Al's Top Rated Films: 2013
My favorite films of 2013! I'll be sure to add to the list as I see more movies from 2013. Cheers!
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- DirectorRon HowardStarsDaniel BrühlChris HemsworthOlivia WildeThe merciless 1970s rivalry between Formula One rivals James Hunt and Niki Lauda.Scorching hot sports biopic from Ron Howard that follows the 1970s Formula One racing rivalry between English daredevil and ladies' man James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and his disciplined, cool and collected nemesis on the track, Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl). While they have sharply different personalities, lifestyles, and driving styles; their appetites to win fuels each other's careers and lifelong legacies as they battle through an unforgettable 1976 season. While I've never been a big fan of Formula One racing, this was one of the most exciting sports films I've seen of any kind. The story is epic, and the action, production, and details were superbly done. Both Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl deliver my favorite lead performances from them both. They both owned the characters and had some great chemistry throughout the film. Olivia Wilde, Alexandra Maria Lara, Natalie Dormer, Pierfrancesco Favino, Raffaello Degruttola, Christian McKay, Vincent Riotta, and many others had great roles among a solid supporting cast.
- DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsHugh JackmanJake GyllenhaalViola DavisWhen Keller Dover's daughter and her friend go missing, he takes matters into his own hands as the police pursue multiple leads and the pressure mounts.Fantastic crime drama/mystery/thriller from Denis Villeneuve the follows a mother and father's worst nightmare when their 6-year-old daughter and best friend are kidnapped on the street in their suburban neighborhood on Thanksgiving Day. It's an intense race against time for both families and the veteran police officer heading up the investigation, as they track down the mysterious RV and suspect with an IQ of 10, who is mentally incapable of bring much help to the investigation. In a desperate attempt to find his daughter, the father ends up kidnapping the suspect while intently questioning and torturing him while they are losing the battle against time, making the likelihood of actually finding the girls alive improbable. Captivating and perfectly done crime mystery. Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal arguably deliver their all-time best lead performances. Terrence Howard, Maria Bello, Viola Davis, Paul Dano, Melissa Leo, Dylan Minnette, Wayne Duvall, and David Dastmalchian also had excellent roles among a great supporting cast.
- DirectorSteve McQueenStarsChiwetel EjioforMichael Kenneth WilliamsMichael FassbenderIn the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free Black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.Extremely powerful historical biopic set in 1841, about Solomon Northup—a free black man from upstate New York who gets kidnapped and sold as a slave in New Orleans with the new name of Platt. The story sums up 12 years of incredibly brutal and realistic acts of slavery and torture I've ever seen on film. After a hopeless stretch of years, Solomon gets the chance to work with a Canadian contractor and abolitionist who he shares his story with, which has life altering results. Incredible film that is plenty worthy of the 3 Oscars it earned. Chiwetel Ejiofor delivered an incredible lead performance, and Lupita Nyong'o role as Patsey was also fantastic. Michael Fassbender, Sarah Paulson, Brad Pitt, Benedict Cumberbatch, JD Evermore, Paul Dano, Kelsey Scott, Adepero Oduye, Paul Giamatti, Michael Kenneth Williams, and Garret Dillahunt all had excellent roles among the supporting cast.
- DirectorPaul GreengrassStarsTom HanksBarkhad AbdiBarkhad AbdirahmanThe true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the U.S.-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years.Incredible biopic from Paul Greengrass with thrilling action and excellent drama. The film tells the true story of Captain Richard Phillips, and how a 4-man team of Somali pirates hijack an American cargo ship. When searching for the crew who is hiding in the lower decks, one of the men is captured, and through a series of intense events, they kidnap the captain as they escape by lifeboat, and attempt to make the dangerous trek back to Somalia so they can collect ransom for the captain. Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy and SEAL team come up with inventive ways to handle the situation. Tom Hanks delivered one of his all-time great performances. His final scene was one of his finest moments in film. Barkhad Abdi also delivered an amazing lead performance. Barkhad Abdirahman, Faysal Ahmed, Mahat M. Ali, Michael Chernus, Catherine Keener, and many others had excellent supporting roles.
