Today I’m continuing my look at the best performances from the 2013 movie year. I’ve already shared my favorite supporting performances so today we start looking at the leads. Last year the ladies provided us with such a strong and diverse body of work that spanned a variety of genres. Narrowing it down to just five was excruciating but it had to be done. So without further delay, here are my five favorite 2013 performances by a female in a leading role:

#5 – Greta Gerwig – “Frances Ha“

Greta Gerwig is an actress that has drawn a wide variety of reactions. Some don’t care for her very peculiar style of acting. Others (like myself) really appreciate her work and find her to be really good in the right role. This is a perfect role for her. The way Gerwig captures the awkward and slightly neurotic nature of Frances is brilliant and without her strong performance the entire film would fall apart. Gerwig makes us laugh but also sympathize with her lack of direction. This is a small film that some may not respond to. I really liked it and Gerwig was the main reason for that.

#4 – Sophie Nélisse – “The Book Thief“

Yet another performance from “The Book Thief” makes one of my lists. Emily Watson and Geoffrey Rush were fantastic in supporting roles but the movie would never work without the amazing lead performance from 13-year old Sophie Nélisse. The Canadian teen actress not only steals our heart but she shows an amazing level of acting talent. Nélisse will amaze you with how she masters a German accent and with how she is able to express raw emotion in a film that is dependent on it. Leonard Maltin called her a “revelation” and that she “is mature beyond her years”. I couldn’t have said it better myself.

#3 – Amy Seimetz – “Upstream Color”

This is probably the one performance on my list that most people have yet to see. Well trust me, you need to watch “Upstream Color” to appreciate the amazing work from Amy Seimetz. This is a film unlike anything else that came out in 2013 and Seimetz is asked to do so many difficult and challenging things by writer and director Shane Carruth. She is the heart and soul of this complex and layered film. So much of the story unfolds through her performance and so many clues to the film’s deeper mysteries are directly tied into what she projects on the screen. It’s an incredibly demanding performance and Seimetz doesn’t miss a step.

#2 – Amy Acker – “Much Ado About Nothing“

I understand that ‘awards time’ is almost custom fitted for certain actors and actresses and Amy Acker didn’t have a chance at gaining a nomination. But I still believe she gives one of the best performances of the year in Joss Whedon’s “Much Ado About Nothing“. It was a special challenge to take the Shakespearian language and bring it to a modern setting but Acker doesn’t struggle a bit. She projects such warmth from her character while also being quite funny when the scene calls for it. It’s such a well-rounded performance and one that I hope gains her more attention and more starring roles. She deserves it.

#1 – Cate Blanchett – “Blue Jasmine“

Again, this may be the obvious pick but for me it’s the right one. All of us who love and follow movies know that Cate Blanchett is a great actress. Yet considering all of her wonderful work, this may be her best. In Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine” she plays a woman who has fallen from a rich socialite to a penniless destitute and who moves in with her blue-collar sister. She is an emotional wreck and the way Blanchett displays it amazed me. This character has so many self-destructive emotional levels that we vividly see in this committed performance. It’s unforgettable and one of the real standouts of 2013.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Enough Said“), Sandra Bullock (“Gravity“), Catherine Frot (“Haute Cuisine“)

So there are my favorite performances by a lead actress. Only the lead actors remain. What lead actress performance would you have included? See one here you disagree with? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

A few days ago I gave my Top 5 performances by a supporting actress from the 2013 movie year. Now it’s time for the guys. The Best Supporting Actor category was extremely difficult to narrow down. 2013 was full of great supporting work from a host of great actors. There were some really great performances worthy of this list that I hated to leave off, but such is the nature of these goofy lists. So lets get to my five favorite performances by an actor in a supporting role:

#5 – Andrew Dice Clay – “Blue Jasmine“

When most of us hear the name Andrew Dice Clay we think loud, obnoxious, and brash. This one time successful standup comic was armed with an off-colored gimmick and a bad attitude. But that’s no where to be found in what I think is the most suprising performance of 2013. Dice Clay has a small role in Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine” but he is amazing as a humble, blue-collar guy who you can’t help but like. There is such a grounded and natural feel to his portrayal and it’s such a departure from his past work. Even with his limited screen time I thought Dice Clay was a real highlight of the film.

