Like last year, here are my Top Ten Lists for 2013. December is such an odd time of year because it is both a time to look forward to the year to come while simultaneously looking back at the year that has been. A great deal happened in my life this year: I spent two weeks in Argentina, spent the Spring Semester interning in the U.S. House of Representatives, graduated college in May, and started my first year of law school in August. Unfortunately, I haven't had as many opportunities to blog as much as I would have liked, so hopefully I can use this chance to make it up to myself and put out my picks for the best media of 2013. I did this last year and hope to make it a yearly thing because I get a lot of enjoyment out of sharing my thoughts with everyone. I appreciate anyone who stops by to check out my lists.
Top Ten Albums of 2013
Keeping with what seems like it will become a trend for my yearly list of best albums, 2013's top music releases had an unintentional theme. Last year the theme was definitely albums by artists who had recently reunited and this year the theme seems to have been “The Best Music of 2011, Part Two.” Of the list of ten, eight artists released their previous works in 2011, while the other two released theirs in 2010. This year was much, much better than last year in terms of album quality and I could not have been happier to rock these tunes (and more) all year long. I'll follow each listing with a short write-up and also recommendations for the best songs on each album.
10. Growing Up Is Killing Me– Veara
Veara took three and a half years to follow up their sophomore album, What We Left Behind, and the resulting LP is definitely worth the wait. Many people have described the style of music Veara purveys as “easycore,” meaning the music is on the heavier side with vocals that sound as if they belong in a punk or pop-punk band. Whatever it should be called, Veara have refined their sound onGrowing Up Is Killing Me, maturing a bit while still retaining the edge that made them stand out in the first place. The album also has a couple of stellar guest vocalists that each bring something unique to the table; the standout is Silverstein vocalist/screamer Shane Told utilizing both of his delivery methods on album highlight“Don't Call Me Lucky,” a track about indecision and regret that manages to contain some of Veara's more interesting instrumental work. The band tackles some similar themes to their last album, including leaving home, the nature of friendship, seizing life's opportunities, and, of course, growing up. Hopefully Veara manages to release their follow-up a little sooner next time around.
No Seriously, Go Check Out:“Don't Call Me Lucky” and “The World Won't Wait”
9. Because the Internet – Childish Gambino
Many know Childish Gambino by his real name, Donald Glover (co-star of NBC's Community as Troy Barnes); hip-hop fans should also be familiar with his alter ego, however. After spending some time releasing mixtapes and one-off tracks, Glover put out his first official album in 2011 with Camp and follows it up this year with Because The Internet. Glover has a number of lyrical themes he likes to ponder in his music along with typical hip-hop boasting, including growing up nerdy, the nature of his newfound fame and how it makes him feel, and love. “3005” is one of the best examples of a Drake-style rapping/singing that I bet Drake wishes he could have written. “Sweatpants” is a mostly boastful track that nevertheless features some of Glover's trademark wordplay that is so clever it elevates him above a good deal of his peers. On “Zealots of Stockholm (Free Information)” Glover discusses religion, including the challenges of dealing with his childhood growing up as a Jehovah's Witness. The album features some interlude tracks and the songs are titled with roman numerals suggesting that they fit together into movements across the album's running time. Glover is clearly ambitious, willing to experiment, and desperate to make sure he doesn't allow his talent to stagnate after one successful release. The result is an album that is both fun to listen to and different from a good deal of anything else on the hip-hop scene.
No Seriously, Go Check Out:“3005,” “Sweatpants,” and “Life: The Biggest Troll”
8. Damage– Jimmy Eat World
Often described as an “adult break-up record” by frontman Jim Adkins, Jimmy Eat World's latest full-length is, if not a true return to for for the band, at least a reminder of why fans fell in love with them in the first place. Mesa, Arizona's finest chose to strip down their sound a bit on the new record, causing them to use acoustic guitar in some capacity on every track and using production that is much less flashy and polished as their last two albums. The result is ten tracks that sound more soulful than anything the band has released since 2004's Futures, the band's last truly great work. The lyrics generally tackle different aspects of the dissolution of a relationship, in keeping with the theme of the album, but they rarely stray into groan-inducing territory. The album opens with “Appreciation,” a bitter song that finds Adkins slinging back-handed thank-you's to a lover who has taught him nothing but heartbreak. Later on the album lead single “I Will Steal You Back” is somewhat reminiscent of Death Cab For Cutie (in a good way) and deals with the stage in a break-up when all one wants to do is get the other person back at all costs. Breaking with longstanding Jimmy Eat World tradition, the closing song of the album is not an epic finisher that becomes an instant classic (something that has been true of each of the band's previous works). No, the best song on the album is called “No, Never,” a catchy tune that includes some fun instrumentation. It's an all-around strong effort so hopefully things get better from here.
No Seriously, Go Check Out: “Appreciation” and “No, Never”
7. Saves The Day - Saves The Day
Crowd Funding has become a popular new avenue for filmmakers, video game developers, and now even musicians to connect with fans and get the money to make the art they want to make without having to go through a studio/publisher/label to get the money (along with all the creative freedom which must be given up in the process). New Jersey legends Saves The Day decided to go that route with their new self-titled full-length and the results are both surprising and encouraging. After the band's trilogy of previous albums (Sound The Alarm, Under The Boards, and Daybreak), frontman (and sole remaining founding member) Chris Conley decided it was time to ditch the themes of depression and neurosis found on those discs for more of a “back to basics” approach. Saves The Day sounds like the long-lost sequel to 2003's In Reverie, what many consider to be the band's worst album. The difference between that album and Saves The Day, however, is that Conley's vocal delivery is full of vibrance and emotion (where he sounded almost bored on In Reverie), the music is dynamic and the lyrics are much better. Even in spite of all this, In Reverie's influence is all over this record to the point that if it had been released in 2003 instead of In Reverie, then Saves The Day would not have a single album that doesn't deserve to be called “Great” without any qualifiers attached. Two years ago I would have said I did not think Saves The Day was going to continue making music; now I am more optimistic for their future than ever.