- DirectorBrian HelgelandStarsChadwick BosemanT.R. KnightHarrison FordIn 1947, Jackie Robinson becomes the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era when he was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers and faces considerable racism in the process.Fantastic sports biopic about the life of Jackie Robinson, and how he became the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball. Great story set in 1947, which finds Robinson facing extreme racism among the public, fans, coaches, teammates, and players on other teams. Incredible to see he was able to break through the barriers and become one of the most influential sports figures of all time. Chadwick Boseman gave an absolutely incredible performance...arguably his best. And Harrison Ford also had a great later day lead performance. André Holland, Nicole Beharie, Christopher Meloni, Ryan Merriman, Lucas Black, Alan Tudyk, John C. McGinley, and several others had very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorRyan CooglerStarsMichael B. JordanMelonie DiazOctavia SpencerThe story of Oscar Grant III, a 22-year-old Bay Area resident, who crosses paths with friends, enemies, family, and strangers on the last day of 2008.Powerful crime drama and biography from Ryan Coogler that tells the true story of a 22-year-old Bay Area man, Oscar Grant III, living out his last day of 2008. He's a troubled young man with a checkered past of crime, and is now working to be a better man to his girlfriend, daughter, and mother; mapping out his struggles along the way as he meets family, friends, acquaintances, strangers, and unfortunate enemies. The writing and storyline is excellent, often with small plot-points having big impact in the story. Michael B. Jordan delivers his best and most complex performance to date. He was perfect for the role in every way. The same could be said for Octavia Spencer and Melonie Diaz, who also both delivered fantastic performances. Ariana Neal, Ahna O'Reilly, Kevin Durand, Joey Oglesby, and many others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorAlfonso CuarónStarsSandra BullockGeorge ClooneyEd HarrisDr Ryan Stone, an engineer on her first time on a space mission, and Matt Kowalski, an astronaut on his final expedition, have to survive in space after they are hit by debris while spacewalking.Fantastic sci-fi thriller from Alfonso Cuarón that follows a team of astronauts on the Explorer space shuttle during their STS-157 mission. When a flood of space debris destroys the Explorer and kills almost everyone on board. Medical engineer Ryan Stone (who's on her first shuttle mission), and veteran Matt Kowalski are the only survivors. With the space debris destroying nearly every satellite in the area and oxygen levels running low, it's a race against time to get to another satellite with a working shuttle to possibly get them back to earth. The visual effects, production design, and cinematography throughout the entire film were absolutely stunning. Everything looked incredibly real, right down to the lighting and reflections on the face of their helmets. The story was phenomenal and added an excellent layer of drama to the story. Sandra Bullock arguably delivers her all-time best lead performance. She was perfect for the part. George Clooney also delivered a great starring role. Ed Harris is the only other main voice we hear in the film, and he also delivers his part nicely.
- DirectorFrancis LawrenceStarsJennifer LawrenceJosh HutchersonLiam HemsworthKatniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem.This is my favorite volume of the 4-film Hunger Games collection. This time we follow Katniss and Peeta a year after they both won the 74th Hunger Games by "cheating" the system, which results in a rebellion and uprising that President Snow is determined to extinguish at any cost. Everything lined up perfectly in this story, and it has the most epic ending and cliffhanger to introduce the fourth-coming Mockingjay story arc. Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson both deliver top-notch lead performances. Donald Sutherland, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Liam Hemsworth, Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravitz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Willow Shields, Bruce Bundy, Jena Malone, Erika Bierman, Sam Claflin, Patrick St. Esprit, Meta Golding, Jeffrey Wright, Amanda Plummer, Lynn Cohen, Bruno Gunn, E. Roger Mitchell, and others had excellent supporting roles.
