User blog comment:PlantyThePottedPlant/Random Topic Blogging III: Blog Harder/@comment-4123215-20140101114510

Really early Top 10 of 2013, still have tons of movies to go, but this is my current Top Ten in case anyone wants to know what to check out.


 * 1) 1-4 are modern masterpieces


 * 1) 5-9 are fantastic, but slightly flawed films


 * 1) 10 is a very flawed, but still great film

1. Before Midnight - Richard Linklater (Modern classic, the third movie in a trilogy of possibly the best, most realistic, and yet most passionate romance ever told, in my opinion)

2. Circles - Srdan Golubovic (It's kind of an obscure Serbian movie, so I doubt you'll guys see it, but if you get the chance, check it out. Really dark writing, but feels triumphant, yet bittersweet at the end, making the audience overcome the emotional adversities the main characters did throughout)

3. Computer Chess - Andrew Bujalski (Really odd, but fascinating film about identity and progression of technology. It's funny, retro, thought-provoking, entertaining, and surreal)

4. The Great Beauty - Paolo Sorrentino (A satire of pompous life, but also an amazing film about art and beauty, what makes art and beauty, and why)

5. Prisoners - Denis Villeneuve (One of the best up-and-coming directors out there, Denis makes a suspensful, interesting, and disturbing film. It's probably one of the most flawed films on the list, but I still found it the fifth best)

6. Blue is the Warmest Color - Abdellatif Kechiche (Outstanding character arc, as well as just an overall amazing romance. Don't let the controversy fool you, this is one of the best)

7. Don Jon - Joseph Gordon Levitt (Extremely accessible film, which means you can watch and enjoy this movie whether you're just looking for a funny comedy, or if you want a quality film all-around. The characters are all fully fleshed out, the comedy works, and it really has you questioning a lot of stuff, like if the protaginist is looking for love, or if he's even a good guy.)

8. Blackfish - Gabriela Cowperthwaite (Extremely informative, and hard-hitting documentary about SeaWorld and their treatment of killer whales. It's a bit too biased at times, being too obvious in its persuasiveness, but it's still definitely worth checking out. ON NETFLIX

9. Side Effects - Steven Soderbergh (Well acted, unique thriller with a lot of twists keeping you on the edge of your seat. Apparently Steven's last film, but at least he went out on a high note. ON NETFLIX

10. Fruitvale Station - Ryan Coogler (While I feel the film is way too suger-coated in the way it portrays the protaganist, the rest of the film is great, the performances all work, the idea itself is great, showing the last day of a victim of such a random tragedy, and at just under an hour and thirty minutes, it's paced extremely well.

Honorable Mentions: Europa Report (ON NETFLIX), Gravity

Movies that Weren't Good Enough: Upstream Color (Good movie, but too distant for its themes about cycles and connections to really sink in), Oz: The Great and Powerful (Heartfelt and creative, but follows too many cliches and aims for lower demographics when it should aim for all), Rush (Niki Lauda was portrayed well, and the action scenes were good, but James Hunt was annoying and generic, and the film didn't really have many moments for us to really connect with him. And the fact he's one of the two main protaganists is irritating)

I'll be checking out more movies soon so I can have an even better list.