CAST
TOM HANKS, BARKHAD ABDI, BARKHAD ABDIRAHMAN, FAYSEL AHMED, MAHAT M. ALI, CATHERINE KEENER

DIRECTED BY
PAUL GREENGRASS

The gritty directing style of Paul Greengrass brought out a raw, tour de force performance from Tom Hanks in Captain Phillips, and secured an Oscar nomination for new talent Barkhad Abdi whose line “I’m the captain now!” became a worldwide sensation.

Based on the true story of abduction at sea, Captain Phillips blended geo-political commentary with tightly wound thrills. Yet it’s the human drama at the films core that beats the loudest, with Hanks bringing even the hardest of hard men to tears with his acting heroics.

CAST
LEONARDO DICAPRIO, JOHN BERNTHAL, KYLE CHANDLER, JEAN DUJARDIN, JONAH HILL, MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY, ROB REINER, MARGOT ROBBIE

DIRECTED BY
MARTIN SCORSESE

The latest collaboration between Martin Scrosese and Leonardo DiCaprio saw the pair reach heights of glorious abandon, with The Wolf of Wall Street a wildly entertaining exploration into one man’s endless appetite for excess.

Indeed this story about the exploits of stockbroker Jordan Belfort isn’t for the faint at heart, with more sex and drugs than a Motley Crue after party! Yet amongst the hookers, blow and never ending stream of money, lies an empty shell of a man whose life is defined by his notoriety, and if a measure of a man is determined by his legacy than The Wolf of Wall Street proves Belfort’s stock is at an all-time low.

CAST
OSCAR ISAAC, F. MURRAY ABRAHAM, ADAM DRIVER, JOHN GOODMAN, GARRETT HEDLUND, CAREY MULLIGAN, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE

DIRECTED BY
ETHAN COEN, JOEL COEN

The Coen brothers have excelled in creating portraits of men whose ambitions far outweigh their reach, and in fictional folk singer Llweyn Davis career self-destruction is a switch he cannot turn off.

Yet although the odyssey Llewyn undertakes to proclaim his self-imposed legend hits many a bump, redemption is often found in his beautifully constructed, heartfelt compositions that actor Oscar Isaac performs with soul and authenticity.

Unfairly snubbed by the Academy, Inside Llewyn Davis instead has the stronger distinction of being one of the Coen brothers best films.

CAST
MIA WASIKOWSKA, ALDEN EHRENREICH, MATTHEW GOODE, NICOLE KIDMAN, DERMT MULRONEY, JACKIE WEAVER

DIRECTED BY
CHAN-WOOK PARK

Chan-wook Park’s English language debut Stoker is as absorbing a thriller as they come, oozing with style and bubbling with taboo skirting sexual energy that’s part and parcel with any Chan-wook Park movie.

Indeed sex and death are the main ingredients in this tightly wound thriller that would have had Alfred Hitchcock giddy at the knees. It’s also a film that brilliantly explores the eternal question: Is evil begat from nature or nurture? Perfect fodder for Chan-wook Park’s confronting, sensual style.

CAST
LIAM JAMES, STEVE CARELL, TONI COLLETTE, ALISON JANNEY, ANNASOPHIA ROBB, SAM ROCKWELL, MAYA RUDOLPH

DIRECTED BY
NAT FAXON, JIM RASH

The Way Way Back is much, much more than the “feel good movie of the year” tag attached to it. It is in fact a future American comedy classic, excellently written and brilliantly performed by an ensemble cast of reputable scene stealers who all deliver.

Writer/director’s Nat Faxon and Jim Rash expertly blend comedy and drama in this coming of age tale with a strong heart. Yet remembered most is Sam Rockwell, the lauded character actor taking the gift which is Faxon and Rash’s excellent dialogue and delivering his best work yet.

CAST
TYE SHERIDAN, JACOB LOFLAND, MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY, RAY McKINNON, SARAH PAULSON, MICHAEL SHANNON, SAM SHEPARD, REESE WITHERSPOON

DIRECTED BY
JEFF NICHOLS

With every movie filmmaker Jeff Nichols goes from strength to strength, with Mud his finest achievement yet.

Starring an exceptionally good Matthew McConaughey in the title role, this coming of age story –cum- crime thriller beats a strong heat and has a palpable sense of place, with its Arkansas Delta setting rich in atmosphere and character.

