JEANNE'S TOP 10 FILMS OF 2013

 

1. 12 YEARS A SLAVE:  A magnificent film with brilliant acting and directing all around. 

 

2. BEFORE MIDNIGHT: By far the best-written film of the year --- Delpy and Hawke are still perfect together after all these years.

 

3. THE WOLF OF WALL STREET: Wild ride through the excesses of Wall Street. DiCaprio and Hill are off the charts.

 

4. BLUE JASMINE: Woody Allen keeps getting better and better, and Cate Blanchett is incredible.

 

5. THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG: Highly entertaining --- Benedict Cumberbatch is terrific as the voice of Smaug --- unbelievable special effects.

 

6. CAPTAIN PHILLIPS: Director Paul Greengrass brings this remarkable true story to life with outstanding performances by Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi.

 

7. ALL IS LOST: J.C. Chandor's tale of peril aboard the Virginia Jean is breathtaking, and Redford should have been nominated for Best Actor.

 

8. DALLAS BUYERS CLUB: Bravura performances by Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto --- beautifully directed by Jean Marc Vallee.

 

9. THE GREAT BEAUTY: Gorgeous ode to Rome and the sartorial splendor of one man-about-town novelist, Jep, played by Toni Sevillo, with masterful direction by Paolo Sorrentino.

 

10. THE GREAT GATSBY: A lush adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's timeless tale by Baz Luhrmann. Though Carey Mulligan was miscast, Leo DiCaprio makes up for it with his portrayal. 

 

HONORABLE MENTION 

 

DON JON, ENOUGH SAID, FRUITVAL STATION, GRAVITY, INSIDE LLEWN DAVIS, MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING,MUD,  PRISONERS, SAVINGS MR. BANKS, THE GRANDMASTER, THE WORLD'S ENDTHIS IS THE END, WHAT MAISIE KNEW, WORLD WAR Z

 

 

DAVID'S TOP 10 FILMS OF 2013

 

1. THE WOLF OF WALL STREET: One of Martin Scorsese's finest fims, it features the year's best performance by a male (Leonardo DiCaprio) and a second supporting Oscar nomination

for Jonah Hill.

 

2. CAPTAIN PHILLIPS: Despite us knowing the story's outcome, director Paul Greengrass ("United 93"), Tom Hanks in the title role, and four  Somali-born first-time actors keep us glued to the screen.

 

3. GRAVITY: A visual feast that you'll believe is taking place miles above the Earth. A must-see on an IMAX screen, or at least 3-D as a minimum.

 

4. THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG: Not to be redundant, but "The Hobbit" is as visually exciting as any film in recent years. Again, a must in 3-D, IMAX if possible.

 

5. PHILOMENA: An elderly woman decides to search for the son she was forced to abandon 50 years earlier. Based on a true story, Judi Dench and Steve Coogan become unlikely friends in this richly comic and beautifully acted drama.

 

6. DALLAS BUYERS CLUB: Matthew McConaughey soars as a 1985 Texas cowboy afflicted with AIDS. Co-star Jared Leto is the front runner for a Best Supporting Oscar.

 

7. BEFORE MIDNIGHT: The third in the series starring Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke, but this time there is trouble in paradise, as real-life problems threaten to

derail the dream couple.

 

8. NO PLACE ON EARTH: 38 Ukrainian refugees hide from the Nazis for 511 days in two underground caves. A true story, it's a compelling docu-drama re-enactment based on interviews with the four living survivors.

 

9. PRISONERS: A harrowing tale of child abduction and the desperation of one father to get his daughter back. Hugh Jackman is scarily effective and Jake Gyllenhaal is the calm voice of reason.

 

10. NEBRASKA: Bruce Dern's career-capping performance; he's a sullen old codger convinced he's won the lottery. Will Forte, surprisingly good, is his son who tries to keep everything together. June Squibb (an Oscar nominee) steals the show as Dern's wife.

 

 

 

HONORABLE MENTION

 

12 YEARS A SLAVE, A HIJACKING, ALL IS LOST, AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY,  BLUE JASMINE, THE COUNSELOR, DON JON, THE EAST, ENOUGH SAID, THE GREAT BEAUTY, HER, INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS, JACK THE GIANT SLAYER, MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM, MUDPAIN & GAIN, PARKLAND, RUSH,SAVING MR. BANKSSTAND-UP GUYS, THIS IS THE END WARM BODIES,THE WAY WAY BACK, WE'RE THE MILLERS, WHAT MAISIE KNEW, THE WORLD'S END, WORLD WAR Z