No Seriously, Go Check Out:“Remember,” “The Tide of Our Times,” and “Ring Pop”
6. Young New England– Transit
Something that I have noticed with the recent crop of young pop-punk bands is that they have been attempting to change their sounds into something that retains the same spirit but comes across as more mature and less rough around the edges. For some bands, this change has not worked out; for Boston's Transit, however, the change has only made them more interesting as a unit. Building on the sound they achieved on 2011's Listen and Forgive, Young New England finds Transit singing about the end of a good thing on jaunty opener“Nothing Lasts Forever,” how love can change the way a young person looks at the world on “So Long, So Long,” leaving a legacy on “Weathered Souls,” and the love they have for their friends and where they came from on album standout “Young New England.” That song is so infectious, so wonderfully played and sung, that it instantly conjures memories of great nights and good friends, whether the listener hails from New England or New Mexico. Simply magnificent.
No Seriously, Go Check Out:“Young New England,” “So Long, So Long,” and “Lake Q”
5. Before It Caves – A Loss For Words
A Loss For Words has also bought into the trend of pop-punk bands shifting their sound to something a bit different from what they have previously done. Unlike Transit, however, A Loss For Words has not shifted as dramatically. 2011's No Sanctuary was a singular achievement for the band and they have followed it up with another serving of catchy melodies, clever lyrics, and vocalist Matty Arsenault's trademark soulful delivery. Like Veara, A Loss for Words managed to snag a couple of great guest vocalists, including Lynn Gunn on opening track “Distance,” The Wonder Years' Dan Campbell on “Conquest of Mistakes,” and Polar Bear Club's Jimmy Stadt on“No Pioneer.” The album grows on listeners until its greatness becomes undeniable, especially on the aforementioned “Conquest of Mistakes” and “No Pioneer,” as well as “20 Block” and “All Roads Lead to Home.” The album's best material can be found on the duo of “Brace Yourself” and “Siesta Key.” On “Brace Yourself,” a track that is mostly acoustic until a full band finisher that would absolutely bring down the house live, Arsenault's vocals are strained almost to the breaking point. “Siesta Key” is so huge, with its monstrously great chorus and perfect finish, that I was shocked the band did not chose to close the album with it. All in all, another strong release from A Loss For Words, one of music's most underrated bands.
No Seriously, Go Check Out: “No Pioneer,” “Brace Yourself,” and “Siesta Key”
4. Heart Attack– Man Overboard
Despite most albums in Man Overboard's genre (pop-punk) consisting of a maximum 10-12 songs, Man Overboard decided to put out a record consisting of 14 tracks, almost daring critics to call any of it filler. Fortunately, the album is anything but, with each of its tracks contributing to the overall vibe of great tunes about love and heartbreak, something that few bands do better than this one. While many of the other bands on this list tackle themes that listeners might deem “deeper” than what Man Overboard sings about, few artists in any genre can match Man Overboard's earnestness, vulnerability, emotion, and pure heart. Nik Bruzzese and Zac Eisenstein, the band's dual vocalists, work out a number of instantly memorable exchanges and harmonies, something this young band has done better than any other band with shared lead vocals currently making music. Tracks like “Boy Without Batteries,” “Hoodie Song,” and “Damage Control” prove that Man Overboard deserve to help carry the pop-punk banner into the future and beyond. The band has also crafted one of the year's most perfect singles in “Right Where I Left You,” and a slow jam to rival fan-favorite “Love Your Friends Die Laughing” in terms of singalong greatness (album closer“Wide Awake”). I'm happy to say the band hails from my home state of New Jersey because they have done NJ music fans proud by releasing material this strong.
No Seriously, Go Check Out:“Boy Without Batteries,” “Right Where I Left You,” “Hoodie Song,” and “Wide Awake”
3. Death Chorus– Polar Bear Club
Much controversy has been made about Polar Bear Club vocalist Jimmy Stadt and his dramatic change in vocal delivery between 2011's Clash Battle Guilt Pride and 2013's Death Chorus; Stadt has shifted from a gravelly yell reminiscent of Rise Against's Tim McIlrath to clean singing. Unfortunately, Stadt has explained that he is no longer physically capable of sustaining his former vocal style. For some fans, the change is too dramatic to forgive for any reason; for anyone with a heart and a brain, however, there is a great deal to love about the new sound of Polar Bear Club. In addition to the change in vocals, Stadt and guitarist Chris Browne are now the band's sole remaining founding members. The resulting album definitely sounds like a band in transition, however transition has rarely ever sounded so good before. Stadt's new vocals are complemented by songwriting that plays more to the strengths of clean singing yet still produces some more of the band's classic singalong moments, some infectious choruses, and plenty of Stadt's genius lyrics. Epic album closer “Upstate Mosquito” in particular features some great lines, including “I heard you saying 'No Regrets'/And I wondered if you knew./When you got it tattooed on you/It hurts more to get removed.” I love this band and their music is seriously some of the best anyone could hope for from a modern punk band.
