2013 didn't exactly start off very promising but as the months progressed, the slate of films improved immensely. By the end of the year, there was a massive explosion of must-see, highly entertaining movies filling the theaters. While it was slightly challenging, I did manage to narrow my selections of the films that thrilled me, made me giggle, brought tears to my eyes or simply made me forget about what a lousy day I'd been having. "AMERICAN HUSTLE"
I don't put these lists in any order of preference nor do I proclaim one to be "the very best of the year" but if I were to ever do such a thing, David O. Russell's brilliantly absorbing and wildly absurd dramatic comedy, "American Hustle" would come very close to earning that title. The tale of two lovebird con-artists (Christian Bale and Amy Adams) who get swept up in to a major sting operation by a ruthless FBI agent (Bradley Cooper) in order to catch a politician (Jeremy Renner) getting his hands dirty. The couple struggle to stay one step ahead of the authorities as well as the man's loose-cannon younger wife (Jennifer Lawrence, who should definitely win another Oscar for her work here) who threatens to unravel the whole thing.. From the flawless performances to the razor-sharp screenplay to the perfectly exaggerated 70's fashions to the right-on musical soundtrack, "American Hustle" is film making at it's very finest.
"12 YEARS A SLAVE"
Brutal, devastating and completely unforgettable, "12 Years A Slave" tells the unimaginable true story of Solomon Northup, a free, Northern African-American who was torn from his family and sold in to slavery in the deep South. Lead by a masterful turn by Chiwetel Ejiofor and a gripping screenplay by John Ridley, director Steve McQueen makes no effort to hold anything back which makes every moment feel even more tragic and terrifying. The standouts in a collection of amazing performances include Michael Fassbender as a vicious slave owner, Sarah Paulson as his equally deranged wife and in her first major screen role, Lupita Nyong'o who breaks your heart as the slave who is mercilessly tortured by them both. Months after seeing this, the images in "12 years A Slave" still haunt me.
"ENOUGH SAID"
Just when you thought that the state of the modern romantic-comedy was a complete lost cause, along comes "Enough Said". Not only is it smart, funny and very touching but the film refreshingly focuses on a mature couple. Julia Louis-Dreyfus stars as a divorced woman whose daughter is preparing to head off to college. Facing an empty nest, she's encouraged to start dating and meets a man (James Gandolfini) who, on the surface, appears to not be exactly her type. Their relationship is further complicated for a number of reasons but mainly due to his ex-wife (Catherine Keener). This is another winner written and directed by Nicole Holofcener who has, sadly, made very few films but they all feature her biting yet delightfully insightful and humorous views on relationships. And the underrated film maker is finally getting some long overdue attention as "Enough Said" is her most commercially successful to date.
"HER"
"Her" is a romance designed with the millennials in mind. Set in a recognizable future, an introverted man (Joaquin Phoenix), recently separated from his wife (Rooney Mara), purchases an animated operating system to help simply his life. This talking computer (voiced by Scarlett Johansson) not only organizes his affairs but develops true affection for her human. He soon finds himself also smitten and struggles to return those feelings. While this all might sound a bit preposterous but Spike Jonze, who directs his first original screenplay, makes it all seem quite plausible and features Mr. Phoenix at his most charming. Shockingly, this is only the fourth feature film by the talented Mr. Jonze since "Being John Malkovich" way back in 1999 and while "Her" shares that film's quirky, whimsical spirit but there's also a surprisingly lovely tenderness to be found.
"BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR"
Ignore all the fuss regarding the no-holds-barred sex scenes or the on-going bickering between the director and the actresses, "Blue Is The Warmest Color" is a transcendent exploration in to a young woman's discovery of first love. That it involves another woman makes it even more uneasy and arduous. Abdellatif Kechiche has co-written and directed a lengthy but passionate film that doesn't judge the characters but simply reveals their story. Twenty-two year old, Adèle Exarchopoulos makes you feel every joyous, messy, and painful moment in her breakout role while Léa Seydoux also amazes as the object of her desire.
"PHILOMENA"
Based on a real-life incident, "Philomena" tells the story of an unwed, Irish teen who becomes pregnant and sent away to a convent. Forced to sign away her parental rights, her son was adopted and Philomena has been searching for him every since. The film has been accused of being anti-Catholic but this is far from accurate. "Philomena" does not go out of it's way to bash the church but only attempts to tell one woman's tragic experience. Even the real Philomena Lee harbors no ill will. Stephen Frears has crafted a heartfelt work that manages to be both somber and witty. As Philomena, the extraordinary Judi Dench is simply a marvel and Steve Coogan (who co-wrote the screenplay) is perfect as Martin Sixsmith, the reporter who helped with the investigation and wrote the book which the film is based.
