Friday Five: Best films of 2013

Being as the award ceremonies are all the beginning of the year and some of the films nominated aren't even released in this country yet, it's tricky to have seen them all and my own judgement by the time the gongs are given. Being as I often disagree anyway, this shouldn't have too much bearing on my list of favourite films. 

Also, for the purposes of this list, I'm not including the excellent National Theatre Live series, in which I get to see superb productions of plays beamed to a cinema from the stage. Perhaps I'll do that in another post, but for now it's worth noting that The Audience, written by Peter Morgan, directed by Stephen Daldry, and starring Helen Mirren as The Queen in private meetings with each of England’s prime ministers from Churchill to Cameron was a privilege to watch. Furthermore, the National Theatre Live production of Othello was absolutely outstanding: the best production of this play I have ever seen, and I've seen a fair few.

It's very hard to choose just five out of the score of films released last year that I've seen, but I have whittled it down to this list, in alphabetical order as it's impossible to pick a favourite.

5 Favourite 2013 Films:

1. August: Osage County – A Brilliantly brutal depiction of a dysfunctional family further unravelling with disease and deception, trapped against a backdrop of endless horizons. Superb acting (especially from Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts) and brilliant dialogue (screenplay by Tracy Letts) make this adaptation of the stage play (also Tracy Letts) a frontrunner for Oscars.
2. Behind the Candelabra – Yes, it really is as good as everyone says it is. Michael Douglas and Matt Damon are excellent. The flamboyance and excess are neatly captured with gentle ridicule but evident empathy, and confirm Liberace’s own conviction that ‘too much of a good thing is wonderful’.
3. Blue Jasmine – Ten minutes in when I realised it was based around A Streetcar Named Desire, I knew exactly what was going to happen. The fact that it did, didn't make it any less compelling. Cate Blanchett is as wonderful as ever and this is the least annoying that I've ever seen Sally Hawkins. Woody Allen’s films are always better when he isn’t in them.
4. Gravity – The first 3D film I've seen in the cinema since Jaws 3-D in 1983. It was done so well I was totally transporting (ducking as the flying space debris seemed to whizz out from the screen at me) and the weight of all the action was entirely carried by the two fantastic actors, Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. Director Alfonso Cuarón’s Oscar nomination is thoroughly well-deserved.
5. The Spirit of ’45 – A fabulous documentary, written and directed by Ken Loach, about the spirit of unity which buoyed Britain during the war years and how we are crying out for that same socialism to create a vision of a fairer, united society today – inspiring and necessary.

Friday Five: Fabulous Oscar Frocks 2013

Of course I watched the Oscars and the red carpet lead-up. I love all that stuff. Call me shallow if you like, but it's a big deal for these guys. The thing with subjective stuff like acting is that you don't win a contest, like in sporting pursuits, but you do get awards, and that has to count as much. There will always be disagreements about who was better than whom, so rather than get into that, I'm just going to comment on the pretty frocks.

And yes, I know the blokes were there too, but they all looked pretty much the same, with a couple of notable standouts:

• Eddie Redmayne - smoking in Alexander McQueen, even in slippers
• George Clooney - distinguished as usual in Giorgio Armani
• Jamie Foxx - the Calvin Klein grey tux with black shirt worked well for him, the old silver fox(x)
• Daniel Day Lewis – playing up to his nebulous Irish roots by doing that thing of deliberately not abiding by the rules in a blue/black Domenico Vacca  tuxedo that doesn’t quite work. And it’s too short.
• John Travolta - he’s a sharp-dressed man and he wears it well. The Calvin Klein suit is not bad either – ba boom tish!

Why is it that, although all the women are photographed alone, all the men have a female (wife/ girlfriend/ daughter/ mother) whom they cling to, or is it the other way round? Channing Tatum was sporting the latest accessory for men - his pregnant wife. Seriously? You're here for your acting taleent, not your ability to reproduce.

Anyway, I know it's the Friday Five, but I'm going for the seven best dressed (in my opinion) because it's my blog and I can do what I want. So, in no particular order:

7 Fabulous Oscar Frocks:

Jennifer Lawrence in Dior Couture

It takes a lot of effort (and money) to look that effortless. I would say it’s been a week well spent – who cares if she can’t walk in it – it’s not meant to be practical!

Reese Witherspoon in Louis Vuitton

Wow! In a cobalt blue gown with black accents, Reese keeps her look both classic and modern. Her lack of jewellery and her hair cascading in sculpted waves sets off her radiant, fun beauty.

Jane Fonda in Versace

Work it, lady! There aren’t many who can get away with wearing yellow, or the strong, bold geometric shape – she got the canary!



Naomi Watts in Giorgio Armani Prive

Curiously glamorous armour – an asymmetrical outfit softened by great hair.

Nicole Kidman in L'Wren Scott

Showing off a show-stopping silhouette in a metallic sequin shimmer number. I love her ‘messy’ hairdo – at least one part of her still looks natural. 

Sandra Bullock in Elie Saab

In a fantastic lacy number which covers and reveals exactly what it should and shouldn’t, our Sandra shows she is a girl who knows how to dress herself.

Salma Hayek in Alexander McQueen

In her baroque high-necked midnight blue velvet gown with her classy up-do, Salma’s worth staying up all night for.