No Seriously, Go Check Out:“Blood Balloon,” “WLWYCD,” “Twang (Blister to Burn),” and“Upstate Mosquito”
2. What You Don't See – The Story So Far
This past summer at the Vans Warped Tour, I was up front for The Story So Far's set. This punk band from California was able to fill nearly an entire 7,000-seat amphitheater all the way across the country in New Jersey a mere two years after releasing their first full-length album and fairly soon after the release of their second. Everyone knew every word to every song and the band was practically speechless at all the support that they are getting from people they never expected to impact with their music. I tell this story to get across just how highly this band is regarded and how vital their music is to modern punk rock. Vocalist Parker Cannon delivers his lyrics with a yell that sounds all his own; it defies comparison and is so full of emotion that I seriously feel sorry for anyone else who uses this vocal style because comparisons to Cannon will almost always be unfavorable. The band's sound is classic punk with a modern twist, including a heavy dose of melodic and rhythmic hooks, deeply personal lyrics, and an overall tone of youthful energy that is hard, if not impossible, to match. The songs speak for themselves.
**I Definitely recommend the entire album here.**
No Seriously, Go Check Out:“Things I Can't Change,” “Right Here,” “Empty Space,” and“Framework”
1. The Greatest Generation– The Wonder Years
I am not usually one to throw around titles like “Modern Classic,”“Masterpiece,” “Culturally Significant,” and “Important” without good reason. I am not averse to calling a work of art“classic” in terms of the particular artists own work or in terms of the work's genre; however, every once in a while a work comes along that refuses to be ignored, sprinting right up to audience expectations and exceeding every single one of them. The Greatest Generation is one of those works.
The Wonder Years, a pop-punk band hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have tapped into something important, with a message to their generation (my generation) that says it's time to stop ceding the title of “Greatest Generation” to those who lived through World War II and came back home to do “great things,” thus seemingly earning the eternal respect and deference of those to come after them. According to The Wonder Years, this status quo is no longer acceptable; after listening to this album, that fact also becomes clear to the listener.
The album's lyrics read like vocalist Dan “Soupy” Campbell's own diary entries, containing records of neuroses, personal fears and regrets, nostalgia, fear of getting older, dealing with death, and finding one's place both in history and in the present world. All of the songs are great but there are a few that deserve special mention. Opening track “There, There” starts off slowly with Soupy delivering his lines quietly before breaking out into a throat-shredding yell for the song's big finale. “Passing Through a Screen Door” deals with regret for a life spent on the road and how that has not led itself to starting a family or even being a role model Soupy would want his future children to follow. “We Could Die Like This” finds Campbell deciding “Operator, take me home/I don't know where else to go/I wanna die in the suburbs/A heart attack shoveling snow/All alone, if I die/ I wanna die in the suburbs” amid recollections of harsh Philly winters and they “make boys into men.” Some of Campbell's expert imagery and endearing cultural references pop up in the song as well, such as when he remembers how he “watched the '92 Birds take the field without Jerome Brown.”
“The Bastards, The Vultures, The Wolves” opens with the battle cry “I'm angry like I'm 18 again/The walls are closing in/But the bastards and the vultures/All want pieces of what's left;” the song is about fighting to stay sane in a world that wants nothing more than to drain the life from you. “Teenage Parents” is one of the most poignant songs this band has ever written, chronicling the struggles of growing up as the poor child of young parents; Soupy's lyrics are simultaneously positive and devastating. Acoustic Track“Madelyn” slows things down a bit late in the album before the album speeds up once more with “Cul-de-sac.”
Everything that the band put into the first twelve songs on the album culminates in the finale, “I Just Want to Sell Out My Funeral.” The song spends the first 3 minutes of its 7:34 runtime as its own song before, at the 3:25 mark, the band starts reintroducing musical and lyrical cues from nearly every song that came before it, interspersed with new lyrics, to create a medley of sound that ties every song together and ends with some of the greatest lyrics Campbell has ever written: “'Cause I'm sick of seeing ghosts/And I know how it's all gonna end./There's no triumph waiting./There's no sunset to ride off in./We all want to be great men/And there's nothing romantic about it./I just want to know that I did all I could with what I was given.”
And that is the band's ultimate message. Any generation can be great (even the “Greatest,”) so long as it does the best it can with the tools it has been given. Nothing less than the best is acceptable, nor should it be; great things can happen even in spite of crippling neuroses, self-doubt, indecision, and sadness. The Wonder Years have made a Modern Classic, their Masterpiece, a Culturally Significant work that should be considered Important for years to come. There is more emotion and depth here than anything found on Top 40 charts, in any genre, from any other artist currently making music. Don't miss this one.
**Again, I'd recommend the entire album.**
No Seriously, Go Check Out: “Passing Through A Screen Door,” “Dismantling Summer,” “Teenage Parents,” “A Raindance in Traffic,” and “I Just Want to Sell Out My Funeral” (But only after listening to the rest of the album first for the full effect)
Top Ten Movies of 2013
2013 was a fantastic year for cinema. I honestly considered expanding this list to 15 entries because of all the Honorable Mentions I am going to have here but I ultimately decided against it. There was new work from beloved directors Martin Scorsese, The Coen Brothers, Edgar Wright, Alexander Payne, and David O. Russell; a handful of simply excellent performances; some unforgettable writing; and memorable music. This list was probably the hardest for me to make this year.
**Of course, no spoilers at all here**
Honorable Mention:Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues,Stoker,Rush,Gravity,Saving Mr. Banks,Philomena, Pacific Rim, Monsters University
10.Captain Phillips
Anytime a film is “Based on a True Story,” especially one that occurred relatively recently, there will always be criticism by those who were affected by the events in question. Captain Phillips has received its share of criticism from crew members of the actual ship, especially over how positively the eponymous captain is portrayed in the film by actor Tom Hanks. The one thing to remember is that the film is not a documentary, it is a major motion picture that will, of course, take some artistic license with the actual events to make for more riveting cinema. Directed by Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips is a tense and claustrophobic thriller about the hijacking of an American cargo ship by pirates; it is based on an actual incident which took place just a few years ago. Hanks is superb as Phillips, a man who plans to stick to the rules as closely as possible, run a tight ship, and finish his latest haul without incident. It is some pretty great work from the two-time Academy Award winner and is certainly worthy of an Oscar nomination. Also worthy of a nod for Best Supprting Actor is Barkhad Abdi as the pirates' leader, a man with nothing to lose but everything to gain both for himself and the starving people back home in his village. From the great scene in which the pirates catch up to and board the ship to the incredibly emotional finale, Captain Phillips is proof that big-budget special effects are not at all necessary to produce first-class suspense.