#4 – Geoffrey Rush – “The Book Thief“

As I’ve mentioned before, “The Book Thief” is a moving film anchored by some great performances. Of the great work showcased in the movie it’s Geoffrey Rush who swept me away. His foster-father character was the antithesis to Emily Watson’s stern, abrasive foster-mother. He is meek, gentle, and sympathetic. Rush captures all of this through a subtle and grounded performance that injects a lot of heart into the movie’s grim surroundings. Rush has always been a top-notch actor which is why his fine performance here didn’t surprise me at all.

#3 – Sam Rockwell – “The Way, Way Back“

One the biggest surprises of 2013 in terms of performances came from Sam Rockwell in “The Way, Way Back“. I’ve always thought Rockwell was a pretty good actor but the quick wit and amazing comedic timing in this performance blew me away. He had me laughing during every scene yet he brought more to the character than just humor. It’s also worth noting that in a film featuring so many great performances he steals ever scene he is in. I perked up every time he showed up with his slouchy attire and goofy strut. Rockwell was always an actor I could take or leave. Well now I’m sold. This performance really won me over.

#2 – Michael Fassbender – “12 Years a Slave“

In a movie loaded with some of the best performances of 2013, the best may be Michael Fassbender’s turn as a brutal, maniacal slave owner in Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave“. Fassbender has established himself as one of the more versatile actors in the business and he has taken on a variety of different and demanding roles. I am a huge fan of most of his work but this would rank near the very top. Fassbender goes all in as one of the most vile and detestable screen “villains” I’ve ever seen. He never makes it a caricature. It’s a believable portrayal that makes it all the more uncomfortable. It’s such a committed performance from a great actor.

#1 – Matthew McConaughey – “Mud“

Matthew McConaughey may have gotten top billing in Jeff Nichols’ deep south thriller “Mud“, but by description he is really a supporting character. The McConaughey renaissance continued in 2013 and his work as a mysterious stranger living on a river island was a highlight of the year. He is perfectly cast and he creates one of the most captivating characters of the year. The southern drawl, the gritty look, the air of mystery – McConaughey brings it all. His performance is a vital ingredient to the film’s success and it’s an undeniable reminder that McConaughey is an incredible actor when he picks good material.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Bradley Cooper (“American Hustle“), Jake Gyllenhaal (“Prisoners“) Barkhad Abdi (“Captain Phillips“), James Gandolfini (“Enough Said“),

So what do you think? These are my favorite supporting actor performances. Now I would like to hear yours. Please take time to share them in the comments section below. And remember, next week we look at lead actresses!

I love this time of year. It’s when we look back at the movie year that was. In addition to my Top Films of 2013 list I like to break down the four major acting categories and list my five favorite performances of the year for each. And we start today with the ladies. I’m looking at the five phenomenal performances by actresses in a supporting role that really blew me away. There were many this year but these are the ones that top my list:

#5 – Elizabeth Debicki – “The Great Gatsby”

Talk about a movie that drew a mixed reaction! Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby” was a fever dream built around some great source material and some good performances. Perhaps the biggest surprise for me was the performance from Australian newcomer Elizabeth Debicki. She played Jordan Baker, a beautiful yet mysterious woman whose playfulness is only trumped by her conceit. Much like the Nick character, I was fascinated with Debicki’s portrayal of Jordan. Unfortunately the script shortchanges the character a bit and Debicki isn’t given enough screen time. Personally I found her performance to be magnetic.

