Top 10 Most Anticipated Oscar Season Films of 2013

Well, we are just about getting to it. The fall festival circuit kind of begins in Venice but really starts in Toronto, and with that it is generally accepted that the first day of TIFF is also the first official date of Oscar season. That date, ladies and gentlemen, is September 5th. Start your engines.
Here, LCA Film presents our top 10 most anticipated films of Oscar season. Most have serious awards prospects, and all have the pedigree to become instant classics. This is one of the more exciting posts we write, because it is becoming more and more real: the heartbeat of the Academy Awards is audible, and there are few things so exciting. Let's start our Oscar season here at LCA Film with this article, and we will start this article at #10. Keep in mind that this was a very difficult list to compile, and I would see any one of these at any given time if given the opportunity.

10. The Monuments Men- With a cast that includes Murray, Clooney, Blanchett, Damon, Dujardin and Goodman you scream "Oscar!" Hopefully, it'll be as good as it's heist-driven plot insinuates. Directed by Clooney, this has a real shot at Oscar in multiple categories. I'm not sure if it could bring in the gold, but the season is oh so young. My head says "yes," but my gut is wary. In any case, I'll be on line opening night.

9. August: Osage County- This has Meryl Streep. Oscar. This has Julia Roberts. Oscar. This is based on a universally loved play and has a supporting cast to make you cry with joy. Oscar. Drugs and death are involved. Oscar. Also, these are all reasons why I want to see this as well. It is a powerhouse of talent and will certainly move most audience members to tears.

8. The Counselor- Cormac McCarthy wrote No Country for Old Men (my second favorite movie ever), and wrote this script. I instantly want to see it. It's directed by Ridley Scott and stars one of my favorite actors working today: Michael Fassbender. Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz are all fantastic. I can't wait for this, truly.

7. American Hustle- David O. Russell is on an incredible hot streak and he assembled a hell of a cast for this film. I loved Silver Linings Playbook so much, and it surprised how Russell could tap into the genuine emotions of his characters. Add to the mix that the recently released trailer for this looks like a load of fun, and I am in 100%.

6. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty- I was absolutely floored by this trailer. For 2 minutes and 30 seconds I was transported, engulfed in a beautiful and fantastical world crafted by a master. Did I mention it was directed by Ben Stiller? I can't wait to spend more time in this world, and a wonderfully crafted world at that.

5. Inside Llewyn Davis- The Coen Brothers. That is all.

4. Her- Spike Jonze is one of the most underrated directors working today. His name rarely comes up in a conversations on the "greats" and it most certainly should; his body of work is more than enough proof at his insane creative talent. This movie, as evidenced by the trailer, will make you feel something in a totally unique way. Also, one of the best actors ever, Joaquin Phoenix, is the lead actor. What's there not to like?

3. The Wolf of Wall Street- I'll see anything done by Scorsese, and I'll see anything with DiCaprio, so I will certainly be first on line to see something with the both of them involved. The trailer promises zany fun with a necessary layer of drama, and a film that will be remembered for years to come.

2. Gravity- Alfonso Cuaron shooting in 3D with Sandra Bullock and George Clooney about getting lost in space that promises to be unlike anything that anyone has ever seen before? This is not just going to be a film, but a cinematic experience unlike any other and one that may very well put 3D back into the conversation of serious cinema.

1. 12 Years a Slave- Steve McQueen is one of the most brutal directors working today; his honesty with the camera leaves an audience torn and scathed yet changed and fulfilled. Shame was a masterpiece, Hunger was incredibly brave, and this looks to be a challenging yet masterful combination of the two. The cast (Fassbender, Pitt, Ejiofor, and Dano among others) will shine, and McQueen's steady yet unforgiving hand will force us into what will certainly be one of the best films of the year.

Top 10 Best Films of 2013... So Far

Half way done with 2013 and are there any cinematic wonders to show for it? I've seen 52 movies in theaters so far this year, exactly half way to my goal of 104 so it can average 2 per week. Let's take a look at the 10 best films of the year so far, starting with number 10. Comment at the bottom with your own lists!