- DirectorRichard LinklaterStarsEthan HawkeJulie DelpySeamus Davey-FitzpatrickWe meet Jesse and Celine nine years on in Greece. Almost two decades have passed since their first meeting on that train bound for Vienna.Excellent sequel to Richard Linklater's beloved drama/romance classics Before Sunrise (1995) and Before Sunset (2004), and a superb way to close out the trilogy. It's been 9 years since Jesse and Celine last rekindled their relationship, which came after a previous 9-year hiatus between their first meeting in the summer of 1994. We now find them married with twin daughters and living in Paris. While they are a happy couple, tension comes into play concerning Jesse's teenage son Hank who lives in Chicago with his mom after the divorce. Jesse desperately wants to be a bigger part of his life, but that would mean they would have to move to Chicago. After he brings up his feelings to Celine, she adamantly refuses to move to New York, and feels this will be the thing that breaks up their marriage and lives. This story is far different than the first two films, and finds flowing tension and emotions throughout the picture. The dialogue is arguably the best of the entire series, and the acting was spot on as usual. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy both deliver superb lead performances once again. Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick, Jennifer Prior, Charlotte Prior, Xenia Kalogeropoulou, Walter Lassally, Ariane Labed, Yiannis Papadopoulos, Athina Rachel Tsangari, and Panos Koronis also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorPeter BergStarsMark WahlbergTaylor KitschEmile HirschMarcus Luttrell and his team set out on a mission to capture or kill notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shah, in late June 2005. Marcus and his team are left to fight for their lives in one of the most valiant efforts of modern warfare.Excellent war biopic about Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell and his team's 2005 mission to capture or kill notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shah. It has to be one of the bloodiest war movies I've ever seen, and includes excellent writing/dialogue, drama, and intense action action. Mark Wahlberg delivers one of his all-time greatest lead performances. Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, and Ben Foster also had large, complex, and gripping performances as well. Eric Bana, Alexander Ludwig, Yousuf Azami, and Ali Suliman also had nice roles among a solid supporting cast. Fantastic modern war drama overall.
- DirectorWoody AllenStarsCate BlanchettAlec BaldwinPeter SarsgaardA New York socialite, deeply troubled and in denial, arrives in San Francisco to impose upon her sister. She looks like a million dollars but isn't bringing money, peace or love.Excellent drama from Woody Allen about a New York socialite who marries a rich womanizer of a businessman who's shady dealings land him behind bars. After having a nervous breakdown and losing everything she has, she moves to San Francisco to impose upon her middle-class sister and fiancé as she reluctantly finds work and studies to be a interior designer while popping Xanax pills and swilling vodka to ease her pain; before meeting and falling in love with a wealthy man who could be the answer to all problems. Cate Blanchett arguably gives her best and most complex performance to date. Sally Hawkins, Alec Baldwin, Andrew Dice Clay, Bobby Cannavale, Max Casella, Louis C.K., Peter Sarsgaard, and others also delivered excellent supporting roles.
- DirectorDestin Daniel CrettonStarsBrie LarsonFrantz TurnerJohn Gallagher Jr.A 20-something supervising staff member of a residential treatment facility navigates the troubled waters of that world alongside her co-worker and longtime boyfriend.Powerful drama that follows a dedicated young woman (Grace) and her co-worker and longtime boyfriend (Mason) who are supervisors at a foster-care facility for underprivileged and troubled teens. When Grace gets pregnant, it presents problems with their relationship, which are magnified when working with new patients that stirs up Grace's past. Brie Larson and John Gallagher Jr. both deliver excellent lead performances. Brie Larson has particularly become one of my favorites with this film. Stephanie Beatriz, Rami Malek, Kaitlyn Dever, Alex Calloway, Kevin Balmore, LaKeith Stanfield, and others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorJohn Lee HancockStarsEmma ThompsonTom HanksAnnie Rose BuckleyAuthor P.L. Travers reflects on her childhood after reluctantly meeting with Walt Disney, who seeks to adapt her Mary Poppins books for the big screen.Beautiful biopic from John Lee Hancock on the life of Australian-British author P. L. Travers (1899–1996). The story bounces back and forth between her childhood family memories in 1906 Australia with her loving father, his battle in alcoholism, and her mother's resentment and depression over his struggles. The main story is set in 1961 when Travers hesitantly agrees to travel from London to Los Angeles to meet with American film producer Walt Disney about making a film based on her classic novel, Mary Poppins (1934). She's only doing it because she ran out of money, and she's extremely demanding and difficult to work with. Thoughts of her childhood come seeping back during the creative process, and she's not willing to compromise the character of Mr. Banks or Mary Poppins in any way. Meanwhile, Walt takes a very personal interest in the film, and does everything he can to please her and get the film produced. Lovely film all around