Top 10: Best Movies of 2013

Honourable Mention: Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa

 

 

A welcome return to Steve Coogan's most iconic role. 'Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa' fittingly updates the character to the modern day whilst frequently delivering some side-splitting laughs. The best comedy of the year.

 

Honourable Mention: Pacific Rim

Blockbuster action on a colossal scale. Visonary director Guillermo Del Toro draws inspiration from classic anime mechs to create this breathtaking display of action and specacle.

Honourable Mention: Man of Steel

The best cinematic representation of Superman to date. Henry Cavill's Kal-el is a great portrayal of the character whilst the heroic aspects are captured excellently by Zack Snyder's direction. A very promising start to DC's cinematic universe.

10. Lone Survivor

An unrelenting and affecting war film based on a true story. Mark Wahlberg and his costars deliver fine performances that cement the reality of the engaging and visceral events of the film. Not to be missed.

9. The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman

A captivating story that deals with loss, love and existentialism without falling into pretension. Terrific performances from Shia LaBeouf and Mads Mikkelsen as well as the gorgeous cinematography blew me away, 'The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman' is not for everybody, but it was certainly for me.

8. Gravity

 

A gripping story and a technological marvel encapsulated in one film. 'Gravity' like 'Avatar' before it, demonstrates the reality filmakers have the ability to create when technology and vision are pushed to the limit.

7. The Broken Circle Breakdown

'The Broken Circle Breakdown' was my biggest surprise of the year, it is a phenomenaly well acted film with a heartbreaking script and fantastic characters. In a less crowded year this movie very well could have taken the top spot on my list.

6. 12 Years a Slave

 

An immensely powerful and emotionally devastating film that portrays the inhuman practice of slavery in 19th Century America. Director Steve McQueen's uncompromising tale is supported by a standout performance from frequent collaborator Michael Fassbender as the vicious slave owner Edwin Epps.

 

5. The Great Gatsby

 

A perfect adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece. 'The Great Gatsby' wisely chooses to interpret the source material and produce a film in the spirit of the novel rather than attempt to match Fitzgerald's unequaled prose. Leonardo DiCaprio's stellar performance and Baz Luhrmann's unique style of direction make 'The Great Gatsby' a total success in my eyes, every bit deserving of being on this list.

  

4. Her

 

I found so much to love in 'Her' that I have trouble describing what in particular made me feel such an emotional connection with this excellently crafted film. Of course there is Spike Jonze's terrific script being brought to life by remarkable performances from both Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson, but what really made me fall in love with this film is its unique vision of the future. The sense of place set forth by Spike Jonze is so well presented that I still find myself thinking of it to this day.

 

3. Filth

 

'Filth' is one of those films where I just sat in awe as I watched it. From the same twistedly comedic mind that created 'Trainspotting', Irvine Welsh's 'Filth' is an even darker character study of a troubled individual where James McAvoy delivers an utterly compelling and career-defining performance that has somehow gone unrecognised. 'Filth' equals Danny Boyle's legendary 'Trainspotting' in delivering a darkly humourous story with oodles of style, personally I think 'Filth' actually bests Boyle's iconic classic.

 

2. Only God Forgives

 

'Only God Forgives' is a trancelike experience of visual splendour and extravagant performances. The content of the film may well be scarce for a casual viewer but if given the chance 'Only God Forgives'  can grip hold of your attention like no other film this year. The story it tells with words is merely the surface as the real plot is divulged through the film's stunning and evocative imagery.

1. The Wolf of Wall Street

 

Without a doubt my highlight of the year, the legendary Martin Scorsese pilots Leonardo DiCaprio's magnificent performance in bringing to life one of the best scripts in years. 'The Wolf of Wall Street' has everything I want from cinema and more. It is a supremely enjoyable and genre-defining movie.

 

Top 10: Worst Movies of 2013

10. Iron Man 3

A very disappointing entry in the already declining Iron Man series. Robert Downey Jr. tries to make do with a script that is trying much too hard to be funny, so hard in fact that it opts to make a joke of the most iconic Iron Man villain of all. 'Iron Man 3' is easily the worst Marvel movie yet.

9. Trance

An initially fantastic film from the great Danny Boyle. 'Trance' sadly takes a disastrous turn towards the end that it just isn't possible to recover from. A real shame.

