I’ve talked here http://inhalemag.com/13-reasons-why-2013-is-a-good-year-for-cinema/ about three of the reasons why 2013 is a good year for film. Here are some more.

SOUNDS INTERESTING category

1.     Her

Director and writer: Spike Jonze

The director of such gems as Being John Malkovich, Adaptation. and Where the Wild Things Are is another one who likes to take things slowly.  After the looks of the trailer…

… it seems to be worth the waiting. The story of an introverted, heartbroken writer who falls in love with his intelligent operative system promises to be a thought provoking, bittersweet film, about human nature, about love and loneliness and the way we build things as projections of ourselves, utilising technology to fill the void we don’t know how to fill otherwise. Yes, I feel like I can tell how the entire movie is going to be after just seeing the trailer, but that doesn’t mean that I am any less impatient about watching the whole thing.

photo blogs.artinfo.com

2.     Inside Llewlyn Davis

Directors and writers: Ethan and Joel Coen

I don’t know why I’m not a fan of the Coen brothers. I greatly enjoy their films, I just don’t get extremely excited over them. With the exception of The Great Lebowski, perhaps. I love their style, their sense of humour, their beautifully imagined characters and I keep expecting to fall in love with them. Maybe it’s Inside Llewlyn Davis that will finally make that happen.

photo craigskinnerfilm.com

3.     Blue Jasmine

Director and writer: Woody Allen

The man is like a clock. It’s like he never suffers from writer’s block, like he has an endless bag of ideas and an inexhaustible energy to make them happen. His 2013 film is about an egotistical socialite facing a midlife crisis and looks very promising from the trailer.

Cate Blanchett is amazing (Mr. Allen has great taste in actresses) and I’m always happy to see Louis C.K. acting or talking or anything, so I can’t wait for this one to finally hit theatres, which is in a very short time.

4.     Venus in Fur

Director and writer: Roman Polanski, after a play by David Ives and a novel by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch

About manipulation, sex and power, this is, just as Carnage, Polanski’s previous film, based on a play and filmed in a confined space. The director has a way of building tension that makes his movies almost unbearable to watch at times and I think this one won’t disappoint, either.

photo ropeofsilicon.com

5.     The Grandmaster

Director and writer: Wong Kar Wai, also writers Jingzhi Zou and Haofeng Xuefully

The story of Ip Man, the man who taught Bruce Lee martial arts, might not have interested me too much, were it not for the director of the lovely In The Mood For Love, which assures me that it is at least going to be a visual treat, and hopefully more than that.

6.     Nymphomaniac

Director and writer: Lars von Trier

I can’t help but expect von Trier’s films with a smirk on my face. I know it’s going to be dark and disturbing, but I also know it cannot be bad. A nymphomaniac recounts her erotic affairs. What more is there to say? I don’t even think anyone is even going to get offended by it, but I really hope they do. That way I can imagine this brilliant Danish troll devilishly chuckling to himself with sick satisfaction, already thinking of new ways to push the boundaries of what is appropriate and acceptable in modern cinema.

7.     Only Lovers Left Alive

Director and writer: Jim Jarmusch

He’s been a hipster since before it was cool and that says it all. I enjoyed some of his works, I detested others (not going to say which are which), but the fact that his last movie is about vampire love has to make one curious. I can only assume that immortality is just another way for him to talk about loneliness, which seems to be his theme of choice. This should be interesting.

8.     L’ecume des jours

Director: Michel Gondry, writer: Luc Bossi, after a novel by Boris Vian

From the director of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and La science des reves, this film promises to be as touching and beautifully surreal as his earlier works.

9.     The World’s End

Director and writer: Edgar Wright, also writer and star: Simon Pegg

The creative duo that is also behind such movies as Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and the popular TV series Spaced guarantees a fun watch. If you really must know, their newest production is about five friends trying to finish a drinking marathon they failed at 20 years before, while fighting for the survival of the human race. Just go see it.

10.     Don Jon

Director and writer: Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Before you roll your eyes and think this is here just because JGL is a good looking actor, I have to stop you and show you the trailer

Now, doesn’t that look interesting? They are having so much fun, how can you not want to see it? I, for one, am happy he decided to try his hand in directing, he seems like a smart guy and I hope he’ll turn out to be at least as good a director as Ben Affleck and George Clooney.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Behind the Candelabra

Director: Steven Soderberg, writer: Richard LaGravenese, after books by Scott Thorson and Alex Thorleifson

There’s already an article here about it:

http://inhalemag.com/behind-the-candelabra-palatial-kitsch/

Only God Forgives

Director and writer: Nicolas Winding Refn

Also reviwed here: http://inhalemag.com/only-god-forgives-beyond-neo-noir/

The Monuments Men

Director and writer: George Clooney, also writer: Grant Heslov, after books by Robert M. Edsel and Bret Witter

Speaking of actors turned directors, Clooney’s latest film looks very promising, despite looking like a mix between Ocean’s Eleven and Inglorious Basterds.

Trance

Director: Danny Boyle, writers: Joe Ahearne, John Hodge

About an art auctioneer who has become mixed up with a group of criminals, and who partners with a hypnotherapist in order to recover a lost painting.
http://inhalemag.com/trance-psychedelic-travel/

Nebraska

Director: Alexander Payne, writer: Bob Nelson

From the director of About Schmitd, Sideways and The Descendents, a movie about an aging man who makes a trip with his estranged son, in order to claim a million dollar prize.

photo awardsdaily.com

The Wolf of Wall Street

Director: Martin Scorsese, writer: Terence Winter, after a book by Jordan Belfort

Is this the film that finally gets Leonardo di Caprio his goddamn Oscar? We’ll see.

The Bling Ring

Director and writer: Sofia Coppola, after an article by Nancy Jo Sales

About a group of teenagers who rob celebrities’ homes.

NOT FEATURE FILM BUT I DON’T CARE

How and Why

Writer and director: Charlie Kaufman

A comedy series from a brilliant man, it could have been a wedding video of his favourite pet and it would still be one of my 2013 highlights.

photo indiewire.com

Louis C.K.: Oh, My God!

Writer, director, star: Louis C. K.

An HBO special from a great comedian, here’s a glimpse:

QED

It looks like a good year, I think. I’m sure there are other films that are not on the list, feel free to say which ones in the comments.

by Alexa Băcanu

Alexa Băcanu is a private investigator and awesome mercenary. Interests: everything (except Math and most people). She doesn’t write anywhere else (no one other than us would let her) except in her diary and on public bathroom walls.