with great dialogue and tremendous cast. Emma Thompson arguably delivers her all-time best lead performance as P. L. Travers. Tom Hanks was also superb as expected. Annie Rose Buckley and Colin Farrell also had excellent starring roles. Paul Giamatti, Bradley Whitford, B.J. Novak, Jason Schwartzman, Ruth Wilson, Kathy Baker, Melanie Paxson, Rachel Griffiths, and many others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorJohn WellsStarsMeryl StreepDermot MulroneyJulia RobertsA look at the lives of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose paths have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Oklahoma house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them.Powerful drama with some touches of dark comedy that examines the troubled women of a the dysfunctional Weston family. The mother takes an excessive amount of pain pills and muscle relaxers, and the father drinks. The daughters of the family are greatly affected by their mother's nasty and cruel personal attacks on their lives, which has driven them away in most respects. When their father dies and the whole family has a homecoming, it results ruthless drama over personal attacks, loss, and heartbreaking family secrets. Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts both delivered a couple of their all-time best lead performances. Julianne Nicholson, Juliette Lewis, Chris Cooper, and Margo Martindale also delivered some of their best roles. Ewan McGregor, Sam Shepard, Dermot Mulroney, Abigail Breslin, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Misty Upham were also great among the supporting cast.
- DirectorJean-Marc ValléeStarsMatthew McConaugheyJennifer GarnerJared LetoIn 1985 Dallas, electrician and hustler Ron Woodroof works around the system to help AIDS patients get the medication they need after he is diagnosed with the disease.Gripping biopic from Jean-Marc Vallée set in 1985 Dallas and tells the story of a racist and homophobic man named Ron Woodroof, who spends his days as an electrician, rodeo bull rider, cocaine user, alcoholic, casual sex addict, along with his other destructive habits. When he finds out he's infected with HIV+ and is told he will most likely die within a month, he dives into learning about the disease and possible treatments, and comes across a drug called AZT that has helped a lot of people, but isn't available to the public yet. He then embarks on a mission to get these drugs to AIDS patients who are unable to get them. Matthew McConaughey delivered one of his best lead performances. Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner, Denis O'Hare, Steve Zahn, and others had great roles among a solid supporting cast.
- DirectorLee DanielsStarsForest WhitakerOprah WinfreyJohn CusackAs Cecil Gaines serves eight presidents during his tenure as a butler at the White House, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and other major events affect this man's life, family, and American society.Excellent biopic about a distinguished butler who worked in the White House and served 8 presidents and their families over the course of his 34 years of his tenure (1952–1986). Great background story about his frightening childhood on a cotton plantation, to learning how to properly serve as a child, breaking free and starting a family, fighting through difficult struggles with his political activist son, and the other who went to fight in Vietnam. Forest Whitaker delivered arguably his best lead performance yet. He was excellent. Cuba Gooding Jr., Lenny Kravitz, David Banner, Aml Ameen, Clarence Williams III, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack, Robin Williams, Alan Rickman, and many others had nice supporting roles.
- DirectorEthan CoenJoel CoenStarsOscar IsaacCarey MulliganJohn GoodmanA week in the life of a young singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961.Excellent music drama from the Coen brothers set in New York City's Greenwich Village 1961, and follows a poor and struggling folk singer and guitarist named Llewyn Davis who's fallen hard times after the death of his band partner, and grapples with personal relationships. He crashes on couches of friends and accountancies as often as he can and attempts to pick up any gig to make ends meet, while the world around him is seemingly caving in around him as bad breaks continue to plague his life. The story was fantastic, and the production design and cinematography gave the story a perfect feel. The music was also very nicely done throughout. Oscar Isaac definitely delivered my favorite lead performance of his to date. He was ideal for the role, and was able to drive the film nicely. Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, Garrett Hedlund, Justin Timberlake, Adam Driver, Stark Sands, Ethan Phillips, Robin Bartlett, Jeanine Serralles, F. Murray Abraham, and many others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsLeonardo DiCaprioJonah HillMargot RobbieBased on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stock-broker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government.Excellent biopic from Martin Scorsese set in the early 1990s New York City, which tells the true story of Jordan Belfort—a prosperous stock-broker who falls into crime and corruption once his brokerage firm starts to abuse the power and influence they acquire on Wall Street. Leonardo DiCaprio delivered a great lead performance. Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey, Kyle Chandler, Jon Bernthal, Rob Reiner, Cristin Milioti, Joanna Lumley, Shea Whigham, and many others had excellent supporting roles.
