We here at Hypable like movies (shocker!). The year has had highs and lows, but here are our selections for the best movies of 2013.
To send out the year with a bang, we asked several members of the Hypable staff to share their favorite film of 2013. Their answers were as varied as the staff themselves, so odds are one of your favorite films made the list too.
For each film we explain why it was our top pick and avoided repeats. We’d love to hear which film is your favorite in the comments, and don’t forget to vote in the 2013 Hypable Awards to tell us which fandoms were the best of 2013!
Louie Schuth – ‘The Way Way Back’
When I first watched The Way Way Back, I instantly knew that, for me, it was a timeless classic. The team of Nat Faxon and Jim Rash won me over with their Oscar winning The Descendants script, and their work here not only as screenwriters but as co-directors too was a natural progression. The script is expertly written. It’s filled with jokes that work even better on repeat viewings, and it really does make you want to go way, way back too. Though it’s filled with tremendous performances, Sam Rockwell’s performance as the head of the water park is not only the best in the film, but it might be the best in Rockwell’s career as well.
Joshua Nealey – ‘Gravity’
Gravity was one of 2013’s best films. After six years of development and production, Alfonso Cuarón proved that he could deliver an Oscar-worthy film. One of Sandra Bullock’s best performances in years was paralleled with unrivaled CGI and wire work that took years to perfect. The logistics of filming a zero gravity environment was impossible enough, but the cast and crew were also able to put incredible amount of heart in one of this year’s greatest films, which just so happened to be the most difficult to make.
Jeremy Baril – ‘The World’s End’
The World’s End is phenomenal on multiple levels: it’s a tragic tale with meaningful themes and questions masked under the guise of a hilarious, unbelievably entertaining story of a pub crawl turned into an alien invasion. There is so much to explore here, whether it’s the writing and its endless amount of foreshadowing and thematic tension, or the ever-brilliant direction from Edgar Wright, you’ll want to watch this again and again to fully appreciate the true nature of The World’s End.
Andrew Sims – ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’
Many wondered: Will there ever be another Harry Potter? Although no series will ever again quite touch the magic brought by J.K. Rowling, The Hunger Games series may be the closest modern comparison. Catching Fire entered theaters with critics fawning over The Hunger Games sequel thanks to its rock solid storytelling and wonderful acting. Add to that the fans being thrilled about the loyal adaptation from book to screen, and you have one huge hit on your hands. It’s the best movie of the year not only because it was great, but also because it intrigued those who hadn’t read the source material. Despite the success, fans are still concerned about Lionsgate’s decision to split Mockingjay into two. Will they be able to create two more stories that are just as phenomenal?
Richard Reid – ‘Despicable Me 2’
2013, that unremarkable year that it was, faced two very major obstacles from the outset: No new Batman movie and no new Expendables movie, and quite frankly, things felt a bit rubbish as a result. I even took up knitting to deal with my grief. Okay, not really. But one film did reinstate my dreams of global domination (and the coolness that it entails) and that was Despicable Me 2. Also, turns out that to have a successful film, all you need is minions. Lots and lots of minions. And Despicable Me 2 had them aplenty; one can’t really find fault in that approach. It may have helped that I was in a bad mood when I watched it, and felt thoroughly cheered up by the end. Nonetheless, it’s safely scored a soft spot in my cold, dead heart which is more than any other film in 2013 managed.
Jimmy Bean – ‘Before Midnight’
Before Midnight is very rare film. It’s difficult for a film to so perfectly capture what it means to be in love, but Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy is unique in its ability to genuinely showcase the stages of true love in different ways. Although each movie is very similar in style and execution (the impossibly long walking/talking takes have become a trademark of the trilogy), each one is wildly different when it comes to the relationship between the two characters. In Before Sunrise they were new lovers who just met, in Before Sunset, we got to see them as dejected lovers forever chasing that one night and hoping to eventually catch up with each other. Before Midnight takes a bold move by catching up with them several years later into their relationship. They have two beautiful blonde girls, plenty of issues, and a knock-down drag-out fight that all loving couples will find hysterically familiar. When it all comes down to it, the entire series is about finding love in another person, even if it means rediscovering or even redefining what made it special in the first place.
