Top 10 Movies of 2013

So I was watching the Oscars last night and realized that I never got around to posting my Top 10 Movie list of last year. So I decided to get on my blog that I've posted to a total of once three years ago and get on that. A note on what will be included. The films in this list were films that received limited or wide release in the calendar year of 2013, not necessary premiered in 2013 or seen by myself in 2013. For example, Much Ado About Nothing originally premiered in 2012 but was not released until the following year and Her was released in 2013 but not seen by myself until January of this year. So without further ado:

1. Her- The latest work of art by the talented Spike Jonze tells the story of Theodore Twombly, a melancholic thirty-something going through a rough divorce, who falls in love with his new operating system named Samantha. The premise is strange to most but genius to many others (like me).
2. American Hustle- David O. Russell, in his first film since the brilliant Silver Linings Playbook, directs Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, along with an ensemble of new actors in this masterpiece.
3. Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing- Filmed in 12 days (while on vacation during the filming of The Avengers), and with a cast of many of his regulars such as Nathan Fillion and Clark Gregg, Whedon, the genius behind such sci-fi greats as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly, took the time to make the film his wife always wanted him make and turned Shakespeare's comedy of death and love into a modern day classic romantic comedy. Also it's in black and white which makes it even better.
4. The Great Gatsby- If anyone knows this story of lost love, they know that it is full of vivid imagery and theme. This latest film adaptation, by Baz Luhrmann, captures the essence of the story and is a visual masterpiece that will leave your eyes longing for more
5. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire- This adaptation of the second book vastly improves on the already great first film
6. The Kings of Summer- This coming of age story starring the annoying teenage kid from the annoying Cox Communication commercials has everything. A kid running away to the forest to get away from his single dad (Parks and Rec's Nick Offerman), a best friend who steals away the protagonists crush, and a quirky kid that shows up out of nowhere. It's great but sadly hardly anyone else saw it.
7. Elysium- In this follow up to his previous work, District 9, Neill Blomkamp delivers a sci-fi dystopian story of the haves and the have nots.
8. The Fifth Estate- I'm going to have to break into first person for a moment to tell my story about seeing this film. With a budget of $26 million and a box office take of $8.5 million, this was the first box office bomb I have ever had the privilege of seeing on opening weekend. My friend Dalton and I were two of five people in the entire theater on the opening night. We both absolutely loved this movie and I can't wait to see it again.
9. The Way Way Back- Named for the rear facing back seat of a station wagon, this comedy tells the story of a neglected child's bad summer that was turned around after finding and taking a job at a water park.
10. Now You See Me- This is a heist movie about a group of magicians who steal from the rich and give to the poor. The whole film plays out like a magic act complete with twists, turns, and especially misdirection.