Best non-horror flicks of 2013
 

So seeing as a lot of us don't only just watch horror I'm interested to hear what films/documentaries outside of the genre you've dug this year.

I'm a bit behind (still need to see Gravity and a few others) but here's some of the stuff that I thought was impressive:

Only God Forgives

Nicolas Winding Refn strikes again and illustrates once more why he is one of my favorite directors. This one may be a case of style over substance but I thought this was a amazingly surreal and brutal piece of cinema.

Prisoners

Completely dark and grim but I found this one captivating and thought it had a great cast. Definitely one of those films where you put yourself in their shoes and question what you would do in the same circumstances.

Rewind This!

Very good documentary on the rise and fall of the VHS format. Nice balance of history and insights from the dead format geeks.

A Band Called Death

One of the better music documentaries of the year. Detroit's criminally overlooked proto-punk band Death finally get their day in the sun.

Sound City

An interesting history of the studio with some great performances by McCartney and Fear's Lee Ving. Didn't expect to like this one as much as I did.

Bullet To The Head

Straight up old school action from genre veteran Walter Hill. His best film in years.

The Place Beyond The Pines

Went into this one blind which was definitely an advantage. Thought the cast totally killed it and the storyline/script was excellent.

Meet The Millers

Great chemistry between the cast and all killer no filler script made this the best comedy of the year for me. Laughed my ass off.

This Is The End

Well written for the most part this self reflexive comedy was pretty sharp.

...bound to be forgetting a few films. Let's hear yours!

Loved This Is The End too.

I missed a lot this year, but my favorites have been:

This Is The End
Captain Phillips
Spring Breakers
Blue Jasmine
The Act of Killing (best film of 2013)

I can't think of all the good films I've watched throughout the year but I can say that I was surprised by Sushi Girl. It wasn't a brilliant piece of art by any means but I went in with no expectations and was pleasantly surprised enough for it to have left an impression.

This thread just made me realize I haven't seen any good non-horror films of 2013! :shocked:

Kill your Darlings
Great film about a period in the life of the Beat Generation - Ben Foster nails it as Bill Burroughs and Harry Potter has steamy butt secks.

In Fear
Decent Irish Indie Horror - half Dead end/half Hitcher. Oh did you say non-horror. Ok - decent Irish Indie thriller.

Dom Hemmingway
Ok - this wasn't great but I did enjoy watching Jude Law chew up the scenery on the big screen while I sipped cheap cider.

Filth
Ok - it didn't quite work but James McElvoy did a great job in the lead role. No Tapeworm though. Ending kinda wimped out too. So besides the lack of parasites and random racial scapegoating, it was pretty decent.

Blackfish
Upsetting but interesting documenty about Orcas (actually 1 particular Whale) that killed a number of his trainers.

Hummingbird
Jason Statham being Jason Statham.

The Counsellor
I know this was hated but I enjoyed this one. Maybe my expectation were lowered after the shitting reviews. Great Cast, Ridley Scott and a Cormac McCarthy script - what more do you want :-)

Also liked some of the stuff Elvis mentioned - in particular:

Only God Forgives
Ok it lacked a strong narrative but I was still go emerged in this visual odyssey. Loved Kristin Scott Thomas in it and Ryan Gosling didn't talk much and gazed into the distance like the best of them.

The Place Beyond The Pines
9/10 for the Tattoos alone.

I thought the Oldboy remake was great...

like Spike Lee or not..

i enjoyed The Counsellor as well

::big grin:: Same here, at least not any that were actually released this year, as far as I remember... but I haven't seen many horror movies released this year either. To be honest, I'm rarely in a hurry to see the newest movies unless there's a special reason to... there are still so many older movies I haven't seen yet, so it's not like I'm running out of options.

Been looking forward to that one. I don't think Welsh's work has ever been effectively put the screen (The Acid House was pretty close) so I was expecting them to water it down a bit. Still will be checking it out anyways.

I'd have to add Elysium to my list. Really solid flick. Enjoyed it a lot more than Oblivion.

i dug them both but Elysuim was stronger - grittier.

Oblivion had its strengths though - it had some gorgeous visuals and was fun

I think Train Spotting is an excellent movie but you are correct, the book is a very different beast. I wonder will Porno now go ahead now that Renton isn't so reluctant.

Watched Gravity tonight and thought it was solid.