- DirectorRichard CurtisStarsDomhnall GleesonRachel McAdamsBill NighyAt the age of 21, Tim discovers he can travel in time and change what happens and has happened in his own life. His decision to make his world a better place by getting a girlfriend turns out not to be as easy as you might think.Excellent comedy drama/fantasy/romance from Richard Curtis that follows an ambitious England-based young man named Tim Lake, who had a promising childhood growing up with his lovingly eccentric parents, a scatterbrained uncle, and his unconventional sister Kit Kat, in Cornwall, England. When he turns 21 and is about to head out into the real world, his father informs him that the men in their family have the ability to travel back in time through any moment they had lived in the past, and is encouraged to only use his gift to do something positive with his life. Tim’s main objective is to fall in love and find a soulmate. After learning a bit more about his abilities, he moves to London, becomes a lawyer, and starts living his own life. Soon enough, he meets a beautiful woman named Mary, instantly falls in love with her, and is bound and determined to make the best and happiest life with the help (and complicated mishaps) of his abilities. While this film follows certain formulas of your typical romantic comedy/drama, the story is excellent, and it’s a great story about family and living life to its fullest, as well as love. The cast was also fantastic throughout. Domhnall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams both deliver a couple of their best lead performances. Bill Nighy also had an excellent starring role. Lydia Wilson, Lindsay Duncan, Joshua McGuire, Will Merrick, Tom Hollander, Margot Robbie, Richard Cordery, Vanessa Kirby, Tom Hughes, and others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorScott CooperStarsChristian BaleCasey AffleckZoe SaldanaWhen Rodney Baze mysteriously disappears and law enforcement doesn't follow through fast enough, his older brother Russell takes matters into his own hands to find justice.Underrated crime drama from Scott Cooper and follows two troubled brothers who strive to make better lives for themselves outside of their economically declining home in 2008 North Braddock, Pennsylvania. Russell is on the right path until a drunk driving accident throws his life completely out of balance, while his younger brother Rodney struggles greatly with retuning to civilian life after seeing horrifying action in the Iraq war. When Rodney falls into a large debt to a loan shark and makes some dangerous moves in the world of underground fighting, it leads to a desperately treacherous and deadly conclusion. Christian Bale delivered one of his finest lead performances to date. Casey Affleck also delivered a varied and complex starring role. And Woody Harrelson played a fantastic villain. Zoe Saldana, Sam Shepard, Willem Dafoe, Forest Whitaker, Dendrie Taylor, and many others had great supporting roles among a fantastic cast.
- DirectorJohn CurranStarsMia WasikowskaAdam DriverLily PearlA young woman goes on a 1,700-mile trek across the deserts of West Australia with four camels and her faithful dog.Excellent biography and survival adventure from John Curran set in 1977, and follows a young nomadic woman named Robyn Davidson who travels to Alice Springs (Northern Australia) with her faithful black lab and best friend, Diggity; to study, train, and acquire four camels to haul her belongings as she embarks on a 1,700-mile expedition across the deserts of West Australia to reach the Indian Ocean. She meets plenty of interesting and inspiring folks along her journey to self-discovery. Excellent true and inspiring film all around. Mia Wasikowska delivered a fantastic lead performance as Davidson. Adam Driver also had a great starring role as National Geographic photographer Rick Smolan, who's photographs helped inspire the story. Rolley Mintuma, Lily Pearl, Philip Dodd, Fiona Press, and plenty others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorSteven SoderberghStarsRooney MaraChanning TatumJude LawA young woman's world unravels when a drug prescribed by her psychiatrist has unexpected side effects.Excellent crime mystery from Steven Soderbergh that follows a troubled young woman who is reunited with her husband who just did a stretch of 4 years in prison for insider trading. Soon after, she falls into a deep depression, which causes her to intentionally hurt herself by driving her car into a brick wall. Desperate to become better again, she meets with a psychiatrist and tries a variety of drugs before finding one that works for her. Sleepwalking is the only negative symptom, but she is willing to work through it since the pills work. After a horrifying accident happens during a sleepwalking incident, the doctor comes under scrutiny for his treatments, as a huge mystery starts to unravel. Rooney Mara and Jude Law both delivered a couple of their very best lead performances. Channing Tatum, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Vinessa Shaw, Ann Dowd, Mamie Gummer, and Russell G. Jones also had excellent roles among the supporting cast.