#4 – Allison Janney – “The Way, Way Back”

It’s funny, this is a performance that I liked a great deal after first seeing it but probably not enough to include it on a prestigious list like this. Yet over time Allison Janney’s work in “The Way, Way Back” has stuck with me. It’s definitely the wackiest performance on my list but it really is brilliant work. Janney plays a kooky, hard-drinking woman who will never win ‘Mother of the Year’. She has a number of funny lines but she never falls into a caricature. In fact there is a warmth to her despite her self-destructive malfunction and we see that because of Janney’s performance. It’s a role that could have went terribly wrong but Janney doesn’t allow that to happen.

#3 – Emily Watson – “The Book Thief”

I am a huge fan of “The Book Thief” and a big reason for that lies in the performances. From top to bottom the film’s cast is exceptional. Emily Watson plays a strict foster mother who at times comes across as detestable. But surprisingly the character has more depth than we first think and Watson’s shining performance brings her complexities to the surface. It’s not a showy or flashy performance that will naturally draw awards, but I believe she is a big part of one of the film’s key emotional threads. It’s great work from a wonderful actress who rarely gets her due.

#2 – Vera Farmiga – “The Conjuring”

This may be a small cheat. It could be argued that Farmiga is the lead in James Wan’s surprisingly good horror film “The Conjuring”. I think she could be considered either way so for my benefit I’m putting her here. Farmiga is a wonderful actress and this performance is no exception. There is an natural feel to her work in the film that mainly flows from the 100% commitment she gives to the material. As with many good characters, there is a complexity that draws our interest but it’s sometimes the performance that sparks that. Such was the case here. Farmiga had me from her first scene and I was connected all the way through.

#1 – Lupita Nyong’o – “12 Years a Slave”

I realize that this may be the obvious or popular pick but that doesn’t bother me. It’s also the right pick for me. I thought the performance from Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o was one of the most piercing things I saw in 2013. It’s a performance that comes across as raw and gushing with emotional power. But that is exactly what the character needed. It’s impossible not to be drawn to her and there are a number of her scenes that will stick in the back of your mind well after the movie is done. I fully expect Nyong’o to get an Oscar nomination and it would be well deserved. In fact, I say give her the statue. It was certainly my favorite supporting actress work of the year.

Thanks for reading. The supporting actors are next. What did you think of this list? Please take time to share your thoughts or your picks in the comments section below.

Friday I listed what I thought were the best movies of 2013. Now it’s time to talk about the worst. I normally don’t like piling on movies that miss their mark. But call this a Public Service Announcement. It’s a warning of sorts that points out what I felt were the real stinkers of 2013. Of course this is based on the movies I’ve seen. There’s plenty of garbage that I was lucky enough to avoid. Still, these five dandies are certainly worth missing.

#5 – “The Lone Ranger”

Unlike many, I felt “The Lone Ranger” had tons of potential. Sure it was based on an old television western that may not connect with younger audiences, but it was still a good concept with plenty of star power behind it. I certainly wasn’t expecting the overly long and bloated mess that we got. The film runs at a gasping 150 minutes and suffers from huge shifts in tone and almost no energy whatsoever. And Armie Hammer is as stiff and unsure as anyone else I saw last year. I don’t agree with some of the gripes thrown its way (racism, revisionist history, etc) but there are still plenty of other problems to point to. What a missed opportunity.

#4 – “Now You See Me”

Speaking of missed opportunities, “Now You See Me” was a film built around a pretty cool concept. It’s too bad the script was so darned ridiculous. Four street magicians are hired by a wealthy financier to perform elaborate bank robberies. All of that sounds good. But the story becomes unhinged once it starts to twist and turn. Some of the reveals are downright silly and then there is the whole weird secret society thing called “The Eye”. I really like Ruffalo, Caine, Harrelson, Eisenberg, and especially the wonderful French actress Laurent. But they can’t make up for the goofy and scatterbrained script. This should have better.

#3 – “After Earth”

This should hardly be a surprise to anyone. The universally panned “After Earth” was a film well deserving of the thrashing it took from critics. At a cost of nearly $250 million (including marketing), “After Earth” should have never been as bad as it was. But with the fading M. Night Shyamalan at the helm and two truly horrendous performances from Will and Jaden Smith, the movie never had a chance. The story fumbles along never providing an ounce of energy or excitement. It’s boring and sometimes laughably bad. I can’t see this movie helping the careers of any of the three people I cited. As a matter of fact, I can see this as a career killer.

