PAUL'S YEAR AT THE MOVIES: 2013 EDITION

PAUL'S YEAR AT THE MOVIES: 2013 EDITION

It has come to that time where I look back at my trip to the movies in 2013. Every year, I track all of the movies I saw for the first time. Whether they were the new 2013 releases or older films I was just discovering for the first time, I like to jot them down to see how I fare year to year. Before I go any further, I must give a special acknowledgment to my friend and fellow cinephile Max who I stole this idea from many years ago. I looked back at the 2012 Edition in this series where I noted that I had seen 113 new movies in that year. I am surprised to say that I beat that number with 119 new films under my belt in 2013, 81 of which were 2013 releases. As many of you know I got married in June, so my movie going went on the back burner the first half of the year as wedding planning and counting down to that special day was my priority in the first half of 2013. Each year I try to see more and more films, so I am pleasantly surprised to see I beat last year's numbers despite the slow start. I would love to get to every movie out there, but time and money plays a big factor into it.

As far as the blog is concerned, I created some new content including "The Snapshot Trivia of the Day", the "Halloween" Retrospective, Oscar Watch 2014, The Archives plus the traditional trailers, reviews, rewinds, and other articles. I have some new ideas and exciting things coming in 2014 so keep checking back! It has been an exciting year in the networking front as I got to interact with new readers and followers of the blog. In June, I was honored to become LAMB #1588 when I joined the Large Association of Movie Blogs. 2013 also marked my first trip to the Twin Cities Film Festival where I met some other bloggers and critics in the Minneapolis film scene. I love getting to know new people and discussing the films we either loved or hated.

Here is the list, plus My Top 10 of 2013 and the Worst of 2013, some noteworthy performances, and some other tidbits:

The List

The Sessions
Promised Land
Broken City
Side Effects
Amour
Take This Waltz
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Oz, The Great and Powerful
Side By Side
A Separation
Wreck-It Ralph
Compliance
Admission
The Silence
The Prodigal Son
Evil Dead
Flashdance
Days of Heaven
Jurassic Park 3D
Double Indemnity
Room 237
To the Wonder
The Place Beyond the Pines
ParaNorman
Iron Man 3
The Paperboy
The Great Gatsby
Bernie
Star Trek Into Darkness
Oblivion
Now You Seen Me
All Good Things
End of Watch
Lars and the Real Girl
The Way Way Back
Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil
Behind the Candelabra
Man of Steel
Beautiful Creatures
Stoker
Not Fade Away
Identity Thief
Mama
This is the End
V/H/S
The Heat
White House Down
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
World War Z
The Blue Umbrella
Monsters University
Despicable Me
Modern Times
The Conjuring
Red
Pacific Rim
The Wolverine
We're the Millers
Fruitvale Station
Lee Daniels' The Butler
Seven Psychopaths
Bachelorette
Blue Jasmine
Chronicle
Like Crazy
The Spectacular Now
Austenland
Hot Fuzz
The World's End
Best Worst Movie
The Possession
Isidious: Chapter 2
Prisoners
Anna Karenina
Don Jon
Enough Said
V/H/S/2
The Ward
Gravity
Captain Phillips
Nebraska
Honeymoon Suite
We Are What We Are
Winter in the Blood
Truth or Blood
The Search for Simon
Ghost Light
They Will Outlive Us All
Hot 'n Bothered
Casual Encounters
A Better Life
Mud
12 Years a Slave
Much Ado About Nothing (2013)
About Time
Thor: The Dark World
Only God Forgives
Frances Ha
Salinger
Dallas Buyers Club
JFK
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Frozen
Philomena
Parkland
Delivery Man
Prince Avalanche
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Upstream Color
Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
What Maisie Knew
The Great Beauty (La Grande Bellezza)
Lovelace
Saving Mr. Banks
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
August: Osage County
The Wolf of Wall Street
American Hustle

Paul's Top 10 of 2013

These are the films that had the biggest impact on me. There may be some different choices on here than you may find on other Top 10 lists out there, but that is what makes each film critic a little different. Please note I have not seen Inside Llewyn Davis (seeing it today!), Her , All is Lost, or Labor Day at this time, so those unfortunately will not be found here.

1. The Way Way Back

This indie hit from the summer just hit that part of my inner soul that spoke to so many of the feelings and emotions I went through when I was the age of the main character. Nat Faxon and Jim Rash wrote a hilarious and touching script that garnered fantastic performances from Sam Rockwell, Allison Janney, Steve Carell, and Toni Collette.

2. Gravity

Alfonso Cuarón's epic 3D masterpiece was an intense, breathtaking, and magical ride. It is one of those movies that is the true definition of why people go to the movies. As years and decades pass, I hope it is remembered as one of the genre's great films like 2001: A Space Odyssey.

3. Fruitvale Station

Fruitvale Station did not get the audience response it deserved. It hit theaters, but did not seem to last long which is quite unfortunate as it is one of the most important films audiences should have seen this year. It was an emotional kick to the gut with Michael B. Jordan giving one of my favorite performances of the year.