9.Mud
Growing up can be awkward. Working up the courage to ask out the person you have a crush on, finding time to spend with best friends while still managing to help out at home, and finding your place in the world can be seemingly insurmountable tasks as a teen. Not every kid gets the chance to participate in aiding a wanted man as he attempts to escape the country with the girl of his dreams. In Mud, however, that is exactly what happens. Two young boys accidentally encounter the title character, Mud, portrayed by Matthew McConaughey, who is hiding out on a deserted island in an Arkansas lake. Mud's slowly reveals his backstory to the boys through what they initially assume are just Mud's tall tales before they begin to encounter the people from his story around their hometown. McConaughey turns in a wonderful performance as Mud, while the two boys, played by Tye Sheridan and Sam Shepard, are also a joy to watch in a way that few younger actors manage to achieve. For any fans of a good coming-of-age story with a great cast and script, Mud will not disappoint.
8.This Is The End
The Judd Apatow Gang has been making hilarious films ever since the release of The 40-Year-Old Virgin, however never before have they all been together in a shingle film. Written and directed bySuperbad and Pineapple Express writers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, This Is The End was the first of two apocalyptic comedies released in 2013 and was the decidedly more“American” of the two. The all-star cast features, mainly: Rogen, Jonah Hill, James Franco, Craig Robinson, Jay Baruchel, and Danny McBride. The number of hilarious cameos and bit parts in the film are too numerous to count and are part of the fun of watching the film, especially during the opening scenes at Franco's housewarming party. The film appears to feature a good deal of the group's patented improvisation, meaning one can only imagine how much material was left on the cutting room floor that may have been equally as funny as what made it into the final film. Any fan of comedies would do himself or herself a favor by watching this hilarious examination of celebrities taken out of their element and forced to figure out a way to survive both the apocalypse and each other.
7.12 Years A Slave
While 2012's Django Unchained was a harsh look at slavery-era America (and my personal favorite film of last year), it was still filtered through the stylized lens of Quentin Tarantino's expert writing and direction. This year's 12 Years A Slave, directed by Steve McQueen (director of Hunger and Shame) takes a look at pre-Civil War America with a cold and realistic tone. The film tells the true story of Solomon Northrup (played with Oscar-worthy skill by Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free African-American living in New York who was tricked and sold into slavery, a position he found himself in for 12 years of his life. The film is often highly uncomfortable to watch, as McQueen pulls no punches when portraying the horrors of life as a slave in the South; one particularly brutal scene involves a violent whipping, during which the wounds on the back of the victim are made to look agonizingly real by the film's expert makeup team. The other major player in the film is a sadistic plantation owner named Edwin Epps, played by the brilliant Michael Fassbender (in another Oscar-worthy role from the actor), who owns Northrup for the majority of his time as a slave. This is an important film that tells the story of an American hero whose plight has never received adequate attention before now. In any event, the film is an unflinching look at humanity's capacity for evil, as well as its ability to overcome such evil against all odds.
6.Dallas Buyers Club
Matthew McConaughey had never been an actor that I particularly respected; based on his body of work, the man seemed to be in nothing worth watching (save for his small role in the classic film Dazed and Confused). Since 2012, however, McConaughey has been experiencing something of a career renaissance, choosing excellent roles and knocking each one out of the park. The culmination of this change in fortunes for the actor is the unforgettable Dallas Buyers Club. Based on a true story, the film chronicles Ron Woodruff (McConaughey), a homophobic and drug-addicted Texas cowboy in the 1980s who was diagnosed with HIV and given 30 days to live. Realizing that AZT, the only FDA-approved drug to “treat” HIV, is actually making him more sick, Ron seeks out alternative medicines from other countries around the world. After finding treatments that are actually effective, Ron forms a “Buyers Club” for the purposes of circumventing the FDA's pharmaceutical company-friendly rules and bringing the medications to HIV and AIDS patients in the United States who are unable to obtain treatment. McConaughey is sure to be recognized for his performance by the Academy but whether or not he will win is another question entirely. The same cannot be said, however, about Jared Leto; Leto portrays Rayon, a cross-dressing fellow AIDS patient who forms an unlikely friendship with Woodruff, managing to soften his feelings toward the LGBT community and becoming his business partner. Leto will win on Oscar Sunday for Best Supporting Actor, I would be willing to bet any amount of money on it. Dallas Buyers Club is an anti-authority, anti-establishment film that illustrates just how far human beings are willing to go to help one another and themselves.
5.Nebraska
From director Alexander Payne (The Descendants) the bleakly black and white Nebraska is definitely worthy of recognition this year. The film stars Bruce Dern as Woody Grant, an aging father of two living in Montana who believes he has won $1,000,000 from a magazine subscription scam. The catch is he must make it to Nebraska before the offer expires to collect his winnings. The film also stars Will Forte as Woody's son David, who reluctantly agrees to take his father to Nebraska if only to give Woody, in his old age, one last hope to cling to. On the way, the pair stops at Woody's hometown in Nebraska, where Woody and David confront some characters from Woody's past, both good and bad, as well as their own dysfunctional extended family. The film can be both wickedly funny and heartbreakingly poignant at times, something that Payne has excelled at in each of his films. The biggest surprise of the film is Forte, the formerSaturday Night Live star who is known for his outlandish comedic persona more than his legitimate acting skills. Dern is predictably excellent as Grant, as is June Squibb as Woody's wife, a character who initially appears to be an incisively acerbic nag but eventually reveals herself to actually care about her husband in a crucial scene later on in the film. Nebraska is overall entertaining cinema.
