Tuesday 31 December 2013

Films of the Year 2013

Death Comes to Pemberley. Remarkable achievement from the elderly PD James, beautifully acted and presented.

Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself. Rare, warm, dour comedy drama from Scotland.

Sullivan's Travels. At once one of Sturges' most serious and hilarious of films, the more you see it, the more you love it. 'Hey Hey in the Hay Loft'!

The Big Sleep. For its mood and music, for its character names, for its stunning women, for its simple brilliance.

Ben Hibon's animation in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.  Absolutely leaves the rest of the film for dust.

Finding Neverland. I love a straight performance from Depp, here with perfect Scottish accent, surrounded by great cast and with wicked production design,

The Asphalt Jungle. Marvellous Huston gallery of criminals, just has the edge over the bonkers but brilliant Beat the Devil.

One Two Three / The Lost Weekend / Avanti. The first and third are horribly underrated, the Berlin film is beautifully assembled like a Swiss clock. Weekend is still stunning.

The Artist. A remarkable cinematic achievement and the film that introduced us to the charming smile of Jean Dujardin.

The Pledge. Sean Penn's best film with a superb later performance from Jack Nicholson.

To Rome with Love / Midnight in Paris / Hannah and her Sisters / Shadows and Fog. Rome is a new delight, Paris I just can't stop rewatching, Hannah never fails to beguile, and Shadows is an extraordinary film by this athlete of the cinema.

Philadelphia. Had quite forgotten how interesting is Demme and this is probably his highlight, though Silence of the lambs is a close second.

Sex and the Single Girl. Thoroughly enjoyable pairing of Curtis and Natalie Wood (who's absolutely delightful), and Fonda and Bacall, film makes a great double with How to Murder Your Wife.

Paris / Paris Je T'Aime. Linked really only by the city, the former is a multi-story character study, brilliantly acted and scripted, the latter inevitably a mixed bag of stories but some are jaw-droppingly good, and both really moving.

Life and Death of Colonel Blimp / A Canterbury Tale / The Red Shoes.

The Best Years of Our Lives. One of our all-time favourites, heart-wrenching and incredibly grown-up, with the most amazing deep focus photography ever.

Paper Moon / They All Laughed. Two classics, though only the first is recognised as such. In the first, the relationship of father and daughter is exploited wonderfully, but the second - there aren't enough good things to say about it, it's one of the most charming and funny films ever made.

Hot Fuzz. This had gradually become a household favourite with its Best of British cast, brilliant editing and general silliness. 'Yargh.'

Repulsion. Still as unique and creepy as ever, with Chinatown Polanski's best film and with one of the most brilliant soundtracks ever.

Kings Row. Melodrama of madness par excellence, with several outstanding performances to Korngold's brilliant music.

Mud. McConaughey brilliant in simple, effective tale.

Elizabethtown / We Bought a Zoo / Almost Famous. Cameron rewards us again with his latest sweet comedy though it still can't better either of the two older gems.

Out of Sight. Soderberg's cool treatment of Elmore Leonard story with Clooney at his most charismatic, and with sensational editing from Anne Coates.

Lethal Weapon. Still mad Mel's best performance, thriller with a heart is so well done and in a league of its own; and certainly miles ahead of the increasingly dire sequels.

The Sopranos. One of the finest TV series ever made, and certainly with the most controversial of all endings. It set a massively high standard for the new era of TV with feature film production and talent.

The Leopard. Intelligent and spectacular.

The King's Speech

O Brother Where Out Thou? / Fargo

The Third Man

The Descendants

Django Unchained

Untouchable

The Ladykillers / Kind Hearts and Coronets

This Happy Breed

Searching for Bobby Fischer

Last Year at Marienbad

Stalker / Nostalghia

The Way to the Stars

Dancing on the Edge / Glorious 39

My Week with Marilyn

The Help

Harold and Maude

Children of Men

Crazy Stupid Love

Vertigo /The Lady Vanishes / Frenzy

The Trial

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