Trevor's Top Ten Films of 2013

by Trevor Kirkendall

I think the last time I had this much difficulty putting together a Top Ten List was probably about ten years ago. Seriously, how great of a year was 2013? Sure, there were plenty of bad movies that we don't even want to mention again, but that's the case every year. This year especially, there were so many great films that if I was to write out a Best Twenty List, I would still have a hard time narrowing down the final films to include. But alas, this is a Best Ten List so I will only mention ten movies. There were so many great technological advances in film this year, and it also seemed like the studios took an active interest in returning to the basics of designing a great story. There were so many great scripts turned into great movies this year. Some big name movies will probably be missing from my list. It's not that I didn't like them; it's just there was an abundance of greatness this year, especially from the studios. Here are my picks for the ten best films of 2013, followed by my individual awards.

10. Upstream Color

Shane Carruth comforts Amy Seimetz in UPSTREAM COLOR

Shane Carruth’s sophomore feature is a visually stunning and sonically engaging story of a man and a woman brought together through bizarre circumstances. The story is designed to confuse the audience just like its characters. One part romance, one part science fiction, “Upstream Color” is reminiscent of the early films of David Lynch. To a degree, it even looks a little like some of the more recent work of Terrence Malick but with much less whispered voice over narration. It contains some of the best uses of sound I've ever heard in a low budget independent film. Amy Seimetz puts on a powerful performance as Kris, a woman struggling to make sense of the strange circumstances that caused her to lose valuable parts of her memory. The film is cerebral and almost dream-like in its presentation. It’s masterfully done.

9. The Wolf of Wall Street

Leonardo DiCaprio in THE WOLF OF WALL STREET

Leonardo DiCaprio puts on one of his best performances to date in one of Martin Scorsese’s best films to date. It’s no “Goodfellas” and it’s no “Mean Streets” but the chaotic nature of “The Wolf of Wall Street” fits perfectly into Scorsese’s already illustrious career. The film does not glorify the overindulgent lifestyle of its main characters, but rather illustrates the dark world that surrounds an unlimited supply of wealth. Money changes people, sometimes for the worse which is what is being displayed here. This film is all about excess, from the mammoth three-hour run time to the fierce performance by DiCaprio. We’ll be talking about this film for years to come.

8. Mud

Tye Sheridan and Matthew McConaughy in MUD

While Matthew McConaughey has received endless recognition for his role in “Dallas Buyers Club” (and rightfully so), it was “Mud” that got my attention. This was the first of many coming-of-age stories I saw this year, and until “Mud” I thought the genre was overdone and washed up. But there were so many great stories this year that tackled the coming-of-age subject, and “Mud” was one of the best. While McConaughey is great, the movie really belongs to the young star Tye Sheridan. Writer-director Jeff Nichols is proving himself to be one of the best up-and-comers in the business following 2011’s “Take Shelter”. And with “Mud”, Nichols has once again turned out one of the year’s finest films.

7. Gravity

Sanda Bullock holds on for dear life in GRAVITY

What’s left to say about “Gravity” that hasn’t already been said? Alfonso Cuarón’s epic space thriller was far and away the most visually stunning film of the year. It could even make a case for most visually stunning film ever, but let’s not start that debate. Cuarón has single handily revolutionized the way audiences will want to see their movies. The cinematography and visual effects are years ahead of anything else currently in production. Once other filmmakers figure it out, we could be looking at the dawn of a new age of cinema. Sandra Bullock’s task in this film was challenging but she turns in the best performance of her career. “Gravity” is just a marvel of technical achievement. The screenplay may be a little bland, but this film is all about its visuals and propelling the future of big budget filmmaking.

6. 12 Years a Slave

Michael Fassbender and Chiwetel Ejiofor in one of the most
powerful scenes in 12 YEARS A SLAVE

There have been a handful of movies made about slavery in the United States, but none quite like this. “12 Years a Slave” is a powerful film about the horrors of slavery. The film is based on an actual account from Solomon Northup, a black man born free but kidnapped and sold into slavery for 12 long and grueling years. Director Steve McQueen holds nothing back by showing all the atrocities this man had to endure. The screenplay from John Ridley is one of the best adaptations of a book I’ve ever seen. It’s filled with many contrasting types of emotions, all portrayed on screen with such proficiency by McQueen. Chiwetel Ejiofor, as Northup, is absolutely sensational. And his costars, Michael Fassbender and newcomer Lupita Nyong’o, turn in two of the year’s absolute best performances. This is truly a great film, one that will be shown to make sure the memories of this dark time are never forgotten.

