Another year has almost finished, so as is tradition it is a good moment to look back at the past year in both blogging and in movies.
Interviews and guest posts
2013 started off with two amazing interviews. First I was able to interview the artist behind one of most recognisable movie logos, that of Columbia Pictures. It was painted by Michael Deas and I really enjoyed asking him more about the creation of it. It is a piece of cinematic history and to be able to talk about the person responsible for painting it was a great opportunity.
Thinking my movie year could not get any better, I got the chance to interview Paul Verhoeven. I gave my readers the chance to ask their questions and was able to squeeze in a lot of them. Interviewing him was really the highlight of the year. It was a great experience and with only a limited time available to do the interview I sometimes had to interrupt him in order to get to the next questions. It was quite hard as his stories were so much fun to listen to.
They were not the only interviews I did though. I interviewed several documentary makers: Marijn Poels who really wants to make documentaries which have an impact on how we look at specific situations taking place in the world, Tom Putnam & Brenna Sanchez documented the amazing work by the Detroit Fire Department.
Director Caspian Tredwell-Owen and actor Joey Pollari talked about the movie Profile of a Killer.
I also did a couple of guest posts on other blogs: I posted my Desert Island Films over at Head in a Vice, I was Hipster for a day over at Filmhipster and posted my Top 5 documentaries over at Film Guide Dublin.
Blogathons
I usually run a couple of blogathons during the year, but this year only chose to run one, but with a big twist as it took 5 months to participate. The goal of the 5 Obstructions blogathon was to challenge yourself and I hope those who have participated enjoyed it and learned some new things about writing and blogging. I have already prepared one blogathon for 2014 which will probably start at the end of January/beginning February and there are some other ideas brewing as well.
Besides starting a blogathon I also joined the Breaking Emotions blogathon.
Articles
This year I wrote a couple of articles. I wrote about the best movie watching apps for Android, the best smartphones for movie watching, asked whether you really needed a new phone. I was very happy to reach the 100th installment of my “The Many Faces of…” posts. I am not completely happy with the amount of articles I wrote, so my goal is to write more articles during 2014.
The statistics
The above picture is an overview of almost all the movies I saw in 2013. It’s a total of 309. That’s a total of 33475 minutes or 558 hours or 23,2 days of non stop movie watching. Which comes down to an average of one movie every 1.18 days.
I had set myself a couple of goals for the past year:
1. Watch at least 300 movies, which I managed to reach.
2. Rewatch more movies. In 2012 only 5.8% of the movies I saw were rewatched, this year that percentage needed to be higher. In order to do so I had made a list of movies I would rewatch. Although I did not even watch half of the movies on that list the percentage of rewatched was 9,4%
3. Try to see at least two movies a month at the cinema. Even though I have an unlimited pass for the cinema I did not manage to see two movies a month every month during this last year. I should try to do better next year or just give up the unlimited pass as I simply do not take enough advantage of it.
4. I would try to watch at least two seasons of the boxsets I still had around the house. These included: Oz (the complete series), Deadwood (season 3), Dexter (season 1), The Borgias (season 1) and The Bridge. Out of these series I have only watched The Bridge (the original version). I did however watch two other shows, which were House of Cards and Lilyhammer, so I watch a total of three seasons which I’m happy with.
The My Filmviews tens
I do not give out a lot of perfect scores each year. During 2013 there were only 11 movies which I gave that score. They are:
The Impossible (2012)
Wages of Fear (1953)
The Staircase (2004)
The Shining (1980)
Bus 174 (2002)
Moulin Rouge (2001)
Before Midnight (2013)
Fast & Furious 6 (2013)
Lost in Translation (2003)
The Act of Killing (2012)
Gravity (2013)
The worst movies I’ve seen this year
Not every movie can be a masterpiece and this year there were a couple of movies which really managed to disappoint me. This year’s worst were (with a score of 2 and lower):
2 Guns (2013)
All Is Lost (2013)
Case départ (2011)
Getaway (2013)
Jay and Seth Versus the Apocalypse (2007)
De wederopstanding van een klootzak (2013)
Caught on Tape (2013)
A Day in the Life (2009)
Guns, Girls and Gambling (2011)
Movie 43 (2013)
Top 10
So which ten movies were my favorites?
With Primer, director Shane Carruth made a movie which was extremely complex to understand, but because of that it was very interesting to me. Upstream Color is his next movie and although slightly more accessible still a movie that forces you to keep focussed. You might feel as lost as the main characters, but stick with it and the pieces of the puzzle start to fall in the right place. Not a movie everyone will love, but I enjoyed this movie which challenges its viewer.
After Drive, Ryan Gosling teamed up again with director Nicolas Winding Refn. This is a movie which has extremely strong visuals and minimal dialogue. It’s filled with extreme violence which will shock many. I was captivated by it, hypnotised by each and every frame and transported to this hot, surreal world filled by vengeance.
I have only seen this movie recently, but Prisoners is a good old fashioned thriller. It takes a look at how a situation can make you do things you might not think yourself capable of. When two children disappear one of the fathers is willing to go to extremes to find his daughter. Being a father myself I can not predict how I would react in such a situation, but it moved me a lot.
