MD Top Ten of 2103

Here we go then…..

Honourable Mentions

What Richard Did

Blue Jasmine

Mud

The Way Way Back

The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Talent

Actor                            Bruce Dern, Nebraska

Actress                        Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

Supporting Actor       Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained

Supporting Actress   Kristin Scott Thomas, Only God Forgives

Director                       Alfonso Cuarón

Worst Movies

3. I’m So Excited. I’m so disappointed. Misogynist unfunny rubbish – and ridiculously indulgent reviews. The Emperors New Clothes

2. Frances Ha. Self -indulgent claptrap from a writer/star who needs to have a word with herself.

1. Spring Breakers. Just horrible in every sense. Cardboard cutouts with no sense of anyone but themselves screeching around with gun, bikinis and terrible dentistry. Foul.

And the Best…

10. No. Innovative 4:3 filmmaking on old videotape for this insightful period piece on Chilean politics and emerging media savvyness

9. Nebraska. Alexander Payne's annual entry. A wonderful and perfectly paced tale of family love pushed to the limits.

8. Ain't Them Bodies Saints. Overlooked. Grainy and dry and potentially unlikeable but packing a heartfelt punch and a fabulous soundtrack.

7. The Paperboy.  An absolutely guilty pleasure where each actor seems keen to out do each other in the humiliation stakes. Camp nonsense of the most pleasing degree.

6. Gravity. To quote Sparks "Looks Looks Looks" - but wow what a looker. Stunning direction taking this type of filmmaking to a new level.

5. Only God Forgives. I may have a Ryan bias but this looks and sounds great and injects just enough substance through the style to hold both the tension and relationships

4. Wadjda. A simplistic tale that opens up a much wider look at life for women in Saudi Arabia. Both thought provoking and charming.

3. Much Ado About Nothing. Shakespeare at its most stripped down and satisfying presented with consummate ease.

2. Django Unchained. Smashing acting – tough and sometimes bordering on cartoon but with some mature Tarantino touches and it looks and sounds great despite the Aussie accent

1. Good Vibrations. A fabulous piece of low budget fun filmmaking with great characters that hits all the right notes (pun intended) and the playing of Teenage Kicks is just spine tingling. Bizarrely echoing Mark Kermode’s choice - Blimey Charlie.