International eXcellence’s 20 Most eXcellent Films from 2012 and 2013
As divisive a subject as you could ask for, whenever words like ‘finest’ and ‘film’ are put together the smart money is on an argument breaking out. We all look for different things from the seventh art, and as a result it’s impossible for everyone to see movies in the same way. Nevertheless, we decided to stick our neck out and compile the following list of must-see films from the last two years, all of which are five-star masterpieces.
A Field In England; dir. Ben Wheatley; 2013
British director Wheatley explores the English Civil War from a decidedly hallucinatory perspective as we move from battlefield to hunt for hidden treasure. Remarkable stuff.
Amour; dir. Michael Haneke; 2012
Michael ‘Funny Games’ Haneke breaks our hearts in this study of an octogenarian couple in Paris, Georges and Anne, and more specifically his struggle to cope with her stroke.
Argo; dir. Ben Affleck; 2012
Argo was easily a contender for 2012’s movie of the year, as a CIA agent posed as a Hollywood location scout while attempting to free six Americans held hostage in Iran.
Behind The Candelabra; dir. Steven Soderbergh; 2013
If extravagance resonates then this biopic on the bizarre life of Liberace, and in particular his six-year relationship with his (much younger) chauffeur, is bound to stay with you.
Berberian Sound Studio; dir. Peter Strickland; 2012
Arguably the best film about filmmaking since Fellini’s 8 1/2, Berberian Sound Studio’s edgy story of a troubled sound engineer at work in an Italian horror studio is marvelous.
Blue Jasmine; dir. Woody Allen; 2013
Jasmine once sat atop New York’s socialite scene, but following financial ruin moves in with her estranged sister in San Francisco, making for a witty but heartfelt drama.
Django Unchained; dir. Quentin Tarantino; 2013 Love or hate his attitude there’s no question Tarantino knows how to make a great film, hence the quality inherent in this brutal ride through plantation-era Mississippi.
Gravity; dir. Alfonso Cuaron; 2013
One of our top picks from 2013 sees a space station accident leave two astronauts floating through the cosmos, and a top British effects team break the mould for galactic visuals.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi; dir. David Gelb; 2012
We’re huge fans of raw fish, but even if you’re not Gelb’s insight into the deft handiwork of Jiro Ono, a 85-year-old Japanese sushi master in Tokyo, should be on this list.
Much Ado About Nothing; dir. Joss Whedon; 2013 If you take on the Bard it needs to be brilliant, such is the benchmark. Thankfully, Whedon’s stylised, black and white version of Much was as innovative as they come.
Lincoln; dir. Steven Spielberg; 2013
Patient and less sentimental than expected, Spielberg’s American Civil War and emancipation tale, with Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln, is spellbinding.
Only God Forgives; dir. Nicolas Winding Refn; 2013
Drug smuggling in Bangkok, a bold aesthetic and a similar use of silence evident in the previous Refn movie to star Ryan Gosling, Drive, all make this a new noir classic.
Ruby Sparks; dir.Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris; 2012
After penning a bestseller in his teens Calvin hasn’t written much since, until he imagines his dream girl into reality in this ode to appreciating those around us for who they are.
Silver Linings Playbook; dir. David O. Russell; 2012
Recently discharged from a mental hospital, Pat tries in vain to keep his head straight, get his wife and life back on track in the decade’s best romcom (thus far).
Skyfall; dir. Sam Mendes; 2012
Not the greatest Bond flick ever, still 007’s last outing packed it all in- from floating Macau casinos to crumbling Scottish mansions, amazing car chases and beautiful women.
Stoker; dir. Chan-wook Park; 2013
After her father dies, India’s mother begins to fall apart, and then the mysterious, never-before-met Uncle Charlie shows up. A gorgeous to watch, tense and darkly comic delight.
The Dark Knight Rises; dir. Christopher Nolan; 2012
The Dark Knight was a far superior effort, yet there’s still something undeniably great about Nolan’s last Batman chapter, not least its spectacular visual effects.
The Great Beauty; dir. Paolo Sorrentino; 2013 Jep has lived it up in Rome’s nightlife for decades. But, following his 65th birthday, he begins to look beyond the parties to examine the timeless landscape around him.
The Master; dir. Paul Thomas Anderson; 2012
A war veteran returning to an unsettled peace-time life, masterful direction and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman in his most powerful role, make The Master essential viewing.
This Is Not A Film; dir. Motjaba Mirtahmasb, Jafar Panahi; 2012
A remarkable feat of daring, not just a great movie, this award-winning documentary about a director waiting for the verdict to his court appeal in Iran defines defiant art.