There were some great comedies this year, but there was one which stood out to me and it is this one. The chemistry between the actors, who are friends in real life and are not afraid to make jokes about each other, is obvious while watching it. The jokes are funny, there are unexpected moments, great cameos and a story which might be ridiculous, but works. The only comedy I watched twice this year.
Released at the beginning of the year it is a movie which deeply moved me. It convincingly realises the violence of a tsunami. It tells a very personal story of one family who lose track of each other, not knowing if the rest made it. Although I felt the last 30 minutes tried a bit too hard to manipulate the emotions, the movie as a whole affected me.
If there was one documentary which stood out this past year then it was this one. Just imagine Hitler winning the second world war and Nazis being interviewed about their acts during the war, telling each and every gruesome detail without feeling any remorse (even being proud of it). It is kind of what happens in The Act of Killing, only set in Indonesia. Former executioners tell in detail, and also act out in various settings, what they did. It is shocking, but it also opens your eyes about what truth or history means. It is what the winner decides it is.
The passage of time is something we may not always be able to grasp, especially when it comes to multiple generations, but this movie succeeds in portraying. The movie has some amazing shots (especially when Ryan Gosling is riding his motorcycle). The three part structure is unique, it has an enthralling story and its extremely strong opening keeps lingering in your mind throughout the movie. They say you aren’t really dead as long as someone remembers you and that memory might be shaped in something else, making someone a hero or the villain even though the truth might lay somewhere in the middle.
When I walked out of this movie the adrenalin was still pumping in my body. It is a movie filled with action, which I’ll admit goes quite a bit into superhero territory, but which never disappointed me. The action is awesome, both on wheels and when it comes to fist fights and it had an ending which made me look forward even more to the next film. With the unfortunate news that Paul Walker passed away earlier this year it is with a bittersweet feeling I look back at the movie as he was best known for his role in this series. I hope that the next movie will handle his loss in a respectful way (which currently seems to be the case).
Do perfect trilogies exist? Yes, and for me the “Before…” trilogy is the one. Both Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy have given amazing performances in each installment of the series. This third movie changes the format slightly by introducing extra characters, which only adds an extra layer to their relationship. You see them interacting more with others before it heads to the territory the movies are known for, with the two of them walking and talking, feeling as natural as everyday life. This is an amazing closing (hopefully we will be surprised by a fourth movie in a couple of year) to my favorite trilogy and one I will rewatch many times in the future.
It does not happen much that I watch a movie twice in one week, but in the case of Gravity I headed to the cinema the same week. I knew that watching this movie at home just would not compare to seeing it in 3D Imax. It was a movie which kept me on the edge of my seat, my muscles feeling tense. When a movie manages to do that you know it has to be your favorite of the year.
So what was your film year like and what were your favorite movies? (If you have made a similar post please leave your link)
Great list, with many of the same films that will be appearing on my list. Particularly nice to see Prisoners on there.
Looking forward to seeing your list. Yeah, Prisoners was such a great film.
Happy New Year 🙂 I hope it’s a great one!
Thanks Marilyn, best wishes to you as well for the new year!
Good list, some I have seen, some I haven’t, most I agree with, and a couple I don’t. But that is what lists are for. No argument with your Top two, though. I haven’t seen “The Fast & Furious 6”, so I’ll have to give it a go.
Interested to hear which ones you don’t agree with. Wishing you the best for the new year.
Of the ones I watched from your list, “Only God Forgives”. I thought it was more style over substance. It did not deliver like “Drive”.
I can understand that. Personally I was not a huge fan of Drive and like Only God Forgives more.
300 films in a year? Man, I remember what it’s like to not have kids.
🙂
Agree with you on Gravity, although I still have to check out a few other recent releases….
I remember that as well, I have the kids but am lucky that I can go to work by train and that allows me to see about one film a day. If I had to watch at home the number would be significantly lower 🙂 Have a great 2014!
Great post Nostra. Congrats on your fine achievements over the year.
Thanks a lot Mark! I thought it was a great year. Hope I will be able to top it the coming year! 🙂 Best wishes for 2014!
Absolutely loved Gravity, Prisoners, TPBTP, Only God Forgives. One question, didn’t The Impossible release in 2012? I watched the film with my brother and it was very emotional as we had a bad experience with the tsunami in 2004. Also, why F&F 6? I was a little bit disappointed with the film, felt Fast 5 was better because of the heist scenario. Anyways, fantastic picks! Did you get a chance to see The Wolf of Wall St?
The Impossible probably was released in 2012 in the US, but here it was released in January if I remember correctly. Why F&F 6? It was an adrenaline rush and I left the cinema with a big grin on my face. It was the ultimate action movie for me the past year.
Wolf of Wall St will be released this month over here, so had not been able to watch it yet. Looking forward to it though.
You seemed to have a good year Nostra!!
I had a very good one myself 🙂 Gravity is definitely on the top of my list of this year’s best film as well!