- DirectorJames PonsoldtStarsMiles TellerShailene WoodleyKyle ChandlerA hard-partying high school senior's philosophy on life changes when he meets the not-so-typical "nice girl."Excellent drama/romance about a troubled 18-year-old high-schooler and alcoholic who generally has a care-free and fun-loving life, until he is confronted with his problems. After he meets an eccentric nice girl he wouldn't normally date, his life perspective changes through their relationship and interactions, along with the meeting of his estranged father. Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley both delivered excellent lead performances, and had great chemistry together. Brie Larson, Kyle Chandler, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Bob Odenkirk, Dayo Okeniyi, Masam Holden, and others had very nice roles among a solid supporting cast.
- DirectorBaz LuhrmannStarsLeonardo DiCaprioCarey MulliganJoel EdgertonA writer and wall street trader, Nick Carraway, finds himself drawn to the past and lifestyle of his mysterious millionaire neighbor, Jay Gatsby, amid the riotous parties of the Jazz Age.Excellent drama/romance from Baz Luhrmann and an excellent adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic 1925 novel. The story is set in 1922 New York, and follows a writer and amateur wall street trader named Nick Carraway who moves into a modest house in the Long Island village of West Egg. Next door is a huge and luxurious mansion owned by a mysterious and eccentric billionaire named Jay Gatsby, who throws the biggest a wildest parties in town, and sometimes doesn't even attend. He invites Nick over to his house when he learns he is the cousin to Daisy Buchanan, who he fell deeply in love with before heading off to World War I five years earlier. He's an obsessive romantic and his life means nothing without her, and he devises a plan to steal Daisy away from her husband and live the life he's been working towards since they last met all those years ago. My only knock on this modernization of a 1920s story is the inclusion of so much new pop and hip-hop music that clearly should have been substituted for throwback jazz and swing music. Other than that, the production was gorgeous, the cinematography was excellent, and the casting and acting was great throughout. Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire both delivered excellent lead performances. Carey Mulligan and Joel Edgerton also had great starring roles. Elizabeth Debicki, Jason Clarke, Adelaide Clemens, Isla Fisher, Amitabh Bachchan, and others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorJason BatemanStarsJason BatemanKathryn HahnAllison JanneyA spelling bee loser sets out to exact revenge by finding a loophole and attempting to win as an adult.Hilarious comedy drama directed by and starring Jason Bateman. The story follows 40-year-old man named Guy Trilby who's an expert speller, and also has a score to settle with the head of the reputable international Golden Quill spelling bee. The complete his task, he finds a loophole that says he can legally compete with all the other kids in the competition since he never passed the 8th grade. His actions enrages parents and the faculty running the spelling bee, while Guy hilariously interacts with sponsor and news reporter Jenny Widgeon, along with a young speller named Chaitanya Chopra who desperately wants to be Guy's friend. Everything about the story was clever and well done, with hilarious jokes around every corner. Jason Bateman delivered my favorite performance of his to date. Kathryn Hahn and Rohan Chand also had great starring roles. Philip Baker Hall, Allison Janney, Anjul Nigam, Emily Sarah Carlson, Patricia Belcher, Kimleigh Smith, and others also had great supporting roles.