8. Diana

A dull and meagrely acted piece of fluff that won't be remembered for anything more than the failed opportunity it was.

7. One Chance

A somewhat interesting story marred by a predictably bad James Corden and a basic script. TV movie territory.

6. After Earth

Further proof that Jaden Smith is an awful actor, even when starring alongside his father whose role infuriatingly strips him of his signature charisma. A bland and often idiotic plot does not help matters much.

5. The Internship

An overly long comedy that is completely devoid of laughs, 'Wedding Crashers' this is not. Add to that a script that repeatedly reads as an advertisement to work at Google and you have yourself one hell of a bad movie.

4. Parker

Jason Statham's usually appealing action is disturbed by a Jennifer Lopez performance that is quite possibly her worst (and she has always been terrible). 'Parker' has some interesting character premises at first but its steep decline in quality over the course of the film is jarring.

3. Scary Movie 5

It seriously shocks me that anyone involved with this film found anything to laugh at here. 'Scary Movie 5' is an example of how a series that had already hit rock bottom still had room to fall.

2. Movie 43

'Movie 43' is a train wreck filled with very talented actors. It not only makes me sad that it isn't funny, it actually makes me angry that they really couldn't come up with anything better.

1. Identity Thief

This movie epitomises everything that is wrong with the modern comedy film. The fact that people find Melissa McCarthy funny genuinely baffles me, all I ever see is an untalented actress that has grown smug on the praise she doesn't deserve, in 'Identity Thief' she proves just how incapable she is to handle leading a film. Jason Bateman is just there that's all I can say, I have no idea why he took this part and I have even less of an idea as to what his character actually did. Perhaps I was just too busy lamenting the death of genuine intelligent humour to "appreciate" this senseless and crass excuse for wit.

Top 10: Best Games of 2013

Honourable Mention: Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

A swashbuckling return to form for the series following the disappointing previous entry.

Honourable Mention: Forza Motorsport 5

One of the best looking and most engaging driving games in quite a while. Currently the best game on Xbox One.

Honourable Mention: Knack

A tough but endearing platformer that gets unfair criticism on account of its old school nature.

10. Battlefield 4

A visceral shooting experience with a scale of battle that blows others out of the water.

9. DmC: Devil May Cry

A new twist on my favourite series in gaming. 'DmC: Devil May Cry' has its fair share of letdowns for a fan like me but it gets one important thing right: the combat.

8. Splinter Cell: Blacklist

A thoroughly enjoyable globetrotting stealth adventure. 'Splinter Cell: Blacklist' may be getting further and further from the hardcore sneaking of the original but it delivers an almost unparalleled mix of fun and tactical combat.

7. Tomb Raider

A much needed reinvention for the series that defined its genre. 'Tomb Raider' has a by the numbers story but great gameplay and a satisfying upgrade system.

6. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

A nostalgic return to the era of 'The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past', this game features the great gameplay you would expect from the series. The best Zelda game in years.

5. Gone Home

A turning point for games in general, 'Gone Home' tells a story so personal and uses the tropes of video games so well that it seems unbelievable it had never been done before. If ever a game was worth your time, this is it.

4. Grand Theft Auto V

Yet another content packed and excellently crafted release from Rockstar. 'Grand Theft Auto V' has so much to do its a little intimidating and its story is as lacklustre as it gets but let's be honest, story is not why you buy a Grand Theft Auto game.

3. Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

The JRPG I've been waiting so long for, 'Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch' perfectly matches pokemon inspired gameplay with a touching and beautifully animated story from the great Studio Ghibli.

2. Bioshock Infinite

A thrilling adventure set in a fascinating world. This game manages to do what I thought was impossible, best the original 'Bioshock'. Thanks to its stunning story and hectic combat 'Bioshock Infinite' is one of my favourite games of all-time.

1. The Last of Us

The best game Naughty Dog have yet created 'The Last of Us' is impeccable on all fronts. Staggering performances from Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson bring the characters of Joel and Ellie to life in this tense and gripping post-apocalyptic story. 'The Last of Us' is not just my favourite game of 2013 but also my favourite of the entire generation. It is an absolute masterpiece.