13 Movies From 2013 Worth Another Look

We look back at 13 under-appreciated films from the previous year that are worth a second look.

Having passed the halfway point of the 2014 movie season, we began to think back on the 2013 movie season and were amazed that many of our Top 30 films didn't exactly hit homeruns with audiences. Rather than blame ourselves for being so wrong, we've sought to bring these back into the consciousness by highlighting them below. Given time away from them, some titles can take on new life, far exceeding their lackluster box office results. Luckily, the home market is more vibrant than ever, and with services like Netflix always adding new content from 2013, it's easier than ever to catch these little gems. In that spirit, we present 13 movies from 2013 that deserve another look.

To be clear: these are films which rank 40 or lower according to BoxOfficeMojo's 2013 box office results, and were released before the end of the year. They can also be films that were critical flops or somehow failed to generate success after deep marketing campaigns. They are in no particular order, and you can find our original review at the top of each summary:

1. Rush

Director Ron Howard turned in one of the most thrilling movies of 2013 that very few took the time to see. We were surprised just how good Rush was, and equaled disappointed that the usually very popular Howard struck out so badly with audiences over this oen. Set in the 1960's F1 racing world, Rush stars Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl as racing legends James Hunt and Niki Lauda. Their rivalry cadt a new light on the sport, and highlighted the dangers as well, showing Lauda survive a horrific crash that left him badly burned. You will never see anothe film that thrives on both terriffc performances and Howard's attention to detail. The camera work is top notch and this story about competition should be required watching before the start of every F1 season.

2. Oblivion

We've gone on many times about the brilliance that is Oblivion, but listen to the list of sub-par films that finished ahead of it at #42: The Lone Ranger, Planes, Bad Grandpa, Epic, and The Hangover Part III. That's certainly not a thing to be proud of, especially when the film starring Tom Cruise was such a terrific cinematic experience. Set on a dytopian Earth ravaged by an alien invasion, Oblivion tells the tale of two people who find out that their perfect well-ordered world is not what they think. Also starring Morgan Freeman, Oblivion set new standards for Science Fiction, returning us to the days of Starlog short stories wrapped around so many great reveals that we wondered when the insanity would end. Throw in Tron: Legacy director Joseph Kosinski and give it a pulse to French electronic artist M83, and you have the best SF film in modern memory. Oblivion deserves a spot in your video collection, and you'll thank us for recommending it.

3. Gangster Squad

Sometimes films are pushed back based on unimaginable tragedy: such was the case for Gangster Squad, a terrific period film about the mob in LA and the man assigned to bring that system down. Starring such big names as Josh Brolin, Emma Stone, and Mrielle Enos, Gangster Squad is the 21 Century version of the Untouchables; and while few can compete with that instant classic. Squad tries very hard and largely succeeds. Sean Penn plays an LA gangster with fdreams of expanding his reach, and his tough boxer mentality sets the stage for many a memorable scene. While Michael Pena and Robert Patrick also star as Brolin's left and right arms, Ryan Gosling plays pretty boy to Brolin's tough and unflinching character. Too bad a portion of the film showing a shooting at a mall was cut, but it gave the film a chance to breathe after an incredible 2012 run near its original Winter release date. Check this one out.

4. Trance

One of the most bizarre films of 2013, Trance is also one of the slickest films of the year. Shot by Director Danny Boyle, Trance centers around an art heist that's at first an inside job but morphs into something far darker. James McAvoy wowed us with a performance that teetered on the edge of insanity, while the full frontal of Rosario Dawson at a key moment led to no less than surprise and shock during our screening. Its winding story is just as engrossing, and will leave you guessing right up to the end. We can't recommend Trance enough.

5. Stoker

Another bizarre but brilliant film, Stoker breaks a lot of rules for film, never settling on a happy end to what's a very dark story about obsession. Starring Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, and the always impressive Matthew Goode (he's even great in The Good Wife), the film directed by Chan-Wook Park is both beautiful and unnerving, featuring masterbation and a love triangle that gets more creepy as time passes. By the end, every character's path has been totally blown apart, and the audience can't help but wonder where their lives had all taken such a tragic turn. This one divided audiences, but I think it's a great mind screw and a highly underrated film.

6. Ender's Game

We love our Science Fiction (and yes, there's a difference between it and Sci-Fi) and Ender's Game was pure enjoyment from the moment we laid eyes on it. Based on the Orson Scott Card novel, it follows the story of a young but brilliant boy (Asa Butterfield) who must rise up to save humanity from an alien invasion. Harrison Ford plays his trainer and commander, and it's a perfect casting. Frankly, Ford needed the mojo and Ender's benefits from his gruff manner and 'results over ethics' approach. There is a great twist near film's end, and it gives an added emotional weight to the film. The film didn't do well based mostly on bad press surrounding Card's bigotry against gays, but none of that plays into the film directed by Gavin Hood. It's totally re-watchable with an epic scale, courtesy of Composer Steve Jablonsky's score. At a minimum, give Ender's Game a chance on rental and see if you don't find yourself picking this one up.

