10. CHEAP THRILLS
World Premiere: SXSW 2013
The first film to get buzzing at this year's SXSW was E.L Katz's fantastic debut feature. It didn't take long for Drafthouse Films to snap this bad boy up and just increase the excitement around Austin. Not only is the film wonderfully entertaining, it is also extremely impressive from a production stand point. So much is done with so little and it never feels small or claustrophobic. Hats off to this team and I can't wait to see what they do next.
Upcoming US Release: Drafthouse Films 3/21/2014
Read Peter Martin's SXSW Review
9. BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR
World Premiere: Cannes 2013
The film that had all of France talking, the explicit sex in the film was the most buzzed about part of this year's Cannes festival (not to mention the 3 hour runtime). A fitting winner of the Palme d'Or, this is one of those magical coming-of-age love stories that transports you to another place and will leave you reeling for some time to come (even if you don't happen to be a French teenage lesbian).
US Release: IFC Sundance Selects 10/25/2013
Read my Cannes review
8. 12 YEARS A SLAVE
World Premiere: Telluride/Toronto 2013
While Telluride can't officially be any film's world premiere (so as not to steal TIFF's thunder), that festival provided what was technically the first public audience to see the film that many have pegged to take home this year's Best Picture Oscar. But the TIFF audience was just as excited for Steve McQueen's brilliantly poignant tale of American history's darkest corner and the conversation around Toronto quickly turned to awards chatter (and just as quickly to awards chatter backlash). Time will tell if the film brings home the statues, but there is no doubt it is an important and extremely well executed piece of cinema.
US Release: Fox Searchlight 10/18/2013
Read my TIFF review
7. THE CONGRESS
Premiere: Cannes 2013
The film that many at Cannes called this year's Holy Motors, this remarkable film by Waltz With Bashir director Ari Folman is some kind of head scratcher. It took me a few hours to come out of my haze induced by the mind-bending mixture of a semi-autobiographical story of aging actress Robin Wright and a psychedelic animated story based on a Stanislaw Lem novel. But once I recovered, I realized I'd experienced a film unlike anything I'd ever seen. Be sure to seek it out when Drafthouse releases it in 2014.
Upcoming US Release: Drafthouse Films 2014
Read James's PiFan review
6. A FIELD IN ENGLAND
Premiere: Karlovy Vary 2013
Ben Wheatley surprised a few people when he announced his fourth feature would premiere at the Czech uber-fest Karlovy Vary and then open in the UK a few weeks later. A tripped out story of a group of deserting soldiers in England's civil war that stumble upon a magic mushroom patch to hilarious consequences, I'm sure the Czechs ate it up. What's most remarkable is the way Wheatley handles the cycles of the drug in glorious theatrical fashion. This is an extremely talented director at the very top of his game.
Upcoming US Release: Drafthouse Films 2014
Read James's review
5. TIM'S VERMEER
Premiere: Telluride/Toronto 2013
No one could believe it when all the documentary buzz coming out of Telluride was for an oddly titled docu about art history by Teller (of Penn & Teller). Then TIFF came along and many got to experience firsthand why journos were going so nuts. The movie follows a man trying to prove that Vermeer used an optical device to paint his famously lifelike artworks and the results have the potential to shake the art history world to its core. If it doesn't sound interesting, you're going to be in for a big surprise.
Upcoming US Release: Sony Classics 2014
Read Jason's TIFF review
4. SHORT TERM 12
Premiere: SXSW 2013
It's no surprise that this touching film by Destin Cretton took home the top prize at SXSW. Nor is it shocking that this tiny indie has racked up a domestic box office over $1 Million. The only thing mildly surprising about the rise of Short Term 12 is that Brie Larsen hasn't gotten more awards buzz for her fantastic performance. But there was no doubt that anyone who saw it on its festival run or domestic release was touched by this little indie that could.
US Release: Cinedigm 8/23/2013
Read Ben's LA Film Fest review
3. BEFORE MIDNIGHT
Premiere: Sundance 2013
When I watched Before Sunrise and Before Sunset in anticipation of seeing the third part at Sundance, I figured there was no way it could live up to my expectations. It absolutely did, and apparently I wasn't alone. The refrain all across Park City was "Have you seen Before Midnight yet? ... No?... Okay I won't say anything." Therefore, in case you have seen it yet, I won't say anything here. And if you've already seen it -- well than I don't need to say anything anyway.
US Release: Sony Classics 5/24/2013
Read my Sundance review
2. GRAVITY
Premiere: Venice 2013
Gravity is the movie we'll look back on as either the high-water mark of effects-driven cinema, or the first of a new wave of experiential adventure blockbusters. Either way, it was one hell of an adventure and the only film I've seen twice at the same film festival. I wasn't alone either as the line for the first screening at Toronto was so long that they actually changed the rules for the entire press and industry theater the next day to avoid fire code violations, forcing people to line up outside in the pouring rain. It was worth it.
US Release: WB 10/4/2013
Read Jason's TIFF review
1. ONLY GOD FORGIVES
Premiere: Cannes 2013
Walking out of this film one sunny Cannes morning, I knew this experience was going to be hard to beat. I ran excitedly up to one fellow American journo and gushed about how incredible it was. He agreed and we hurriedly approached another friend to share in the same joy. He had hated the film. Thus began the long discussions about what became one of the most divisive films of the year. I think it's clear on which side of the divide I fall.
For me, Nicolas Winding Refn's artistic masterpiece works on so many levels past the incredible style that seeps through the film's pores. From the cinematography to the casting, every decision made by Refn is perfection. Having only seen it twice, I'm just barely beginning to scratch the surface on the symbolism and metaphorical storytelling at work here. I can't wait to dig back in and really understand all the elements at play in the mind of one of the most fascinating directors working today.
US Release: Radius TWC 7/19/2013
Read my Cannes review
Read my Cannes First Impression
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