4.Inside Llewyn Davis
The Coen Brothers have spent the last 30 years making excellent films that manage to be incredibly deep, expertly written and directed, and often funnier than anything else out in theaters at a given time. For their latest feature, the Coens decided to tackle the Greenwich Village, NY folk music scene in the year 1961. Folk music was a way of life for many New Yorkers at the time, people who frequented bars and venues in the area to watch, play, or do both. The film centers on Llewyn Davis (played by Oscar Isaac), one of those New Yorkers, who spends his evenings playing folk songs in bars and sleeping on the couches of whichever of his friends felt the most sorry for him that night. The film is full of incredible music produced by T. Bone Burnett (who won an Oscar for the theme song to the film Crazy Heart starring Jeff Bridges) and played/sung by the film's actual cast (which includes Isaac, Justin Timberlake, and Carey Mulligan). The film is heartbreakingly bleak, taking place in a dreary winter landscape where the sun never shines through the solid grey sky and where the temperature is consistently below freezing. While not a straight comedy, the film is quite funny; it is also rather dark at times, almost hopelessly so, as Llewyn tries to right some of the wrongs in his life (sometimes creating new ones in the process) and attempts to take charge of his music career, a career that stalled with the suicide of his singing partner. The performances are all great, the music is delightful, and the writing/direction is top-notch.
3.The World's End
Turning now to 2013's other apocalyptic comedy, The World's End comes to audiences courtesy of Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Edgar Wright, the team that delivered the classic comedies Shaun of the Dead andHot Fuzz. Completing the trio's unofficial “Three Flavors Cornetto” Ttrilogy, The World's End tells the story of five friends (played by Pegg, Frost, Martin Freeman, Paddy Considine, and Eddie Marsan) who at age 19 attempted an epic 12-pub crawl in their hometown of Newton Haven in England. Unfortunately, the group failed to complete the crawl, grew up, moved away, and became adults. All except for Gary King (Pegg), though, an insufferable manipulator who hasn't been able to get his life together and now, approaching forty, persuades his childhood friends to return with him to their hometown to complete the crawl. Of course, when the group arrives back home, not everything appears to be as they left it. The film is devastatingly hilarious, drawing enormous laughs through Pegg and Edgar Wright's near-perfect screenplay; the writing is so witty, full of classic exchanges and verbal comedy that is so much more appealing and rewarding than watching people fall down or get peed on by a deer (looking at you, Grown Ups 2). The World's End is probably the funniest film of the year.
2.American Hustle
David O. Russell's American Hustle adapts the events of the real-life FBI ABSCAM scandal (which took place in New Jersey in the 1970s and cost several elected officials their jobs) into a “dramedy” about the lies people tell both each other and themselves to get by. Christian Bale and Amy Adams play Irving Rosenfeld and Sydney Prosser, a pair of con artists and lovers who are busted by an ambitious FBI agent Richie DiMasso (played by Bradley Cooper). The two are then forced to help teach their skills to the FBI in order to entrap select targets to get the Bureau (and DiMasso) some high-profile arrests. Problems ensue when DiMasso sets his sights on Camden, NJ mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner), a seemingly good guy who only wants to help his home state improve its economic situation. The situation is further complicated by Rosenfeld's wife Rosalyn (played by Jennifer Lawrence) who manages to nearly bring the entire scam crashing down. The film is very funny and tells a complicated story that rewards engaged viewers with plenty of great scenes and some incredible camera work. The film is definitely what one would describe as an “Actor's Film,” mainly because the performances are all from actors at the top of their respective game and who are simply mesmerizing to watch. Like David O. Russell's last film, 2012's Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle is my runner-up for Best Film of the Year.
1.The Wolf of Wall Street
Martin Scorsese is without question one of the world's greatest directors of all time, a master of visual storytelling who is one of the main reasons why I fell in love with the movies in the first place. Working with frequent collaborator Leonardo DiCaprio, Scorsese has managed to deliver another monster of a film with The Wolf of Wall Street. The film tells the story of Jordan Belfort, a former Wall Street big shot who built a financial empire on illegality, was sent to prison, and emerged to tell his story (which was adapted into the script for this film). The movie plays a good deal similarly to one of Scorsese's several masterpieces, Goodfellas, in that it portrays the rise and fall of its main character with plenty of fourth wall-breaking narration from the character himself.
First of all, the film is absolutely hilarious. It is also vulgar and portrays people doing things that are morally reprehensible. One of the criticisms being levied against the film is that it glorifies behavior that should be condemned; after watching the film, however, such criticism simply does not make any sense. Sure, some of what transpires in the film is made to look enjoyable, however the reason this has to be so is because viewers need to understand that the the allure of Wall Street's excess has driven some of the most morally well-adjusted people over the edge in pursuit of the almighty dollar. The film does not condone what protagonist Jordan Belfort did while committing financial crimes, it merely presents what he did for what it was, without pulling any punches, and allows the viewer to judge the people involved for what they did. The film's final 45-60 minutes also play completely differently than the first part of the film in that they consist entirely of Belfort's fall and the consequences of his actions. There are not many laughs during this period of the film because the sobering reality of Belfort's situation finally hits him, and DiCaprio plays it all masterfully.