"BEFORE MIDNIGHT"
Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy and director Richard Linklater have together created possibly the world's first art-house trilogy. The team has written another engaging chapter in the lives of Jesse (Hawke) and Céline (Delpy) who first met back in 1995 in "Before Sunrise" on a train to Vienna. Almost ten years later in "Before Sunset", the couple reconnected and now with, "Before Midnight" Jesse and Céline have become parents and are suffering from a mid-life crisis. As with the previous films, we simply follow them as they have nothing more than rich, fascinating conversations but this time regarding family, marriage and aging.
"BLUE JASMINE"
The films of Woody Allen have always been hit or miss affairs and his latest, "Blue Jasmine" certainly falls in the hit category. Cate Blanchett has been given one of her best roles in years and takes full advantage as the high-class wife of a wealthy, New York banker (Alec Baldwin) who stole millions from investors. Broke, disgraced and in need of shelter, Jasmine heads to San Francisco to live with her sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins). However, Ginger's blue-collar boyfriend (Bobby Cannavale) and ex-husband (Andrew "Dice" Clay) who lost money in a bad investment are less than thrilled by Jasmine's arrival.
"WORLD WAR Z"
Despite a troubled production that required serious rewrites and major re-shoots, "World War Z" managed to become not only a thrilling but thought-provoking zombie flick. Brad Pitt stars as a former UN investigator who is brought back in to help save the world as a mysterious virus is quickly spreading and turning everyone into the living dead. I'm not usually a fan of gratuitous blood and gore but this suspenseful thrill-ride worked for me because it kept all of the non-stop action grounded in a plausible reality.
"SPRING BREAKERS"
"Spring Breakers" takes the annual ritual of college kids heading to Florida for some fun in the sun and gives it a wicked, dark spin. Disney alums, Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens shake up their good-girl image as not-so-sweet, bikini-clad young ladies who party-hard and commit armed robbery to help pay for their trip. The ever-busy James Franco makes an amusing impression as Alien, a corn-rowed, local rapper/gangsta who seduces the girls with his high-rolling lifestyle. Indie-film maker, Harmony Korine has made his most commercial film to date although this trippy film is as eccentric as it is electrifying.
"THE SPECTACULAR NOW"
Lead by two star-making performances from Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley, "The Spectacular Now" takes an honest look at the stress and complications of being a modern teenager. Teller (who reminds me of a young Tom Hanks) plays a popular high school senior that knows exactly how to have a good time but really has no idea what he's going to do with his life after graduation. He's also becoming increasingly aware that he may be developing a serious problem with alcohol. Woodley (first making an impression in "The Descendants") dazzles as the sweet, shy girl who overlooks his issues and only sees the potential.
"20 FEET FROM STARDOM"
"20 feet From Stardom" is a documentary that's a celebration of the unsung heroes of pop music; the back-up vocalist. Morgan Neville has focused on some of these talented singers (many whose names you may not be familiar with) that worked their magic on almost all of the most popular songs of the rock & roll era. These dynamic ladies such as Merry Clayton, Gloria Jones, Claudia Lennear, Lisa Fischer and Darlene Love all attempted to make a name for themselves in front of the stage but ultimately accepted their place behind the spotlight. The famous voices of Mick Jagger, Sting, Bette Midler and Stevie Wonder appear to gladly sing their praises. I am a big music lover, so this vibrant and informative doc was right up my alley.
Honorable Mention:"42", "Captain Phillips", "Don Jon", "Fruitvale Station". "Gravity","The Invisible Woman", "Nebraska", "Pain & Gain", "Saving Mr. Banks", "Short Term 12", "The Way Way Back"
Where & When: Arclight Cinemas, Hollywood, CA. October 18, 2013 8:15 PM
"12 Years A Slave", a 1851 memoir by Solomon Northup tells his harrowing ordeal of being a free African-American who is abducted and sold in to slavery. This masterful but highly unsettling film is by Steve McQueen, one of the boldest visionaries working in cinema today. The British director began his career as an experimental short film artist with his work dealing with discomforting subject matter. He continued this when he moved into feature-length film with his 2008 debut, "Hunger" which starred Michael Fassbender in his first major role as Bobby Sands who lead the IRA hunger strike back in 1981. The film won the Camera d'Or at Cannes and McQueen followed that up with another critically-acclaimed work, "Shame" with Fassbender returning in the story of a sexual compulsive. Much like his previous films, McQueen holds nothing back in "12 Years" as he displays the harsh and ugly brutality of the shameful time in America when not all men where created equal.
Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) lives a comfortable life in upstate New York with his wife and two children in 1841. Making his living as a musician, Northup travels to Washington D. C. to begin a well-paying tour offered by two gentlemen (Scoot McNairy and "SNL" star, Taran Killam). After an evening of drinks and merriment, a groggy Northup wakes up to an unimaginable nightmare. He finds himself chained in a holding cell and about to be shipped off to Louisiana as a slave. When Northup protests, he's beaten savagely and soon learns that in order to survive this, he must not reveal that he is an educated free man.
After Northup arrives in New Orleans, he is sold by a merciless slave broker (Paul Giamatti) to a preacher (Benedict Cumberbatch) who seems troubled by the slavery system yet goes along with the program since his fields need to be picked by somebody. While life on this plantation is somewhat tolerable but after a violent run-in with a cretinous foreman (Paul Dano), Northup is sold to another man in order to keep him alive. Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender) prides himself in ruthlessly breaking in his property. If a slave doesn't pick enough cotton that day, they are punished with several lashes from a whip. One of the slaves, Patsey (Lupita Nyong'o) has the misfortune of capturing the lustful attention of Epps. She not only has to endure the emotional and physical abuse by her cruel master but is also tormented by his equally sadistic wife (Sarah Paulson) who is bitterly jealous of this powerless slave.
Northup realizes that in order for him to ever escape, he will have to rely on his wits and use any opportunity that comes his way which might be in the form of a Canadian carpenter played by one of the film's producers, Brad Pitt.
McQueen, along with a solid script by John Ridley and the beautifully lush visuals from the director's long-time cinematographer, Sean Bobbitt have together created some unforgettable images that are both equally mesmerizing and horrific. The film glides through in an unhurried pace, lingering on sweaty, weary faces and imposing locations for longer than it might seem necessary but it's used effectively to emphasize the isolation and hopelessness. From long days picking cotton in the unrelenting heat to the savage beatings and psychological torture to children being ripped from their mother's arms and being sold off, "12 Years A Slave" is very far removed from the romanticized version of slavery that has been portrayed in many Civil War era films, most famously in "Gone With The Wind". As we watch this terrible tale unfold, these more accurate depictions of the life of a slave may be too much for most people to bear. It's hard not to be disturbed to see that a human being has been reduced to having no more value than any livestock.
Chiwetel Ejiofor is the name to remember (and will need to learn to pronounce; (Chew-wee-tell Edge-gee-oh-for) as he gives one of the best performances of the year. The Brit has made an impression over the years with smaller parts in major films such as "Children of Men", "American Gangster" and "Salt", but with "12 Years", the actor has finally been given a role that rightfully places him front and center. Mr. Ejiofor commands every moment on screen as his character struggles to maintain what's left of his dignity and sanity. Ms Nyong'o also makes quite an impression in her first film role that will leave you utterly devastated. This recent graduate from the Yale School of Drama handles her part of the tortured slave expertly as Patsey, like Northup, struggles to survive yet ultimately gives up, begging him to help her end the misery. The story may be focused on one man's experience of trying to reclaim his life but Ms Nyong'o's character represents every slave who lived every unhappy day in captivity without ever having an opportunity to make a life of their own.
The conclusion of "12 Years A Slave" may appear like a happy ending but it will leave you even more disturbed and frustrated. Although Solomon Northup may have been finally able to obtain his freedom, he still continued to be tortured and humiliated but this time by a legal system that considered him unworthy of being heard or receiving justice. "12 Years A Slave" is a difficult film to recommend. While it is a tremendously well-made film filled with extraordinary performances yet it deals with an extremely unpleasant subject matter. But like "Schindler's List", "The Pianist" and "Saving Private Ryan" (to name just a few), "12 Years A Slave" is a powerful and moving experience that I am very glad to have seen but could not, in all honesty, ever sit through again.
It is now that time of the year when Hollywood decides not to devote most of it's time and money catering to fourteen year old boys. The fall season is when we see films that offer more complex and challenging subject matter and in turn, may deliver a richer and deeper cinematic experience.
