Strat's 20 of 2013

2013 was a year of starts and stops. At one point it looked as if there would hardly be films I would dare recommend to having a solid grouping within a few months. Considering I've been making these lists for awhile, it shouldn't have come as that big a surprise that the end of the year would see the most number of these films released.  What was surprising is the list of notables not on here including "All is Lost", "Elysium", Don Jon, and "Mud".

20. The World's End (comedy/adventure)
I'm sure many will disagree, but this is my favorite of Edgar Wright's Cornetto trilogy.  If you've seen the others, you know what to expect tone wise, but you don't need to have in order to follow the film.

19. We're the Millers (comedy)
Sure it's formulaic. But the chemistry between the cast pulls out one of the most surprisingly funny movies of the year.

18. Blackfish (documentary)
If one movie ever provokes you to think twice before accepting at face value the treatment of wild animals in captivity, this will. This unflinching documentary gets right into the grit of life for the orcas which people go to see every day around the world.

17. Dirty Wars (documentary)
At this point, there's probably not much anyone can show you about the American system of covert engagement with "targets" around the world. What this doc does is take all the puzzle pieces and put them together in a rather engaging and provocative manner.

16. Spring Breakers (drama/thriller)
What if Natural Born Killers were sexy college coeds on spring break that then met a Florida gangster? Yeah. It's a ride.

15. 12 Years a Slave (drama)
Quite possibly one of the most difficult movies to watch on the year. Be warned. It's unflinching and brutal. I'm sure by the title you can tell why.

14. The Lunchbox (foreign comedy)
An incredibly rich and fascinating film that revolves entirely around, you guessed it, a lunchbox. While it is very current with its depiction of life in Mumbai, India, director Ritish Batra manages to create a rich tableau of characters that never ceases to entertain or fascinate.

13. Captain Phillips (drama)
This is a film that if it had a different director at the helm and an actor other than Tom Hanks, the realism and genuine honesty of this story wouldn't resonate.  Tom Hanks' greatest acting gift is making you forget its Tom Hanks just as Paul Greengrass makes sure every moment is sincere.

12. Wadjda (foreign drama)
The first feature film ever to come out of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and it is directed by a woman.  This remarkable glimpse into the world of a little girl growing up in a strongly oppressed world looking to own a bike.

11. Disconnect (drama)
This film likely flies under more radars of films for the year, but is much more important than many other films about contemporary American culture as it explores our virtual "connectedness" today through compelling and someone interconnected stories.

10. Omar (foreign drama)
This is a tense, rough glimpse into the world of a Palestinian freedom fighter/terrorist as he struggles to choose between saving himself or the people around him.

9. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (comedy/drama)
This is one of those uplifting movies that manages to tightrope that fine line between cheesiness and inspirational art.  And if you haven't in awhile, use your passport.

8. The Broken Circle Breakdown (foreign drama)
A gut-wrenching sad foreign film about a country western band's collapse as it is held together by the relationship of a mother, father and dying daughter.

7. The Dallas Buyers Club (drama)
You'll spend half the movie thinking "Is that really Jared Leto and Matthew McConaughey? Then the rest of it, enthralled in the ethics struggle between them and the politicians and drug companies fight.

6. Inside Llewyn Davis (comedy/drama)
It's hard not to like this movie about a dislikable fellow on his quest.  It's a movie without your typical 3 act structure that is cleverly written, but never feels like it's too clever.

5. Cutie and the Boxer (documentary)
Can't say it's not somehow personal to watch a film about the struggles of being an artist in a big city.  What makes this so wonderful is the love and desire that the artistic couple in this film feel for each other through it all.

4. Nebraska (comedy/drama)
It's sort of a trip through a portal into old mid-west Americana and looking at all of it 50 years later.

3. Gravity (sci-fi/drama)
It's hard to appreciate the movie in 2D the way you can in 3D.  The awesomeness of the vacuum of space is both terrifying and magical. Thankfully this film weaves a balance of heart and story in such a way that keeps it heavy in your mind and soul.

2. The Square (documentary)
A glimpse into the life of the various factions within the Egyptian populace that took to the streets during the 2011 Arab Spring protests and the aftermath.  The film captures what feels like a 360 degree view of the people involved.

1. Her (sci-fi romantic comedy)
One of the most lovely, touching and absolutely moving films in a long time.  It's incredibly personal about how impersonal Her is.