Memorable Movie Moments in 2013: 10 Favorite Shots

I've decided that in addition to compiling a top 10 list of my favorite films of the year, I'd also do a top 10 list of my favorite images/scenes/shots from films, because what's more fun than doing a top 10 list?? 

No, but really, it was a lot of fun sifting through and thinking about memorable moments from movies, especially this year. I had a lot of favorites I wish I could have included; choosing 10 is painstaking and I'm sure after I publish this I'll think of 10, or even 20 more I want to discuss/analyze. 

I guess I've just started a bit of a tradition now, but I'm okay with that. Let me know what you think! If you thought a scene/image/shot deserved to be considered, comment. I'm always up for feedback. The titles of the scenes have links (if I could get them) to take you to said scene/shot in the respective movie.

Anyway, here we go! Enjoy!

#10. "The Monologue" Stoker

Filled with arresting images and inspired by Hitchcock, Stoker is one hell of a movie. The cinematography, and costumes alone are worthy of a spot on this list, however, there's one scene that's been burned fresh in my mind long after I watched the movie. In an (almost) unbroken shot, Nicole Kidman's character delivers a memorable monologue to her daughter India, on why adults decide to have children. What could have been an unbearable over the top moment is masterfully understated, which adds to the intensity of the scene. The bloodshot fury in her eyes will burn through the screen and into your mind.

#9. "Yellow Brick Road" American Hustle 

American Hustle is a bunch of different films hastily put into one, dressed up (much like its principle actors) as a masterful con movie, and maybe that's the appeal of the film itself. I, however, don't really "get" the level of acclaim this film is receiving. But for everything I don't like about it, I can admit the film has some truly memorable moments. None, however has stuck in my mind than the scene where Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper arrive walking through a thick fog set to Elton John's "Yellow Brick Road". Decked out in ridiculous 70's fashion (Adams with huge, curly hair and a slim glittery catsuit and Cooper with a perm in a cheap suit). Watching the other characters' reactions to the 2 appearing together is pretty hysterical, especially Jennifer Lawrence's Rosalyn.  

#8. "Modern Love" Frances Ha

Frances Ha is a film filled with memorable dialogue and characters; it's a film that truly didn't receive the praise it deserved. However, the scene where Frances (Greta Gerwig) runs/dances down the streets of New York City set to David Bowie's Modern Love is a perfect embodiment of the protagonist's pure and unbridled joy. Despite the fact she's unable to get her shit together, Gerwig's Frances refuses to sacrifice the child inside of her, even while the rest of her friends are rapidly growing up without her. You wanna shake her sometimes, but its scenes like this that make you fall in love and root for the maddeningly endearing Frances. 

#7. "Every Time" Spring Breakers

Anyone that knows me, knows that I absolutely hated Spring Breakers. I did not understand the acclaim for James Franco's performance, nor did I understand the praise for the film itself. But what I did manage to appreciate about the film, was the gorgeous cinematography; for all its faults, Spring Breakers is one of the most beautifully shot films of 2013. No scene (except maybe that bizarre shoot out scene at the end) is as strangely gorgeous as the much talked about scene where James Franco's Alien plays "Every time"by Britney Spears on the piano. As the song begins, the scene changes to Alien and the girls shooting people and looting in a bigger series of armed robberies. The concept is flat out ridiculous, but it's shot entirely in slow motion, set to the gorgeous piano ballad featuring Spears' soft vocals. The music creates a shocking contrast to the activities being displayed on screen; this is the scene that will cement Spring Breakers' status as a "cult movie".

#6. "Opening Scene" The Place Beyond The Pines 

The Place Beyond The Pines, to put it simply, is an epic film. It covers 3 stories that intertwine over 2 generations, focusing on the importance of fatherhood and the choices fathers make. A film with such a big premise, needs a memorable opening scene, and that's just what director Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine) and cinematographer Sean Bobbit accomplish here. They follow Ryan Gosling's Luke Glanton through the carnival he works at as a stunt man in an impressive unbroken shot. At a glance, the scene is fairly simple, but the way Gosling moves through the crowd, with intense determination, tells us a lot about his fairly stoic character. In just a scene, we learn more about this character and what he's about than a lot of other films this year taught us about their characters. It's impressive on more than just a technical level, but it's also gorgeously lit.

