2013 was a year that provided some great movies, but it also had its share of clunkers, as well as movies that were just okay. Since it’s January, a dumping ground for new movies, let’s take a look some of the best stuff that came out in 2013 to watch at home, or if you’re lucky, still catch in theaters.
10. “Star Trek Into Darkness”
This sequel continues the Star Trek story by raising the stakes for Captain Kirk and his crew, putting them up against a formidable and charismatic villain. The movie provides some fun character moments and great action set pieces. “Star Trek Into Darkness” is solid summer entertainment.
9. “Frozen”
In a year full of animated movies solely aimed toward anyone under the age of 12,
“Frozen” provides a surprising amount of depth. It tells the story of two sisters: Elsa, who has magical ice powers she can’t control so she shuts herself away from everyone, and Anna, her younger sister, an optimist who wants the life of the typical Disney princess. Things go bad when Elsa accidentally puts their entire kingdom in a permanent winter and it is up to Anna and the companions she meets along the way to get Elsa to undo the damage. Frozen also contains the most likeable character seen in any movie this year, Olaf, a talking snowman who dreams of summer. This guy provides a lot of this movie’s biggest laughs. Frozen is solid Disney entertainment for all ages that will manage to get at least one tear out of anyone who watches it.
8. “Side Effects”
The first great movie of 2013. It starts out as a commentary on the side effects of pharmaceutical drugs as a young wife commits a crime after taking her prescribed medication and twist after twist the movie turns into something that’s nearly impossible to predict.
7. “Don Jon”
“Don Jon” is a movie that calls out the expectations people have about life after watching certain movies, mainly romantic comedies. This film is about Jon and Barbara played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Scarlett Johansson respectively. Jon is a pornography obsessed bachelor and Barbara plays a woman who expects the man she’s with to give up everything to be with her. Can they make their relationship work with all those hang ups? It’s worth noting that this movie really goes there in its portrayal of sex and is sure to make anyone watching it uncomfortable at times # but in a good way.
6. “12 Years a Slave”
A free black man with a family in the 1840s who knows nothing about slavery is tricked and kidnapped, and then sold into slavery. “12 Years a Slave” succeeds by transcending everything one would expect to see in a movie about slavery and is better than a lot of them for that. It really hones in on the mindset people had during the time, both the slaves and slave owners. Based on the memoirs of Solomon Northup, it is sure to leave one speechless after seeing it.
5. “Before Midnight”
The third movie in a series that started in 1995. The movie once again spends a day in the life of a Jesse and Celine played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. These three movies have been about the same two people walking and talking, but the appeal lies in the conversations that most people wish they could have with their significant other. These two have been together for nine years now: do they still have the same spark they had when they first met? While the same can’t be said for this movie, the first movie in the series “Before Sunrise” is not a bad movie to watch with a date. Just making a suggestion.
4. “Wadjda”
“Wadjda” is a foreign language film about a 9-year-old girl in Saudi Arabia who wants a bike. It’s a simple desire here in America, but in Saudi Arabia, little girls aren’t supposed to want bikes. Wadjda is a very likable character whose street smarts and rebellious streak make her stand out from societal norms. The expectations for women in her culture begin to weigh down on her, but Wadjda just wants to be herself. If that sounds bleak, don’t worry, it’s all done in a subtle manner. This movie works well as a family film assuming a 10-year-old wouldn’t mind a movie with subtitles.
3. “Fruitvale Station”
Michael B. Jordan portrays Oscar Grant, a young father trying to get his life together and do right by his daughter and girlfriend. This just happens to be the last day of his life. Based on true events, this is a tough movie to sit through knowing how it’ll end.
2. “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Is it a celebration of bad behavior or a cautionary tale? The film’s excessiveness in both its three hour runtime and sexual content have been the subject of much debate in recent weeks. Just because audiences laughed at plenty of scenes featuring heavy drug use and sex with hookers, doesn’t mean they’ll try to replicate those actions after seeing the movie. “The Wolf of Wall Street” is based on the memoirs of Jordan Belfort, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. The movie recounts his days playing the stocks game, which involved money laundering, world traveling, drugs, hookers, evading the FBI # and that’s not even half of it.
1. “The Way Way Back”
Independent coming of age films were common this past summer. “The Way Way Back” is not only the best of the bunch, it’s also one of the best movies of the year. This movie follows awkward teenager Duncan (played by Liam James) who has to spend his summer at his mother’s boyfriend’s beach house.Duncan doesn’t like his mother’s boyfriend (played by Steve Carell) nor does he like the way his mother acts around him. He’s ready to hate his life, but he finds solace at a local water park he’s able to get a job at. The story isn’t anything original, but sensitive direction, immensely likable characters combined with a great sense of fun make it impossible for anyone not to have a giant smile on their face as the credits roll.
