We'll concede off the top that "best" isn't exactly a scientific term. It depends who you ask. Then of course not all the contenders are in. And we admit we still haven't caught the second part of The Hobbit yet. So, a little hedging of one's bets is called for.
I'm guessing though that - having been produced pretty much simultaneously with the first part - it will share the initial installment's charms and weaknesses: more fresh humor than you'd expect, but maybe just a little too loud. LOTR did a good job for the most part of keeping the right balance between action adventure and introspective soul search. The first part of the Hobbit leaned too far into the action genre. We remain hopeful though that part 2 will redeem the franchise. But we'll see.
Between though what's been released and what our secret sources have given us access to ahead of the gen-pop, we feel comfortable in declaring for the best movies of 2013 - or, more precisely, the best movie! One criterion of course is to let the people have their say. They vote with their hard earned dollars and that at least deserves honorable mention.
So, in a sop to populism, we will acknowledge that in this category the winner is Iron Man 3. This morning Box Office Mojo had it listed as running up into the territory of $410 million Shekels in box office grosses. And, I can't resist just a brief digression of personal amazement. Honestly, who ever would have predicted that the protagonist of The Pick-Up Artist and Two Girls and a Guy, or the persona of Larry Paul from Ally McBeal , would be the superhero star of a megabuck action franchise? Well, sure fooled me. That's almost as nuts as little Tobey Maguire being the superhero star of a megabuck action franchise. And that could never happen, right?
Well, be all that as it may, this movie watchdog is no democracy. We've got our own idiosyncratic ways of choosing the best movies. And behinds-in-seats is not it. I certainly would be sympathetic you anyone who insisted that the delightful and intriguing Sound City in fact deserved the honors. This great documentary reveals the story behind the story, giving us the scoop on one of the best kept secrets in American popular culture. Hidden away in the San Fernando Valley, amid ramshackle warehouses, an extraordinary studio, with amazing technical capacities, became a recording shrine for iconic names among American pop and rock musicians.
From Fleetwood Mac and Neil Young to Nirvana and Metallica, they came to refine their sound. The story is told through the experience many of the iconic musicians that found and benefited from the acoustic magic. No arguing that this film is a great experience. It's highly recommended, but, come on, now. You know we're not so namby-pamby as to declare a documentary as our best movie of the year.
No, rather, we're leading the charge, ahead of the curve, throwing down the gauntlet: declaring that soul scorching flick, Le Week-End as our the best movie of the year. Don't freak out, it's not some obtuse foreign film (that would be as bad as naming a doc best movie). The Frenchified title points to the film's location, in Paris. It's there that we find a British couple in the throes of marital ennui. They are fantastically portrayed by still astoundingly gorgeous Lindsay Duncan and the painfully dowdy Jim Broadbent.
It would be a shame to give too much away. The dialogue is too die for, with all its bite and subtle insinuation. Let's just say, if you enjoyed Richard Linklater's Before Sunset series, just try picturing the barbs and retorts that might be forthcoming from Jesse and Celine in the twilight of their relationship. Then you'll have some idea.
Also in need of special recognition is the magnificent supporting performance of Jeff Goldblum. In the twilight of his career he has become something of a master at there richly textured, ambiguous character roles. The one in Le Week-End doesn't rival his darkly menacing portrayal in Igby Goes Down, but it's a memorable performance. Indeed, I suspect it is one we'll all look back upon fondly when reflecting on the tall guy's great career.
And so, now you know, the die is cast, the truth is told, our favorite for 2013 is revealed. Or, anyway, that's our story and we're sticking to it. Unquestionably, there were some other excellent offerings, which have received a well deserved not. Le Week-End, with its dark and brooding, funny and cruel, rich dialogue, that scorches the soul even as it may well up a tear or two, is our pick for the best of the best movies of 2013. If you think we're wrong, let us know why.
I'm guessing though that - having been produced pretty much simultaneously with the first part - it will share the initial installment's charms and weaknesses: more fresh humor than you'd expect, but maybe just a little too loud. LOTR did a good job for the most part of keeping the right balance between action adventure and introspective soul search. The first part of the Hobbit leaned too far into the action genre. We remain hopeful though that part 2 will redeem the franchise. But we'll see.
Between though what's been released and what our secret sources have given us access to ahead of the gen-pop, we feel comfortable in declaring for the best movies of 2013 - or, more precisely, the best movie! One criterion of course is to let the people have their say. They vote with their hard earned dollars and that at least deserves honorable mention.
So, in a sop to populism, we will acknowledge that in this category the winner is Iron Man 3. This morning Box Office Mojo had it listed as running up into the territory of $410 million Shekels in box office grosses. And, I can't resist just a brief digression of personal amazement. Honestly, who ever would have predicted that the protagonist of The Pick-Up Artist and Two Girls and a Guy, or the persona of Larry Paul from Ally McBeal , would be the superhero star of a megabuck action franchise? Well, sure fooled me. That's almost as nuts as little Tobey Maguire being the superhero star of a megabuck action franchise. And that could never happen, right?
Well, be all that as it may, this movie watchdog is no democracy. We've got our own idiosyncratic ways of choosing the best movies. And behinds-in-seats is not it. I certainly would be sympathetic you anyone who insisted that the delightful and intriguing Sound City in fact deserved the honors. This great documentary reveals the story behind the story, giving us the scoop on one of the best kept secrets in American popular culture. Hidden away in the San Fernando Valley, amid ramshackle warehouses, an extraordinary studio, with amazing technical capacities, became a recording shrine for iconic names among American pop and rock musicians.
From Fleetwood Mac and Neil Young to Nirvana and Metallica, they came to refine their sound. The story is told through the experience many of the iconic musicians that found and benefited from the acoustic magic. No arguing that this film is a great experience. It's highly recommended, but, come on, now. You know we're not so namby-pamby as to declare a documentary as our best movie of the year.
No, rather, we're leading the charge, ahead of the curve, throwing down the gauntlet: declaring that soul scorching flick, Le Week-End as our the best movie of the year. Don't freak out, it's not some obtuse foreign film (that would be as bad as naming a doc best movie). The Frenchified title points to the film's location, in Paris. It's there that we find a British couple in the throes of marital ennui. They are fantastically portrayed by still astoundingly gorgeous Lindsay Duncan and the painfully dowdy Jim Broadbent.
It would be a shame to give too much away. The dialogue is too die for, with all its bite and subtle insinuation. Let's just say, if you enjoyed Richard Linklater's Before Sunset series, just try picturing the barbs and retorts that might be forthcoming from Jesse and Celine in the twilight of their relationship. Then you'll have some idea.
Also in need of special recognition is the magnificent supporting performance of Jeff Goldblum. In the twilight of his career he has become something of a master at there richly textured, ambiguous character roles. The one in Le Week-End doesn't rival his darkly menacing portrayal in Igby Goes Down, but it's a memorable performance. Indeed, I suspect it is one we'll all look back upon fondly when reflecting on the tall guy's great career.
And so, now you know, the die is cast, the truth is told, our favorite for 2013 is revealed. Or, anyway, that's our story and we're sticking to it. Unquestionably, there were some other excellent offerings, which have received a well deserved not. Le Week-End, with its dark and brooding, funny and cruel, rich dialogue, that scorches the soul even as it may well up a tear or two, is our pick for the best of the best movies of 2013. If you think we're wrong, let us know why.
About the Author:
Mickey Jhonny regularly writes on television and popular culture. Learn about a popular culture phenomenon in his great piece on The Walking Dead Fanfiction.
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