With the Oscars coming up fairly soon, and having seen the films from 2013 that I really wanted to see, I figured it was time to make a top ten list. These are my favourite films from the past year, and had some connection with me. Yeah, I'll probably highlight the performances in most of them, but whatever. Anyways, here's the first half of the list. Enjoy numbers ten through six.
10. Short Term 12
Short Term 12 is a movie I've been wanting to see for some time. I knew that it would be a very personal film, one that tells a strong story, and one that would get the water works going. So deciding to watch it on a flight clearly shows how much I care about the people around me. Moments in this film made me a blubbering mess, and really allowed me to connect with the characters. Yeah, I know I cry watching most movies. But I cried a lot watching this one.
Written and directed by Dustin Cretton, who also putted the same duties on the short film that this is based on. The short film 12 this is based on? Anyways, he guides a watchful hand over this film, and it often feels like we just a fly on the wall of real people in a room together. The characters are authentic, and the conversations never feel forced, which is a much bigger deal than you'd think. It boasts a supporting cast of unknowns, and this works well as the whole cast is fantastic. Rami Malek, Alex Calloway, Kevin Hernandez, Stephanie Beatriz, Kaitlyn Dever and Keith Stanfield all do great work, with Dever and Stanfield being the stand outs of the young cast. Both have very real stories, and give performances that compliment that.
John Gallagher Jr. is also very strong, showing the same lovability that he has on The Newsroom, but gives the character depth and emotion that indicates why he's loved on Broadway. One particular scene at a dinner will leave a big lump in your throat. However, the star of the film is Brie Larson, who owns the screen every second she's there. This is the kind of performance that deserves everyone to see it, though no one will. Larson gives you a character that is funny, fun, smart, charming and damaged all at once, and never lets it sink into a performance, letting the character live through her.
9. Fruitvale Station
Fruitvale Station starts in an incredibly jarring way; it shows you cellphone video of the real shooting of Oscar Grant, whose final 24 hour are the basis for the film. Going into the film with the knowledge of Oscar's fate makes it all the more heartbreaking, seeing a representation of Oscar that shows he is a human being. They don't paint him as some fallen saint, nor do they try to pass him off as someone who had what was coming to them. That's where the strength of Fruitvale Station lies.
Told by first time director Ryan Coogler, the film is told a relatively fast pace, but knows when to slow down to enjoy a moment or emphasize a point. Oscar is just a kid trying to get his life back together, and the tragedy of the situation, is that what happened to him, could have happened to so many others in that area. It also does a good job not necessarily painting the transit police who shot Oscar as villains, but simply as guys who got too caught up in their job, made a mistake and quickly lost control of the situation. Strong work comes from the supporting cast, with Melonie Diaz and Octavia Spencer, in particular, putting in great work. I'd never seen Diaz in anything before this, and she owns the screen whenever she is on it. And Spencer gives her best performance as Oscar's long suffering mother. Her reaction to the shooting will make sure there isn't a dry eye left.
The film focuses on Oscar though, and Michael B. Jordan brings such life and energy to a role that come have, often times, come across as forced. Jordan is an actor poised for a breakout, having done strong work in Chronicle and Friday Night Lights before, and is no stranger to being heartbreaking, having played Wallace on The Wire. But the performance he gives here is one that shows the maturity of the performer, and gives depth to someone so young forced to become a man.
8. Rush
Of all the films on this list, Rush is probably the most like a popcorn flick of the bunch. But god damn if it doesn't do it well. I want to preface it by saying, I don't give a fuck about racing, but any time you can make a movie about something typically uninteresting to me entertaining, then I will sit and enjoy. It's the same thing Warrior did a couple years ago. This is another story about attractive people doing things and succeeding. But that's okay, because they can't help being beautiful, just like the Canucks can't help getting thrown out of games.
With Ron Howard directing, there is an air of uncertainty, because yes, he's a brilliant director when he wants to be. The problem, is that he doesn't always want to be. He's directed films like Apollo 13, Cinderella Man and, my favourite, Frost/Nixon. But he's also done Angels & Demons, Edtv and The Dilemma. Luckily, with Rush he is in top form, delivering a film about two rival racers who are most alike than they realize, and will risk their lives every day to achieve success. Howard's direction makes the film flow effortlessly, with gorgeous cinematography and a beautiful score, making it even a treat just to look at. Also strong supporting performances come from Olivia Wilde, Christian McKay, Alexandra Maria Lara, Pierfrancesco Favino.
