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by Eric Kohn
March 21, 2013 9:00 AM
23 Comments
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The Best Indie Movies of 2013 So Far, According to Criticwire (UPDATED): Olivier Assayas' 'Something in the Air' Lands On the List, Ozon Ties With 'Lore'

"Something in the Air" Sundance Selects
According to the nearly 500 critics listed in Indiewire's Criticwire Network, there are at least 17 indie films that have been released in theaters or on digital platforms this year are worth checking out. That's only a few more than the last time we updated this list, but of course 2013 still has a long way to go.

The following list, updated on a weekly basis, contains all films released in 2013 that currently hold a B+ average or higher on Criticwire as long as they have been graded by at least 15 critics.

Many of the rankings remain unchanged. The film that has currently received the largest volume of grades and maintains the highest average is "No," Chilean director Pablo Larraín's Academy Award-nominated historical drama, which stars Gael Garcia Bernal. For now, it holds an A- average from 50 grades.

The film with the highest rating that has received the most number of grades is still Rodney Asher's popular compendium of conspiracy theories pertaining to "The Shining," the Sundance hit "Room 237," which currently holds a B+ average with 82 grades. Riding its coattails, Harmony Korine's "Spring Breakers" has nudged ahead of Steven Soderbergh's "Side Effects" with 79 grades and a B+ average as well.

There's one newcomer to the list this week: Olivier Assayas' quasi-autobiographical "Something in the Air," a story of coming-of-age story set in the of May '68 counterculture that echoes the filmmaker's 1994 feature "Cold Water," has arrived in twelfth place on this list with 37 grades and a B+ average. IFC Films opens the film in limited release this week.

READ MORE: Olivier Assayas Discusses the Personal and Political Dimensions of 'Something in the Air'

"In the House."
Also of note: The Australian-produced Holocaust drama "Lore" is now tied with Francois Ozon's literary comedy "In the House" in fourteenth place with 25 grades. While "Lore" has maintained a spot on this list for weeks now, "In the House" just hit theaters last week, less than a month before Ozon's latest movie premieres at the Cannes Film Festival -- an event that will undoubtedly have an impact on this list in the coming weeks and months ahead.

Because critics are able to grade films at their leisure, all averages are subject to change; this list will grow or shrink on a regular basis to reflect fluctuating averages and new releases.

The list is ordered in terms of letter grades first, followed by the number of grades a film has received. Grade volumes that have changed since last week are italicized.

Head to a film page to browse reviews and other information pertaining to each film.

1. No (Film Page), directed by Pablo Larraín (2012 Cannes Film Festival; February 2013 theatrical release)
Average Criticwire Rating: A- (50 grades)

2. Leviathan (Film Page), directed by Verena Paravel and Lucien Castaing-Taylor (2012 Locarno International Film Festival; March theatrical release)
Average Criticwire Rating: A- (37 grades)

3. The Gatekeepers (Film Page), directed by Dror Moreh (2012 Telluride Film Festival; February 2013 theatrical release)
Average Criticwire Rating: A- (34 grades)

4. Sound City (Film Page), directed by Dave Grohl (2013 Sundance; February 2013 theatrical release)

Average Criticwire Rating: A- (15 grades)

5. Room 237 (Film Page), directed by Rodney Ascher (2012 Sundance Film Festival; March 2013 theatrical release)
Average Criticwire Rating: B+ (82 grades)

6.Spring Breakers (Film Page), directed by Harmony Korine (2012 Venice Film Festival; March 2013 theatrical release)
Average Criticwire Rating: B+ (79 grades)

7. Side Effects (Film Page), directed by Stephen Soderbergh (February 2013 theatrical release)
Average Criticwire Rating: B+ (77 grades)

8. Beyond the Hills (Film Page), directed by Cristian Mungiu (2012 Cannes Film Festival; February 2013 theatrical release)
Average Criticwire Rating: B+ (66 grades)

9. Upstream Color (Film Page), directed by Shane Carruth (2013 Sundance Film Festival; April 2013 theatrical release)
Average Criticwire Rating: B+ (64 grades)

10. Like Someone in Love (Film Page), directed by Abbas Kiarostami (2012 Cannes Film Festival; February 2013 theatrical release)
Average Criticwire Rating: B+ (63 grades)

11. Mud (Film Page), directed by Jeff Nichols (2012 Cannes Film Festival; April 2013 theatrical release)

Average Criticwire Rating: B+ (52 grades)

12. Something in the Air (Film Page), directed by Olivier Assayas (2012 Venice Film Festival, May 2013 theatrical release)

Average Criticwire Rating: B+ (37 grades)

13. War Witch (Film Page), directed by Kim Nguyen (2012 Berlinale; March 2013 VOD/theatrical release)
Average Criticwire Rating: B+ (36 grades) 

14. Blancanieves (Film Page), directed by Pablo Berger (2012 Toronto International Film Festival; February 2013 theatrical release)

Average Criticwire Rating: B+ (29 grades)

