100 Movies in 2013 - Part 2
Well, it took an unusual amount of time this year, but my 2013 movie review post is finally too big for Livejournal! With less than a month to go, I'm not hoping to break any records, but am already over 100, and just hit 65 theatre movies. Hopefully I can squeeze in a few more with all of the fantastic Oscar fare emerging!
101. Homefront ........ C
Jason Statham, James Franco
November 21, 2013
Another typically absurd and nonsensical Jason Statham outing. The fact that this was penned by Sylvester Stallone makes me wish it was either better or more ridiculous.
102. Arthur Newman ........ C-
Colin Firth, Emily Blunt
November 23, 2013
This film has a very strange and difficult to buy premise, and Colin Firth and Emily Blunt have very little chemistry. It's got some fun moments, but drags a lot in places. An interesting idea, but not very well executed.
103. Not Suitable For Children ........ B-
Ryan Kwanten, Sara Snook
November 23, 2013
This little Australian romantic comedy manages to be more endearing and fresh than most of its Hollywood counterparts despite a completely ridiculous premise.
104. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire ........ A
Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
November 24, 2013
Although I did enjoy the first "Hunger Games" film, "Catching Fire" is leaps and bounds better. I was truly impressed with the effort made to convey Katniss' inner turmoil. I felt like the filmmakers really took criticism of the first film's lack of character development to heart, rather than sitting on their very profitable laurels, which was nice to see. I was also impressed that the film divided itself equally between the games and everything leading up to them, much like in the book, instead of focusing entirely on the action. To me this is one of the best movies of the year, and one that I knew I wanted to re-watch when I was only halfway through.
105. Dallas Buyers Club ........ A-
Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto
November 29, 2013
This is a really interesting story and Matthew McConaughey is fantastic. His physical transformation is cringe-inducing. The art direction is extremely authentic and really brings you back to the 80s as well.
106. The Oranges ........ B+
Leighton Meester, Hugh Laurie, Catherine Keener
December 1, 2013
This is a fun, sombre alternative to a traditional Christmas movie about a family being ripped apart just in time for the holidays. A lot of critics have balked at this dark comedy, but I thought it was quite interesting. The plot was perhaps too jumpy, but performances are solid and the chemistry between Hugh Laurie and Leighton Meester actually works.
107. Last Vegas ........ B-
Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline
December 5, 2013
Pretty much exactly as expected, this movie is pretty stupid, predictable and reasonably entertaining. Perhaps a bit more sentimental than implied by the trailers. Still fun though.
108. Girl Most Likely ........ B
Kristen Wiig, Annette Bening, Matt Dillon, Darren Criss
December 6, 2013
Funny and different, but a little bit all over the place. There are definitely some serious head-tilt moments in the script.
109. Frances Ha ........ A-
Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner
December 6, 2013
A very realistic, sensitive and mostly non-judgmental portrayal of a sort of maturity halting that many of us experience in our late twenties.
110. Drinking Buddies ........ B
Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson, Anna Kendric
December 7, 2013
Quite entertaining and silly, and a good representation of a certain period in people's lives. I appreciated the general lack of judgement for promiscuity. However, by the end of the movie, you realize that basically nothing has happened and feel as though there wasn't much point to what you just watched.
111. Dead Man Down ........ D+
Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace
December 13, 2013
This thriller is laughably badly written. I feel like many things were completely lost in translation. The very premise wherein a girl who witnesses a murder decides to blackmail this hitman into murdering someone for her is completely ludicrous. Almost as much as her "disfigurement", which causes children to call her "monster" and throw things at her. (Said disfigurement seems to be a series of subtle and pretty facial scars.)
112. Thor: The Dark World ........ B-
Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston
December 16, 2013
I liked this one better than the first Thor, and the effects were very impressive. It's a fun movie. However, I really find that not a single character in this series other than Loki and Dr. Selvig are in any way interesting or likeable, which makes it hard to appreciate.
113. Philomena ........ B+
Judi Dench, Steve Coogan
December 23, 2013
A truly amazing story featuring a subtle but powerful performance from Judi Dench. I felt that the tone became unnecessarily soppy in places. It's not the sort of subject matter that needs anything extra piled on. Still, well worth seeing.
114. The Wolf of Wall Street ........ A-
Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie
December 26, 2013
This film is as hilarious as the subject is appalling. Leonardo DiCaprio is fantastic. All of the actors seem to be having a wonderful time with their roles. The movie is three hours long, but doesn't ever drag.
115. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty ........ B
Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig
December 26, 2013
This film is lacking in a bit of the depth I was expecting judging by the trailers, but it's still a fun, and beautifully put together adventure movie.
116. Lovelace ........ B
Amanda Seyfried, Peter Sarsgaard
December 26, 2013
This film is paced a bit strangely. I understand the decision to show the major events of Lovelace's brief career from an outsider's perspective, and then again from her inside perspective of horror and abuse, but I'm not sure that it really worked all that well from a viewer's perspective. The performances and cast are wonderful though.
117. Inside Llewyn Davis ........ B
Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, John Goodman
December 28, 2013
This is an interesting film, although it's really strangely paced. Incredibly plodding and draggy in places. The performances are all good, and the music is very enjoyable. I appreciated the mostly very unlikeable characters.
118. Saving Mr. Banks ........ B-
Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks
December 30, 2013
This film is your usual heart-warming, soppy and reasonably enjoyable Disney fare. I found the performances to be a bit over-done, but in an appropriate sort of way. The beginning is quite slow, but the film picks up halfway through. I couldn't help but think of how much the real P.L. Travers would have hated the fact that this movie was made. Although I was impressed that the filmmakers are sympathetic to her perspective that the syrupy Mary Poppins that ended up hitting screens was so far from what she had intended, and almost portrayed that in a negative light.