10. We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks- I am not usually a fan of documentaries, but this one played out more like a suspense/thriller. It is executed with precision, and isn't repetitive. I left the theater enriched with information, and its modern day prevalence makes it all the better.

9. The Great Gatsby- I know some of you are rolling your eyes at this one, but it really has some incredible qualities. The acting (from most) is fantastic, the visuals are truly stunning, and I even believe that the modern day music was a very brave choice that clicked quite well. It was an entertaining time at the movies, and sometimes that's just what the doctor ordered.

8. The East- This film is a moral puzzle. I love it when a film invites the audience in and says, "You can't judge these characters until you decide what you yourself would do," and that's exactly what this movie does. It has its faults, and there is a definite pacing issue, but my head was full of questions and answers and introspective thoughts and I just love it when a film can do that.

7. Frances Ha- Noah Baumbach is a great filmmaker because he deals with the subtleties of life. He is a gifted storyteller in that the relatable nature of his characters and the mishaps they find themselves in ring true 100% of the time. I felt like I knew Frances, truly knew her, and that is an accomplishment worthy of placement on this list.

6. The Bling Ring- A truly divisive film. I know people who loved it and others who hated it. I quite enjoyed it. Some find Sofia Coppola's style to be a bit slow, a bit lugubrious almost, and I couldn't disagree more. I love that you have to work for the story, that she lets things unfold at a very natural pace, and that her camera work and music choices are always sublime. This is a unique film, and one that I wouldn't have believed was plausible if they hadn't told us it was a true story. Characters you love to hate and filmmaking you love to love.

5. Disconnect- Jason Bateman gives a riveting dramatic performance here, and, along with the rest of the cast and the director, he crafts a truly heartbreaking and memorable experience. I loved it. I left in tears, and that happens infrequently. I was truly moved, transported, and therein lies the power of cinema. Well done to these creative minds.

4. Before Midnight- One of my current Best Picture nominee predictions, this film is a true wonder. A magical experience. I have seen all three of the "Befores" (Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight) and I urge you all to watch them. I felt like these characters were people in my life, and each film was like a catch-up you do with people you haven't seen in years. Where this film succeeds differently from the other two is in its brutal honesty. There is a darkness here that resonated within my soul and for that it is in my top 5.

3. Stories We Tell- This is not a documentary. This is not a narrative. This is a journey through the life of filmmaker Sarah Polley as she retraces her family history through interviews. Recreation and tears and truth are found, but ultimately she is commenting on the frailty of storytelling in film and how our collective memory often spins very different tales. I have never seen anything quite this revolutionary and quiet. A must see, especially for those of you who truly appreciate film.

2. The Place Beyond the Pines- Very few lists that I've seen include this film and I cannot figure out why. It is a masterpiece. It is a moody, dark, tone-shifting work of art highlighted by its bravura performances, incredible camera work, and confident pacing. This ambitious and provocative film deserves all the praise in the world and I am so happy to see it has earned $20+ million at the box office. I hope that more people find this film at home, and experience for themselves the power behind this independent mastery.

1. Upstream Color- Here we are. Number one. This film doesn't just play, it lives. It is. It breathes. It has a quality to it, this kind of ethereal wave crashing on your heart type emotion that I have been waiting for my entire life. I didn't know what it meant, so I saw it again. I wanted to understand. Also, I didn't mind spending two hours out of body as I thrived within the frame of this film. Shane Carruth is a genius. He is. This film is not for everyone, the plot needs work to figure out, and the pace can be called slow. For those of you who, like me, just allow the film to pick you up and lull you to a place of absolute peace and wonderment, well, you're in for an experience you will never forget.

How many of these films will make it to the end of the year list? It's hard to say! 2013 has had some duds, but these films should be watched time and time again. Seek them out, and let yourself be moved. Comment your own lists at the bottom!