5. The Spectacular Now

Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley in the spectacular film
THE SPECTACULAR NOW

Yet another coming-of-age film from 2013, “The Spectacular Now” is a small but emotionally rich movie that follows one of the most popular kids in high school and his attraction to someone not so popular. Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley play two of the most realistic characters I’ve ever seen on film. Director James Ponsoldt has such a keen eye for the depths of human emotion found within this wonderful screenplay (from Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber). The dialogue is subtle and never becomes monotonous or boring. Teller and Woodley are revelations and are definitely the rising stars of tomorrow. Every single frame of this film is beautiful and deserves to be seen by all. 

4. Nebraska

Will Forte, Bruce Dern and Stacy Keach in NEBRASKA

Alexander Payne’s “Nebraska” is about as damn near perfect of any movie you’ll see in this year or any year. Bruce Dern’s portrayal of an aging alcoholic is the best and most perfect performance of any actor or actress this year. SNL alum Will Forte is perfectly cast has his estranged son. June Squibb’s performance steals the scene whenever she’s on camera. Screenwriter Bob Nelson has taken us into the lives of people in middle America as opposed to New York or Los Angeles, the cities which dominate so many of the contemporary movies these days. The film is shot in perfect black-and-white which helps paint the Nebraska landscape in a much different light than other settings we usually see. And director Payne couldn’t have handled this simple story with any more care. This is a film about the relationships we share with our families and there’s no one else in Hollywood today who is better equipped to handle that subject matter than Payne. This is about as close to perfection as you’ll see. 

3. Blue is the Warmest Color

Adele Exarchopolous and Lea Seydoux were mesmerizing in
BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR

No other film in 2013 gripped me quite like Abdellatif Kechiche’s French masterpiece “Blue is the Warmest Color”. The story follows a young teenage girl, Adele, over the course of several years. The highlight of the film is the relationship she shares with a blue haired art student, Emma, who is a few years older than her. We are a fly on the wall as we observe their relationship from the start to the bitter end. We see just how their lives affect one another. We easily empathize with every emotional high and low they experience in their romantic relationship. Both stars, Adèle Exarchopoulos and Léa Seydoux, are electrifying in their roles but it’s Exarchopoulos who turns in one of the most memorable performances I have ever seen. A lot of controversy surrounds this film, but throw all that aside. There wasn’t much better in 2013 than “Blue is the Warmest Color”.

2. Her

Joaquin Phoenix in his spellbinding role in HER

In a year full of rich storytelling, Spike Jonze's "Her" might have been the richest. Joaquin Phoenix stars as a lonely man who forms a extremely strong and ultimately romantic relationship with the voice of his new smart operating system. The computer is voiced by Scarlett Johansson who is so spectacular in her delivery, you almost forget she's never on camera. Jonze's love story may be a bit unorthodox, but everything about the relationship Phoenix has with his "girlfriend" is completely organic. Jonze handles the human (and computer) emotions brilliantly while concurrently painting a bleak picture about our future. Technology controls every aspect of his futuristic world that people don't know how to make new connections. There's so much subtext here that it would take another calendar year just to sort it all out. Suffice to say, this is a brilliantly executed love story full of heart and - most importantly - originality.

1. Short Term 12

Brie Larson and Kaitlyn Dever in the best film of 2013,
SHORT TERM 12

The best picture of 2013 is Destin Cretton's "Short Term 12", a small film very few had the opportunity to see. Brie Larson plays Grace, the supervisor of a state run institution for at risk teens. We meet her at a time in her life when she's romantically involved with her co-worker Mason (John Gallagher, Jr.), whose child she's carrying. Of course, she doesn't tell this to Mason because she's not certain motherhood is right for her. She's also trying to welcome in a new resident, Jayden (Kaitlyn Dever) who has been bounced around from institution to institution for several years. There are no words to describe the ferocity of Larson's performance. She holds a strong exterior, but inside she's completely broken and damaged. She wears all the emotions of this character on her sleeves. Never before have I seen such an emotionally powerful acting from someone of her age. No other actress this year comes close to touching Larson in this performance. Dever is also sensational in her role. Larson owns this film, but Dever holds her own against her co-star. Writer-director Cretton's screenplay is short but packs an enormous emotional punch. "Short Term 12" is a mesmerizing motion picture, completely unmatched by anything else in one of the best year's at the cinema I can remember. I was completely zeroed in on this film from the moment it began and couldn't divert my attention for a second. This is a beautiful and subtle masterpiece, and is my pick for best picture of the year.