The Spectacular Now impressed me too. There's been a high caliber of teen/coming of age flicks recently... John Hughes would be proud.

Looked amazing and I did enjoy it but it was just a bit too goofy in parts.
I didn't mind After Earth either but a lot of people seemed to hate it. I caught it on a plane trip and it killed the time nicely enough. Pretty good year for Sci-Fi really.

That flick captured the late 90s perfectly IMO. Nowhere near as twisted as the book kinda like American Psycho in that regard. Watered down and somewhat neutered but still managed to make a decent flick. I'd love to see Porno finally get the green light.

I totally refuse to even watch this.Oldboy is sacred to me and no poxy remake will tarnish that.

thats what i said about Dawn of the Dead ..

when i found that i enjoyed that - i never crapped on a remake (or any film for that matter) without giving it a fair shake

I am so intrigued by The Act of Killing but I don't know if I can watch it. Would love to hear your reaction!

I'm also looking forward to seeing Blue Jasmine along with Short Term Twelve, Mud, and Inside Llewyn Davis.

What I saw and enjoyed (mostly echoing what's been said):

Spring Breakers (currently on Netflix Instant; can't wait to watch it again)
The World's End
Blackfish
Catching Fire
This Is The End

Honorable mention for Place Beyond the Pines.

I loved This is the End, but I didn't like The World's End at all..

except the last 5 minutes

I enjoyed it more after listening to a couple of my dorky Podcasts dissect it. ::smile::

I am also looking forward to seeing American Hustle (hopefully Sunday!), Frozen, Don Jon, Her, and Prisoners.

he already did the loser who wouldn't grow up about 3 times now ..
I just couldn't get engaged. The very end was fun, I liked the post apocalyptic bit

Just watched Mud. Not my personal favorite of the year but it was a well-done movie and I can see why people like it.

American Hustle is now my favorite movie of the year. It was really brilliant. Definitely recommended.

1. Ninja: Shadow of a Tear (Hands down)
2. Captain Phillips

"The way way back", "We're the millers, "Identity Thief" and "Blue is the Warmest Color" were good as well.

I've probably forgotten a whole lot of good movies..

Forgot to mention Upstream Color. Really loved that one.

Also worth mentioning is It's A Disaster and Drinking Buddies. Great little movies.

Upstream Color, interesting title. What was like for ya?

I found it just absolutely captivating... So bizarre, lonely, and melancholic - It left me baffled at the end, but it stirred enough in me that I read a few analyses of it online that filled in the gaps for me. It struck me and connected with me and I appreciate it as a truly fascinating and moving film.

Have you seen it?

-Pain & Gain
I laughed my ass off with this one.

-Elysium
Solid action flick. Shows you can have cool special effects and a good story.

-Clear History
Kinda like a Curb Your Enthousiasm movie.

That's a documentary and not a movie if I'm not mistaken.
From what I saw it wasn't that explicit.
They talk about the acts in detail but I don't think they showed anything.
Could be wrong. Dozed off towards the end.

Yeah, I think the fact that it's a Documentary is what would truly disturb me. The idea that these people would revel in the Act of Killing (as it were) and consider themselves heroes and movie stars - That truly disturbs me. Don't think I could watch it.

No, I haven't seen it. Had never heard of it, actually. Reading the description: Sounds right up my alley. I put it in my netflix queue. Looking forward to it.

This one slipped me by will check it out this week.

Watch it watch it watch it. Without hyperbole, it might be the most important new film to come out in my lifetime. It's not easy, but it's worth it.

Gravity

The opening shot alone was breathtaking. After about 20 minutes without an obvious edit I was beginning to feel out of breath. Perhaps this films only fault was it was so jaw droppingly stunning that I was always aware I was watching a very complex creation. They worked so hard to make me believe it that I couldn't suspend my disbelief. Still loved it to bits.

Kill Your Darlings

What's that? Yes, yes I did indeed go to the London premiere and speak to Daniel Radcliffe and Dane DeHaan. Indeed, I DID get to walk up the red carpet. How nice of you to remember ::wink:: This will always be the cinematic highlight of the year for me.

Struck By Lightning

Perhaps I'm blinded by my secret crush on Chris Colfer, but I loved his ability to wrap some pretty damn heavy themes in a silly little High School pic. Though the characters are perhaps too sarcastic to be likeable, there was a lovely mix of honest humour and melacholy.