Top 10 Films of 2013

The Crimson Arts board presents its cinematic favorites of the year.

1. Gravity

"Gravity" is not your typical action movie. It excels because it is delicate: the film emphasizes the frailty of human life, the ironic isolation in the vastness of space, and the limits of human endurance. Noteworthy are the beautiful shots of Earth and the convincing depiction of the main character, Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock), as she fights for her life in zero gravity.

In what may be her most accomplished and serious performances since "Crash," Bullock carries the film both through both moments of terror and temporary reprieve, while the effortless lightness of the beautiful camera angles and visual architecture of the film belies its meticulous construction.

If any criticism can be made, it is that "Gravity" comes tantalizingly close to realism only to have this realism undercut by a few logical inconsistencies. For the most part, though, "Gravity" is simultaneously a serious artistic achievement and a joy to watch, soaring above other 2013 films in its nuance and style. —Ola Topczewska

2. 12 Years A Slave

"12 Years a Slave" is an excruciating film to watch. It’s a worry-your-lip, dig-your-nails-into-your-arm, squirm-in-your-seat sort of film. Which is exactly as it should be. This is director Steve McQueen’s specialty: to pick a subject so painful, so dehumanizing, that it cannot be treated but with his own aesthetically stunning flavor of brutality. As in McQueen’s prior films, Michael Fassbender is the core of the film’s intensity; he manages to keep his performance as the cruel slave owner Epps realistic despite the character’s insanity, and thus represents perhaps the most troubling part of the film. "12 Years a Slave" lingers, long after Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) escapes his bondage and the theater lights come back on. This is exactly what McQueen wants—his subject deserves this brand of haunting imagery, and his skillful direction ensures it will not leave the minds of his viewers easily. —Grace E. Huckins

3. Star Trek Into Darkness

This summer, the phasers of "Star Trek" were definitely set to stun. For fans of the franchise’s 2009 reboot, "Star Trek Into Darkness" was a necessary nod to one of the baddest villains in the history of the series and a welcome departure from its predecessor’s light-hearted tone. "Into Darkness" initiates this tonal shift without delay; the movie opens with a terrorist attack in London and a threat to the life of a Starfleet officer minutes afterward. Instead of watching Kirk take another joyride on the Enterprise, viewers now get to watch him make ethically complicated decisions, the results of which have profound implications for the other characters. Benedict Cumberbatch executes his portrayal of the ruthless Khan with chilling intensity, which helps to drive the film into a much more sophisticated (and darker) domain. —Charlotte D. Smith

3. Pacific Rim

Trailers for "Pacific Rim" promised a "Transformers"-like tale of mechanical warfare, so one could be forgiven for assuming the film would serve up action at the expense of relatability. Propelled by its irresistible sense of fun and lighthearted take on the action genre, however, "Pacific Rim" became one of the most surprising hits of the summer, proving these preconceptions wrong.

In this over-the-top yet consistently enjoyable film, humanity must fight for its existence against monsters called kaijus. To contain the assault, a pan-Pacific government resurrects the "Jaeger" program: gigantic robots, controlled by two mentally linked pilots, who just may have the strength to send the monsters back to hell. Led by convincingly stoic actors Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi, and Idris Elba, this film is pure joy from start to finish. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy director Guillermo del Toro’s ride. —Leanna B. Ehrlich

3. The Great Gatsby

An adaptation of a classic novel is never an easy undertaking, and Baz Luhrmann rose to the challenge with his film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s "The Great Gatsby." With its CGI cityscapes of an earlier New York City, realistic sets that recall the Prohibition era, masterful camerawork, and purposefully anachronistic soundtrack combining 1920s-era groove with modern-day rap and R&B, the film is a sensory explosion. "The Great Gatsby"—framed as a memoir narrated from the point of view of the protagonist, Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire), as he sits in a sanitorium—quickly draws the audience into the world of East Egg and West Egg, enticed by the mysterious Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio).

