Okay, readers, here is my mid-year recap on film for 2013. I'll give my recommendations for films still in theaters to see if you haven't, as well as movies just released on DVD or already out. Then I'll finish it off with my top 5 best and worst of the year so far.
Rating System:
A to A+ : ★★★★
B+ to A- : ★★★½
B- to B: ★★★
C to C+ : ★★½
C- : ★★
D+ : ★½
D : ★
D- : ½★
F: 0 stars
Films Still in Theaters:
This Is the End: A (★★★★)
* Comedy: Rated R for crude and sexual content throughout, brief graphic nudity, pervasive language, drug use and some violence
Man of Steel: A (★★★★)
* Science Fiction/Action/Comic book: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence, action and destruction and for some language
Iron Man 3: A (★★★★)
* Science Fiction/Action/Comic book: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence throughout and brief suggestive content
Monsters University: A- (★★★½)
* Animated/Family: Rated G for general audiences
The Hangover Part III: A- (★★★½)
* Comedy: Rated R for pervasive language including sexual references, some violence and drug content and brief graphic nudity
Star Trek Into Darkness: B+ (★★★½)
* Science Fiction: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence
The Internship: B+ (★★★½)
* Comedy: Rated PG-13 for sexuality, some crude humor, partying and language
Movies Out on DVD:
Warm Bodies: A- (★★★½)
* Romantic Comedy/Horror: Rated PG-13 for zombie violence and some language
Stoker: A- (★★★½)
* Psychological Thriller: Rated R for disturbing violent and sexual content
Oz the Great and Powerful: A- (★★★½)
* Fantasy/Adventure/Family: Rated PG for sequences of action and scary images and brief mild language
Jack the Giant Slayer: A- (★★★½)
* Fantasy/Adventure: Rated PG-13 for intense scenes of fantasy action violence, some frightening images and brief language
Mama: B+ (★★★½)
* Horror: Rated PG-13 for violence and terror, some disturbing images and thematic elements
Snitch: B+ (★★★½)
* Crime/Drama: Rated PG-13 for drug content and sequences of violence
Side Effects: B+ (★★★½)
* Psychological Thriller: Rated R for sexuality, nudity, violence and language
Okay, so those are my picks for what's in theater and what's out on DVD. Granted, some movies that I've strongly recommended didn't make the list simply 'cause they're kinda in "limbo" - not in theaters and not yet on DVD. Anyway, here are my top 5 best and worst films of the year so far.
Top 5 Worst Films of 2013
5) Evil Dead: D- (½★)
Do I hate all remakes? No. The Ring, The Thing (with Kurt Russell, not the recent "prequel" they did), Ocean's 11, and The Fly are just to name a few that I love. I do hate poorly made remakes though. The characters are thinly written and so dumb I'm surprised some were able to survive for the whole hour and a half of the film. The biggest crime is completely sucking out all of the witty and dark humor that made the original so great.
4) Safe Haven: D- (½★)
Safe Haven is overly cute and sappy to the point you wanna punch a puppy in the face. The townsfolk are almost too quaint and helpful, and of course, this is a Nicholas Sparks novel, meaning at some point a lovestruck couple will end up kissing in the rain. In spite of its "Choke on all the warm fuzziness!" demeanor, this had the potential to at least avoid not just this list, but even the "D" rating section... Then that big reveal during the ending reared its ugly head and actually had me say out loud, "You gotta be fucking kidding." I'm almost tempted to tell you to rent it just so you can see for yourself... Nah, you better not.
3) 21 & Over: D- (½★)
This has to be one of the dumbest storylines I've seen in years. How exactly, even at your drunkest, do you manage to forget where one of your friends lives? That doesn't make great comedy. That makes the main characters really shitty friends. The only reason it avoids being the worst is that at one point I laughed. That might have been a sneeze though.
2) The Last Exorcism Part II: F (0 stars)
Oddly named title aside, it's rare for a horror film - even a shitty one - to put me to sleep. There are no scares, no thrills, no creeps, hell, you start to wonder if the film even has a pulse. I'm all for horror films that can show restraint. I love horror films that can show restraint, but at least build up to a thrilling climax. The first film was a pleasant surprise for me. This film, however, is completely unnecessary.
1) Scary Movie V: F (0 stars)
Do I need to say anything here? Just watch the film trailer. That's all you need to see to realize how much of a crime against humanity this film really is. I laughed more through Schindler's List. Case closed.
Top 5 Best Films of 2013
5) The Place Beyond the Pines: A (★★★★)
With gorgeous, Oscar worthy cinematography, superb performances, brilliant direction and a beautiful score, The Place Beyond the Pines had me engaged in its story from beginning to end. Ryan Gosling's never been better. Bradley Cooper continues to grow, and although I'm not the biggest Eva Mendes fan, she still gives one of her finest performances ever.
4) Sightseers: A (★★★★)
I'm a big fan of dry, British humor and this film had me laughing non-stop throughout its dark and twisted tale of a couple that clearly reaches their breaking point during a vacation. I had no idea who director Ben Wheatley was before this film. Now that I've seen Sightseers, it has definitely got me interested in seeing some of his previous efforts.
3) Man of Steel: A (★★★★)
No, it's not the best film of the year, but like I was gonna be, "Best film of the year or bust!". Besides, is the third best spot really all that bad? Featuring a uniformly gifted cast (kudos to casting directors Kristy Carlson and Lora Kennedy), a mesmerizing score by Hans Zimmer and an origin story (Which Superman Returns should've done, yet failed to do) that showcases Snyder's visual pizazz and Goyer's beautifully moving story, Man of Steel is the best Superman film since 1981's Superman II.
2) This Is the End: A (★★★★)
Hands down the funniest movie of 2013, I literally laughed from the opening scene to the end credits. Not one single star is off limits from having their persona torn to shreds. There's at least a dozen different cameo appearances, and I certainly won't be able to watch Hermione from the Harry Potter series the same ever again.
1) Mud: A+ (★★★★)
Matthew McConaughey could possibly - and deservedly so - earn a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his heartfelt performance in the year's best film so far. Set along the Mississippi River Mud centers on two young boys who discover a man in the woods who simply calls himself "Mud". Despite finding out that Mud once killed a man to protect a woman he loves and is on the run from the law, the boys go out of their way to help him escape. It's both moving and sentimental, yet never even comes close to being sappy. The performances are fantastic. McConaughey and Tye Sheridan - as the young boy Ellis - have a great chemistry together. The cinematography is exquisite, and Jeff Nichols's story and direction are perfect. If it is still playing at a theater near you, I can't recommend this film enough.
Well, that's all for my mid-year recap. There's still have half a year left, so those top best and worst lists can certainly change by then. Here's to a great remainder of the year for film.
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