2013 Best Folk Music Movies

It’s that time of year again! Here are our picks for the best folk music movies of 2013.

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

The Coen brothers’ 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a comedic riff on Homer’s Odyssey, set in 1930s Mississippi. The film follows three escaped convicts (played by George Clooney, John Turturro, and Tim Blake Nelson) as they search for a hidden treasure. Along the way, they encounter a cast of colorful characters, including a blind man (played by country music legend Ralph Stanley) and a group of sirens (played by the Dixie Chicks).

The film’s soundtrack won five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. Featuring both traditional folk songs and new compositions inspired by the music of the Depression era, the soundtrack is widely considered one of the best folk music albums of all time.

The Way Way Back

The Way Way Back is a 2013 American coming-of-age comedy drama film written and directed by Jim Rash and Nat Faxon. The film stars Liam James as Duncan, a shy teen who is taken to a beach town on vacation by his mother, Pam (Toni Collette), and her overbearing boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell). There, Duncan gets a job at the local water park and befriends Owen (Sam Rockwell), the park’s carefree manager. With Owen’s encouragement, Duncan begins to open up and have more fun. When Trent’s neglectful behavior toward Pam leads her to consider leaving him, Duncan struggles with the idea of Trent becoming his stepfather.

The film also stars AnnaSophia Robb as Susanna, Duncan’s neighbor and love interest; Allison Janney as Betty, Owen’s girlfriend; Rob Corddry as Lewis, Pam’s co-worker; Amanda Peet as Joan, Trent’s friend; Maya Rudolph as Caitlin, Pam’s friend; and Lewis Black as Gus.

The Way Way Back was well received by critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an 81% “Certified Fresh” rating, based on 164 reviews with an average rating of 7.2/10. The site’s consensus states: “Funny without being obnoxious, The Way Way Back strikes a delicate balance between coming-of-age cliches and surprising honesty.” On Metacritic, the film has a score of 69 out of 100 based on 34 reviews, indicating “generally favorable reviews”.

Ain’t Them Bodies Saints

Ain’t Them Bodies Saints is a 2013 American crime drama film written and directed by David Lowery. The film stars Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara, Ben Foster, Holbrook, and Keith Carradine. The film was inspired by the Rolling Stones song “Saints”, which is used in the opening scene. It premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize.

Mud

Set in the Delta region of Arkansas, Mud is a coming-of-age story about two teenage boys, Ellis and Neckbone, who find a boat that is stuck high in a tree on an island in the Mississippi. They meet Mud, a fugitive played by Matthew McConaughey, who is hiding out on the island and enlists their help to reunite with his long lost love, Juniper. The film has been praised for its strong performances, especially McConaughey’s, as well as its lyrical and atmospheric quality.

The Kings of Summer

The Kings of Summer is a 2013 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts and written by Chris Galletta. The film stars Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso, Moises Arias, Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally, Alison Brie and Ernie Dingo. The film tells the story of three teenage boys who runaway to an isolated house in the woods to live off the land and escape their dysfunctional parents.

The Kings of Summer premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2013, and was released in a limited release on May 31, 2013, by CBS Films. The film received positive reviews from critics and grossed $4 million against its $2 million budget.

The Spectacular Now

The Spectacular Now is a 2013 American coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama film directed by James Ponsoldt, written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber and starring Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Tim Tharp. The film premiered at Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2013, and was released in theaters on August 2, 2013.

Teller plays Sutter Keely, a high school senior and charming ladies’ man whose happy-go-lucky worldview is upended when he starts dating “good girl” Aimee Finicky (Woodley). The movie received mixed reviews from critics but was praised for its acting, especially Teller’s and Woodley’s performances.

The Way, Way Back

The Way, Way Back is a 2010 American coming-of-age comedy film written and directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash in their directorial debuts. The film stars Liam James as a withdrawn teenager, Steve Carell as his overbearing father, Toni Collette as his mother, Allison Janney as a neighbor lady, and AnnaSophia Robb as the object of his affections. The supporting cast includes Amanda Peet, Rob Corddry, Maya Rudolph, Sam Rockwell and River Alexander.

A struggling comedian takes a job teaching at a summer camp for teenagers and comes into his own when he forms a bond with one of his students.

Fruitvale Station

Fruitvale Station is a documentary about the life of Oscar Grant III, a young black man who was killed by police in Oakland, California. The film was directed by Ryan Coogler and features interviews with Grant’s friends and family, as well as footage of the incident itself. The film won the Sundance Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Independent Motion Picture.

Short Term 12

If you’re looking for a movie that captures the spirit of folk music, look no further than Short Term 12. This heartwarming film follows the staff of a group home for at-risk teenagers as they navigate their own complicated lives. The film’s soundtrack is filled with beautiful folk songs, performed by some of today’s most talented singer-songwriters.

Upstream Color

If you love folk music, then you’ll definitely want to check out Upstream Color. This film follows the story of a couple who are struggling to keep their relationship together after a devastating flood destroys their home. The film features an incredible soundtrack of folk music, and it’s sure to leave you feeling inspired.