by Angela Guess
This year was truly a wonderful one for cinema. We all like to complain that there is no art left in the movies, but anyone who looks at the award contenders this year has to bite their tongue.
So many great films came out this year that I simply didn’t have time to see them all. (Confession: I haven’t seen 12 Years a Slave yet. I know, it’s unforgivable.) But of the films that I have had a chance to see, the following are my favorites:
1. Her — Truly wonderful. If you haven’t seen it yet, you must. Spike Jonze’s story and dialogue are smart and eloquent. Some critics have complained that the dialogue is a bit too good (not anything like how people really talk), but those people are dumb. The dialogue is a revelation, and the story is magic. This film really makes you think about the world we’ve created for ourselves, the future of technology, and the nature of existence and love. You must see it.
2. The Spectacular Now — A lot of films try to show what it’s like to be a teenager, but this is one of the only films I’ve ever seen that gets it right. Check out my interview with co-screenwriter Scott Neustadter (who also wrote 500 Days of Summer) for more on this exceptional film.