#2 – “White House Down”

Roland Emmerich has become a master of the obnoxious, silly, overstuffed action picture. “White House Down” may be his crowning achievement in the area of stupidity. This movie screws up everything. The story is unoriginal. The characters are boring and cliche. The action is dull and repetitive. The acting is absolutely terrible. The CGI is poorly done. It’s waaay too long and sitting through 130 minutes of it is mind-numbing. I could go one and on. Emmerich’s politically correct action thriller has no exciting action and it isn’t the least bit thrilling. Even its attempts at humor fall flat as a pancake. Watching this was a chore.

#1 – “Grown Ups 2”

It’s hard imagining a movie being worse than the first “Grown Ups” film. Well this sequel is worse in almost every way. The same idiotic juvenile humor is apparently all that Adam Sandler knows and it has never been more on display than in this film. Cheap and unfunny toilet humor along with moronic slapstick never drew a laugh out of me. I sat stone-faced through this poor excuse for a comedy constantly wondering how this thing attracted the audience it did. It’s relentlessly stupid and the jokes feel as though they were written by some hack looking for a payday. And there is practically no plot whatsoever. This was clearly a cash-in movie for Sandler and his pals and sadly they laughed all the way to the bank. At least someone was laughing. I sure wasn’t.

So there they are. Do you agree or disagree with any of my choices? I would love to hear your least favorite movie of the year. Please drop a comment in the section below.

It’s hard to believe it’s that time again. It’s the time where I get to reflect on the movie year that was. This is the third Top 10 of the year list I’ve done and I have to say I love them. Some people don’t care for these things, but I always enjoy reading other people’s favorites and revealing mine. 2013 was a really good year at the movies and while only one film received my highest rank of 5 stars, there were a number of others that gained really high marks and deserve a mention. So before we get to my Top 10 here are my #11 through #20 (Click the title to link to the full review of the film):

#20 – “Stoker”
#19 – “Oblivion”
#18 – “Frances Ha”
#17 – “Man of Steel
#16 – “Prisoners”

#15 – “The Conjuring”
#14 – “12 Years a Slave”
#13 – “Captain Phillips”
#12 – “Star Trek: Into Darkness”
#11 – “To the Wonder”

Now without further ado, here are my Top 10 Movies of 2013

#10 – “Much Ado About Nothing” – I love it when a movie surprises me and that was certainly the case with Joss Whedon’s “Much Ado About Nothing”. This was the film which reminded me that the romantic comedy genre could be great when good performers are given a smart script. And Whedon really surprised me. I haven’t been his biggest fan but this film really changed my mind. And what a great cast. Amy Acker blew me away and the supporting cast of Whedon regulars hit every note. Whedon leaves the original Shakespeare language intact but melds it beautifully into the modern setting. Gorgeous black-and-white, sharp direction, a romantic and funny script, and great performances make this film a real treat.

#9 – “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” – This is another film that really surprised me. I had fun with Peter Jackson’s first “Hobbit” picture although I felt it fell well short of my expectations. “The Desolation of Smaug” was a much better film and it avoided the traps that the first film fell in. The danger and peril is certainly amped up which gives the central quest a greater sense of importance. I also loved the deeper tie-in to the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Some intriguing new characters are introduced and some old favorites show up. And what a great ending. Unlike the first film, this time we are left with a feeling that things really do hang in the balance. What an adventure and I can’t wait to see where things go from here.

#8 – “World War Z” – This was a movie that was one of my most anticipated of the year in January. But after news of delays, rewrites, and a new ending surfaced my expectations dropped. What a surprise it was to see the finished product. “World War Z” may be the movie I had the most fun at this year. An undefined zombie epidemic breaks out and ravages the planet. Brad Pitt, giving a surprisingly subdued performance, is thrust into the search for a cure. “World War Z” features one of the most intense openings of the year and possibly the most thrilling scene as zombies breach Jerusalem’s wall and invade the city. This was a load of fun and I never expected it to be so effective.

