The Top 10 of the year... so far!

From my list on TasteOfCinema.

2012 was a magnificent year in movies, and so far 2013 looks like it will exceed in greatness. Venice and Toronto film festivals are upon us, and with the arrival of film festivals comes the arrival of Oscar contenders. The first 2/3 of 2013 however still deserves a fair share of recognition and awards, so without further ado, here are the best movies of 2013 (so far)! (Note: I have yet to see Blue Jasmine)

To the Wonder (2012)- What is the love that lives among us? (3½ Stars)

The second film in Terrence Malick's self-named Texas Trilogy, with the first being the moving Tree of Life, and the third presumably set in the Austin music scene. That all is besides the point. Right now is To the Wonder, a film shot with an expert's eye, told with expert abstractness, and requiring an expert amount of attention, if that makes any sense.

The story begins with Marina (Olga Kurylenko), a seemingly naive Parisian in a relationship with the near-silent Neil (Ben Affleck). We see them in the middle of a relationship, and Malick oddly never chooses to show the beginnings of their first or second relationships. Marina has a child, and that child is her daughter that wants to move to the US with Neil.

Tatiana, the child, is what we the audience view as the childish one in the relationship between Neil and Marina, since she is the child. Marina is our subject, and like The Tree of Life, is one subject that comes of age. Marina begins naive, free as a bird. The film depicts Marina feeling rejection, lust, anguish. All three of those, not in any order nor variety.

New trailers.

Trailers for both The Bling Ring, and To the Wonder.

Trailer for 'To the Wonder'

This is everything I wanted it to be... and then some.

New image from 'To the Wonder'

First glimpse at Olga Kurylenko (or however you spell it,) Sorry for the low quality

'To the Wonder' divides audiences, and critics aren't singing their praises...

Old news, yes I know, but To the Wonder screened in Venice last Saturday. The film, like Malick's last, was booed by the audience among tepid applause. Critics praise to a limited extent. Most praise I have read goes to the imagery and cinematography, again by Emmanuel Lubezki.

You can read The Playlist's review here.

'To the Wonder', the Best Picture AND Director winner?

I bet you're tired of seeing this picture. So am I.

So I read a nifty little article on AwardsCircuit. It stated that if To the Wonder was as good as expected, it should win Best Director and Picture. Here's why:

-Ang Lee can't really win Best Director again for Life of Pi. He already won for Brokeback Mountain in 2005, and is Asian. Yeah, it sounds racist, but its true. Also, the accessability for Pi is still a question.

-Kathryn Bigelow can't really win for Zero Dark Thirty because she recently won for The Hurt Locker. Also, she's a woman. Sounds sexist, but its true.

-Spielberg can't really win for Lincoln because he already won for List and Private Ryan, two WWII masterpieces. The only way Spielberg can pull it off is with something equal to the previously listed.

-Benh Zeitlen for Beasts of the Southern Wild. Not much a chance, since the film is so polarizing.

Venice Film Festival lineup!

The Master ain't 'Joaquin' away Venice.

Arguably late to the party, again.

Venice has a lineup more stellar than in recent memory. Previous reports stated that Italy wanted to, must I say it, 'reel' in De Palma's Passion, Malick's To the Wonder, and Thomas Anderson's The Master. They have all three, and then some.

Full lineup here.

Toronto Film Festival Lineup announced!

I'm late to the party with this announcement, but old news is still big news.

The Toronto Film Festival has announced it's lineup, and it ain't shoddy. Opening the festivities is Looper. More fun is shipped in by Argo, To the Wonder, and The Master.

Full lineup here.

Malick's next wonder is titled and rated.

If people ask me my most anticipated film this year, it's a three-way tie between The Dark Knight Rises, The Master, and Untitled Terrence Malick Project. Until now.

Malick, a very enigmatic and quality-over-quantity filmmaker, is slamming and going in reverse. Last year he brought us the masterful The Tree of Life, and this year is bringing us To the Wonder.

Wonder is rated R, for sex/nudity. I won't be surprised if it's shopped around at Cannes, or makes a splash in Venice. If it comes out this year or next, I'm psyched either way.