Here are a few highlights of some of the upcoming films that have captured my attention. Release dates are subject to change: "THANKS FOR SHARING" Release date: September 20, 2013
Sex addiction seems to be a popular theme this fall as two films deal with this apparent disorder and are being released just a week apart. In "Thanks For Sharing", director Stuart Blumberg ("The Kids Are All Right") brings the story of a recovering sexual addict (Mark Ruffalo) who meets the girl of his dreams (Gwyneth Paltrow) and struggles to maneuver around this potential relationship and his uncontrollable impulses. Also starring Tim Robbins, John Gad, Joely Richardson, Carol Kane and making her big screen debut, pop singer, Pink under her real name, Alecia Moore.
"DON JON" Release date: September 27, 2013
While in "Don Jon", Joseph Gordon- Levitt stars (as well as writes and directs his first feature film) as a man that has an unhealthy preoccupation with pornography or at least according to his smoking-hot new girlfriend (Scarlett Johansson) who is disturbed by the idea that he even needs to watch since he has her around. The comedy also features Julianne Moore and Tony Danza.
"CAPTAIN PHILLIPS" Release date: October 11, 2013
Based on the real-life incident, Captain Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks) and his crew aboard an American cargo ship are hijacked and taken for ransom by Somali pirates in 2009. There is a tense stand-off between the pirates and the U.S. Navy while the Captain's life hangs in the balance. Paul Greengrass ("United 93", "The Bourne Supremacy") directs this action-thriller.
"KILL YOUR DARLINGS" Release date: October 16, 2013
"Kill Your Darlings" takes a look at the early life of future beat poet, Allen Ginsberg (played by former wizard king, Daniel Radcliffe). The film takes place during his time as a student at Columbia University when he met fellow writers William Burroughs (Ben Foster) and Jack Kerouac (Jack Huston of "Boardwalk Empire") and gets wrapped up in the shocking murder of David Kammerer (Michael C. Hall) by an acquaintance of Ginsberg's, Lucien Carr (Dane DeHaan).
"THE FIFTH ESTATE" Release date: October 18, 2013
"The Fifth Estate" tells the story of how long-time friends, Julian Assange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Daniel Domscheit-Berg (Daniel Bruhl) founded the notorious website, Wikileaks. Although the film is partially based on Domscheit-Berg's memoir, who had a falling out with Assange, it's still an unbiased look in to why they were determined to leak to the world classified information in the name of journalistic freedom.
"12 YEARS A SLAVE" Release date: October 18, 2013
October will feature an exciting double dose of Michael Fassbender as the sexy and talented actor is featured in two very different films. His first appearance will be in a supporting turn as a slave owner in director, Steve McQueen's "12 Years A Slave". Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Solomon Northup, a free African-American who is kidnapped and sold in to slavery. This film (based on Northup's autobiography) has already received critical praise and awards buzz and just won the Audience Award at the just completed Toronto Film Festival.
"THE COUNSELOR" Release date: October 25, 2013
Mr. Fassbender headlines his other film, "The Counselor" which is directed by Ridley Scott and features an original screenplay by acclaimed novelist, Cormac McCarthy ("No Country Fort Old Men"). This thriller involves a lawyer (Fassbender) who unwisely gets involved in a drug-smuggling operation and discovers that these people play by their own set of rules. An impressive cast includes Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem and Brad Pitt.
"THE WOLF OF WALL STREET" Release date: November 15, 2013
"The Wolf of Wall Street" is based on the memoir of the same title by Jordan Belfort during his time as a high-rolling, overzealous stock broker and his involvement with securities fraud and corruption. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Belfort and has teamed-up with director Martin Scorsese for the fifth time. Matthew McConaughey, Jean Dujardin, and Jonah Hill also star.
"AMERICAN HUSTLE" Release date: December 13, 2013
The volatile but highly gifted filmmaker, David O. Russell returns with "American Hustle", the follow-up to his award-winning film, "Silver Linings Playbook". Set in the '70's, it tells the tale of a con man (Christian Bale) who is coerced by an FBI agent (Bradley Cooper) to assist in a sting operation against a mayor (Jeremy Renner) in New Jersey. Amy Adams, Robert DeNiro and last year's Best Actress Oscar winner for "Silver Linings", Jennifer Lawrence co-star.
"SAVING MR. BANKS" Release date: December 13, 2013
Tom Hanks also has two movies out this season and he has been perfectly cast as the man behind Mickey Mouse; Walt Disney in "Saving Mr. Banks". This film recreates the difficult struggle to convince the overprotective author, P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) to allow Disney to make a movie of her beloved book, "Mary Poppins". John Lee Hancock ("The Blind Side") directs.
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