One thing that nobody can fault the film for is whitewashing what happened. In fact, an argument can be made that the film is too graphic in what it presents to viewers. The excesses of the film, however, perfectly mirror the excesses of the time period and setting. Martin Scorsese is a genius filmmaker who understands how to get a point across to the audience, so he definitely knew what he was getting himself into with some of the scenes in this film. That said, some of what happens must be seen to be believed and so I will not spoil it here.
The cast is pretty great. Leonardo DiCaprio turns in arguably the best work of his career here, work that should earn him an Oscar nomination and (in my opinion) a win; the Academy seems to love snubbing Leo, however, so I would not get my hopes up. Jonah Hill turns in yet another great role; while this film is definitely more in his wheelhouse, being a comedy, his work here is worthy of recognition as well. Kyle Chandler has some great scenes as a federal agent on the case of trying to arrest Belfort, and Matthew McConaughey (yet again!) has a small but memorable role as Belfort's first mentor and chief inspiration.
The film is written so well that I would have to say this film gets my support for Best Adapted Screenplay. The film is heavily male-centered and, therefore, depicts its main cast as rather misogynistic. Based on the subject matter, however, that makes sense. Like the graphic sex, depravity, and drug use, the film itself is not misogynistic, it just illustrates how misogyny was a part of everyday life for the people in the film's male-dominated world.
All in all, while the film itself is not perfect (it's a bit too long), it is enjoyable enough to put it ahead of all the other films this year. Martin Scorsese rarely disappoints and, fortunately, this film was anything but disappointing.
Top Ten Video Games of 2013
To be completely honest, 2013 was kind of a letdown in terms of the games that were released. I enjoyed so much of what came out in 2012 that this year's offerings really did not do much to excite me beyond a couple of titles. As a result, I am going to have to bend at least one of my rules to even get this list to ten entries. Typically, only games that saw their original North American release in 2013 could be eligibile for this list, however at least one exception had to be made for a game I never got to play until this year and it's long-awaited home console release. With that said, on to the list.
10.Guacamelee!
Nintendo fans have been clamoring for a new 2D Metroid adventure ever since the release of Metroid: Fusion on the Game Boy Advance (unlessMetroid: Zero Mission also counts despite being a remake of the original game in the series). Drinkbox Studios must feel the same way because with their 2013 release Guacamelee!, the studio has crafted a loving homage to that style of game while also managing to stand apart as its own instant genre classic. The game follows Juan, an Agave farmer who must don the persona of a super-powered Luchador in order to rescue the woman he loves from the evil Carlos Calaca. The game sports a wrestling-inspired combat system, plenty of addictive exploration and secrets, and an art style taken straight from Mexican Day of the Dead iconography. The game is a joy to play and should be experienced by anyone with access to it.
9.Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Ubisoft basically abandoned the core spirit of this franchise in order to make AC4, however if it had to be done in order to create a game this fun then so be it. The game tells the story of Edward Kenway, grandfather of Assassin's Creed 3 hero Connor, a pirate in the 1600s Caribbean who, after a chance encounter with mysterious stranger, is swept up in a high seas adventure spanning all of the islands of the West Indies. The game world is absolutely enormous, with the main method of traversal being a pirate ship which is fully customizable and pretty easy to control once one gets the hang of it. The story itself is not as instantly memorable as some of the other games in the series, however Edward is another highly interesting and well-developed character who represents a change in the series. While past protagonists Altair, Ezio, and Connor were all motivated by a righteous sense of right and wrong, Kenway indulges in his own personal desires quite often and is motivated (at least at first) by pure profit alone. The real-world content is essentially throwaway (apart from some great lore that can be discovered by determined players) but the real fun of the game is in the Animus content. While I am still holding out hope for a game set in Victorian England, Assassin's Creed IV was much more fun than I thought it would be when it was first announced.
8.Batman: Arkham Origins
A common criticism of many video game sequels is that they “merely offer more of the same.” In some cases, more of the same is definitely a knock against a game; in others, more of the same can be comforting, a reminder of why it was so easy to enjoy a given franchise in the first place. In the case of Batman: Arkham Origins, there was a bit of both in play. With a game world twice as large as the one found in Arkham City, moving around using Batman's arsenal of gadgets was just as exhilarating as it was last time. On the negative side, many of the game's side missions were not as interesting or creative as the ones in Arkham City. On the positive side, the game featured an excellent voice cast that did not for one second cause me to lament the loss of Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill. Also on the negative side, the Riddl-um, I mean “Enigma” challenges were a little too easy this time around and the reward at the end was underwhelming. Ultimately, however, the positives won out mainly due to the absolutely stellar story told in this game. The writers really nailed this tale, throwing in an early twist that (despite being a bit predictable) was utterly engrossing and made me desperate to make it to the end. The whole “More of the Same” line of criticism just does not apply when the story is so good; on top of that, since the game was developed by a new studio, they can be forgiven for not wanting to bust up the classic formula too much. In general, this was a fine Batman game and one of the most fun games I played this year.
7.Diablo III
So this is where I have to bend one of my own rules. While Diablo IIIreleased on PC/Mac last year, 2013 saw its official North American release and so I'm going to say it qualifies for the purposes of this list. That out of the way, I had so much fun playing this game. I know that it's fashionable these days to hate on Diablo III but, as someone who has only casual familiarity with the first two games in the series, I have to say that it satisfied my action-RPG needs. I felt the controls were tuned very well, I love the art style, the classes are all fun to play, and the constant loot/XP grind kept me entertained for hours. Sure, the story is not the deepest in the world, however the rest of the game's elements outweigh that misstep. The game has such great replay value as well, so I cannot wait to get the PS4 version and transfer my data over.
