by Brad Merk ’14
2013 has been a phenomenal year for films both critically and culturally. From the revolutionary special effects of Gravity to the impactful and masterfully shot films such of The Place Beyond the Pines, Prisoners, Short Term 12, and Fruitvale Station, this year has already established itself as one of the best in movie history. That trend is showing no signs of stopping with the biggest films of 2013 preparing to become some of the prime contenders for both Oscar’s and Ignatian discussions for a while.
12 Years A Slave (November 1st, 2013)
The hype is strong – festival screenings are calling 12 Years A Slave “the Schindler’s list of slavery.” Based on a true story, Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Solomon Northup, a free black man who was kidnapped into slavery in the backdrop of the growing Abolitionist movement of the 1840s. Gruesome but powerful, this film is an unfaltering depiction of a brutal and unjust time in American history. While not for the faint of heart, the directing, acting, and overall message create a compelling film that is essential viewing for the attentive cinemagoer, and one that is sure to be in the lead for Oscar contention.
The Wolf of Wall Street (December 25th, 2013)
Maybe The Wolf of Wall Street will do what The Great Gatsby was supposed to do but failed after getting too busy looking at the pretty lights: criticize excess and materialistic inversions of the American dream. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by the reliably good Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street tells the true story of Jordan Belfort, a New York stockbroker who denied involvement in a large securities fraud case in the 1990s. The relevance to modern times in the aftermath of the financial collapse is clearly a motive behind the film’s production, but the look of the trailer shows what may be a new direction for Martin Scorsese towards a more streamlined, modern approach to filmmaking.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (November 22nd, 2013)
The second installment of the Hunger Games trilogy promises to be bigger and better in every way. With a more than doubled budget and new director helming the rings, Catching Fire aims to involve a more deeply emotional journey for Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and take a more sophisticated attitude towards the oppressive government of Panem.
