Hey, everyone. Welcome to the first installment of my 2013 Year-End Lists, which will be doled out over the next few weeks. I never understood the reasoning behind doing these halfway through December, so I’m starting out now. Enjoy. Today, we’ll be looking at the Top 20 Film Performances of 2013. Note: This list is unranked; I have no idea how I’d rank these performances.
See my top 15 television performances of 2013 list here: https://polarbearstv.com/2014/01/19/the-top-15-television-performances-of-2013/
*Yes, there are 21 performances on this list, and technically 22. I just couldn’t take anyone off.
CHIWETEL EJIOFOR, “12 YEARS A SLAVE”: Ejiofor’s portrayal of Solomon Northup in “12 Years A Slave” is one for the ages. Whether we’re watching him play a violin, take a beating, or ruminate by himself, we always feel connected to his character, connected to his journey down a dark and unflinching road.
SCARLETT JOHANSSON, “HER”: Sadly, she’s viewed as “ineligible” for many awards, which is a damn shame; with just her voice, she conveys heartbreak, seduction, and genuine emotion, and her work is absolutely brilliant. Samantha seems like she’s truly human.
BRIE LARSON, “SHORT TERM 12”: Larson is absolutely magnificent here, delivering a heartfelt performance that helps us sympathize with her in every scene. She perfectly captures the need to maintain a tough exterior while a whirlwind of emotions are bubbling up inside, and Grace’s relationship with Kaitlyn Dever’s Jayden is beautiful.
LUPITA NYONG’O, “12 YEARS A SLAVE”: In a film of truly excellent performances, Nyong’o plays a young slave named Patsey subjected to the beatings and sexual abuse of her master, Epps (played by the fantastic Michael Fassbender). It’s a layered and complex performance that showcases an actress who we’ll hear a lot about over the coming years.
ROBERT REDFORD, “ALL IS LOST”: In a one-man film, Redford is impeccable, delivering a performance almost completely devoid of dialogue; we see his story through his mannerisms and emotions expressed on his face, as well as in his body language.
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Tags: 2013 Year End lists, 2014 Critic's Choice Movie Awards winners, Academy Awards 2014, Blue Jasmine Blue Is the Warmest Color Adele Exarchopoulos sex scenes, Brie Larson Short Term 12, Inside Llewyn Davis Oscar Isaac snubbed, Jennifer Lawrence American Hustle Hunger Games Catching Fire, Joaquin Phoenix Theo Scarlett Johansson Samantha Her, Leonardo DiCaprio Golden Globe Critic's Choice win, Lupita Nyong'o Chiwetel Ejiofor 12 Years A Slave, Matthew McConaughey Jared Leto Dallas Buyers Club, Nebraska Frances Ha Fruitvale Station, Oscar nominations predictions 2014, Robert Redford All Is Lost Oscar snub, Sandra Bullock Ryan Stone Gravity, Shailene Woodley Miles Teller The Spectacular Now, Tom Hanks Barkhad Abdi Captain Phillips
Well, we’re finally at my last End of Year installment: The Top 25 films of 2013. Thanks for reading along, and yes, I do know it’s already the middle of February.
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