The Way, Way Back

The Way, Way Back

This film by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, have created another hit. Young star, Liam James, portrays young depressed teenager Duncan. With an amazing cast, and an amazing script, this film brings comedy and drama, and combines it into a good mix. Steve Carell plays something other than his normal comedy self. Sam Rockwell was very good also. This movie was one of the good ones of 2013. 8/10.

Directors: Nat Faxon, Jim Rash

Music: Rob Simonsen

Cast: Liam James, Toni Colette, Steve Carell, AnnaSophia Robb, Allison Janney, Maya Rudolf, Amanda Peet, Rob Corddry, River Alexander, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, Robert Capron and Sam Rockwell

Release Year: 2013

Rating: PG-13

Lee Daniels' The Butler

Lee Daniels' The Butler

The 2013 movie about the life of Cecil Gaines and his work as butler at the White House. The film has amazing makeup and I would be surprised if there wasn't an Oscar nomination there. The character portrayals are very good. The music I like quite well, as well as the writing and acting. I give it an 8/10.

Director: Lee Daniels

Music: Rodrigo Leao

Cast: Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo, Cuba Gooding Jr., Lenny Kravitz, John Cusack, Jane Fonda, Minka Kelly, James Marsden, Alan Rickman, Liev Schreiber, Elijah Kelley, Terrence Howard, Adriane Lenox, Yaya DaCosta, Clarence Williams III, David Banner, Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Redgrave and Robin Williams

Release Year: 2013

Rating: PG-13

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

 Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

One of 2011s best films, though it had mixed reviews. I don't see how people didn't like it. It is really sad at times, but it is a very funny drama as well. It centers on young boy Oskar, who finds a key in the midst of his dead fathers things. He then pursues a search to find out what the key opens, and how it connects to his father. The film has a great cast. I loved this movie, especially since the main star isn't even an actor, though through this film, he has proved he is a very good one. Thomas Horn(Oskar) stole the show in this film. In my perspective, he should've been at least nominated for Best Actor that year. The score blew me away as well. Thank you Alexandre Desplat! And this is one of those few films who made a very good film adaption of a book.8/10.

Director: Stephen Daldry

Music: Alexandre Desplat

Cast: Thomas Horn, Max Von Sydow, Sandra Bullock, Jeffrey Wright, Viola Davis, Zoe Caldwell, with John Goodman and Tom Hanks

Release Year: 2011

Rating: PG-13

White House Down

White House Down

Roland Emmerich has made another good movie. White House Down is a political thriller about what happens after terrorists take over the White House and try to capture the president. It had a pretty good script and very good acting from the main stars. This was a pretty good film altogether, and is not just some movie that is only good because it has Channing Tatum. 6/10.

Director: Roland Emmerich

Music: Harald Kloser and Thomas Wanker

Cast: Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Joey King, Jason Clarke, Richard Jenkins, Nicholas Wright, Michael Murphy, with Jimmi Simpson and James Woods

Release Year: 2013

Rating: PG-13

Man of Steel

Man of Steel

The 2013 Superman reboot was fairly good. The film was the origin story of Superman starring a rather unknown star, Henry Cavill, as the lead. The film has a very big cast. The writing was very good, though I wish they had spent more time on his background. The films score by Hans Zimmer was quite extraordinary. Fairly good film. 8/10.

Director: Zack Snyder

Music: Hans Zimmer

Cast: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Diane Lane, Kevin Costner, Laurence Fishburne, Christopher Meloni, and Russel Crowe
Release Year: 2013
Rating: PG-13

Now You See Me

Now You See Me

Finally, there is a movie worth celebrating in the year of 2013! There have been many great films this year, but in the month of May we have gotten a lot of films. Iron Man 3, then Great Gatsby, then Star Trek Into Darkness, then After Earth and this film, made May a very big month for movies. I have been looking forward to this film since early January this year, and I can say, it was well worth the wait. It was a phenomenal film with great cast, plot, screenplay, effects, and music. Now You See Me is a movie about magicians who pull off bank heists during their performances and give the audience the money. The film stars a big cast of people, and I can't have imagined anyone better for the parts. It brings action, humor, suspense, intrigue, mystery, and of course magic all into one film. The effects seemed like magic for this film, and though not as amazing of that of Iron Man 3, it was still good. The script was probably my favorite part of this film, as it kept all of the audience guessing, which films rarely can do. All together, this is maybe my favorite movie of the year so far. 8/10.

Director: Louis Leterrier

Music: Brian Tyler

Cast: Mark Ruffalo, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Melanie Laurent, Dave Franco, Michael J. Kelly, Common, with Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman
Release Year: 2013
Rating: PG-13

After Earth

After Earth

A sci-fi story, directed by M. Night Shayamalan, puts real life father and son, Will Smith and Jaden Smith, in a quest that will be either life or death for the family. It takes place over 1,000 years from now, and tells the story of father and son, Cypher and Kitai Raige who get crash-landed on what had been Earth, and must venture through their worst fears to get to a beacon that will save their lives. The special effects were okay, and the plot was okay as well. What mostly stood out in this film was the acting. The acting was a bit different than what we would normally suspect. Altogether it was an okay film. Some critics say it is the first bombed film of the summer, others say the opposite. My rating of the film is in the middle of those two. I give this film a 6/10.

Director: M. Night Shayamalan

Music: James Newton Howard

Cast: Jaden Smith, Will Smith, Zoe Kravitz and Sophie Okonedo

Release Year: 2013

Rating: PG-13