Kristin LeMunyon – ‘The Great Gatsby’
After it’s release date was pushed back from December 2012, The Great Gatsby was undoubtedly one of the most anticipated films of 2013. A literary classic, Baz Luhrmann took a much different spin on this adaptation. His over-the-top set design and decision to use a modern musical soundtrack to the old tale gave The Great Gatsby a refreshing makeover. Choosing Leonardo DiCaprio star as Gatsby not only made the world even interested to see the film, but also was a brilliant decision because he had a phenomenal portrayal of the mysterious rich man. Set during the Roaring Twenties and Prohibition, the twisting of modern music, high level of detail, and stellar cast made The Great Gatsby was successful and a fun time at the movies.
Marco Cerritos – ‘12 Years a Slave’
No other film in 2013 has affected me as deeply as Steve McQueen’s period drama 12 Years A Slave. Tackling the brutality of slavery head-on, McQueen’s film is not for the faint or passive moviegoer yet remains a striking work of art that deserves the many accolades it has been awarded thus far. Chiwetel Ejiofor commands the screen in his portrayal of Solomon Northup, a free man living in antebellum New York who is captured and tricked into slavery. His initial defiance turns into inevitable submission and it is a heartbreaking experience to witness. Steve McQueen, Chiwetel Ejiofor along with supporting players Michael Fassbender and Lupita Nyong’o deserve to be acknowledged come Oscar time but regardless of the Academy’s stance, 12 Years a Slave is a passionate film that will stand the test of time.
Tariq Kyle – ‘We’re The Millers’
What looks to be a really cheesy, terrible film proved to by absolutely hysterical! One of the more creative comedies this year, Jennifer Anniston plays her part well as a stripper turned suburban mom and her chemistry with the rest of the cast was incredible. I didn’t expect to laugh as many times as I did, and even then I was expecting the only funny moments to be from the trailer, as with a lot of comedies these days, but you won’t be disappointed! Plan to laugh your ass off with this hysterical film about a fake family, and be sure to stay for the end credits because there’s a great blooper involving Anniston and a certain TV show’s theme song.
On page 2: This is the End, Kill Your Darlings, and six more.
Page 2: Hypable selects the best movies of 2013.
To send out the year with a bang, we asked several members of the Hypable staff to share their favorite film of 2013. Their answers were as varied as the staff themselves, so odds are one of your favorite films made the list too.
For each film we explain why it was our top pick and avoided repeats. We’d love to hear which film is your favorite in the comments, and don’t forget to vote in the 2013 Hypable Awards to tell us which fandoms were the best of 2013!
Kristina Lintz – ‘This is the End’
On the surface, This is the End looks like another stupid apocalypse film, boasting an all-star cast, and while it is silly and ridiculous, it’s also one of the strangely funniest films to come out this year. There was a no-holds back approach to the story – Emma Watson busting into James Franco’s barricaded house to steal some food? Sure. Channing Tatum in a cameo performance as Danny McBride’s leathered-up sex slave? Why not. The Backstreet Boys preforming in heaven when Jay Baruchel is the last of his friends to die in the apocalypse? The final moment in a snowballing hysterical finale that had us rolling with laughter. The cast acts as exaggerated versions of themselves, and it is evident that they all enjoyed making this film, which makes it that much more enjoyable for the viewers.
Karen Rought – ‘Iron Man 3’
The greatest thing about Iron Man 3 wasn’t the spectacular effects or the twist that no one saw coming, it was the development we saw in Tony’s character. It was amazing to finally see the human beneath the superhero. Stripped of his confidence after the events in New York, for the first time we really got to see what Tony Stark was made of. He had to rely on his wits instead of his technology, all to save the one person in the world that he cares more about than himself. A story like this was a long time in the making, and it was even more rewarding because of it.
