Top 10 Films of 2013

Too many great films in 2013 and my top 10 won't even suffice the brilliance of all of them but this is my personal top 10 and I'm pretty sure it's way different than the general consensus. Although judging my top 10, I feel like it's an exclusive group of heart tugging films. Oh well... I guess I'm just fond of sugars.

10. Saving Mr. Banks

It's kind of awesome how the influence of an acting performance and a musical background can make me LOVE a not so technically extravagant film. The combination of Emma Thompson's lovable performance matching with Thomas Newman's pleasing to the ears score nailed Saving Mr. Banks in my top 10 film ranking. In a year with so many high quality films, Saving Mr. Banks pales in comparison to most of them. But what it has that others don't is Emma Thompson's antics and irresistible presence.

9. Crystal Fairy

It's too slight said by most critics. But I actually like this film because of its deep sentimentality. The characters Jamie and Crystal Fairy are so different from each other but what they share together are their imperfections that provide something viewers can relate to. This film offers you to LAUGH your ass off with Jamie's friends and Crystal Fairy's shenanigans but it also leads you to the obscurity behind their outrageous characters. It reminds you of people easing their way out of loneliness. This film is hilarious but at the end of it, one would find it quite depressing.

8. Frances Ha

It's easy to like a film when the theme is familiar and relatable. What makes it more easier is that the lead actress is as charming and awkward as the character she's portraying. That is Frances Ha. I've mentioned this too many times in this blog but it's truly one of the most colorful film I've seen despite being black and white. From its lead actress, to the screenplay, to Noah Baumbach's fine direction, all of these transcends the bleakness of its color.

7. Cutie and the Boxer

This documentary about the story of the 40-year marriage of the boxing painter Ushio Shinohara and his wife Noriko touched me greatly. In the beginning it seemed like it's going to be a heartbreaking story of a marriage full of regrets but at the end of the film, things have come full circle to this couple and it's a triumphant one. It's one that made me "AWWWW" on the inside when I watched everything unfold in their relationship. Add to that is the aesthetic shots and direction of Zachary Heinzerling.

6. 12 Years a Slave

Truly a masterpiece. This is from someone who tends to claim every good film a masterpiece but repeatedly restrains himself of doing so because it's such a precious word that only few things deserve to be called one. Brutal is an understatement so it's hard not to get emotional and provoked while watching the film especially this is a true story of slavery. Director Steve McQueen gave justice to Solomon Northup's life and so are the actors that brought this story to life. It's also a plus that this film introduced us to Lupita Nyong'o. I'm glad that she won Supporting Actress for her performance as Patsey as it's truly deserved. I hope we see more of her in the future.

5. Captain Phillips

Captain Phillips is action packed, it has Tom Hanks who acted his ass off, and it launched Barkhad Abdi's acting career. With its more than 2 hours running time, director Paul Greengrass filled it with pulse-pounding scenes, humanizing & charismatic characters, stupendous acting performances. We were absorbed into a relentless suspense throughout the film. I can't think of a single shot that lasted 20 seconds. Seems like a hard work well done by the editor! I had a great time watching this at the movies.

4. Gravity

Speaking of having a great time at the movies, Gravity is on top of my list. I've seen it in IMAX so that makes it even greater. Seeing clips of it in many film montages makes me want to rewatch it so bad because it's SOOOO GOOD! It's the visuals that really made me love this film. It's just a bonus that Sandra Bullock is badass in this. She's a pleasure to watch. And the score is just amazing. I see a bright future in Steven Price career as a musician.

3. Blue is the Warmest Color

Realistic approach to any subjects in films always have the upper hand to grand and staged ones. It doesn't always work but it works so well in Blue is the Warmest Color. It's just apt that Abdellatif Kechiche took that approach because this film's subject matter is as authentic as it gets. Everything's so natural even Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux's performance so it's really hard not to get invested to this film emotionally especially that it tackles a lot of sensitive subjects. It's really the authenticity of this film that not only impressed me, but what got me strucked to it. It's unforgettable.

2. About Time

We're at number 2 so by now it's not a surprise that I'm really fond of saccharine films given the choices and writeups I've made above. It's really the touching films that make me love a film, films that get you emotionally because I think it's hard for me to get emotionally invested in anything. lol I don't know. But anyway, About Time is probably the most touching of all films last year. I consider this film a feel great movie and even if it really did make me feel great, it also made me emotional as fuck. It's crazy because I get easily critical to films that imposes impossible acts but the involvement of time travel in this film didn't bother me. It's also probably because it's very relatable? I don't know really but About Time is just lovely. Makes my heart melt even just thinking about it. It's probably Rachel McAdams.

1. Before Midnight

It's a crime that Before Midnight didn't even get a Picture nomination at the Oscars. Let alone its loss to 12 Years a Slave in screenplay. There's no such thing as perfect but Before Midnight is the closest to perfection. The trio of Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke always hit the nail on its head with their concepts. The nine year interval from each of Before series feels like it was planned when the first one, Before Sunrise was being conceptualized. And for that, I think it goes beyond movie making because they showed amazing commitment to this masterpiece and it worked so masterfully. But moving on, what really made me adore this film is the turn of events in Celine and Jesse's relationship, the story. The feeling of sweetness and adventure in the first two is not as fierce as the first two but it got darker yet so true to reality and that's better. Their love story is truly a love story that I would root for and even if Before Midnight is as perfect as it can be, I won't mind if they make another one 9 years from now. By then, I really hope that they get the Oscar that they deserve. Hmm thinking about it, nahhh, the Academy can kiss Before series' ass.

