25 In 25: My Favorite Films of the First Quarter Century - 2013

2013 was a bit of an eye-opener for me. 

In many ways, this year really gave me newfound love and respect for smaller films.  As far as being an eye-opener, I realized how hot or cold Martin Scorsese films could be for me.  And just because the critics liked something didn’t mean that I had to as well.  That was a big lesson for me and one that I carry close to my heart today… That’s why my lists are so long… just because I don’t love a film personally doesn’t mean the films don’t have value to others.

Fede Alvarez gave us a new take on a horror classic with his Evil Dead.

Destin Daniel Cretton adapted their own short film into the masterpiece, Short Term 12, starring Brie Larson.

The Coen brothers serenaded us with Inside Llewyn Davis, and man, did Oscar Issac crush this role. 

Bong-Joon Ho came out with a stunning dystopian film about his favorite subject, called Snowpiercer.

Spike Jonze and Hoyte van Hoytema gave a stunning, and now an extremely relevant film, Her, starring the phenomenal Joaquin Phoenix.

Nebraska, directed by one of my favorites, Alexander Payne, stunned me from the opening shot to the end of the credits. 

And those are just some of my list for this year! 

2013 also introduced me to one of the best directors of our generation in Ryan Coogler, and stars in Michael B Jordan.  That film is Fruitvale Station.

At the time, I didn’t know what I was walking into.  A friend of mine loved the actor from Friday Night Lights, and I love movies, so I went.  I walked out a changed cinephile.  The way Coogler sets this “based on a true story” film is genius.  We open with footage of the police beating Oscar and then “BANG!”, a gunshot, and the screen fades to black.  We spend the rest of the movie learning who Oscar was.  It’s filmmaking at its powerful best. 

And then, we have Denis Villeneuve.  When Prisoners came out, I saw it.  I didn’t remotely appreciate what I had just seen.  It was my first experience with a Villeneuve film, and I wasn’t quite prepared for what was about to come from him.  This film is nothing short of a masterpiece thriller from yet another great director of our generation. 

What Denis gets out of his actors needs to be studied.  Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal were robbed of any true accolades for their acting.  In supporting roles, Paul Dano, David Dastmalchian, Melissa Leo, and Viola Davis are all throwing 100.  The late Jóhann Jóhannsson sets the mood with his score while the legendary Roger A Deakins mans the camera. 

I promise you, watch this one again, and watch masters at work.