4. Nebraska

Alexander Payne's latest took me by surprise and is another film that touches numerous parts of the soul. Bruce Dern gives one hell of a performance as an cantankerous old man who is determined that he won a sweepstakes in the mail. The scenes between Dern and June Squibb as his feisty wife are hysterical. Payne perfectly captures that small Midwestern town vibe that is all too familiar.

5. American Hustle

David O. Russell has another hit on his hands with this con story somewhat based on the ABSCAM operation in the 1970s. It should come has no surprise that he as created some over-the-top characters brought to life by frequent collaborations Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, and Bradley Cooper.

6. 12 Years a Slave

Not since Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List has a film so vividly captured a horrifying chapter in history. Steve McQueen’s latest left me quite speechless afterwards as I tried to process everything that was thrown at me. Lupita Nyong’o is a revelation who was vulnerable and heartbreaking in every way. Chiwetel Ejiofor is another standout actor of the year who conveys so much emotion and range without it being a flashy or showy performance.

7. Philomena

Dame Judi Dench gives another stellar performance to add to her long resume. She proves yet again why she is one of the greats. Director Stephen Frears precisely executes this film that is based on a true story with the right tone without ever gearing toward Lifetime Movie of the Week status.

8. The Conjuring

I LOVE horror films, so it was refreshing to see James Wan's latest completely hit it out of the ballpark. It was suspenseful and scary without using copious amounts of gore and body parts. The Conjuring is an homage to the horror films of the 1970s that had the slow burn leading up to an insane edge of your seat finale. I think it is one of the genre's best in years.

9. Prisoners

This twisty ethical child abduction mystery thriller left audiences pretty divided. I can tell you that I was engrossed from the very first frame and did not check the watch in the entire two and a half hour run-time. Hugh Jackman was a bit over lauded for his work in Les Miserables, but I think his best performance comes here as a father who will stop at nothing as he searches for his missing daughter. Another high point is the work of ten time Oscar nominee Roger Deakins for his cinematography . He works his magic by framing so many of the shots into stunning visuals that tell their own stories as well as shape the story we are watching before us.

10. Saving Mr. Banks

Emma Thompson is practically perfect in every way as P.L. Travers who had no interest in bringing her novel "Mary Poppins" to the big screen. The supporting cast, including Jason Schwartzman, Paul Giamatti, and Colin Farrell, should be noted for their work in the story. If you grew up watching Mary Poppins like I did, it will be hard to think back to your childhood and the memories you have of that film. Don't be surprised if you start humming along the songs in your seat.

**HONORABLE MENTIONS: Blue Jasmine, Frances Ha, Much Ado About Nothing, The Wolf of Wall Street, The Place Beyond the Pines

The Worst of 2013

Truth be told, I do not end up seeing a lot of bad movies throughout the year. I do not mean for that to come out snobbish as I really do love a good bad movie that is just dreadful. Frankly, it can be easier to write about those God awful movies over a film that is just middle of the road average. It is just hard for me to justify spending money at the theater and wasting my free time on a movie that I know will be bad. Four of the movies below I did see in theaters and wasted some money on them. I had such hopes to only to be highly disappointed.

1. Truth or Dare
2. Evil Dead
3. Oz, The Great and Powerful
4. Only God Forgives
5. The Wolverine
**honorable mention--Pacific Rim

Noteworthy Performances
Barkhad Abdi- Captain Phillips
Amy Adams- American Hustle
Christian Bale- American Hustle
Cate Blanchett- Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock- Gravity
Bruce Dern- Nebraska
Judi Dench- Philomena
Leonardo DiCaprio- The Wolf of Wall Street
Chiwetel Ejiofor- 12 Years a Slave
Greta Gerwig- Frances Ha
Ryan Gosling- The Place Beyond the Pines
Jake Gyllenhaal- Prisoners
Tom Hanks- Captain Phillips, Saving Mr. Banks
Sally Hawkins- Blue Jasmine
Hugh Jackman- Prisoners
Michael B. Jordan- Fruitvale Station
Jennifer Lawrence- American Hustle
Lili Taylor- The Conjuring
Jared Leto- Dallas Buyers Club
Matthew McConaughey- Dallas Buyers Club, Mud, The Wolf of Wall Street
Lupita Nyong'o- 12 Years a Slave
Simon Pegg- The World's End
Sam Rockwell- The Way Way Back
June Squibb- Nebraska
Meryl Streep- August: Osage County

2013 has been a terrific year at the movies, and there are still a few high profile films I have not seen yet. I am really looking forward to a big 2014 and I have some exciting things coming for the blog, so stay tuned! As always, thank you so much for reading, commenting, and sharing the movies that you love. A big thank you to all of those following me on Twitter. Feel free to comment below on all of your favorites from 2013. What films touched your inner soul? What films did you want to run away from? Here's to a great 2013!

