2013 Mid-Year Report

So, with us almost at the halfway stage in 2013, I thought I would have a round up of the best and worst of the year so far.

Best Picture January 1st - June 30th 2013

The Place beyond the Pines

Honourable Mentions:

• Django Unchained
• Behind the Candelabra
• Zero Dark Thirty
• Flight
• Spring Breakers

Worst Picture January 1st - June 30th 2013

Red Dawn 

Honourable Mentions:

• Evil Dead
• Texas Chainsaw 3D
• The Big Wedding
• Identity Thief

Best Performance January 1st - June 30th 2013

Christoph Waltz - Django Unchained

Honourable Mentions:

• Michael Douglas - Behind the Candelabra
• Daniel Day-Lewis - Lincoln
• Jessica Chastain - Zero Dark Thirty
• Denzel Washington - Flight
• Leonardo DiCaprio - Django Unchained
• Ryan Gosling - The Place Beyond the Pines

Worst Performance January 1st - June 30th 2013

Jaden Smith - After Earth

Honourable Mentions:

• Will Smith - After Earth
• Jaden Smith - After Earth
• Josh Peck - Red Dawn
• Shiloh Fernandez - Evil Dead

Snitch

UK Release Date: 21st June 2013
Directed by: Ric Roman Waugh
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Jon Bernthal, Susan Sarandon

Synopsis: A father goes undercover for the DEA in order to free his son who was imprisoned after being set up in drug deal.

Entertaining action thriller. Surprisingly decent.

The Internship

UK Release Date: 4th July 2013
Directed by: Shawn Levy
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, Rose Byrne

Synopsis: Two salesmen whose careers have been torpedoed by the digital age find their way into a coveted internship at Google, where they must compete with a group of young, tech-savvy geniuses for a shot at employment.

Fun, but predictable and cliched.

World War Z

UK Release Date: 21st June 2013
Directed by: Marc Forster
Starring: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz 

Synopsis: United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments, and threatening to destroy humanity itself.

Decent thriller, lacking character development.

Despicable Me 2

UK Release Date: 28th June 2013
Directed by: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud
Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove

Synopsis: Gru is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help deal with a powerful new super criminal.

Charming. Heartwarming. Above average sequel.

Man of Steel

UK Release Date: 14th June 2013
Directed by: Zack Snyder
Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon

Synopsis: A young itinerant worker is forced to confront his secret extraterrestrial heritage when Earth is invaded by members of his race.

Good. Should have been better.

Behind the Candelabra

UK Release Date: 7th June 2013
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Starring: Matt Damon, Scott Bakula, Eric Zuckerman

Synopsis: Based on the autobiographical novel, the tempestuous 6-year relationship between Liberace and his (much younger) lover, Scott Thorson, is recounted.

Excellent performances and terrific storytelling.

After Earth

UK Release Date: 7th June 2013
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
Starring: Jaden Smith, Will Smith, Sophie Okonedo

Synopsis: A crash landing leaves Kitai Raige and his father Cypher stranded on Earth, a millennium after events forced humanity's escape. With Cypher injured, Kitai must embark on a perilous journey to signal for help.

Terrible acting, plot and script.