Eclectic 2013
by ajp-sheppard | created - 21 Dec 2013 | updated - 22 Feb 2014 | PublicEclectic selection of films viewed in 2013
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1. A Christmas Story (1983)
PG | 93 min | Comedy, Family
In the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie Parker attempts to convince his parents, teacher, and Santa Claus that a Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun really is the perfect Christmas gift.
Director: Bob Clark | Stars: Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin, Scott Schwartz
Votes: 168,570 | Gross: $20.61M
9/10 Superior family comedy
2. The Book of Eli (2010)
R | 118 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A drifter fights his way across a ravaged, post-apocalyptic America while protecting a sacred book that holds the secrets to humanity's salvation.
Directors: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes | Stars: Denzel Washington, Mila Kunis, Ray Stevenson, Gary Oldman
Votes: 339,059 | Gross: $94.84M
4.5/10 Over the top and a bit of a bore
3. Fracture (2007)
R | 113 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
After shooting his wife, Ted confesses his crime and asks the court to move his case to trial. He represents himself against Willy, a successful lawyer. But there's more to the case than meets the eye.
Director: Gregory Hoblit | Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling, David Strathairn, Rosamund Pike
Votes: 218,720 | Gross: $39.02M
5/10 Disapponting use of the talents of Hopkins & Gosling, not as clever as it thinks
4. Wolf Children (2012)
PG | 117 min | Animation, Drama, Family
After her werewolf lover unexpectedly dies in an accident while hunting for food for their children, a young woman must find ways to raise the werewolf son and daughter that she had with him while keeping their trait hidden from society.
Director: Mamoru Hosoda | Stars: Aoi Miyazaki, Takao Osawa, Haru Kuroki, Yukito Nishii
Votes: 49,403
9/10 One of the best animations I've seen with an intelligent thoughtful narrative. Captures a fluidity of movement combined with a beautiful score.
5. Gravity (2013)
PG-13 | 91 min | Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Dr Ryan Stone, an engineer on her first time on a space mission, and Matt Kowalski, an astronaut on his final expedition, have to survive in space after they are hit by debris while spacewalking.
Director: Alfonso Cuarón | Stars: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris, Orto Ignatiussen
Votes: 862,688 | Gross: $274.09M
8/10 visually stunning, superior minimalistic sci-fi with more than a nod to Kubrick's 2001 SO.
6. Sweetwater (2013)
R | 95 min | Thriller, Western
In the late 1800s, a fanatical religious leader, a renegade Sheriff, and a former prostitute collide in a blood triangle on the rugged plains of the New Mexico Territory.
Directors: Logan Miller, Noah Miller | Stars: Ed Harris, January Jones, Jason Isaacs, Eduardo Noriega
Votes: 6,442
6/10 Unusual western but let down by ham-fisted characterization
7. Captain Phillips (2013)
PG-13 | 134 min | Action, Biography, Crime
The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the U.S.-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years.
Director: Paul Greengrass | Stars: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman, Catherine Keener
Votes: 492,109 | Gross: $107.10M
9/10 one of the best of 2013. Compelling, gripping, tense with a multi-layered subtext.
8. The Beast of War (1988)
R | 111 min | Adventure, Drama, War
A Soviet tank and its warring crew become separated from their patrol and lost in an Afghan valley with a group of vengeance-seeking rebels on their tracks.
Director: Kevin Reynolds | Stars: George Dzundza, Jason Patric, Steven Bauer, Stephen Baldwin
Votes: 10,675 | Gross: $0.16M
7/10 Unusual depiction of obsession - shades of Moby Dick & Captain Ahab
9. Leviathan (I) (2012)
Not Rated | 87 min | Documentary
A documentary shot in the North Atlantic and focused on the commercial fishing industry.
Directors: Lucien Castaing-Taylor, Verena Paravel | Stars: Brian Jannelle, Adrian Guillette, Arthur Smith, Asterias Vulgaris
Votes: 3,788 | Gross: $1.09M
8/10 A surreal almost abstract depiction of deep sea fishing.
