Best movies of 2013

“Frances Ha”

How did a small little black and white film with serious narrative drift become one of the year’s finest? Because Greta Gerwig as the nomadic Frances is just that charming, and director Noah Baumbach and Gerwig crafted a marvelous screenplay.

Frances’s life has no direction, and she bounces between apartments, people and even countries.  It’s a tale that would be depressing if it weren’t so relatable

The heart of the film is Frances’s relationship with her best friend, Sophie. Together they complete the best love story you’ll see all year.

“Gravity”

Director Alfonso Cuarón is such a master filmmaker that his 90-minute space epic may very well be the year’s most innovative film.

Bullock’s Ryan Stone and George Clooney’s Matt Kowalski are finishing up a routine space walk when the wreckage from a Russian satellite begins tearing away at their ship and launching them on an ambitious journey to survive. Cuarón doesn’t just let you watch the film — he forces you to experience it.

“Star Trek: Into Darkness”

Sequels are always tricky, and rarely live up to the original. But “Star Trek: Into Darkness” is an exception, and that’s all thanks to J.J. Abrams, one of the best young filmmakers of today.

As the crew of the Enterprise hurdles into the far reaches of space, the line between friend and foe is blurred. The cast is stellar, whether or not you accept Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto as your Kirk and Spock.

Like the title suggests, “Star Trek: Into Darkness” gets dark, but the script throws in plenty of fun and humor. This is the stuff that intelligent summer blockbusters are made of.

“Prisoners”

It’s important to see films that are hard to watch, as disturbing as they may be. “Prisoners,” an account of the lengths that a father will go to in order to save his daughter, is one of those movies. It isn’t easy to watch Hugh Jackman torture the young man he believes is responsible, but damn is he amazing.

The rest of the cast is just as great, each showcasing a different facet of the aftermath of when children go missing. It’s a harrowing gut-punch of a family drama that will haunt you for days.

“Mud”

Matthew McConaughey has really made strides in the last few years. But “Mud” isn’t about McConaughey, It’s about the brilliant performance from 17-year-old Tye Sheridan as Ellis. Ellis’s parents are approaching a divorce.

He learns that Mud and Juniper (Reese Witherspoon) love each other and were childhood sweethearts. When it doesn’t work out between Mud and Juniper, he’s beside himself. Sheridan’s portrayal of Ellis’s emotions is so real you’ll want to cry and scream right along with him.