#7 – “Upstream Color” – I promise you, “Upstream Color” is a movie unlike anything else you have seen this year. It’s a very abstract and unique film that features a flowing visual style akin to the work of Terrence Malick. It’s impossible to put “Upstream Color” into a box and giving away too much of the plot would ruin the experience. And it truly is something you experience. It challanges you while also fascinating you with its hypnotic appeal. Shane Carruth served as director, writer, co-producer, co-star, cinematographer, editor, and even composed the score. This small independent film is definitely his movie but it’s also a stunning accomplishment. “Upstream Color” isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but I absolutely loved it.

#6 – “The Book Thief” – Of all the films on this list this is the one I wish more people had seen. It didn’t make many ripples at the box office and critics were pretty lukewarm towards it. Personally I loved it and it was one of the most moving experiences I had all year. Set in a small German village during the days leading up to World War 2, the story shows us the life of young Liesel. She’s raised by foster parents (played brilliantly by Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson) and is exposed to a harsh evolving world that no child should experience. It’s a heartbreaking yet invigorating film featuring top-notch performances and one of the best scores of 2013. It flew under many radars but I adore this movie.

#5 – “The Hunt” – Mads Mikkelsen is one of my favorite actors and after hearing the tons of praise he received for his work in “The Hunt” I was instantly excited. It finally made its United States debut and it was so worth the wait. Mikkelsen gives what may be the performance of the year as he portrays a school teacher wrongfully charged with sexual misconduct involving one of his student. Thomas Vinterberg directs this searing indictment of some of our worst impulses and it’s impossible to watch this film and not be effected. It’s one of the best scripts I’ve experienced this year and when you combine it with Mikkelsen’s towering performance and the sheer emotion of the material, the result is one of the year’s best films.

#4 – “Nebraska” – My hat is off to Alexander Payne for bringing us one of the funniest yet honest films of 2013. “Nebraska” is an amazing movie that deals in real life emotions and situations while injecting a smart and grounded bit of humor. Bruce Dern should get serious Oscar consideration for his work as an elderly man who thinks he’s won $1 million. “Nebraska” is soaked with funny characters and memorable lines. But there is also a subtle but effective examination of family dynamics that seldom get honest looks in the movies. I wasn’t as smitten with Payne’s work on “The Descendents” as most were, but this movie really won me over. And even with it’s few flaws, it remains one of the year’s best.

#3 – “The Way, Way Back” – I can honestly say that this film caught me off guard. It was never on my radar but once I caught up with it I knew I had watched something special. “The Way, Way Back” is one part comedy and one part coming-of-age drama and the competency in which co-writers and co-directors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash bring it all together is great. It’s very touching but it’s also very funny thanks in large part to Sam Rockwell who gives a spectacular performance. He had me constantly laughing and he steals every scene he is in. There is a ton of heart in this movie and while it gets close, it never becomes conventional or cliche. What a great film.

#2 – “Mud” – This was my most anticipated movie at the start of the year and it’s so satisfying that the film ended up being one of my favorites of the year. This is such a great movie from writer, director, and fellow Arkansan Jeff Nichols. He has shown himself to be a masterful southern gothic storyteller. But “Mud” is much more than that. Nichols creates a live and vibrant environment that sucks you in. He tells his story through the eyes of a young boy played wonderfully by Tye Sheridan, but for me Matthew McConaughey is the shining star. Talk about getting lost in a role! McConaughey has a magnetic presence in this picture. Jeff Nichols has turned into one of my favorite filmmakers and “Mud” is a prime example of why.