10. Out of the Furnace (2013)
R | 116 min | Action, Crime, Drama
When Rodney Baze mysteriously disappears and law enforcement doesn't follow through fast enough, his older brother Russell takes matters into his own hands to find justice.
Director: Scott Cooper | Stars: Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, Zoe Saldana, Woody Harrelson
Votes: 125,007 | Gross: $11.33M
7/10 Male identity is put to the test and explored in this downbeat tale of crime, physical abuse and exploitation. Great performances all round.
11. The Awakening (I) (2011)
R | 102 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
In 1921, England is overwhelmed by the loss and grief of World War I. Hoax exposer Florence Cathcart visits a boarding school to explain sightings of a child ghost. Everything she believes unravels as the 'missing' begin to show themselves.
Director: Nick Murphy | Stars: Rebecca Hall, Dominic West, Imelda Staunton, Lucy Cohu
Votes: 68,857
6/10 Satisfying period drama/ghostly tale - but it pales in comparison to "The Innocents"
12. Moon Man (2012)
TV-PG | 95 min | Animation, Sci-Fi
The gentle man on the moon is lonely and wants to dance and have fun with the people of Earth, but when he comes to Earth on a comet, he's mistaken for an invader and must find his way back home. Based on the beloved children's book.
Directors: Stephan Schesch, Sarah Clara Weber | Stars: Katharina Thalbach, Ulrich Tukur, Corinna Harfouch, Thomas Kästner
Votes: 492
6/10 Charming old-school animation but a bit one-dimensional and about 20 minutes too long.
13. Tony Manero (2008)
TV-MA | 97 min | Drama, Music
A man is obsessed with John Travolta's disco dancing character from Saturday Night Fever (1977).
Director: Pablo Larraín | Stars: Alfredo Castro, Amparo Noguera, Héctor Morales, Paola Lattus
Votes: 4,555
9/10 Absolutely fascinating and entertaining study of a sociopath whose obsession with the titular Saturday Night Fever film character is combined with a subtle subtext regarding the 1970's Chilean society.
14. Night Moves (1975)
R | 100 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Los Angeles private investigator Harry Moseby is hired by a client to find her runaway teenage daughter. Moseby tracks the daughter down, only to stumble upon something much more intriguing and sinister.
Director: Arthur Penn | Stars: Gene Hackman, Jennifer Warren, Edward Binns, Harris Yulin
Votes: 17,673
6/10 interesting 1970 detective - the narrative is somewhat secondary to the character portrayal dominated by Hackman. The slowish pace may not suit modern tastes.
15. American Hustle (2013)
R | 138 min | Crime, Drama
A con man, Irving Rosenfeld, along with his seductive partner Sydney Prosser, is forced to work for a wild F.B.I. Agent, Richie DiMaso, who pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and the Mafia.
Director: David O. Russell | Stars: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence
Votes: 500,088 | Gross: $150.12M
6/10 Entertaining & excellent performances from Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams and in particular Jenifer Lawrence, but overall stretches the boundary of credibility. Interesting fact: Robert De Niro is uncredited.
16. Black Snake Moan (2006)
R | 116 min | Drama, Music
A God-fearing bluesman takes to a wild young woman who, as a victim of childhood sexual abuse, looks everywhere for love, never quite finding it.
Director: Craig Brewer | Stars: Christina Ricci, Samuel L. Jackson, Justin Timberlake, S. Epatha Merkerson
Votes: 66,510 | Gross: $9.40M
6/10 starts out as an edgy B-style movie (reminding me a bit of a 70's Jacky Brown movie) but ultimately reaches a safe haven and stays there.
17. Blackfish (2013)
PG-13 | 83 min | Documentary
A documentary following the controversial captivity of killer whales, and its dangers for both humans and whales.
Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite | Stars: Tilikum, Dave Duffus, Samantha Berg, Dean Gomersall
Votes: 72,359 | Gross: $2.07M
9/10 riveting film dealing with Killer Whales caught and held in captivity. Deals in particular with one killer in the literal sense of the word, Tilikum. Educated me and changed my view on the treatment of these magnificent sentient animals.
18. The Candy Snatchers (1973)
R | 94 min | Crime, Thriller
A nonverbal autistic boy stumbles upon a teenage heiress who has been kidnapped by a trio of young psychopaths, who are intent on extorting diamonds from her stepfather.
Director: Guerdon Trueblood | Stars: Tiffany Bolling, Ben Piazza, Susan Sennett, Brad David
Votes: 1,750
8.5/10 Compelling B-style exploitation 70's crime drama. In terms of slease this one definitely delivers.
19. Oblivion (I) (2013)
PG-13 | 124 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
A veteran assigned to extract Earth's remaining resources begins to question what he knows about his mission and himself.
Director: Joseph Kosinski | Stars: Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Andrea Riseborough, Olga Kurylenko
Votes: 552,703 | Gross: $89.02M
7/10 Intelligent sci-fi adventure with Cruise on form; worth a second viewing.
20. Killing Zoe (1993)
R | 96 min | Crime, Thriller
The cab driver sets American Zed up with Zoe in his Paris hotel. Despite FFR1000 charged, she's an art student with day jobs e.g. bank. Safecracker Zed meets his junkie friend after 11 years to rob a bank.
Director: Roger Avary | Stars: Eric Stoltz, Julie Delpy, Martin Raymond, Eric Pascal Chaltiel
Votes: 21,404 | Gross: $0.42M
8.5/10 Witty, clever and unpredictable. A combination of an absolutely intense performance from Jean-Hugues Anglade and a understated, restrained performance from Eric Stolz combine to make a volatile and compelling crime drama.
21. Sons of Anarchy (2008–2014)
TV-MA | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A biker struggles to balance being a father and being involved in an outlaw motorcycle club.
Stars: Charlie Hunnam, Katey Sagal, Mark Boone Junior, Kim Coates
Votes: 322,981
5/10 Could have been great but ultimately disappointing...
22. Forbrydelsen (2007–2012)
TV-MA | 57 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Police detective Sarah Lund investigates difficult cases with personal and political consequences.
Stars: Sofie Gråbøl, Morten Suurballe, Lars Mikkelsen, Bjarne Henriksen
Votes: 30,138
7.5/10 high marks for excellent characterization but one of it's key strengths (those red herrings, plot twists etc) ultimately make it improbable in the extreme.
23. Breaking Bad (2008–2013)
TV-MA | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A chemistry teacher diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer turns to manufacturing and selling methamphetamine with a former student in order to secure his family's future.
Stars: Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, Betsy Brandt
Votes: 2,131,384
10/10 The best by a TV mile since the Sopranos...
24. The Child (2005)
R | 95 min | Crime, Drama, Romance
Bruno and Sonia, a young couple living off her benefit and the thefts committed by his gang, have a new source of money: their newborn son.
Directors: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne | Stars: Jérémie Renier, Déborah François, Jérémie Segard, Fabrizio Rongione
Votes: 19,392 | Gross: $0.65M
8/10 multiple shades of grey in this tale of a terrible dead which is followed by an ambiguous tale of atonement. Worth a second viewing.
25. We Are What We Are (2013)
R | 105 min | Drama, Horror, Thriller
The Parkers, a reclusive family who follow ancient customs, find their secret existence threatened as a torrential downpour moves into their area, forcing daughters Iris and Rose to assume responsibilities beyond those of a typical family.
Director: Jim Mickle | Stars: Bill Sage, Ambyr Childers, Julia Garner, Wyatt Russell
Votes: 22,108 | Gross: $0.08M
7/10 very effective slow burning creepy horror.
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