Ten Best Films of 2013

(As Seen in the Cinema)

1) Silver Linings Playbook directed by David O. Russell

Russell follows up the Oscar wining film The Fighter with another Oscar truimph Silver Linings Playbook giving Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence a chance to show their true acting talents. Lawrence won an Oscar for Best Actress while Robert de Niro, Chris Tucker and Jacki Weaver round out a brilliant family orientated yet quirky film.

2) Les Miserables directed by Tom Hooper

Oscar winning director Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) draws together another Oscar heavy big screen adaptation of the Hit Broadway Musical Les Miserables based upon the  Victor Hugo novel featuring some fantastic sets and brilliant performances by Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman and of course Anne Hathaway who won an Oscar in 2013 for Best Supporting Actress.

3) Argo directed by Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck taut hostage drama about the evacuation of American diplomats from a Canadian embassy in Tehran during the last days of the Shah before the Iranian Revolution is riveting and utterly superb, no wonder this film won 2013’s Best Picture. Highly Recommended viewing and definitely won of the best films ever.

4) Zero Dark Thirty directed by Kathryn Bigelow

Following her win as director for the superb Iraqi war drama The Hurt Locker, Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal unravel the dark and relentless pursuit of Osama Bin Laden over a 10 year time span mainly in the Middle East and Pakistan. Jessica Chastain should have won an Oscar for her role but Lawrence beat her too it.

5) Hitchcock directed by Sacha Gervasi

Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren team up for this sassy tale about the making of the hit Horror film Psycho by master of macabre Alfred Hitchcock. A fabulously witty story about love, rage and lust set against old Hollywood glamour featuring Scarlett Johanssen as Janet Leigh and Jessica Biel as Vera Miles.

6) The Great Gatsby directed by Baz Luhrmann

Australian director Luhrmann updates the 70s film version of the classic F. Scott Fitzgerald novel with a brash 21st century makeover, featuring gorgeous costumes by Prada, stunning sets and lavish parties – A contender for a Best Costume Oscar at the 2014 Oscars. Behind the gloss and glamour, the acting is hardly noticeable. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan.

7) The Reluctant Fundamentalist directed by Mira Nair

Although not noticed by the critics, Nair’s handsome adaptation of the novel by Mohsin Hamid is a riveting, fascinating and elegantly told international thriller mainly set in America and Pakistan helped by superb performances by Kate Hudson, Kevin Bacon and Liev Schrieber.

8) Pacific Rim directed by Guillermo del Toro

Pan’s Labyrinth director del Toro brings a lavish and imaginative take on the war between machines and aliens which affect the countries of the Pacific Rim. Featuring an all star international cast including Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam and Japanese actress Rinko Kikuchi from Babel fame.

9) Rush directed by Ron Howard

From the Oscar winning team that brought viewers Frost/Nixon, director Howard and screenwriter Peter Morgan delve into the fast paced world of formula one made even more sexy as Rush is set in the swinging seventies. Featuring a stand out performance by Daniel Bruhl as Austrian racing car driver Nikki Lauder whose acting was recognized by the Golden Globes but not by the Oscars for 2014.

10) The Butler directed by Lee Daniels

Forest Whitaker gives a brilliant performance as a Butler who serves several American Presidents in controversial director Lee Daniels tribute to the American Civil Rights movement. Also featuring wonderful performances by Oprah Winfrey and David Oyelewo amongst a host of veteran actors including Jane Fonda and Vanessa Redgrave. Sadly The Butler was released too close to the more critically acclaimed film 12 Years a Slave so it  lost out on any 2014 Oscar Nominations.