Mitchel Clow – ‘Side Effects’
Side Effects took what you expected after seeing its sister movie Contagion, and flipped that expectation on its head. Rooney Mara plays an intricate doe-eyed and chronically depressed Emily, remolding everything you’d perceived about the actress from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. On top of Mara’s phenomenal performance, the plot of Side Effects grabs you, strokes your soul for a bit, and then proceeds to violently shake you for the remaining 60 minutes. Do yourself a favor, and don’t miss what is arguably 2013’s best mystery-thriller.
Kristen Kranz – ‘Rush’
Rush tells the story of Formula One racers James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Nikki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl) and outlines their lives as men in the racing community in the midst of their heated rivalry throughout the 1976 season. While the racing in this movie is superb, the real story lies in the race these men run off the track. Their lives could not be more different, but their goal is the same. They both understand risk, but decide it differently. Lauda is calculating and precise in his every move, whereas Hunt relies on his guy instincts to keep him alive. This thrilling biopic of two men that lead drastically different lives while working the same tracks week in and week out will stun you. The performances from this cast keep you invested in the true story unfolding on screen. If you didn’t get a chance to catch Rush in theaters, I highly recommend checking it out when it hits DVD and Blu-ray in January 2014. You won’t be disappointed.
Ariana Quiñónez – ‘Instructions Not Included’
Written and directed by the Mexican comedy star Eugenio Derbez, Instructions Not Included is a heartbreakingly hilarious film starring Derbez as Valentín, an Acapulco playboy forced to assume responsibility of his American daughter when she is left on his doorstep. Loreto Peralta is flawless as Valentin’s spunky blonde and blue-eyed daughter, Maggie. Her comedic timing rivals Derbez, and her shockingly perfect Spanish and English reminds us that there is an entire subsection of America that glides between two cultural worlds. A bilingual film requiring subtitles for both English and Spanish-speaking audiences, Instructions Not Included shattered box office records in the United States and Mexico by giving an underserved community exactly what it wanted: to laugh, to cry, to embrace love, life, and familia.
Natalie Fisher – ‘About Time’
Confusion would be a valid response upon hearing that the latest project from Richard Curtis – the beloved writer/director of Notting Hill, Love Actually, and Four Weddings and a Funeral – is a film about time travel. But About Time is a masterpiece, ticking every box for a perfect Curtis romantic comedy – love, death, family, a focus on the little things in life, a dopey leading man, and beautiful on-location English scenery – with the fantastical element hardly seeming out of place at all. When Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) learns from his father (Bill Nighy) that the men in their family have the ability to travel back in time, his life is, understandably, somewhat changed. After a few do-overs, he gets together with Mary (Rachel McAdams) and learns how best to use his unique ability to help himself and his loved ones. About Time is one for the ages – an indescribably beautiful and surprisingly realistic look at this science-fiction concept, and it may just be Curtis’s best film yet.
Marama Whyte – ‘Kill Your Darlings’
Kill Your Darlings is a hugely engaging vehicle for a standout cast. This is Daniel Radcliffe in his best post-Potter role to date, as hopeful poet Allen Ginsberg. However, it is Dane DeHaan who steals the movie, with a mesmerising performance as Ginsberg’s college friend, Lucien Carr. The poetry that was so tied to the Beat generation (which included Ginsberg, Carr and their friends Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs) is cleverly reflected in the script, which avoids the pretention it could so easily drift into. Even better, the film maintains its aesthetic and direction while remaining largely factual – a rare feat in the plethora of films “based on a true story.”
Harry the Hypable Hippo – ‘Monsters University’
Monsters University was easily the best movie this year, but do you know what would have made it better? ME. I don’t know if I’m really supposed to talk about this or not, but I was originally in the movie. I mean, I didn’t even know that Pixar had cut me out until I saw the film on opening night for myself. There I was, sitting with my brothers Larry, Jerry, Terry, and Gary, and my sisters Mary, Carey, and Elizabeth, and before I knew it the whole movie was over and they had cut my scenes out! But, as you know, hippos don’t hold grudges. Even though I would have made it better, it’s still the best movie of the year.