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!

A TIE at the Producer's Guild Awards

  (Blurry) picture of Brad Pitt accepting the PGA award for 12 Years A Slave, ONE (yes there's another winner) of the winners for the Best Film Award.

That's right you guys, we're still no closer to knowing who is going to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards yet, which is strange because at this point we usually have the winner locked up.

Before tonight, we had 3 front runners: American Hustle, Gravity and 12 Years A Slave. The real fight seemed to be between 12 Years A Slave and American Hustle, both of whom have been winning Best Picture honors from the Globes and Broadcast Film Critics. But last night, Hustle edged out a win with SAG for Best Ensemble.

Poised to win again tonight, it tripped at the final lap, with not only 12 Years A Slave edging in a victory, but Gravity! The two tied for the Best Picture honor.

Now, unlike SAG Ensemble which has been known to miss with Oscar (The Help, Inglorious Basterds, etc), the PGA winner always goes on to win the Best Picture Academy Award.. so what does it mean that we 2 winners?

It will come down to the final Guild announcement: the DGA (Directors Guild). They announce their winner next week (Alfonso Cuaron of Gravity and Steve McQueen will both go toe to toe, with Hustle's O. Russell nominated as well).

Until then, a race that was becoming boring, managed to get exciting again. Hustle is out, and Gravity is in. Ballots go in on the 25th: This win could have an affect on the winner of the DGA.

Screen Actors Guild Spreads the Wealth

American Hustle predictably wins Best Ensemble

The Screen Actors Guild chose American Hustle as their Best Ensemble winner, the equivalent to their Best Picture award. It was always going to win the ensemble award; the starry cast (including Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper and Christian Bale) is catnip to voters. 

It's important to note that Hustle didn't sweep; Jennifer Lawrence lost Best Supporting Actress to Lupita Nyong'o, who has come back in a big way after losing at the Globes (she also won with the Broadcast Film Critics). 

Argo, last year's Best Ensemble award winner, went on to win Best Picture with the Oscars. Past winners who also went on to win Best Picture include The King's Speech, Slumdog Millionaire and No Country for Old Men. 

The race isn't over yet, however. The Producer's Guild and Director's Guild have yet to announce their winners; expect Gravity to win the DGA, and 12 Years A Slave could very well win the PGA. This is still very much a 3-way race. 

Read the full list of winners (including TV Actors) below:

12 Years A Slave and American Hustle Win Best Picture at the Golden Globes

It was a big night for American Hustle; David O. Russell's "comedy" won 3 awards, including Best Picture.

After being shut out from every award it was nominated for, 12 Years A Slave came back with a Cinderella story win. "A bit of a surprise" admitted director Steve McQueen. After signs of slowing down from its frontrunner status, this puts a bunch of pep in the film's chances at taking it all home, or at least giving American Hustle a run for its money.

The rest of the races were filled with some surprises, and the usual "duhs". Check them out below.

Top 10 Films of 2013: My Take

It's been quite the year for movies, and when I say that, I truly mean that. This year, we saw Jennifer Lawrence's "science oven" explode, Sandra Bullock survive against all odds in deep space, the story of Mary Poppins come to life, graphic 15 minute lesbian sex scenes, Melissa McCarthy take down plenty of bad guys, Jonah Hill's penis and Amy Adams' cleavage, and that doesn't even begin to to scratch the surface of what we saw this year.

But aside from all of that, 2013 managed to be one of the most amazing years for film in recent history. It seems like everyone, from the actors, to their directors, to the screenwriters brought their A-game in telling some of the most interesting stories. Steve's McQueen managed to finally craft the first real authentic portrait of the horrors of slavery, while Alfonso Cuaron took us into space, reminding us of its dangerous beauty. There was also Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens flirting with danger in Harmony Corrine's (flawed) examination of youth in revolt with Spring Breakers; the kids are NOT alright.

But I digress, the stories are plentiful and the talent even more so; it was extremely difficult in crafting this list. We're almost 2 weeks into 2014 and I just now finished this (partly due to the fact that movies have finally expanded to theaters in my area). I hate whittling it down to 10 but unlike the past few years, this year was the hardest. I could make a case for almost every movie not included on this list; even films I didn't like had things to admire about them, from the editing to the sound design.

I'll say it again, it's been a hell of year for movies; this one will always stick out in my mind as one of the best.

So here we go! My top 10 films of the year

Revisiting Sofia Coppola's The Bling Ring: A Case for Emma Watson in Best Supporting Actress

Emma Watson as Nicki Moore in Sofia Coppola's, "The Bling Ring" (screencap taken by me)

Emma Watson's career in Hollywood has been one that every aspiring young actress dreams of. Discovered at the age of 9, she was cast in the explosively popular and successful Harry Potter series as best friend Hermione Granger. However, things proved a bit of a rough start after the end of her work in the Potter films. Though Watson's acting was solid throughout the series, people wondered: Where would these kids end up after the series closed out? Leading man Daniel Radcliffe seemed to have the best chances out of the three young actors, and people just expected Emma Watson to become like so many leading ladies of huge franchises before her (Carrie Fisher from Star Wars comes to mind): pop out a few supporting roles in high profile films, and then fade into obscurity.