If you've made it to the end of the Top 10 of 2013 podcast, you'll have noticed that this year, in a break with tradition, we didn't read out each individual list submitted by our listeners but rather collated them all into a single Top 10. We're constantly experimenting with the format of the show, trying to determine the optimum way of presenting both our own thoughts and our listeners' contributions, and we do of course welcome any and all feedback on our efforts. In the case of listener lists, we continue to be overwhelmed (in the best possible sense) by the sheer number of submissions we receive. Our Top 10 episodes already run considerably longer than the average podcast (we pride ourselves on being thorough), and in the interests of avoiding this episode reaching an unwieldy length, we decided to try something a little different this year.That said, we didn't want to deny our loyal listeners their moment in the spotlight. Therefore, we decided to post the submitted lists in their entirety on the web site. These are included below, in the order in which we received them, along with any additional comments that were submitted.
Richard Booth
10. The Iceman
9. The Place Beyond the Pines
8. I Give It a Year
7. Prisoners
6. Mud
5. The Conjuring
4. Captain Phillips
3. About Time
2. The Butler
1. Gravity
All dates refer to year of origin. I'm yet to see Dallas Buyers Club, Anchorman 2, American Hustle, The Wolf of Wall Street, Mandela, 12 Years a Slave, Saving Mr Banks, Philomena, Nebraska or The Counselor, some of which may well have made the list. My biggest disappointments in 2013? The World's End, for sure, and Runner Runner, Gangster Squad and the Oldboy remake.
Mark C
10. Spike Island
9. Les Misérables
8. I Give It A Year
7. Gangster Squad
6. The World's End
5. Broken
4. Spirit of '45
3. Byzantium
2. Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa
1. Django Unchained
Some didn't make the cut; The Look of Love and the documentaries Utopia and McCullin, whilst A Field In England and Only God Forgives are two beautiful movies but hardly entertaining films.
Cevin Moore
10. Byzantium
Either a love letter to or direct steal from Daughters Of Darkness, but nevertheless stylishly done.
9. Antiviral
Well we've found that the David Cronenberg legacy is in safe hands with Brandon.
8. Behind The Candelabra
Tour de force performances all around still can't eclipse the terrifying turn from Rob Lowe.
7. Maniac
Elijah Wood was a complete surprise by pulling off the trick of being more creepy than Joe Spinell. With a brilliantly evocative soundtrack to boot.
6. Trance
Danny Boyle crafts another great piece of highly stylised film making that's a feast for the eyes and mind.
5. Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th
Probably one of the most exhaustive documentaries ever made and sometimes more entertaining than it's subject.
4. Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa
Finally realised after one of the longest big screen transitions ever. Worth the wait though.
3. The World's End
We were treated to two superb British comedies this year, for me this was a slightly stronger effort probably due to the Sci-Fi & Horror elements and the fact I still wear my twenty-one year old Sisters Of Mercy belt...
2. Cloud Atlas
Six stories that pull you in immediately and take you on an astonishing three hour ride.
1. Upstream Color
A dizzying follow up to Primer that I know i'll be re-watching just as many times over the next decade
Biggest disappointments of 2013: Either plain Stinkers or just completely overhyped, here's my worst...
10. Red 2
9. Man Of Steel
8. Pacific Rim
7. Iron Man 3
6. World War Z
5. A Field In England
4. Only God Forgives
3. Star Trek Into Darkness
2. The Lone Ranger
1. The Purge
I know that'll stir a hornet's nest with some of the defenders, but hey, the emperor is still naked ;)
Beki Simpson
This year's not been as much of a movie year for me, having spent most of the year pregnant, I seem to have only half watched a lot of films, whilst reading childcare books and websites , so I can't supply a top ten or anything.
So, films I enjoyed:
Alpha Papa - as a fan of Partridge it was great to see his transition to the big screen sustained the humour of the TV show (perhaps not as funny, but packed with quality laughs). I've watched it twice now and can see it remaining entertaining each further viewing.
World's End - yes, this is my generation and my memories, so I'm clearly biased here. But again, lots of laughs and a really enjoyable film too.
Disappointments:
A Field In England - self indulgent twaddle. After loving Sightseers and liking some of Kill List I had high hopes for this. They were not met.
Pacific Rim - I was really excited about this - Guillermo Del Toro! Giant robots! Huge monsters! Fighting! But somehow it turned out boring with an uncharismatic lead actor and not enough tongue in cheek. Boo!
Other things I liked:
Behind The Candelabra - excellent performances all round and a messed up fascinating story.
Crystal Lake Memories - I'm not a huge fan of the Friday 13th films, finding them very patchy, but as a documentary this was brilliant, extensively researched and full of interesting interviews. How this sort of thing should be done.
