Considering that I'm a movie critic by trade, it's probably not surprising that I planted my backside in plenty of those plushy cinema chairs this summer. What was a bit of a shocker, however, is how many films I actually (gasp!) enjoyed.
Per tradition, there were plenty of those mind-numbing stinkers that inevitably cause one to wonder what exactly the studio execs were thinking (The Lone Ranger, Pacific Rim, White House Down and The Internship immediately spring to mind).
But aside from the usual fluff, there was a pretty satisfying mix of big-budget and smaller titles that totally defied my expectations. Whether I was in the mood to hang with some lovable misfits or simply longed for a momentary escape to a new, fantastical world, there was something that fit the bill. And when all else fails, watching Robert Downey Jr. wrestle with the weight of the world on his shoulders as Iron Man is pretty fun, too—especially when considering how lame the last chapter was.
As for my favorites? I can think of 11. Iron Man 3, naturally. Carey Mulligan as Daisy aside, I also loved The Great Gatsby. Another unexpected surprise was Mud (proof that Matthew McConaughey can play someone other than a suave romantic lead). As for the rest of the motley crew, I also adored Frances Ha, Much Ado About Nothing, The Way, Way Back, The Bling Ring, Red 2, Girl Most Likely, Blue Jasmine and The Spectacular Now.
Now that I've shared my favorites, how about you? What were your must-sees of Summer 2013?
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