7. Don Jon

The incredibly talented Joseph Gordon-Levitt got to direct his first feature film in 2013, and the results were strange, raunchy, and ultimately hilarious. Set in new jersey, Levitt plays the ladies man who falls for a gum-chewing diva played by Scarlett Johansson - she's feisty, demanding, and when she learns that he always masterbates after sex, she flies off the deep end, forcing our titular character to re-examine his life. Don's warped sexual standards creates a premise that looks at sex and dating at a time when so many are divorcing or choosing not to remarry. Don ’s feature film-directing debut (read our review) is a strange beast, so be warned: it pushes a lot of boundaries before finally settling on its great message.

8. Snitch

Buried early in 2013, Snitch must be what Alice felt like, tumbling down the rabbit hole. It's a gritty action thriller starring Dwayne Johnson as a trucking company owner whose son gets unknowingly caught up in the cartel drug trade. Upon his arrest, Johnson tries to bail out his son by posing as a willing player to move drugs in the hopes of catching them in the act. Unfortunately, he soon become a pawn between the cartel and a career prosecutor (Susan Sarandon), whose demands to keep Johnson in the game eventually leads him to seek witness protection for his family. It's Johnson's best performance ever, and one we hope will resurrect Snitch in the minds of many who either forgot to catch it or never heard of it. Barry Pepper also turns in a great performance as an undercover cop.

9. Prisoners

Another disturbing film from 2013, Prisoners sets itself apart by escaping the tropes of the standard kidnapping thriller. Starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gylenhall, the film suggests that vengeance in any form is actually counter-productive for the victim, as Jackman's rage of losing his daughter takes him down as dark a road as the person who initially committed the crime. When that name is revealed in one of the best thrillers of 2013, it will leave you shocked. Be warned: Prisoners takes such a dark turn that really no one emerges as a hero. This can alienate moviegoers expecting clear distinctions between good guys and bad ones. We encourage you to look past that traditional view, and give Prisoners a moment of your time. We promise you won't be let down.

10. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters

Unlike many films on our list, HG:WH doesn't take itself seriously in the least. You'll realize this from the moment you pop this one into your Blu-ray player, and hopefully you'll check any expectations at the door. Based on a modern interpretation of the Grimm fairy tale, HG:WH expands the original story, as our brother/sister duo - played by Gemma Aterton and Jeremy Renner - become professional witch hunters and utilize a variety of high-tech weapons in a post-European medieval world. Well cast and including some great lines, HG:WH features Famke Janssen as the deliciously evil withc Muriel. Again, this isn't high drama or epic action, but it's a fun ride when you've got nothing else showing on your 220-channel overpriced cable package.

11. Free Birds

Another film that doesn't take itself seriously, this little animated gem instantly became the movie to watch before enjoying Thanksgiving dinner. It's a tike travel comedy in which a pair of turkeys (voiced by Woody Harrelson and Owen Wilson) go back to Plymouth Landing to get their species off the menu. Also starring the voice talents of Amy Prohler and George Takei, Free Brids is a hilariously effective romp that will keep everyone entertained as mom prepares to keep turkeys ON the menu. It's highly recommended.

12. The Family

One of the unsung comedies of 2013, The Family is old school mob told deep in a small town in France. Fleeing the mob which he turned in to the Feds, Robert DeNiro and Michelle Pfeifer find themselves at first battling preconceived notions about their evil American ways, then actually fighting the mob as they learn of their location. Tommy Lee Jones is a perfectly dry Fed whose frequent moments with DeNiro are some of the film's best. Director Luc Besson has a rather patchwork career, but The Family represents one of his best. If you love Married to the Mob (another Pfeifer classic), The Family will have you laughing just as much.

13. I Give It a Year

This is a film that barely made $34,000 and was never given a wide release. But its premise of a couple who finds themselves a troubled first year into their marriage is smart and absolutely unapologetic about the difficulties of finding and holding onto love. Starring Rose Byrne and Rafe Spall, and Anna Faris, Year doesn't sugar-coat the realities of being married in the 21st Century; the ending is unexpected and at the same time completely appropriate to the topic. And while it doesn't end as one would expect, the performances are top-notch dry humor. It's the first time we saw Byrne in a comedic role and her style reminds us a lot of her big hit Neighbors. We wonder why hidden gems like this one get dumped on the street, but don't watch if you've just broken up or find yourself in the middle of tough times at home: I Give It a Year won't make you feel any better about your chances.

Great Treasures Await
In the end, films like these might not become instant classics, but many of them have a chance to endure long after their initial releases. In our opinion, all of these deserve a second chance, and you could do a lot worst to see several of 2014's rater dubious candidates. And while we can't imagine Transformers: Age of Extinction or Tammy finding a way into our hearts in 2015, we know that every title we've listed above touched us in some way that necessitated mention. What films of 2013 have you revisited, and have any changed your mind?

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