So that's about it, hope you have a wonderful 2014 and keep up the podcasts :-)
Graham McGettigan
In no particular order:
All is Lost
Pacific Rim
Gravity
Mud
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
Filth
Captain Phillips
Robot and Frank
Prisoners
Django Unchained
(Close ones are Upstream Color and Zero Dark Thirty.)
Mark Lucas
Gravity
Pacific Rim
42
Michael's favourite, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Iron Man 3
Oz: The Great and the Powerful
Man of Steel
Machete Kills
Star Trek into Darkness
As you can tell I see a lot of artsy independent films.
Troy Howarth
I haven't seen a number of films I really want to see, but thus far I have seen TWO that really made a positive impression on me: The Wolf of Wall Street and Only God Forgives.
Richard Wells
10. Beyond the Hills
9. Stoker
8. Maniac
7. Simon Killer
6. No
5. What Richard Did
4. A Field in England
3. For Those in Peril
2. Mister John
1. Only God Forgives
Looking back at it, quite a miserable list, ha! I'm drawn to the darker themes and intense sensory experiences, clearly!
My numbers 2 and 3 are 'lucky I was working in London at the time' picks. A continuing frustration that a lot of releases don't make it outside the capital. I missed 'Big Bad Wolves' at Fright Fest, and was glad to hear of a UK release in December... then that release turned out to be on ONE solitary screen, in London, or course (after I'd finished working there).
My most disappointing. That was Kings of Summer. I'm usually a sucker for coming of age tales, but this one was ruined for me by the character of Biaggio. Clearly intended to be a kind of quotable cult favourite, I found him painfully unfunny, and clashed tonally with the rest of the film. Napoleon Dynamite crowbarred into Stand By Me...
Dan Auty
My favourite 10 of 2013, alphabetically, were:
Before Midnight
Django Unchained
Drug War
A Field In England
Frances Ha
Like Father Like Son
Resolution
Side Effects
Spring Breakers
To The Wonder
In terms of worst/disappointing, the Evil Dead remake probably takes that prize. Not that I expected good things really, but it so misunderstood what made the original so good that I found it amazing that Raimi and Campbell wanted to put their names to it.
Wilson
Based UK release dates:
10. Ain't them Bodies Saints
9. Upstream Colour
8. Side Effects
7. From Up on Poppy Hill
6. Mud
5. I Wish
4. Nebraska
3. All is Lost
2. To the Wonder
1. Zero Dark Thirty
The worst film that I saw this year, was a toss up between a few, but I will probably go with The Great Gatsby (though I could have easily went with Stoker for most disappointing). Baz seemed to miss the point, which made the film a real chore to watch.
Ben Robinson
Based on UK release dates:
10. Much Ado About Nothing
9. Maniac
8. The Act of Killing
7. Before Midnight
6. Stoker
5. Les Misérables
4. Captain Philips
3. Prisoners
2. Gravity
1. Wolf Children
Most disappointing would have to be A Field in England. It wasn't the worst film on my list (The Host gets that gong), but I just expected so much more from Ben Wheatley.
Alex Thomas
Based on films I've seen from Festivals / worldwide releases.
10. Enough Said
9. This is the End
8. Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa
7. The Great Gatsby
6. Saving Mr Banks
5. Side Effects
4. Captain Phillips
3. These Final Hours
2. Blue is the Warmest Colour
1. Fruitvale Station
David SH
I usually do top 10 blu-rays released that year, but in 2013 I really didn't buy too many new releases. So thought I'd opt for a quicker top 5:
5. Star Trek: TNG The Best of Both Worlds - Great to have the best double episode on the series on blu-ray. Happy to get it as I doubt the series sets will drop in price for a while yet
4. Mulan - Bought a few of the Disney blu-rays released this year, I'd say this was one of the more solid releases PQ wise so it takes the Disney spot on top 5
3. Schindler's List - Another classic finally given a blu-ray release this year, and Universal didn't botch the transfer to boot...
2. Willow - This film was a favourite of mine growing up, good to see it held up well and thankfully got a pretty strong transfer
1. Grave of the Fireflies - Classic Studio Ghibli film, glad to finally have it on blu-ray. A film to show anyone that questions the merit of animated films.
Honourable mentions:
The Hobbit (extended) - Enjoyed the film more that I thought I would, and this release has 9hrs+ extras. Well worth the price I paid in Black Friday deals.
World War Z (Sainsburys exclusive) - Pretty good as an action film, decent zombie film. This release is worth it for the Sainsburys bonus disc with a 66mins discussion with George A. Romero, Max Brooks and Steven Schlozman. You may want to order now if interested as Sainsburys Entertainment will be becoming digital downloads only in a couple of months.