#1 – “Gravity” – In terms of sheer experience, nothing I saw in 2013 matched the experience I had watching “Gravity. It was possibly the most exciting and visually stimulating movie I’ve ever watched on the big screen. Director Alfonso Cuaron creates a special effects masterpiece that hooks you from that first amazing shot. But this isn’t just a flashy technical accomplishment. There is a deeper emotional story that unfolds as the film moves along and while some have saw it as slight, I think it works very well. Sandra Bullock is fantastic and George Clooney gives Cuaron exactly what he needs. It all adds up to be the only 5 star score I handed out in 2013, but it’s a well-deserved one. I love “Gravity”.

With Christmas behind us and January 1st right around the corner, many people will be attending New Years parties. While big crowded parties aren’t really my cup of tea, many people enjoy them. There have also been a ton of big parties in the movies. That’s what we are looking at in today’s Phenomenal 5. I know there are several movie parties that automatically come to mind and I’m going to stay away from those. These are fun and unique parties that may not instantly come to mind. Now considering the number of parties that have been thrown in the movies I wouldn’t call this the definitive list. But there’s no question that these five movie parties are absolutely phenomenal.

#5 – “The Dark Knight”

I never said these would be parties you would want to attend. Such is the case with the great party scene in Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight”. What makes this such a fantastic scene isn’t really the party itself. It’s the unexpected guest who crashes it. Bruce Wayne is throwing a fundraiser for Harvey Dent, but it’s unexpectedly interrupted when the Joker shows up. Heath Ledger steals the scene by terrorizing the crowd. Batman shows up, a fight ensues, and we are left with one of the many great scenes from that movie. I had to sneak it on this list.

#4 – “The Fellowship of the Ring”

Peter Jackson’s remarkable “Lord of the Rings” trilogy began with a party. It was Bilbo Baggins’ 111th birthday party to be precise and the hobbits of the Shire spared no expense. Loud music, lots of dancing, a huge cake, plenty of ale, and of course fireworks from the gray wizard Gandolf. It’s a fun little introduction to the merry playfulness of the hobbits. Too bad Bilbo wasn’t that enthused. He had a big surprise awaiting the partygoers which set in motion the events that would follow. Afterwards things got grim pretty quick but that opening party was a hoot.

#3 – “The Great Gatsby” (2013)

I’m not the biggest fan of Baz Luhrmann’s wild and schizophrenic style. But I have to say I really enjoyed his 2013 film version of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic “The Great Gatsby”. Jay Gatsby really knew how to throw a party and Luhrmann really knew how to film it. The bright and vibrant colors, the sweeping camera shots, the booming big band music, and the surprisingly effective use of 3-D all contributed to making the mysterious Gatsby’s parties so alive. It was dizzying to be caught up in the mass of people who were jumping, laughing, and dancing. It was an effect that I think perfectly captured what that wild and excessive party would be like.

#2 – “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”

Audrey Hepburn. Need I say more? If I could I would find a way to put her on every list. But throwing my bias aside, this is a list she truly belongs on. I mean who can forget that great apartment party she throws in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”? In the scene we basically sit back and watch this motley array of characters overindulge to the point of making themselves look like idiots. Too little space, too much to drink, to loud music ends up angering the landlord and bringing the police. But not before we get one good laugh after another as we watch Audrey flex her big city socialite muscles.

#1 – “Midnight in Paris”

Before you roll your eyes and say this is an unworthy pick, let me describe it for you. You’re sitting on church steps in a lovely part of Paris as the clock strikes midnight. An old classic Peugeot picks you up and transports you back to the 1920s where you attend a party for Jean Cocteau. While there you see and hear Cole Porter playing the piano and you meet Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Now that may not strike a chord with you, but if offered I would be there in a heartbeat. This is such an awesome scene. Owen Wilson, Alison Pill, and especially Tom Hiddleston are a blast to watch and Woody Allen’s vision beautifully captures what I would imagine a 1920s party scene would look like. I adore this film and the party scene was the moment I realized it was something very special.

So there they are, my unorthodox list of phenomenal movie parties. Obviously there are many more that come to mind. Some are obvious but others are unique. What are your thoughts? I’d love to read your favorite movie party scenes in the comments section below.