The best scene in the film comes at the end, as Gatsby, coming to terms with his own illusions, shatters both physically and emotionally when a bullet tears through his chest. The close-up shot of DiCaprio’s anguish is piercing—a sudden crash into the pool, capping the film with a bone-chilling note. In addition to the fantastic directing and camerawork, the supporting cast is equally captivating, and Luhrmann does a fantastic job exploring the depths of each character’s psyche. —Soyoung Kim

6. Fruitvale Station

In 2009, when 22-year-old Oscar Grant lost his life early on New Year’s Day at the hands of a Bay Area Rapid Transit Police officer, then-film student Ryan Coogler knew he had to respond. His first feature film, "Fruitvale Station," which was released this summer after stealing the show at Sundance, is an intimate chronicle of the last 24 hours of Grant’s life, an 85-minute portrait of a man who, despite dabbling in drug dealing and cheating on his girlfriend, was nonetheless loved by his struggling family. There’s little suspense—a real cell phone video of the tragedy kicks off the film—but no lack of power; the fictionalized Grant may be overly sympathetic, but embodied by rising star Michael B. Jordan, the young man is perfectly believable and heartbreakingly human. —Tree A. Palmedo

7. Blue Jasmine

A modern reimagining of the Tennessee Williams play "A Streetcar Named Desire," Woody Allen’s "Blue Jasmine" features an ensemble cast that highlights Cate Blanchett in one of the strongest performances of the year. Blanchett channels her previous stage experience as Blanche DuBois in the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s 2009 production of "Streetcar" as she plays Jeannette Francis, a formerly wealthy New York socialite who moves to San Francisco to rebuild her life with her sister. Jeannette struggles to reconcile her sister Ginger’s (Sally Hawkins) blue-collar existence with the once glamorous lifestyle she led alongside her husband Hal (Alec Baldwin), a cunning Wall Street businessman. Through Blanchett’s compelling depiction of Jasmine’s neurosis, Allen forges into new territory, exploring issues of contemporary class conflict in a post-recession society. —Alan R. Xie

8. Warm Bodies

"Warm Bodies" seemed like just another "Twilight": an absurd romance combined with a classic horror monster. However, the film manages to transform the traditional Romeo-and-Juliet storyline into a genuinely humorous "zomcom" (zombie romantic comedy). Instead of falling flat—the film’s plotline is certainly the corniest of the year—the zombie R’s self-deprecating internal monologue is, in fact, hilarious and helps the movie to embrace its ridiculous premise. It’s a hipster dream come true: an eclectic soundtrack, an absurd storyline with just enough irony, and self-aware zombies struggling with internal guilt. "Warm Bodies" doesn’t just ride the zombie wave of 2013—it gives the zombie movement a heart. —Devony B. Schmidt

8. The Spectacular Now

The story of "The Spectacular Now" is nothing new: popular boy falls for unpopular girl. It’s a plot that has either entertained or underwhelmed audiences for ages. But where this adaptation of Tim Tharp’s young adult novel succeeds is in the electric chemistry between the two leads, a result of their brilliant acting. Miles Teller plays hard-partying high school senior Sutter Keely with enough genuine charm and warmth that you can’t help but root for him. Shailene Woodley, a fantastically gifted actress (see: "The Descendants"), stars as the unconventionally attractive geek Aimee Finicky (she wears her hair in a ponytail! She doesn’t wear make-up! She reads!) The film also defies genre conventions by having the two deal with issues of drugs, sex, alcohol, and family without coming off as melodramatic or, worse, preachy. "The Spectacular Now" is poignant and effortlessly funny—a rare, relatable story of young love. —Aaron H. Aceves

8. Spring Breakers

It’s not at all surprising that Vanessa Hudgens and Selena Gomez would star in a raucous vacation comedy. It’s similarly unsurprising that Harmony Korine would make a film touching on drug use, murder, and alienation. What’s surprising is that "Spring Breakers" is both of those films. What’s shocking is that it’s one of the best films of 2013.

Korine’s earlier films were sustained experiments in discomfort; "Spring Breakers," though no less concerned with the seedier side of human life, is an unabashedly enjoyable picture. One can’t help but relish James Franco’s bizarre turn as lowlife Alien, the dazzlingly hazy cinematography, or the fact that this is the only American film in recent memory that pairs violent robbery with Britney Spears’s "Everytime." —Petey E. Menz

Staff writer Ola Topczewska can be reached at ola.topczewska@thecrimson.com. Staff writer Grace E. Huckins can be reached at grace.huckins@thecrimson.com. Staff writer Charlotte D. Smith can be reached at charlotte.smith@thecrimson.com. Staff writer Leanna B. Ehrlich can be reached at leanna.ehrlich@thecrimson.com. Staff writer Soyoung Kim can be reached at soyoung.kim@thecrimson.com. Staff writer Tree A. Palmedo can be reached at tree.palmedo@thecrimson.com. Staff writer Alan R. Xie can be reached at alan.xie@thecrimson.com. Staf writer Devony B. Schmidt can be reached at devony.schmidt@thecrimson.com. Staff writer Aaron. H Aceves can be reached at aaronaceves2693@gmail.com. Staff writer Petey E. Menz can be reached at petey.menz@thecrimson.com.