101. Homefront ........ C
Jason Statham, James Franco
November 21, 2013
Another typically absurd and nonsensical Jason Statham outing. The fact that this was penned by Sylvester Stallone makes me wish it was either better or more ridiculous.
102. Arthur Newman ........ C-
Colin Firth, Emily Blunt
November 23, 2013
This film has a very strange and difficult to buy premise, and Colin Firth and Emily Blunt have very little chemistry. It's got some fun moments, but drags a lot in places. An interesting idea, but not very well executed.
103. Not Suitable For Children ........ B-
Ryan Kwanten, Sara Snook
November 23, 2013
This little Australian romantic comedy manages to be more endearing and fresh than most of its Hollywood counterparts despite a completely ridiculous premise.
104. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire ........ A
Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
November 24, 2013
Although I did enjoy the first "Hunger Games" film, "Catching Fire" is leaps and bounds better. I was truly impressed with the effort made to convey Katniss' inner turmoil. I felt like the filmmakers really took criticism of the first film's lack of character development to heart, rather than sitting on their very profitable laurels, which was nice to see. I was also impressed that the film divided itself equally between the games and everything leading up to them, much like in the book, instead of focusing entirely on the action. To me this is one of the best movies of the year, and one that I knew I wanted to re-watch when I was only halfway through.
105. Dallas Buyers Club ........ A-
Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto
November 29, 2013
This is a really interesting story and Matthew McConaughey is fantastic. His physical transformation is cringe-inducing. The art direction is extremely authentic and really brings you back to the 80s as well.
106. The Oranges ........ B+
Leighton Meester, Hugh Laurie, Catherine Keener
December 1, 2013
This is a fun, sombre alternative to a traditional Christmas movie about a family being ripped apart just in time for the holidays. A lot of critics have balked at this dark comedy, but I thought it was quite interesting. The plot was perhaps too jumpy, but performances are solid and the chemistry between Hugh Laurie and Leighton Meester actually works.
107. Last Vegas ........ B-
Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline
December 5, 2013
Pretty much exactly as expected, this movie is pretty stupid, predictable and reasonably entertaining. Perhaps a bit more sentimental than implied by the trailers. Still fun though.
108. Girl Most Likely ........ B
Kristen Wiig, Annette Bening, Matt Dillon, Darren Criss
December 6, 2013
Funny and different, but a little bit all over the place. There are definitely some serious head-tilt moments in the script.
109. Frances Ha ........ A-
Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner
December 6, 2013
A very realistic, sensitive and mostly non-judgmental portrayal of a sort of maturity halting that many of us experience in our late twenties.
110. Drinking Buddies ........ B
Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson, Anna Kendric
December 7, 2013
Quite entertaining and silly, and a good representation of a certain period in people's lives. I appreciated the general lack of judgement for promiscuity. However, by the end of the movie, you realize that basically nothing has happened and feel as though there wasn't much point to what you just watched.
111. Dead Man Down ........ D+
Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace
December 13, 2013
This thriller is laughably badly written. I feel like many things were completely lost in translation. The very premise wherein a girl who witnesses a murder decides to blackmail this hitman into murdering someone for her is completely ludicrous. Almost as much as her "disfigurement", which causes children to call her "monster" and throw things at her. (Said disfigurement seems to be a series of subtle and pretty facial scars.)
112. Thor: The Dark World ........ B-
Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston
December 16, 2013
I liked this one better than the first Thor, and the effects were very impressive. It's a fun movie. However, I really find that not a single character in this series other than Loki and Dr. Selvig are in any way interesting or likeable, which makes it hard to appreciate.
113. Philomena ........ B+
Judi Dench, Steve Coogan
December 23, 2013
A truly amazing story featuring a subtle but powerful performance from Judi Dench. I felt that the tone became unnecessarily soppy in places. It's not the sort of subject matter that needs anything extra piled on. Still, well worth seeing.
114. The Wolf of Wall Street ........ A-
Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie
December 26, 2013
This film is as hilarious as the subject is appalling. Leonardo DiCaprio is fantastic. All of the actors seem to be having a wonderful time with their roles. The movie is three hours long, but doesn't ever drag.
115. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty ........ B
Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig
December 26, 2013
This film is lacking in a bit of the depth I was expecting judging by the trailers, but it's still a fun, and beautifully put together adventure movie.
116. Lovelace ........ B
Amanda Seyfried, Peter Sarsgaard
December 26, 2013
This film is paced a bit strangely. I understand the decision to show the major events of Lovelace's brief career from an outsider's perspective, and then again from her inside perspective of horror and abuse, but I'm not sure that it really worked all that well from a viewer's perspective. The performances and cast are wonderful though.
117. Inside Llewyn Davis ........ B
Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, John Goodman
December 28, 2013
This is an interesting film, although it's really strangely paced. Incredibly plodding and draggy in places. The performances are all good, and the music is very enjoyable. I appreciated the mostly very unlikeable characters.
118. Saving Mr. Banks ........ B-
Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks
December 30, 2013
This film is your usual heart-warming, soppy and reasonably enjoyable Disney fare. I found the performances to be a bit over-done, but in an appropriate sort of way. The beginning is quite slow, but the film picks up halfway through. I couldn't help but think of how much the real P.L. Travers would have hated the fact that this movie was made. Although I was impressed that the filmmakers are sympathetic to her perspective that the syrupy Mary Poppins that ended up hitting screens was so far from what she had intended, and almost portrayed that in a negative light.