I hope 2014 would be even better 😀
Yeah, it was an awesome year, really content with it and good to hear you had a good 2013 as well. Gravity is awesome, happy to see you agree. I do hope 2014 will even be better. Looking forward to the blogathon!
Happy New Year! The Act of Killing is on my watch list. I kind of feel a bit disappointed about Gravity in the long run since I know it won’t live up on DVD but I still love it.
Thanks, best wishes to you as well.
I know what you mean about Gravity, it will not be the same to see it on a small screen.
This post highlights to me so many films I need to catch up on – The Place Beyond the Pines, Prisoners among them.
300 films!? You MANIAC! Well done, Nostra!
Two movies you should check out as soon as you can, both awesome movies.
Maniac? Well, that’s something I reach almost every year…good thing about travelling by train about an hour and a half per day 🙂
What a busy year it has been on My Film Views! It’s nice to look back and review the year; I’m particularly impressed with the interviews you did in 2013 – Paul Verhoeven was a huge coup for the site (I would love to interview him). The 5 Obstructions Blogathon, although I didn’t have a chance to participate, was entertaining.
As for your top 10 of the year – I’m not surprised by the inclusions (apart from Fast and Furious 6) but need to check out a couple – The Act of Killing is top of that list. Great top 2.
Yeah, it has been an amazing year. I was really lucky being able to do those interviews and I hope I will manage to arrange a couple like that this year, don’t know if I will, but will be trying!
Yeah, I know Fast and Furious is a surprise, but it was the best action movie I saw this year and it had to go in my top 10.
Nice year for you, Nostra! It’s one of a kind blogathon for me 🙂 Great for you for posting interviews and able to watched 300 films!
I also have Before Midnight as my #2, but I didn’t like Only God Forgives like you. Great to see Act of Killing on your list 🙂
Yeah, the blogathon was unique and the new one will kick off soon 🙂
Only God Forgives had divided opinions, so can completely understand you not liking it Andina.
Very intriguing list Nostra! I really appreciate The Act of Killing considering its history, but it might not make my top 10 after all. I probably will have a separate list of Top 5 documentaries in which that’d make my list. Gravity for sure will make my Top 10 though.
Yeah, some are obvious choices, others might surprise people. A separate list for documentaries? I consider them movies as much as the others so I always put them in my top 10 if they deserve to be. Looking forward to your list though!
Great list, Nostra. Glad to see Before Midnight ranked so highly — right now I have it pegged as #2 as well.
Here’s to an even better 2014!
Will you be putting up a top 10 as well?
Best wishes for 2014!
You shocked me here! I just new “Before Midnight” had your #1 locked up! Instead we share the choice for best movie of 2013! Cheers!
Yeah, when I saw Before Midnight I could not imagine anything topping that for me and then I saw Gravity. I had this happen a couple of years ago as well, when I knew for sure that Mr.Nobody would end up at #1 and then all of a sudden Black Swan blew me away. Those are still my two favorite movies though 🙂
Great overview and great top ten! Gravity and Fast 6 were also in my top 10 of 2013.
Thanks a lot! Just had a look at your top 10 🙂
I really need to see The Act of Killing. Great list!
Thank you James. Act of Killing is documentary to be seen indeed.
Great post man and great list to finish it off. I had totally forgotten about The Impossible, I can’t remember if that came out here in 2012 or 2013. Great film though. I did think Before Midnight would take your top spot though!
Thanks so much Chris. It came out over here in January 2013 and was the first one I would know end up on my list. Like I said before I was sure that Before Midnight would take the top spot as well, but if I was forced to watch that or Gravity in the cinema right now I would not hesitate picking Gravity, thus making it my number 1.
Great post! Nice roundup of stuff you’ve done during the year. 300 films is a lot to watch in one year. Doubt I’ll ever get to that many! (Mind you, there’s a guy over on Letterboxd who probably gets through close to a thousand films a year, which is insane.)
Great work on the interviews, especially the Paul Verhoeven one. That guy’s a legend. As for your top 10, a nice mix of movies. I’ve only seen five of them, but can’t really argue with any list that includes Gravity. 🙂
Yeah, it is a lot, but I really did not push myself to reach that number, I just watch them quite regularly. There are indeed people who watch way more…I keep track of my movie watching on another site and there are lots of people who do crazy numbers.
Yeah, the Paul Verhoeven interview was great to do.
Time to check out the other five then, you might like them.
Since you graciously left my blog a comment I wanted to check out your list, and like you said many similar titles! Glad Gravity was your #1 as it was the best movie of 2013. Nice blog!
Thanks for the compliment!
Terrific round-up of your year in film! Gravity really is a knock-out, especially witnessed on big screen, great stuff.
Lost in Tr and The Shining are perfect to me. Wages of Fear (1953) I agree is praiseworthy. Apparently Sorcerer (1977) by Exorcist director William Friedkin is an American remake(I haven’t seen it)
Going to check out the guest post with your top 5 documentaries.
I have seen Sorcerer as well, which is not bad either, but I much prefer the original. Thanks for the compliment!