My Top Films and Kudos for 2013

Hey everyone,

Again, sorry for the lack of posts. However, to make up for it, I promise to be better during this upcoming Awards Season. With that said, here are my top films and some kudos for the year in film 2013.

My Top 10 movies of 2013:
1. 12 Years a Slave
2. August Osage County
3. Philomena
4. Gravity
5. Dallas Buyers Club
6. Fruitvale Station
7. Blue Jasmine
8. Saving Mr. Banks
9. Captain Phillips
10. Frozen (yes, I’m kinda shocked it’s here too)

Honorable mention~ The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Enough Said, The Great Gatsby

Best Documentary: Bridegroom
runner up: 20 Feet From Stardom
Best Comedy: The Heat
runner up: Enough Said
Biggest Tear Jerker: Philomena
runner up: Saving Mr Banks
* 12 Years a Slave easily much wins the most emotional film experience of the year by a landslide as well cuz yeah, I bawled watching that one.

Best Lead Male Performance: Chewitel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave)
runner up: Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)
Best Lead Female Performance: TIE~ Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine) & Meryl Streep (August Osage County)
Best Supporting Male: Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)
runner up: Chris Cooper (August Osage County)
Best Supporting Female: Lupita Nyongo (12 Years a Slave)
runner up: Julia Roberts (August Osage County)
Best Ensemble: August Osage County
runner up: 12 Years a Slave
Best Performances No One is Talking About: Idris Elba & Naomie Harris (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)

Best Debut Film: Fruitvale Station
Best Song from a Movie: “Let It Go” (Frozen) sung by Idina Menzel

runner up: “Bleed for Love” (Winnie) sung by Jennifer Hudson

Best Hidden Gem: The Sapphires
Most Overrated Movie: American Hustle

Worst 5 Films I saw:
1. Stoker
2. Out of the Furnace
3. Nebraska
4. 2 Guns
5. Jack the Giant Slayer

* didn’t see all of Wolf of Wall Street yet (the showing was cancelled half way thru due to a sound issue)
** also haven’t seen Her

“Identity Thief” Steals Back the Box Office

With a couple of lackluster new films in the marketplace and Oscar weekend taking away moviegoers, a three-week old comedy was able to return to the top of the box office as Identity Thief stole away with another $14 million. The Melissa McCarthy/Jason Bateman hit has now pulled in $93 million and will give McCarthy her second consecutive $100 million grosser after Bridesmaids. I bet the actress makes it a three-peat with this summer’s buddy cop comedy The Heat co-starring Sandra Bullock in June… As for the newbies Thief defeated, The Rock’s latest Snitch opened best with an ok $13 million while the Keri Russell horror flick Dark Skies tanked with just $8 million. Also crashing hard in its second week was the latest Die Hard film which tumbled nearly 60 %. Perhaps word of mouth is really hurting this one? … For more on all the numbers, head to Box Office Mojo here and take a look at the new top ten below.

TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week #
1 2 Identity Thief Uni. $14,017,085 -40.8% 3,222 +57 $4,350 $93,619,615 $35 3
2 N Snitch Sum. $13,167,607 – 2,511 – $5,244 $13,167,607 – 1
3 4 Escape From Planet Earth Wein. $10,682,037 -32.8% 3,353 +65 $3,186 $34,812,699 $40 2
4 3 Safe Haven Rela. $10,454,713 -51.1% 3,223 – $3,244 $47,916,357 $28 2
5 1 A Good Day to Die Hard Fox $10,165,633 -59.1% 3,555 +2 $2,860 $51,967,897 $92 2
6 N Dark Skies W/Dim. $8,189,166 – 2,313 – $3,540 $8,189,166 $3.5 1
7 8 Silver Linings Playbook Wein. $5,750,866 -7.9% 2,012 -190 $2,858 $107,176,012 $21 15
8 5 Warm Bodies Sum. $4,825,388 -45.6% 2,644 -253 $1,825 $58,243,441 – 4
9 6 Beautiful Creatures (2013) WB $3,608,333 -52.4% 2,950 – $1,223 $16,570,598 $60 2
10 7 Side Effects (2013) ORF $3,357,039 -46.5% 2,070 -535 $1,622 $25,099,555 – 3

Melissa McCarthy~ Movie Star!

Three time Emmy nominee and a one time winner for Mike & Molly, Melissa McCarthy is comedy gold. She’s not only a tv veteran and a beloved character actor, but she’s an Oscar nominee for her side-splitting turn in last year’s Bridesmaids. Now, it looks like she is going to become a bona fide movie star with two high-profile and hysterical new movies. Melissa first hits the screens on February 8th in Identity Thief playing a con artist who steals Jason Bateman‘s identity. Then on April 5th, she teams up with Oscar winner Sandra Bullock for a female buddy cop comedy called The Heat. Both look like a riot and should cement McCarthy’s status as the funniest actress working in film today. Take a look at both trailers below and while you wait for the films to hit in 2013, catch McCarthy Monday nights on Mike & Molly on CBS.

Identity Thief

The Heat