Honorable Mentions:

The Croods

Nebraska

The Wolf of Wall Street

Prisoners

Blackfish

 

Let me know your thoughts! and hang on for my favorite 2013 movie characters! Tweet me @jaynormouskid

Top 5 ORIGINAL & ADAPTED SCREENPLAYS of 2013

Not too keen about screenplays whenever I watch films but this year, they're just so good that they left a mark in me. :3

Original Screenplay

5. Spring Breakers - Harmony Korine

4. Nebraska - Bob Nelson

3. Short Term 12 - Destin Daniel Cretton

2. Crystal Fairy - Sebastián Silva

1. Frances Ha - Noah Baumbach & Greta Gerwig

Honorable Mentions:

The Past - Asghar Farhadi

Blue Jasmine - Woody Allen

Adapted Screenplay

5. Captain Phillips - Billy Ray

4. 12 Years a Slave - John Ridley

3. The Wolf of Wall Street - Terence Winter

2. Blue is the Warmest Color - Abdellatif Kechiche & Ghalia Lacroix

1. Before Midnight - Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke

Honorable Mention:

Philomena - Steve Coogan & Jeff Pope

Other Rankings:

Top 5 Original Scores of 2013

Top 10 Cinematography of 2013 
Top 10 Supporting Actors of 2013 
Top 10 Supporting Actress of 2013  
Top 10 Lead Actors of 2013
Top 10 Lead Actresses of 2013

DECEMBER 2013: Boy Golden, Crystal Fairy and The Hunt

 

Boy Golden

Director: Chito Roño

With: Jeorge Estregan, KC Concepcion, John Estrada, Eddie Garcia, Gloria Sevilla, Dick Israel, Leo Martinez, Roi Vinson, Tonton Gutierrez, Mon Confiado, John Lapus

 

Boy Golden

Full writeup

  

 

 

Crystal Fairy

 

Director: Sebastián Silva

With: Michael Cera, Gaby Hoffmann, Juan Andrés Silva, José Miguel Silva, Agustín Silva

It's always a pleasant surprise whenever you watch a film where you don't have any clues about the plot, and ended up LOVING it. I only read about Crystal Fairy in a Buzzfeed article with the list of 2013 great films people probably haven't seen. Found it interesting, so I looked for a copy and watched it. As I was watching it, I realized that Gaby Hoffmann was playing Crystal Fairy, an eccentric hippie who was accidentally tag-alonged by Jamie (Michael Cera) in his trip with his friends to a Chilean beach. I haven't seen any Gaby Hoffmann film since Now and Then so it was delightful to see her in this especially in a challenging role like Crystal Fairy.

Despite having completely opposite roles, Both Michael Cera and Gaby Hoffmann gave equally marvelous performances. Most people would probably give Gaby Hoffmann the recognition of being the best actor in this film, I can see why, she's amazing. But for me, Michael Cera is the superior actor in this. From megalomaniac levels of annoying, he morphs into a vulnerable and lovable character. And he's convincing and natural throughout the film. Having said that, Gaby Hoffmann won my heart because she's too adorable in this. I always have a soft spot for weird and quirky characters in films and even on TV. Hello Phoebe Buffay! and Crystal Fairy is a great addition to these characters. I think she just climbed up as my top favorite 2013 film character but we'll see. :) I also love that its soundtrack mainly consists of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros' songs, suits Crystal Fairy's hippie persona so well.

Aside from great performances and awesome soundtrack, Crystal Fairy is one heck of a hilarious adventure. With Sebastián Silva's articulate screenplay and sharp direction, Crystal Fairy succeeds in making me uncontrollably laugh so hard. Imagine being in a trip, where you secretly abhor one of your companions while the rest of your friends are fine being with that person. Hah! It maybe slight for some, but I reckon that the key to appreciate this film is to not take it seriously and trust me, it will lead you to a happy place and when you're finally comfortable in that happy place, it will shock you with a wistful twist. Everything about Crystal Fairy fell into its right place and I feel like I understand the whole point of the film because of my attitude towards it. :3 Also, isn't it fun watching people in a drug trip being high and funny? You know you do! Just imagine you with your friends being the only sober one while the rest of them are drunk as hell. :)

The Hunt

Director: Thomas Vinterberg

With: Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Annika Wedderkopp

 

Adding up to Doubt, Atonement and A Separation, The Hunt is another riveting film about a person being falsely accused of a misbehavior. The film follows Lucas (Mads Mikkelsen), a kindergarten teacher who becomes the object of his community's hysteria after being accused of sexually assaulting his pupil, Klara (Annika Wedderkopp).

A film with a subject like this is always captivating (and frustrating) as the audience knows the truth while the characters surrounding the person being falsely accused are blinded by the wrong and malicious information, especially in this film where the false information came from a little girl. People are taught by the saying that children always tell the truth but in this film, it's proven otherwise.

Mads Mikkelsen showed a poignant performance portraying a man with a complicated background. His performance, however, made ordinary by his co-star, Annika Wedderkopp who certainly gave a breakout performance at such a very young age. I am uncertain about her age but the fact that she played a little girl involving serious and mature stuff like stiff penis and blasphemous accusations, she is definitely someone that stood out in this film. Not to mention, there's a scene where someone spit on her face.

Overall, The Hunt for me is alright. It's an inferior version of other films with the same subject. As much as I love the climax of the film, the first part is way stronger than the rest. There are several characters in the film where I felt like many of their storylines didn't come to full circle and even if it did for some, it ended up anticlimactic and lame. It's unsatisfactory in terms of storylines, where most of what happened felt skimpy. I like the ending though, as it gives another layer to a story like this that's been done with similar endings before.