Daniel Sardella
10. Behind the Candelabra
9. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
8. Inside Llewyn Davis
7. Spring Breakers
6. Stoker
5. David Bowie: Five Years (documentary)
4. Her
3. The Place Beyond the Pines
2. Only God Forgives
1. The Wolf of Wall Street
Kirsty Grabham
UK cinema releases:
10. Django Unchained
9. The World's End
8. Good Vibrations
7. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
6. Stoker
5. Les Miserables
4. Wreck It Ralph
3. Gravity
2. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
1. The Place Beyond the Pines
Natasha Rosie Grabham
UK cinema releases:
10. Les Misérables
9. Iron Man 3
8. The World's End
7. Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa
6. Star Trek into Darkness
5. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
4. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
3. Wreck it Ralph
2. Before Midnight
1. Gravity
Honourable mentions: The Kings of Summer, Side Effects, Beware of Mr Baker
Aman Fida
10. V/H/S/2
9. Only God Forgives
8. Evil Dead
7. Star Trek: Into Darkness
6. Gravity
5. Metro Manilla
4. Django Unchained
3. Wadjda
2. Rush
1. The Place Beyond the Pines
Honourable mention: Blackfish (documentary)
Worst movie: The most recent Die Hard movie
Sandy Richardson
5. The Conjuring
4. Star Trek Into Darkness
3. Gravity
2. Prisoners
1. Only God Forgives
Christopher Jacobson
5. Pacific Rim
4. Only God Forgives
3. A Band Called Death
2. Evil Dead
1. The Dark Knight Returns: Part 2
Thomas Rostock
10. Cosmopolis
9. La fille de nulle part
8. Stoker
7. Mud
6. La migliore offerta/The Best Offer
5. Passion
4. To the Wonder
3. The Place Beyond the Pines
2. Blue is the Warmest Colour
1. The Master -- A masterpiece and as such by far the most captivating of the bunch. Not an easy film, but then the best rarely are)
Mike Sutton
5. We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks
4. Rush
3. Computer Chess
2. Passion
1. Stoker
Chris Bourton
In no particular order...
At Berkeley
Camille Claudel 1915
The Double
A Touch of Sin
Heli
A Spell to Ward off the Darkness
The Last of the Unjust
Night Moves
Stories We Tell
The Selfish Giant
Erik
In no particular order...
Prisoners
Gravity
Before Midnight
Her
Inside Llewyn Davis
Dallas Buyers Club
The World's End
12 Years a Slave
The Grandmaster (aka Yi Dai Zong Shi)
Captain Phillips (hey, someone hired a decent editor to work with Greengrass!)
Biggest Disappointment Of An Anticipated And Supposedly Great Film: ELYSIUM and ONLY GOD FORGIVES -- Refn for believing he's Kubrick/Yimou/Malick/Tarkovsky/et al.
Biggest Non-Sucking Film Surprise: THE WOLVERINE
Honorable Mentions: THE ACT OF KILLING, ALL IS LOST, THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, THE KINGS OF SUMMER, AMERICAN HUSTLE, BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS - PART 2, PASSION, 42, THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY, DRUG WAR, OUT OF THE FURNACE, SAVING MR. BANKS, TO THE WONDER, DRINKING BUDDIES, PACIFIC RIM (giant robots and Kaiju creatures, c'mon), FRANCES HA, EVENTYRLAND aka IT'S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE, THE TERROR LIVE, BLUE JASMINE, SEXY EVIL GENIUS, RUSH, WARM BODIES (everyone's forgotten this gem), PIONÉR, THE SPECTACULAR NOW, FRUITVALE STATION, NEW WORLD aka SIN-SE-GA, and THE GARDEN OF WORDS aka KOTO NO HA NO NIWA...
Hazel Howard
10. The Place Beyond the Pines
9. Before Midnight
8. Blackfish
7. Wreck-It Ralph
6. Zero Dark Thirty
5. Trance
4. Prisoners
3. Broken
2. Star Track Into Darkness
1. Monsters University
Biggest Disappointment: Man of Steel
Worst Film: Compliance
And for those that missed it in the podcast itself, here is the combined Top 11 (due to a number of films being tied for second and third place), along with biggest disappointments and worst films of the year.
Top 11
=7. Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa
=7. Before Midnight
=7. Captain Phillips
=7. Django Unchained
=7. Star Trek: Into Darkness
=2. Only God Forgives
=2. The Place Beyond the Pines
=2. Prisoners
=2. Stoker
=2. The World's End
1. Gravity
Biggest disappointments
=3. Man of Steel
=3. Pacific Rim
2. Only God Forgives
1. A Field in England
Worst films of 2013
=1. Compliance
=1. Evil Dead
=1. A Good Day to Die Hard
=1. The Great Gatsby
=1. The Host