Felt most of all is the journey which Nichols young protagonist (Tye Sheridan) undertakes in his transition from boyhood to manhood, and the stinging realities of adulthood that comes with it.

CAST
ANWAR CONGO, SYAMSUL ARIFIN, HERMAN KOTO, IBRAHIM SINIK, YAPTO SOERJOSOEMARNO

DIRECTED BY
JOSHUA OPPENHEIMER

Sometimes a movie can transcend its medium and become something almost over worldly. The Act of Killing does just that.

Directed by Joshua Oppenheimer, this documentary on the former Indonesian death squad leaders (and there thugs) who re-enact there murderous rampages from the ‘60s, brings forth emotions of anger, sadness and frustration at the injustice displayed.

That injustice is particularly soul crushing, for not only have all of these men escaped punishment but they also gloat about their crimes with a prideful ease that’s almost unbearable to witness. Yet so sturdy is Oppenheimer’s vision and determination to expose these devils and their proud, sickening boastfulness, that extraordinary results are captured on camera for the world to see and justifiably judge these men for the monsters they are.

CAST
ROBERT REDFORD

DIRECTED BY
J.C. CHANDOR

With only his second film, J.C. Chandor is proving to be an incredible filmmaker, with All is Lost an immersive triumph that draws it viewers into one man’s spiritual, emotional, psychological and physical journey as he attempts survival amongst the high seas.

Despite no dialogue or paltry attempts at exposition, Chandor has created a film that is rich in theme and stirring in feeling, made especially potent by Robert Redford who delivers a soulful, thoughtful and engrossing performance that ranks amongst his best in a storied 60 plus year career.

It is only a shame that the overrated and similarly structured Gravity won the awards that All is Lost should have collected. Give it time and history will show that to be the case as well.

CAST
AMY ADAMS, CHRISTIAN BALE, BRADLEY COOPER, LOUIS C.K., ROBERT DE NIRO, JENNFIER LAWRENCE, JEREMY RENNER

DIRECTED BY
DAVID O.RUSSELL

Since re-emerging from movie exile, filmmaker David O. Russell has delivered one exceptional film after another. American Hustle continues that trend, with O. Russell’s deft handle on character and exceptional skill at bringing the best out of his A-list casts, utilised to impressive effect in this 1970s set story based loosely on the Abscam investigation that rocked a nation.

Yet it’s the inner circle within this sprawling scandal – the grifters (Christian Bale, Amy Adams), the FBI Agent (Bradley Cooper), the unstable wife (Jennifer Lawrence) and the politician (Jeremy Renner) – that Russell focuses on, and each actor from this esteemed troupe deliver energetic, provocative and mesmerising performances that are more than worthy of the praise bestowed.

Unfairly seen by too many as a mere Scorsese clone, American Hustle is instead a spirited throwback to the “New Hollywood” era where the director was king and characters were portrayed with an intensity that made legends.

CAST
CHIWETEL ELJIOFOR, BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH, PAUL DANO, MICHAEL FASSBENDER, LUPITA NYONG’O, SARAH PAULSON, BRAD PITT

DIRECTED BY
STEVE McQUEEN

Prior to the release of 12 Years a Slave, it is doubtful many knew who Solomon Northup was, let alone the extraordinary injustice he endured when as a free man in post-civil war America, he was drugged, bound, stripped of his identity, and sold to a life of slavery.

Yet resurrected was Soloman’s story to breathtaking results in 12 Years a Slave, a film that – as directed by British filmmaker Steve McQueen and starring Chiwetel Eljiofor – holds immense power in its images and its words, and reminds with stunning detail of the atrocities man ravaged against man.

Much like Schindler’s List before it, 12 years a Slave is not only a powerful reminder of what was once and should never be again, but it is also a masterfully made film, a perfect blend of the artistic, the technical and the heartfelt. It is also filled with remarkable performances, especially by the true best actor of 2013 Chiwetel Eljiofor who delivers a mournful, soul shattering turn that hauntingly exemplifies the tragedy and heroism of Solomon Northup.

In only his third feature film, McQueen has created a movie that transcends its medium with concise voice, concise vision and concise message. As powerful and illuminating a film as they come, 12 Years a Slave should be seen and embraced by all.