The best of the best, the top of the line, the cream of the crop. The following are the movies that got the best possible rating in my review system: 4 out of 4 stars.
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“12 Years a Slave is, simply put, a marvel of film-making. Incredible acting, impeccable direction, and a real, horrifying, stunning, remarkable story.”
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“With an interesting play on typecasts and typical story arcs, Crazy, Stupid Love. is a truly hilarious, smart, and unique rom-com that is remarkably easy to enjoy, both in its perspectives on love, romance, and soul-mates, and its montage-worthy comedic images, scenes, and dialogue.”
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“Cloud Atlas will not have the highest critical ratings or win the best picture award, but it is a film with lasting power that leaves you thinking about not only the complexities or the film but the entire scope of human existence, and it’s importance in the world of Hollywood and independent film-making is huge.”
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“Cannes ‘Best Director’ winner Nicolas Winding Refn gives us a story reminiscent of the film-noir style of the past, a film with a story, characters, drama, and action that we can really feel.”
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“Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity is a 90 minute heart attack; dreadfully authentic and truly frightening, this “lost in space” sci-fi thriller is one of the scariest films I have ever seen, and draws real reactions from its viewer. A once in a life time movie experience.”
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“Leave it to Spike Jonze to write a movie about a guy falling in love with a computer operating system, and end up being one of the most insightful, intriguing, touching, and lovable romances I’ve ever seen.”
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“In the book [and the film], Pi says that his story will make you believe in God. Ang Lee and his visual team might have done just that in Life of Pi, which is the visual spectacle of the decade.”
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“Combined with the most true acting performance I have ever seen with Daniel Day-Lewis’ Abraham Lincoln is a funny, powerful, flawless presentation of the most important couple of months in U.S. history.”
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“Shame is a uniquely intense and truthful film, both in it’s story, direction, and acting. Although worthy of it’s NC17 rating, Fassbender’s performance alone warrants a viewing.”
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“The directing/cinematography/scoring trio of Villenueve, Deakins, and Jóhannsson have again created a dark, disturbing, and eerily realistic world view, this time of the world of Mexican drug cartels, and the agents who fight against it. A film that makes viewers question the motives and morals of it’s characters, Sicario crawls into your mind, and lingers long afterwards.”
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“Heartwarming and heart-wrenching, Short Term 12 is a wonder of and indie film with lovely performances from Larson and company.”
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“Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, and Sam Mendes all combine to create Skyfall, both a classic installment in the Bond trilogy and an refreshing, top notch movie with quality visuals, story, and characters. The best Bond film I have seen.”
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“Writer/director Jeff Nichols and lead actor Michael Shannon both go far beyond good performances in a story of one man’s visions of a coming storm and his efforts to keep his mind in check and his family safe. One of the best endings to a film I have seen in a long, long time.”
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“With awesome performances and chemistry from lead actors Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, The Amazing Spider-man outclasses the first take on the comic with a story, theme, and characters more driven and complete than the 2002 film.”
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“The Artist is everything I thought it would be, and then it was a lot more. The black and white/silent factors of the movie are obviously unique and well done, but when you look past that, this is a truly great film. The acting is incredible, the story is both fun and sad, exciting and dark, funny and dramatic, surprising and fulfilling. Writer/director Michel Hazanavicius and leading performers Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo are all people most of the world have never heard of before, and black and white/silent films have been irrelevant for decades, but this film brings all of these things to light and we come to a realization: This is the best movie of the year, and maybe more than that.”
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The Perks of Being a Wallflower
“Writer/director/author Stephen Chbosky gives us one of the clearest, consistent visions of a powerful coming-of-age story with wonderful performances and heavy, heartfelt drama.”
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“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is an extremely well developed and intricately layered espionage mystery thriller, with an incredible cast, lead by Gary Oldman, and equally incredible performances from them.”
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“The sheer scope of idea of this movie is incredibly bold, and may not be for everyone, but the cinematic beauty of the filming of this movie demands at least one viewing, and if you can cope or agree with its purpose, this movie could change your life.”
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“Warrior is not your typical fighting movie. I mean, it is, but it isn’t. With the underdog, rags to riches elements that you’ll find in most any other fighting film, you are also given a heartfelt family drama. One of the best original stories this year combined with some of the better performances of the year, this is a story with an ending you know about from the beginning, but one you must see to believe.”
Bob's Movie Reviews 