14. Lore (Film Page), directed by Cate Shortland (2012 Sydney Film Festival; February 2013 theatrical release)
Average Criticwire Rating: B+ (25 grades)

14. In the House (Film Page), directed by Francois Ozon (2012 Toronto International Film Festival; April 2013 theatrical release)

Average Criticwire Rating: B+ (25 grades)

15. I Killed My Mother (Film Page), directed by Xavier Dolan (2009 Cannes; March 2013 theatrical release)
Average Criticwire Rating: B+ (23 grades)

16. Sun Don't Shine (Film Page), directed by Amy Seimetz (2012 SXSW Film Festival; April theatrical/VOD release)

Average Criticwire Rating: B+ (22 grades)








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TAGS: Reviews, The Best Indie Movies of 2013, Criticwire, No, Leviathan, The Gatekeepers, Side Effects, Room 237, Beyond The Hills, Like Someone In Love, Spring Breakers, Upstream Color , War Witch (Rebelle), Blancanieves, Lore, J'ai tué ma mère (I Killed My Mother)
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23 Comments

  • blue | April 25, 2013 4:48 PMReply

    How many critics are involved in reviewing films of this list?

  • Eric | May 4, 2013 2:44 PM

    There are nearly 500 critics who grade films on a weekly basis. You can browse the list of their names here: http://www.indiewire.com/critic/directory

  • blue | April 25, 2013 4:38 PMReply

    How many critics are involved reviewing films of this list?

  • enrique | April 25, 2013 12:13 PMReply

    Nice list. very rational grading. Thanks

  • jensen | April 25, 2013 11:46 AMReply

    I haven't seen it yet, but I'm pretty surprised that Ain't Them Bodies Saints isn't on the list, I've heard nothing but rave reviews about it.

  • Eric | May 2, 2013 6:19 PM

    Only films that have opened in theaters or VOD are included.

  • John | April 11, 2013 1:26 PMReply

    BLANCANIEVAS has lots of repeats of the same critic.

  • Eric | May 2, 2013 6:19 PM

    This has been fixed. Thanks.

  • scobro | March 28, 2013 11:15 AMReply

    Appreciate the list, but think it's a little strange to have two entries with 7 or less reviews in the same camp as most that average over 60. Especially EDEN, a fine little movie from SXSW last year but probably not in the same camp as many of the others. It's ranked so high due to it only being reviewed by a few people who saw it at the festival itself. Maybe those with so few reviews should be categorized separately? Still, this is a great list to update throughout the year. Thanks for putting it together!

  • Eric Kohn | March 28, 2013 3:37 PM

    Thanks for the suggestions. We'll take them into account with the next iteration of the list.

  • Damian | March 24, 2013 1:02 AMReply

    There might be a worse movie this year than Spring Breakers but there will not be a movie this year with a worse ending than the illogical, nonsensical, preposterous ending of Spring Breakers. And they gave this a B+?

  • Eric | March 24, 2013 10:49 PM

    Collectively, yes, but if you're looking for a more nuanced reaction we recommend you click the "Details" button here: http://www.indiewire.com/film/spring-breakers

    To date, while nearly 50 critics have graded the film with a "B" or higher, a sizable minority of 13 critics have graded it with a "C" or lower.

  • Daphne | March 22, 2013 5:36 PMReply

    Why isn't "Magic Camp" on here?

  • Paul | March 22, 2013 5:20 PMReply

    one of the best movies I've seen coming out this year is "Along the Roadside" ! Bold , Sharp and Funny with Great Music!!!

  • Ryan | March 21, 2013 6:48 PMReply

    The ranking system here is complete crap.

  • goren | March 21, 2013 1:28 PMReply

    This is a very intriguing list . I am trying to find were to watch one of the movies in the list

  • cinedyne | March 21, 2013 11:14 AMReply

    It's kind of easy to post 20 movies so early in the year, especially when all of them played big fests and/or were nominated for Oscars.

    I don't see Red Flag listed (which isn't either of the above). Thought that was a great indie comedy.

  • Eric | March 21, 2013 12:26 PM

    While I personally enjoy RED FLAG quite a bit, in general critics have been mixed on it. You can browse reactions here: http://www.indiewire.com/film/red-flag

  • Eric | March 21, 2013 12:26 PM

    While I personally enjoy RED FLAG quite a bit, in general critics have been mixed on it. You can browse reactions here: http://www.indiewire.com/film/red-flag

  • katy kern | March 21, 2013 10:50 AMReply

    About to watch one listed today. So excited. Many of the others are on my list to see. So many movies, so little time. ;-)

  • jimbo | March 21, 2013 9:55 AMReply

    the omission of lore is v v peculiar. while i know you hand pick critics and bloggers, it's one of the best reviewed films overall of the year, at least in terms of metacritic and rotten tomatoes.

  • Eric | March 21, 2013 10:15 AM

    Look again. LORE made the cut.

  • Leo Arriagada | March 21, 2013 9:54 AMReply

    "No" is a great film. It's a shame that there lost the Oscar.

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