Top Ten Favorite Movies of 2013
Below is a list of my top ten favorite movies released in 2013:
TOP TEN FAVORITE MOVIES OF 2013
1. "Saving Mr. Banks" - John Lee Hancock directed this superb and emotional tale about author P.L. Travers and producer Walt Disney's tug-of-war over the development of the 1964 movie, "MARY POPPINS". Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks starred.
2. "The Great Gatsby" - Baz Luhrmann co-wrote and directed this splashy latest adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel about a mysterious millionaire during the early years of the Jazz Age. Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan and Joel Edgerton starred.
3. "Man of Steel" - Zack Synder directed this original reboot of the Superman mythos, in which the Kryptonian superhero battles a nemesis from his father's past. Henry Cavill starred as Clark Kent aka Superman.
4. "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" - Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson returned in this excellent sequel to 2012's "THE HUNGER GAMES" and adaptation of Suzanne Collins' 2009 novel. Francis Lawrence directed.
5. "Rush" - Ron Howard directed this exciting biopic about Formula One drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda . . . and their rivalry during the 1976 racing season. Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl starred as the two rivals.
6. "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" - Peter Jackson upped the ante in this excellent second chapter in his film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's 1937 novel. Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman and Richard Armitage starred.
7. "The Butler" - Lee Daniels directed this emotional tale about the life and career of a White House butler, who served under seven U.S. Presidents. Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey starred.
8. "The Wolf of Wall Street" - Martin Scorsese directed this wild, yet brutally frank adaptation of Jordan Belfort's memoirs as a fraudulous Wall Street broker during the 1980s and 1990s. Leonardo Di Caprio and Jonah Hill starred.
9. "Thor: The Dark World" - Chris Hemsworth returned as the God of Thunder in this exciting adventure about the Asgardians' attempt to defeat a new enemy from the universe. Co-starring Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston and Christopher Eccleston, the movie was directed by Alan Taylor.
10. "RED 2" - Bruce Willis, Mary-Louise Parker and John Malkovich starred in this surprisingly funny tale and sequel to the 2010 movie about a group of former intelligence agents. Dean Parisot directed.
Honorable Mentioned: "American Hustle" - David O. Russell directed this funny tale about the F.B.I. ABSCAM operation from the late 20th century. Christian Bale and Amy Adams starred.