Movie Review: PACIFIC RIM

PACIFIC RIM
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi, Idris Elba, Charlie Day, Robert Kazinski, Ron Perlman

So let me guess this straight. The visionary director of Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy, and The Devil's Backbone is going to make this huge action/sci-fi picture that is basically Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots vs. Godzilla? Yes. That is correct. Let's back up a little. The voice-over expedition at the beginning of the movie fills us in on how the world is being destroyed by the Kaijus, a massive Godzilla like creature that attacks everything in sight that are unleashed from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean floor. In an attempt to combat and destroy these beasts, the outlining countries band together to make Jaegers, ginormous robots that are operated by two soldiers. The two soldiers must have a special relationship as they must get into each other’s minds in order to control each half of the robot. Raleigh (Hunnam) and his brother Yancy were soldiers together until a Kaiju struck down their Jaeger. Raleigh retired from the program after Yancy perished in the attack.

Years pass but the Kaijus are gaining strength and momentum again. Commander Stacker Pentecost (Elba) convinces Raleigh to reenlist in the program. He must be "their only hope" or something. Raleigh knows you need to have a certain connection to your co-pilot so he is particular about who he is paired up with to board a Jaeger. After some training lessons, he feels a connection to Mako Mori (Kikucki) who is one of the directors of the program. Stacker dismisses the idea of Mako piloting a Jaeger and risking her life due to their past and the fact that Stacker is a father figure to her. Scientist Dr. Newton Geiszler (Day) is brought in to study the dead Kaijus. He discovers a way to connect with them which opens up a whole new theory about the species.

Director Guillermo del Toro set out to make a larger than life movie. With such a huge undertaking, the film is too big and too ambitious for its own good. There is so much to take in but the quality of the substance is quite lacking throughout. As soon as the movie started with exposition through narration I was perturbed. If you read my review of Oblivion, you know that I strongly dislike that writing device. I do not want gobs and gobs of exposition told through a voice-over. To state it frankly, the writing is awful. The script is so full of cheesy lines and stereotypical characters; it was immensely laughable and eye-rolling. Was that the point? Was del Toro purposefully trying to make a parody of every other apocalyptic type movie? Idris Elba is a strong enough actor to keep the cheese factor sustained, but every line did come out as the most serious thing he was going to say. He did play the stoic commander character after all. Unfortunately, Charlie Hunnam suffered the most with the bad dialogue. Charlie Day is funny as Dr. Geiszler but can border on annoying at times. I do like the casting choices of some of the supporting characters. The characters are stereotypical, but del Toro picks not-so-obvious choices for them. Day brought a youthful hipster vibe to his scientist. With a name like Hannibal Chau, the Kaiju organ smuggler, you may not picture Ron Perlman in the part. Perlman frequently collaborates with del Toro so it is a smart casting choice to make Hannibal Chau a bit different than you would expect him to be. My problem with Chau is that his whole subplot feels completely pointless. Perlman is great in the part, but it is an odd story that is already an off shoot of the scientist storyline. It just drags down the rest of the film.

The action films this summer seem to have a pattern. The fight sequences seem to last forever and are repeated over and over again without anything new happening in each one. You end up feeling like you are watching the same battle scene over and over again. Man of Steel was a big offender of this. The Kaijus can clone themselves so just because a Jaeger can take one down does not mean the battle is over. Another problem belongs to the cinematography. Another common trend (see World War Z) is having the camera so close up on these battles and moving around so fast that you cannot make out what is happening. I get that it makes you feel like you are in the middle of the action right there with our characters, but I actually want to see what is going on. You may also notice that it continually seems to be raining and dark out which causes more obstacles in fully taking in the scope of the destruction. Maybe I’m getting too picky.

It may sound like I really hated the movie, but that is a pretty harsh statement. I will say that the special effects are top-notch. The sheer size and proportions of the Kaijus and Jaegers are breathtaking set against the rest of the characters and landscape. It is stunning to see them set against landmarks we know like the Sydney Opera House. Del Toro is known to be a very visual director, and it is clearly evident with the design and look of the Kaijus and Jaegers. The film is dedicated to late greats Ray Harryhausen and Ishiro Honda. You can clearly see the influence these creature creators had on del Toro on the vision he created. The film will definitely resonate with certain audience members. Children and old fans of the creature feature genre films will love it. If that is what del Toro was going for, than he succeeded. I had a higher bar set knowing it was coming from him. I expect more out of one of his movies and feel a little cheapened knowing it felt like something Michael Bay wished he would have done. I will note that Pacific Rim is leagues better than Transformers. I saw the film in 2D but it is also shown in 3D and IMAX. There is so much going on in certain sequences that it can be hard to take it all in. I can’t imagine seeing it on a bigger screen or shown even darker with the 3D projection. At the end of the day, a movie can look really good on the outside but I still want there to be some substance beneath it. Am I asking for too much to have interesting characters, a plotline, and better dialogue?

RATING: ** (2 out of 5 stars)