6.Bioshock Infinite
When I first played Bioshock: Infinite I was sure that it would be my game of the year without question. A few months down the road, however, my initial infatuation with the game has cooled considerably; it is still one of my favorite games of the year though. Irrational Games crafted another wholly unique video game setting with Columbia, a city in the sky whose shining exterior belies its ugly interior. Irrational managed to once again cover some mature themes including racism, zealotry, religion, fate vs. free will (classic!), the power of choice, and the consequences of our choices. All of the game's major characters were highly interesting as well, especially Elizabeth, a character I believe will go down as one of this ending generation's most memorable. Beyond all of that goodness, Irrational made some baffling design decisions that I still, to this day, do not understand. Why get rid of the weapon wheel? Not only does it cheapen the fun of gaining new weapons over the course of the game (part of a sense of progression), it also renders the upgrade system rather uninteresting. Why such decidedly unmemorable enemy types? Sure some of them were cool but nothing was as memorable as the Big Daddy. Why such disappointing use of Songbird? I expected so much more from the character after how he was built up pre-release. Despite the gripes, though, I loved my time with the game and am eagerly awaiting Irrational's next project.
5.Super Mario 3D World
Leave it to Nintendo to start showing up a year late with new classics for its new console. Super Mario 3D World is a legitimate must-own title for the Wii U and is the first game that I would say is worth buying the console for (at least for Mario fans). At first I was disappointed that the Mario team was going to essentially be adapting the Super Mario 3D Land template (which I loved on 3DS) on the Wii U rather than creating a new gameplay style. After spending plenty of time with the game I can safely say that it is a ton of fun. That classic, nostalgic Mario vibe takes over almost immediately after starting the game and never lets go through all of the game's base levels and throughout plenty of surprise bonus levels as well. On top of that, the game looks absolutely stunning in HD; how Nintendo ever thought that its fans did not want to see Mario and friends in HD is beyond me. Keep 'em coming, Big N.
4.The Last of Us
Naughty Dog has some crazy level of talent working there. The writing, the characters, the scenarios, the world, the enemies, the ending...everything about The Last of Us screams at the top of its lungs to make the case for video games as a mature, artistic medium for both telling stories and for engaging its audience in those stories. The tale of Joel and Ellie is so hopeful and endearing that it is impossible not to both identify with them and feel as if it is an adventure of three rather than just two. The game's visuals stretch the PS3 to its absolute limits and deliver such detail that someone uninformed would be forgiven for thinking it was actually an early PS4 game. The voice actors are so convincing that I could often forget I was playing a game when the cutscenes were playing. While I am excited for Naughty Dog's recently announced Uncharted game for PS4, a part of me wishes they would have gone with another new IP instead because, if The Last of Us is any indication, they must have plenty of amazing ideas left to share with the world.
3.Fire Emblem: Awakening
There is a fine line between frustrating and brilliant for strategy games. If there was any genre that requires its difficulty to be balanced as close to perfectly as possible, it's the strategy genre. It therefore never ceases to amaze me at how well Nintendo's Fire Emblem games are designed and executed. Awakening takes everything great about the series and turns it up to 11 with excellent 3D-animated battles, a great story, fun characters, the addition of a player avatar that is involved in the narrative, and the perfect balance of challenge and fairness. I also love that this game is where Nintendo is really starting to embrace DLC, even though I would not necessarily say it's anything earth-shattering; I just think that it's a step in the right direction. I had so much fun with the game and highly recommend it to any 3DS owner looking for a mental workout.
2.Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
I remember first discovering the JRPG genre somewhere early in the 2000's. I loved the epic storylines, strategic battles, and the constant feeling of getting stronger with each slain monster. Ni No Kuni reads like a love-letter to all of the best parts of that sub-genre, culled from a number of different titles and refined into an incredible experience. Love Pokemon's monster training? Ni No Kuni has that. Love the famed team-up between Square Enix and Akira Toriyama that gifted us Chrono Trigger? Level-5 and Studio Ghibli have teamed up to bring another famous animation style to the gaming world. Love the classic RPG tale of youngsters going on a grand quest to save the world? Ni No Kuni tells it with an added layer of emotional depth and wide-eyed innocence that acts as an immediate antidote to the overly serious tone most games have today. Unlike last year's Xenoblade Chronicles, which attempted to move JRPGs forward by rethinking and revamping much of their established tropes (to great success, by the way), Ni No Kuni attempts to do the same thing by refining everything we loved about JRPGs in the first place and wrapping it up in some of the most beautiful graphics of the generation. Hopefully Studio Ghibli stays involved in video game development in the future.
1.The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
I had heard all about Nintendo's decision to rework the classic Zelda progression for its sequel to A Link To The Past. In the weeks leading up to the game's release many sources reported on the new Gear Rental system and the ability to travel through the dungeons in almost any order the player chose. I was personally repulsed by what I read. I felt like the game would lack the feeling of progression and excitement at finding a new item in each dungeon and then using that item to defeat the boss. I was worried that the series' often episodic structure would be jumbled up if I could complete any dungeon (and, by default, the towns/quests leading up to those dungeons) in any order. Once I finally played (and finished) the game, though, I realized that my fears mostly unfounded.
Sure, the dungeons felt like they were missing a bit of the old excitement when I strolled into each one carrying every rentable piece of gear, however the ability to use all those items from almost the beginning of the game led to a number of times where I had to stop and think about the best strategy to use (especially during boss fights). I also didn't really mind the freedom of dungeon order because I just chose to treat it like an old Zelda title and focus on one dungeon at a time to the exclusion of others. I also really liked the new"Become-A-Drawing" mechanic as it created a number of fun moments where I'd feel as if I didn't have a clue how to proceed, only to remember that I could phase into the wall at will. The new refilling item meter was another positive change, as I never felt like I had to ration my bombs and arrows for those moments "where I really need them" (which would translate to me just never using them at all).
