Maxwell Meyers' Favorite Films of 2013

TOP TEN FILMS OF THE YEAR, 2013 EDITION by Maxwell Meyers

Above: Sandra Bullock in "Gravity"

 

Now that 2014 has begun, I have been asked to take a look back at 2013, which was not only a profitable year in the box office, but a year when the Academy Award hopefuls seemed truly great, not just good enough.  With that in mind, here is a list of my favorite theater-going moments from throughout the year, and while I am an odd duck (as you readers will one day learn with time), there is a method (or reasoning) to my madness. 

So, without further ado, the best of 2013....

10.) "Pacific Rim”
I have been a fan of Guillermo del Toro since "Pan's Labyrinth," and it was thrilling to see him at Comic-Con in 2012.  There, with stars Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Hunnam, and Charlie Day, he previewed this film, namely by showing a little footage and promising that it would offer a healthy dose of giant monsters fighting giant robots.

 Boy, did he deliver.  While I can admit that the acting and writing in “Pacific Rim” aren’t great, the movie gives you exactly what Mr. del Toro promised—giant monsters fighting giant robots.  More importantly, I had a blast watching the film in HD at Cinetopia with a burger and fries and my friends.  And isn't that the escapism that movies were made for?

9.) "Evil Dead”
Now, I know what you might be doubtful, but allow me to convince you.  If you have seen the original “Evil Dead,” you know that its beauty lies not in its quality, but in director Sam Raimi’s attempt to make something scary out of a terrible script.  In the end, his efforts didn’t quite payoff, but Fede Alvarez’s new version has proved that with the right retooling and enough time to allow the MPAA to relax a little, a story about kids slaughtering each other in a cabin can be truly horrifying. 

Of course, “Evil Dead” was not the only fright fest I experienced in 2013—I also spent all of October watching horror movies and managed to squeeze 63 films into 31 days.  As a result, I learned a lot about a genre I never knew much about, which might be part of my soft spot for Mr. Alvarez’s film.  But nonetheless, “Evil Dead” is a standout in the field of great 2013 horror films and besides, it sets new standards for gore by deploying more corn syrup blood than any movie since "Kill Bill: Vol. 1.”

8.) "The Way, Way Back”
I first sought out this little indie darling a few months ago, not because it was directed by Academy Award winners Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, but because I had read that Steve Carell was in it and played, pardon my French, a major queue.  This is a small milestone because I don't believe Mr. Carell has ever portrayed a villain other than Gru, the silly mastermind of "Despicable Me" fame.  And yet even though he is outside of his natural benevolent element in “The Way, Way Back,” he gives an impressive performance as Trent, the obnoxious bully who takes it upon himself to torment Duncan (Liam James), the movie’s young hero. 

Of course, “The Way, Way Back” succeeds not only because Mr. Carell is magnificent, but because Mr. Faxon and Mr. Rash manage to hit the comedy nail right on the head with a real-life dramatic hammer.  In fact, the characters in the film’s beach community feel wonderfully familiar—they remind you of someone your parents knew growing up, or maybe friends you spent an extended vacation with.  Just as importantly, in “The Way, Way Back” these people are portrayed by a peerless ensemble, something that only makes the antics within the piece shine even brighter.

7.) “Frozen”
When I first read that "Frozen" was the best Disney movie to date and could potentially dethrone Pixar at this year’s Academy Awards, I was more than a little skeptical.  But in the end, I was pleasantly surprised—watching the movie, I found myself dancing, wanting to sing, and enjoying the film even more than “Tangled.”  Yes, “Frozen” is a movie I went to reluctantly, but it’s also incredibly refreshing, not only because of its fantastic voice cast (directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee tapped powerhouse vocalist Idina Menzel enliven and elevate the film), but because it’s a story specifically about sisters, and not just family.

P.S.—My fiancé told me I should wait to make my top ten list in case I needed to make room on it for this movie…as usual, of she was right!

