The Top Ten Movies of 2013

Balk all you want...Evil Dead was AWESOME!! Gory, dark, blood soaked, just brilliantly crafted and freaky as anything!! And yet it still managed to re-create some of the classic scenes from the original. Watch the scene near the end with Mia standing outside in the blood red rain and tell me it doesn't chill you to the bone. I walked out of the theater knowing full well this was gonna get a HUGE 10 for me and was my first of the year and my first in quite some time actually. Horror fans should delight in this near-perfect "re-creation" (I won't call it a remake!)

Its always hard for me to deny a film that brings out powerful emotions in me. 42 did that and more. However, it wasn't just that I was left in tears time and time again at the struggle he went through but the performances in this film particularly by Chadwick Boseman and Harrison Ford left me in awe. The scene where Boseman is literally verbally harassed off the field and holds it all in until he's in the hallway and then breaks down...was beyond powerful. If I were the Academy, Boseman would at the very least be getting a nomination. Don't miss this film because it was so incredible and an easy 10/10 for me!

In retrospect I probably should have given this a 10. However, there must be some reason I settled for a very hearty 9. Every once in awhile when I have seen all I care to see at the theater I take a shot in the dark and just pick something because I love the movies. Well, this was one of those. I had seen the trailers and really didn't think it appealed to me at all. So imagine my shock when this had me riveted to my seat. Both lead performances were brilliant, the story was well crafted, and the race scenes had you on the edge of your seat. I'm not a racing fan or a car guy at all so this clearly appealed to my love for drama, bio-pics and just sheer entertainment. I should not have doubted Ron Howard for crafting one of the best films of the year!! 9/10

It just wouldn't be a "best of" list without a Marvel film on it but this one took me by surprise. The first Thor (to me) was okay at best. It certainly was my least favourite of the Marvel films thus far and I thought it felt rushed. I hesitantly headed into The Dark World. Wow...simply...wow. Easily one of the greatest Sci-Fi flicks I've ever seen because they didn't force themselves into a "superhero" mold. This is all about Asgard and the fight to save their Universe. There was even a scene that almost made me tear up...yep in a Marvel movie. This one was outstanding!! 9.5/10

Usually the films that score the best for me are the ones that I have little to no expectations for because then they catch you off guard and just floor you!! Warm Bodies was exactly that. I couldn't have cared less when this was in theaters, the trailers didn't even peak my interest and suddenly there I was watching the ultimate date movie. Romance, action, drama, horror...all rolled into a near perfect blend. The script is nothing short of brilliant and the performances are simply really, really good. It was a completely out of left field romance flick that was fun and pure entertainment. If you haven't seen it yet and you think the zombie genre is stale? This will prove there are still ideas out there. 9.5/10

It also wouldn't be a "best of" list of mine without a film that everyone else thought was a giant dud. I love action films but most of them nowadays don't even hold a candle to the 80's and 90's type of action that dominated the box office. White House Down proved that style of film isn't dead yet!! It was insanely fun, well made, action packed with great performances from the leads. Best of all the Ra-Ra-America that many make fun of was well placed and actually brought me to tears in the end. This was described as Die Hard In The White House and some reviewers used that as a negative...huh?!?! That's wickedly AWESOME!! And it was. This will certainly be a staple in my collection 9.5/10

This will be one of the few that I agree with the critics on. Dallas Buyers Club is certain to take some Oscar nominations and rightfully so. The film itself is very good, an easy 9/10 BUT the performances in this film by the two leads...WOWWW!! Both Jared Leto and Matthew McConaughey are jaw dropping and went above and beyond to capture their characters. This is definitely a film that isn't about entertainment but education and fascinating to say the least but it is made exponentially better by two Oscar worthy performances both the best of either of their careers (and they've both had good roles.) 9/10

It just wouldn't be fair if I didn't include this on my list. After all it features my two heroes of cinema together in starring roles for the first time. Anyone who says Escape Plan disappointed them went in with completely wrong expectations. This was (as far as I'm concerned) everything a fan could have wanted from a team up from these two. It was reminiscent of the great action/heist films of the 80's complete with perfectly delivered (and cheesy) one liners and a villain cut and paste right out of 80's action movie. But it wasn't only that...it was actually smart and well written and pure entertainment. I loved it and anxiously await to see it again on DVD! 9/10

One of the most unique films I saw this year and also one of the best. It also has one of my favourite actors doing what he does best and proving you need nothing more than Robert Redford talent and charisma. The entire film beginning to end is him...no other characters, actors or anything else to get in the way. It is a minimalist film in the truest sense of the word and it was terrifying. Sitting in that dark theater I felt like I was trapped on that boat with him. There is hardly any dialogue so you see and feel everything through Redford's performance. An Oscar nomination is a MUST (though McConaughey or Leto still deserves it just a little bit more.) All is Lost is unique, riveting, terrifying and an absolute must see!! If you still have the chance to see it in theaters DO IT because the atmosphere will only serve to make the experience better! 9/10