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My Individual Awards: (personal choices, not Oscar predictions)

Best Picture of the Year: Short Term 12

Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity)

Best Actress in a Leading Role: Brie Larson (Short Term 12)
Best Actor in a Leading Role: Bruce Dern (Nebraska)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)

Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze (Her)

Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley (12 Years a Slave)


We can only hope that 2014 will be half as great as 2013. This year definitely has a very tough act to follow. Sure, we may be seeing a surge in the number of sequels, remakes and reboots coming out of Hollywood, but those are such a small percentage of what we actually see! The good movies are out there, folks. You might just have to look a little harder to find them. I'm very excited to see how the technical achievements of the films of 2013 and how a seemingly new found appreciation for the art of story within the studios will affect the movies of 2014 and beyond. You can continue to save me a seat in the dead center of the theaters.

Review: Mud

by Trevor Kirkendall
★★★★

There’s a moment early in “Mud” where two boys are riding down a river in a boat. They stop where one river meets another, wondering whether or not to proceed. Ahead of them sits a small island. After a brief moment of question, they continue on their way. It’s a good thing they do; otherwise there would be no story to tell. Its that imaginative speculation that drives them onward. Later, they’ll find something unexpected, and hear stories from unknown people who may or may not be exactly what they seem. For the 130 minutes that make up “Mud,” you see the world through a young person’s eyes. Its probably been awhile for a lot of us since we’ve looked at the world like this. What we have here is a coming of age film, the quality of which we haven’t seen in a very long time.  

Tye Sheridan (“The Tree of Life”) stars as Ellis, a young teen who enjoys hanging out with his best friend Neckbone (Jacob Lofland), both of whom are always open to adventure. Also there’s that active interest in girls that’s beginning to form. One day, the two boys take Neckbone’s small fishing boat across the river to an island where they’ve heard a boat has been found stuck in a tree. They find the boat, but they also discover the boat’s already be claimed by a loner named Mud (Matthew McConaughey).

Mud doesn’t think of himself as a hobo or a burnout. No, he’s here because he wants to be here. He’s here because he’s waiting to meet up with the love of his life, Juniper (Reese Witherspoon). Ellis takes a liking to Mud and wants to help him get back with Juniper. Call it childhood innocence, but Ellis believes that if you have someone in your life that you can identify as your “one true love,” then you need to be with that person.

The problem for Mud is that there are plenty of people out there looking for him. Mud is wanted for murder. Not only are the police looking for him, but the next of kin to the man he murdered also want a crack at him. This includes the man’s brother (Paul Sparks) and father (Joe Don Baker). They believe Ellis and Neckbone might know the whereabouts of Mud.

Despite the fact that Mud is murder and a fugitive on the run from justice, I found myself rooting for him for most of the movie. Writer/director Jeff Nichols provides only a little of Mud’s back story at a time so that you never really know exactly who he is until well into the final act. He has this innocence to him, almost like Ellis. Mud seems to believe the all his problems will disappear and everything will be right in the world once his beloved Juniper is beside him.

McConaughey really sells this role. He has never been better. Those little nuances he has that have become laughable caricatures easily punned by the likes of “Saturday Night Live” or “Family Guy” are virtually nonexistent in this performance. You almost forget you’re watching Matthew McConaughey in this role.

But its Tye Sheridan who steals the film right out from under McConaughey. He plays the part of Ellis with the type of maturity usually seen by seasoned veterans, not kids acting in their second feature. The film is told through his point of view. Nichols’ screenplay is full of subplots and they all involve Sheridan’s character. Not too many films feature one character on screen for the entire time; that’s a bit challenging to successfully pull off. Sheridan does it great ease here. If he plays his cards right, he should have a long and successful career if he wants it.

It’s been awhile since we’ve seen a real solid coming of age tale, but Jeff Nichols has made that wait worthwhile. This is my favorite movie so far this year. The imaginative wonder of Ellis and his whole outlook on life and love, combined with some amazing cinematic imagery from Nichols’ usual director of photography Adam Stone, give this film a unique feel. Something almost distinctly American. 

My childhood never remotely resembled that of Ellis and Neckbone’s, yet I found myself reminiscing about it after watching this. But the longer I watched Ellis and Mud interact with each other, the more I wanted to get in there and tell them their intentions are good, but sometimes the world just doesn’t work that way. You can see yourself in this part, growing up with the characters as the film unfolds. That’s what a great coming of age film should do for you.