It’s October and Here are the Best Movies of 2013 (So Far)

The last time I offered up a list of the best of 2013 was back in July, following my time at the Cannes Film Festival and smack dab in the middle of the Summer movie session. As it turns out, summer didn’t offer all that much to be impressed by, but with three months between that list and this one, my list of favorites has grown and there are still a lot of films to look forward to.

This is why I’ve broken up my list into several categories, beginning with those I’ve seen and have already been released in theaters to those I’ve seen that are still to come or don’t yet have release dates. Following that is a list of eleven films I’m still most looking forward to seeing over the course of the next three months, all of which have a chance of making my top ten at the end of the year, which is to say I’m still entirely unclear of what my top ten will look like.

I’ve included a few thoughts below on the lists and hope you’ll add a list of your favorites in the comments.

Seen, Released

Looking at this list, it’s almost amazing to think Side Effects was a 2013 release. For the longest time it was the only film I even remotely enjoyed this year until it was later joined by Upstream Color, which is a film I appreciate a little more than I actually “enjoy”, but on a list of the year’s best I think it deserves a spot merely for the amount of conversation it managed to create.

Otherwise I have a couple of Cannes 2012 entries in The Hunt and Laurence Anyways, which will be strong “best of” contenders at the end of the year, though I’d say Before Midnight is probably the only guaranteed film directly below that will make my year end top ten.

Seen, Coming Soon

I’m quite certain All is Lost and Inside Llewyn Davis will make my top ten at the end of the year and I’m really curious where 12 Years a Slave will land. Yes, it’s a magnificent piece of filmmaking, but I typically reserve spots on my top ten at the end of each year for films I want to watch again, and I can’t say I want to experience 12 Years a second time.

No Release Date Yet

I don’t expect either of these will hit theaters this year, which means I have two possible contenders for my year end top ten of 2014.

Releasing in 2014

Make that three possibles, though I expect Dom Hemingway will become just a favorite rather than a best.

Only On TV

I saw it at Cannes before it aired on HBO and it’s too bad it never hit the big screen, at least awards wise. Nevertheless, Behind the Candelabra has some great performances and was a fun film to watch.

Junk Food Favs

It’s been a down year for blockbusters, but I’d say these three are the only ones that really remain anywhere near my idea of memorable blockbusters for the year.

Anticipated

There’s still a lot left to look forward to.

Movie News

Marvel and DC

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