6.) "Blackfish”
Speaking of my fiancé proving me wrong, this is the second movie that’s on this list because of her.  She was the one who convinced me to see this documentary, which relates a grim story about the horrific mistreatment of killer whales in captivity (one in particular).  Yet ultimately, the film won me over by making me feel hopeful about the creatures’ future and as a result, I believe it will continue to connect not only with documentary fans, but people like me who avoid the genre in general.  Also a best documentary shortlist contender this year.

5.) "Iron Man 3”
Who didn't see this movie?  Who didn't love this movie?  The answer is everyone and no one—hardly an exaggeration, seeing as the film grossed 1.2 billion dollars worldwide.  Why was it so popular?  Possibly it’s because we're all still hopped up on "The Avengers" (to which “Iron Man 3” is a sequel), or maybe it’s because Robert Downey Jr.’s deep-pocketed superhero Tony Stark (who faces his greatest nemesis in this time around) is so damn charismatic.

Yet in the end, I believe the success of “Iron Man 3” has everything to do with director Shane Black.  I love his movie "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" and I was delighted to see its wonderfully quick dialogue carried over to this film as well.  Mr. Black also chose to show more of Tony (and less of Iron Man) in this installment—a different direction that the franchise clearly needed. 

Still, I have one complaint.  As exciting as the now-notorious Mandarin plot twist is, I don’t approve of it wholeheartedly and am more than happy that the Marvel Studios brain trust is fixing it with a short film to be featured on the "Thor: The Dark World" BLU Ray.  Ultimately, that leaves “Iron Man 3” in the clear and us free to enjoy its immense merits, from Mr. Black’s wonderful writing (he co-wrote the screenplay with Drew Pearce) to one very unlikely achievement—that the movies features a child who doesn’t drive me bonkers.

4.) "The To Do List”                                                                                       I love the 90's.  I grew up during that wonderful decade, which might explain why I have an affinity for it.  But that doesn't matter.  The main thing is that "The To-Do List" is a hilarious and entertainingly raunchy movie.  With a great ensemble that includes Aubrey Plaza, Bill Hader, Clark Gregg, and Connie Britton, it’s a movie that catches you off guard in the best way possible. 

3.) "The World’s End”
Lots of laughs and wonderful action to boot—that’s what director Edgar Wright and longtime actor friends Nick Frost and Simon Pegg deliver in "The Worlds End.”  Showing how much these collaborators have matured as both artists and adults, this end cap to the Cornetto trilogy (which began with “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz”) finds a cast of colorful characters growing up and saying goodbye to the days of youth, albeit in an outrageously entertaining way that involves heartfelt reconciliations, aliens, and yes, the apocalypse.  

2.) "12 Years a Slave"
What could I even dare say about this film that any critic hasn't already said?  Or that I haven't already gushed about in my own review?  After all, “12 Years a Slave” is, if not perfect, than pretty close to it.  Chiwetel Ejifor is more than amazing; the rest of the ensemble is strong, well-rounded and just dynamite; and the sets and the writing (by Adam Stockhausen and John Ridley, respectively) are equally brilliant. 

Just as crucially, these talents all converge under the careful eye of director Steve McQueen, who presents us with a movie that literally blurs the line between historical drama and art piece.  The result?  Something that is simultaneously beautiful and hideous.

1.) "Gravity"
When I first heard the plot of this movie (which relates the saga of a space-stranded astronaut, played by Sandra Bullock), it didn’t sound especially interesting; even after seeing a presentation by Ms. Bullock and director Alfonso Cuarón in Hall H at Comic-Con, I still wasn’t convinced that the movie’s narrative could sustain itself.  So, it was only after being coaxed by both critics and my father that I finally went to see “Gravity.”

 I have never been so happy to be proven wrong in my life.  Not only was I in awe and at the edge of my seat for nearly the entire runtime of Mr. Cuarón’s movie, but it turned out to be the best film I’ve seen in many years (I haven't been this excited about a movie since I first saw "The Artist," a picture whose concept blew me away entirely).  For this reason, I believe that the Oscar battle for Best Picture will come down to either this or "12 Years a Slave” and personally, I will be rooting for “Gravity” to win and for the sci-fi genre to finally have its day in the golden Oscar sunlight.