In the end, the thing that made me really fall in love with this game was the pure sense of joy that comes from playing through a new Zelda title. I also actually liked the plot here, plus the ending comes with a pretty awesome surprise that I confess to not having seen coming. A Link Between Worlds was definitely the most fun I had gaming this year.
Top Ten Most Anticipated Things of 2014
At last, it is time to look ahead to the year that will be 2014. I'm pretty excited for a number of things that will be out in the wild for public consumption next year, however like last year I will limit this list to ten things I am most looking forward to in the film, music, and video game worlds in order to focus my anticipation on the ten things I am most looking forward to.
10.inFamous: Second Son/The Order: 1886 (tie)
I preordered a PS4 and bought it on launch day, however the disappointing launch lineup (for all of the next-gen consoles, really) left a good deal to be desired. For that reason, Sony's two big heavy-hitter exclusives next year look like they are going to justify my purchase of the console and then some. I cannot wait to play through Sucker Punch's digital Seattle and use a variety of powers to take on the government. I also cannot wait to experience the incredibly intriguing world and lore that Ready At Dawn has seemingly crafted for The Order. I am so excited for what the future holds in terms of next-gen (now current-gen) and that all starts when games like these two begin releasing.
9.The Grand Budapest Hotel
I am a huge Wes Anderson fan, meaning that I am counting down the days until the release of his new film on March 7th. Anderson has once again assembled an all-star cast that includes Ralph Fiennes, Adrian Brody, Willem Dafoe, F. Murray Abraham, Edward Norton, Jude Law, Harvey Keitel, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton and, of course, frequent collaborators Owen Wilson, Bill Murry, and Jason Schwartzman. The film centers around a womanizing employee at a famous hotel (Ralph Fiennes) who becomes the target of a murder investigation after one of his lovers is murdered and leaves him a prized painting in her will. I am greatly looking forward to more of Anderson's unique visual style and excellent writing.
8.Cult– Bayside
Bayside is a band I have been listening to for around 10 years; I am so glad that they continue to make music. The band has already released a song from the album, called “Pigsty,” and the it shows a great deal of promise. The album releases on February 18th, so the music world does not have to wait long.
7. Taking Back Sunday's new album
Similarly to Bayside, Taking Back Sunday has been a part of my life for ten years and has remained one of my favorite bands of all time during that period. Since reuniting with the band's original lineup (and releasing an album together back in 2011), TBS has finally found time to re-enter the studio and record a proper follow-up. There has not been any word on a release date, album title, or track titles yet, however I am waiting (im)patiently for more news.
6.Guardians of the Galaxy
Marvel's film universe has become one of the most interest film franchises in cinematic history. While not every film has been groundbreaking (looking at you, Iron Man 2), they've all been at least enjoyable. Written and directed by James Gunn, Guardians of the Galaxy looks like it has the potential to be one of the franchises most exciting, especially because it is something different from what everyone has seen before. Not much is known about the film's plot, however the cast is pretty great and features Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Michael Rooker, Bradley Cooper, Djimon Hounsou, Benecio Del Toro, and Vin Diesel. Also coming out next year is Joe and Anthony Russo's Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which also looks great.
5.Tomorrowland
Disney's mysterious new project will be releasing late next year and I am looking forward to it. The film is being directed by Brad Bird, director of such classics as The Iron Giant and The Incredibles, as well as Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, the most critically successful film in that franchise and (surprisingly) one of the best action films of the last decade. It stars George Clooney and involves some mid-twentieth century futurism of the kind that interested Walt Disney himself while he was alive. I am remaining purposely in the dark on this because I expect it to be the kind of film that is better when going in knowing nothing.
4.X-Men: Days of Future Past
This is it, probably the biggest film of next summer based on the premise and cast alone. Featuring nearly every actor who has ever been in an X-Men film and adapting a beloved comic book arc to the big screen, Days of Future Past's time-travel plot seems like just the kind of twisty-turny goodness that will provide audiences with an exceptional moviegoing experience. The return of director Bryan Singer is another reason why this film looks so good. Summer 2014 is shaping up to be a good time, much better than 2013's.
3.South Park: The Stick of Truth
I had The Stick of Truth on my most anticipated list last year and it was delayed once again, so I almost refused to put the game on the list this year. Then I thought about it some more and it is still the game I am most anxious to get my hands on early next year (it releases, supposedly, on March 4th). Everything about the game looks like a fan's dream-come-true: emulating the show's art style, the humor, the gameplay style. I really want to believe that this game is going to finally make its next release date; unfortunately I can only reach cautious optimism at this point. If the game does not release next year, I do not think it ever will.
2.Interstellar
Audiences finally got a teaser trailer for writer/director Christopher Nolan's next film and it was barely enough to get across the what is possibly going on. All that is known at the moment is that the film deals with space travel, concerns the theories of physicist Kip Thorne involving wormholes, and stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Casey Affleck, John Lithgow, and Matt Damon, among others. The film sadly does not release until November 7th, so the wait will be quite unbearable.
1.Destiny
After GameInformer's month of coverage on Bungie's ambitious science fantasy title, to be released in September, my anticipation for the game only increased exponentially. I love how the game seems to be a cross between Borderlands,Halo, and Star Wars, all the enemy types and environments look imaginative and unique, the lore sounds awesome, and the gameplay elements all look like a great deal of fun. The summer's beta test cannot come soon enough because I want to get my hands on this game as soon as possible.
So that's all I have this time around. I'd love to hear from anyone reading this on what released this year that made an impact. Whether it was a movie, a game, an album, or anything else, let me know. Can't wait to do this again next year.