#5. "The Rooftop" Her

The finale of Her is one of the most beautifully heartbreaking moments in film, beautifully narrated by Joaquin Phoenix's tender Theodore, complimented by Arcade Fire's gorgeous score. (SPOILER) After saying goodbye to his OS love Samantha after she and the other OS's leave (END SPOILER), Theodore walks over to his friend Amy's apartment. The 2 solemnly look at each other, and walk up to the roof of their building, looking at the skyline. As they sit down on a vent, they look at each other, and Amy rests her head on Theodore's shoulder. Theodore's monologue (a letter to his estranged ex wife) about being able to move on, is an expression of cathartic release; by having his heart broken, he is finally able to move on from his horrible breakup, and have a positive outlook for future loves. It's both melancholy and uplifting, in a way only Spike Jonze could deliver. But the image of Amy and Theodore taking comfort in each other's company is one of the most simply tender, and memorable, shots of this year.

#4. "Floating" Blue Is the Warmest Color

In a 3 hour long movie, there's plenty of opportunities to stun viewers with beautiful and memorable shots. Blue Is the Warmest Color has so many gorgeous images, but none was as quietly devastating as the scene where Adele (Adele Exarchopoulos) just floats in the ocean. Following a very emotional breakup from longtime lover Emma (Lea Seydoux), we see that she's learning to adjust to life alone. The scene serves as a metaphor for Adele's character; it's clear that without Emma, she's lost, struggling to find meaning in her life. But now, here she is floating in the ocean, "lost at sea" both literally and figuratively. It's not only gorgeously lit and shot, but Exarchopoulos' face is painstakingly gorgeous, that it seems to make the scene an almost unreal piece of poetry. There's no dialogue, no music, no internal monologue, just this young woman floating in the ocean, alone with her thoughts. It's a true example of the powerful, yet beautiful simplicity that is present throughout the film.

#3. "Robbing Audrina Patridge's House" The Bling Ring

The Bling Ring is a beautiful movie, filled with equally gorgeous clothes, jewels and designer things; the protagonists spend a lot of time sneaking into the homes of Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan and stealing things for themselves. But nothing in the film compares to the beauty of the long take of Marc (Israel Broussard) and Rebecca (Katie Chang) running throughout Audrina Patridge's house and snatching whatever they can find. The shot is taken from far away, and as the scene progresses, we move closer and closer. The house is very open, so we can see both Marc and Rebecca moving room to room and taking what catches their eye. The scene is accompanied by a very subtle piece of music, complete with the sirens and dogs barking in the distance and we can see LA in the background. Coppola admitted this was intentional; "I loved how the twinkling city lights below looked just like the jewels the kids were stealing". Indeed, this scene in itself is a glistening jewel in a film about robbing celebrities of their gems. 

#2. "Detached" Gravity

Gravity transcends the confines of being simply a film; it's an experience, and one hell of a ride. Cuaron tests your every sense throughout the duration, making you not only see the dark beauty of space, but feel it as well. The scene Sandra Bullock's Ryan Stone is separated from her partner (played by George Clooney) is easily one of the many memorable moments in the film. The dizzying camerawork and awe-inspiring visual effects puts you right inside that space suit with Ryan. This film took Cuaron nearly 7 years to complete, and it's easy to see why; from this one scene alone, Gravity is a movie we will be talking about for years to come. It's a masterpiece, and one of the many landmarks in 2013. 

#1. "The Lynching Scene" 12 Years A Slave

There are plenty of haunting images in Steve McQueen's slavery epic, but no scene or image in any film this year was as horrorfyingly memorable as the scene where Chiwetel Ejiofor's Solomon Northtrop is hung from a tree. He is left to hang there, all day, while other slaves on the plantation walk by as this is a daily occurrence. Children play in the background, undisturbed of the man narrowly avoiding death by standing on his toes to keep his neck breaking. McQueen keeps this shot going much longer than any other director would dare to; he really wants you to understand that this was something that happened so often, that even children didn't think anything of it. It's just one scene (of many) that leave a strong imprint in your memory, staying with you for weeks after you've seen the film. McQueen doesn't give you any other options; you're forced to see slavery for what it was, there's no looking away.