The Best Movies of 2013: #35 – #21

Getting to the home stretch here, folks. For those who need of a refresher:

Day 1: #85 – #66
Day 2: #66 – #51
Day 3: #50 – #36

Now, onto the good stuff.

35. The World’s End
Unexpected in both good ways and bad; one that I liked a lot more in the moment. Still, even as the weakest entry in the Blood & Ice Cream trilogy, Edgar Wright continues to have no equal. Something tells me time will be kind to this one. Looking forward to a second viewing.

34. Somm
For something that could have been as snooty and esoteric as it sounds, this was one wildly engaging doc with one satisfying payoff. Isn’t it just awesome to see someone master something, anything in life?

33. Lore (Full Review)
Not the kind of WWII/Holocaust movie I ever expected to see, let alone expect it to be this affecting in turn.

32. No (Full Review)
A fascinating story with a fascinating protagonist, one that’s just as pertinent today as it was back then.

31. Spring Breakers (Full Review)
It’s been almost a year now and I still have absolutely no idea where to rank or how to feel about this movie. Definitely made an impression though, that much is certain. So, yeah. I’m just gonna leave this here. Talk amongst yourselves.

30. The Conjuring
Seriously. Fuck that doll. I couldn’t even look at the screen during the first half-hour of this movie I was so utterly, helplessly scared. The clapping game? Not having it. Whatsoever. While it wasn’t quite as terrifying from that point forward, I haven’t been this spooked by a movie since The Orphanage.

29. Behind the Candelabra
For someone who never really piqued me interest beforehand, little did I know how taken I would be with this story of his life. What a weird, touching romance, and that ending was a keeper.

28. Side Effects (Full Review)
During what was easily the worst moviegoing period of last year, this was nothing short of a gift from the gods of celluloid. Totally unexpected and just another reason why Steven Soderbergh can’t leave us.

27. Upstream Color (Full Review)
Certainly original; certainly unlike anything else I saw last year or ever, for that matter. Shane Carruth should really make more movies.

26. We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks
Did a bang-up job of clearing some things up. Not a pretty picture any way you paint it.

25. Nebraska
Wasn’t too crazy about it for the first half-hour, but it just kept getting better and better. Never underestimate the power of simplicity when telling a story. Write that one down, kids.

24. Room 237 (Full Review)
What a freakin’ trip. I think the fact that I’m still wondering about Kubrick staging the moon landing kinda says it all.

23. Iron Man 3 (Full Review)
Shane Black and RDJ should really do this more often.

22. Call me Kuchu
Heartbreaking. Mind-boggling. Required viewing regardless of your familiarity with the subject matter. Uganda needs to get its shit together, stat.

21. Sightseers
Totally warped, absolutely hilarious, right up my alley.

Alright, boys and girls. Just one more day to go. Until then, you stay groovy.