberbatch continues his hot streak and Abrams continues to show show great he is with visuals and science fiction. Most importantly, Star Trek Into Darkness refuses to be just another genre film – it’s much better than that.
[You can read my full review here]
Coming-of-age stories, when you boil them down, all seem the same. The main character, usually a younger person, has significant growth from the beginning to the end. Normally, they learn something and mature, making them a better person. However, a good coming-of-age story can overcome the clichés and predictability to be entertaining, interesting, and, in the case of Jeff Nichols’ (Take Shelter) Mud, charming. Following a young Arkansas teenager named Ellis (Tye Sheridan) that meets a mysterious outlaw named Mud (Matthew McConaughey), the story taps into the characters, themes, and setting all at once. Mud has more to say about love than practically any other movie I’ve seen, and it’s done through the eyes of rugged teenager. It explores all types of love – from romance to friendship and family – and it’s put together by an extraordinary script (by Nichols) and beautiful cinematography. I’m not alone on this either with Mud standing as one of the most universally acclaimed movies of the year.
[You can read my full review here]
In closing, I’d feel bad not bringing up the honorable mentions. The “last one out” goes to A Hijacking and the rest (in alphabetical order) of the honorable mentions are: Iron Man 3, It’s A Disaster, Oblivion, The Sapphires, Side Effects, The Sweeney, and This is the End.
Which movies did I miss? Chime in below!
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