However, the film is placed on the shoulders of leads Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl, who both give career best performances. Hemsworth proves that he's more than just the pretty face that plays Thor, giving a portrayal of a man who will do anything to win, even if it causes harm to himself. He's able to run with the playboy attitude of James Hunt, and show you a man who believes he is the best, but acknowledges how good his counterpart is. However, the biggest surprise comes from Daniel Bruhl, who gives a career making performance as Nikki Lauda, Hunt's Austrian rival whose will to win matches Hunt's, and gives the complex performance needed to make us root for him. He should have been nominated for an Oscar. Once again, fucketh thee Academy. Also, the band Rush is never featured in this film, so false advertising, I guess.
7. American Hustle
I want to start by saying, the fact that American Hustle is at #7, does not make it a bad movie in any regard. I love this movie a lot, but can't justify putting it any higher on the list. I tend to love David O. Russell movies, with the likes of Three Kings and, last years, Silver Linings Playbook holding special places in my heart. The best thing that American Hustle has going for it is that pedigree it holds, with a brilliant cast and a great director at the helm. Yeah, the pace is a bit all over the place, but god damn, I could watch gorgeous actors with stupid hair all day.
The movie has a smart script that features constantly interesting characters, and knows exactly what it is. It knows when the comedy needs to come out, and when its time to settle down and focus on the real fucked up nature of the characters. The best part of the film is the performances, with smaller supporting performances still coming across strong from Michael Pena, Robert DeNiro, Shea Whigham, Jack Huston (RIP Harrow), and Louis CK. Someone tell me the fucking end of the ice fishing story. On second thought, don't. I like it better this way.
However, the movie is really at the mercy of the five actors it follows. Jeremy Renner gives one of his best performances in a long time, along with Jennifer Lawrence, who plays a fairly unlikable character, and gives a performance that doesn't quite match up to the level we expect from her. Amy Adams is her typically reliable self, and Bradley Cooper plays a self-obsessed FBI agent with such a sleazy disposition. But let's give it up to Fat Christian Bale. I could watch Fat Bale do things all day. I think his commitment to obesity helps the movie greatly. Also, can we remake Batman with Fat Bale? It would explain why Batman's always out of breathe.
6. Lone Survivor
Going into Lone Survivor I had fairly managed expectations. I'm not the biggest Marky Mark fan, nor do I really like Peter Berg outside of Friday Night Lights (the show and the movie), but the tale of a true story intrigued me. However with a supporting cast that featured Emile Hirsch and Taylor Kitsch (two guys I've never been big on), the lone bright spot for me was Ben Foster, who I have the biggest fucking talent man crush on. I'd fuck his acting ability all night. The other hesitancy I had seeing this, was I was afraid Berg would turn it into a giant jerk off of the armed services, patriotism and America, as an idea. Because I seriously think Peter Berg wants to slide it into patriotism and whisper sweet nothings into America's ear.
However the movie I saw blew my expectations out of the water. The true story of Marcus Luttrell is harrowing, and powerful, and features career best performances from the four leads. Emile Hirsch proves the hype that was about him all those years ago has merit, while it finally makes sense why Hollywood wants to turn Taylor Kitsch into a big star. Both actors are great to watch, and are completely believable in these roles. Wahlberg is great as well, in a role that strips away his usual tough guy approach. But we have to highlight Ben Foster, who is just intensely likable and makes his performance come across as effortless. He has one particular line that he delivers with heartbreaking authenticity that stayed with me the whole movie.
The craziest thing about this movie is that we see these soldiers go through hell, getting shot, falls down cliffs and smashing into trees, and the way that Berg shoots it, making sure the actors faces are visible, makes it all the harder the watch. And the fact that he, apparently, stayed faithful to the actual reports is amazing. It's a movie that is visceral, brutal and incredibly real. But can we seriously change the title. Or call it "Spoiler alert: Lone Survivor". Because right now, the title is the equivalent to most horror movies being called "The Only Actor You Know Is The One That Lives".
There you have it. I know this article wasn't filled with jokes or a ton of humour, but that'll come eventually. Just like your mom. Nomsayn? Anyways, next up will be the top five of 2013. So stay tuned shortly for that list.
First "Henry"
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