{"id":12220,"date":"2013-12-16T22:00:27","date_gmt":"2013-12-16T12:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/?p=12220"},"modified":"2015-10-30T07:21:18","modified_gmt":"2015-10-29T21:21:18","slug":"top-ten-films-of-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/?p=12220","title":{"rendered":"Top Ten Films of 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"2013end\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I didn’t think I had been this behind on my movie-watching or<\/em> my blogging.\u00a0 I sat down this evening to write a list of my ten favourite films of the year.\u00a0 You’d think it would seem like light work after recently compiling a list of one hundred games<\/a>!\u00a0 Yet I came up with about four films.\u00a0 Then I sat there and stared.\u00a0 There were a few more I’d forgotten from the start of the year.\u00a0 Don’t forget I’m counting films by their Australian<\/em> release date so there’s a handful of highlights from the last Academy Awards season.\u00a0 But ten?\u00a0 It was a struggle to get to ten.\u00a0 There’s about three films on this list that wouldn’t even make the honorary mentions list in previous years.<\/p>\n

It’s just been that sort of year.\u00a0 A lot of films that I’ve been watching in my spare time have been Hollywood classics from yesteryear.\u00a0 I went to the cinema fewer times this year than any other I can recall.\u00a0 No real reason.\u00a0 Just busy with life.\u00a0 There’s plenty on my To Do list that I haven’t seen.\u00a0 I’m told some of the best films this year include Blue Jasmine, Inside Llewellyn Davis, Her, American Hustle, Captain Phillips, 12 Years A Slave, Nebraska<\/em> and To The Wonder<\/em> but I haven’t seen a single one of them.\u00a0 Yet.<\/p>\n

Anyway, here it is, my Top Ten Films of 2013<\/strong>.\u00a0 There’s probably some odd choices in here you might not expect but I insist on ten each year.<\/p>\n

\"2013rush\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Rush
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This film was a complete surprise.\u00a0 Rush<\/em> is a film about the rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda, two polar opposite personalities who clashed in a memorable 1976 Formula One season.\u00a0 It’s a film that has all the best qualities of a well told true story – it requires no prior knowledge or appreciation of the real events to enjoy.\u00a0 In fact, it’s possible that the less you know going in, the more likely you will enjoy this.\u00a0 Incredible action sequences on the track, a wry sense of humour and a wonderful look back at a strange, dangerous, bygone era.<\/p>\n

Click here to read the full review of Rush<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\"2013djangounchained\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Django Unchained
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I still maintain that Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained<\/em> is about forty minutes too long.\u00a0 You could probably say that about every film he’s done since Jackie Brown<\/em>.\u00a0 Regardless, somewhere nestled in amongst the excess is a glorious, sharp tongued spaghetti western about a slave named Django who forms an unlikely bond with a Doctor and carries out a bloody revenge on the plantation owner who took his wife.\u00a0 You can probably skip the scenes with ‘Aussie’ Quentin though.<\/p>\n

Click here to read a review of Django Unchained<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\"2013monstersu\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Monsters University
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It’s a sequel that wasn’t really necessary but who cares?\u00a0 Monsters University<\/em> is a pleasant, warm-hearted prequel to Monsters Inc.<\/em> in which we get to see Mike and Sulley in their college days as they first form their friendship.\u00a0 This film is more or less the Pixar creators having a bit of fun with the Monsters Universe lore and cramming in some references to their favourite Eighties frat-house movies along the way.\u00a0 For something that appears to follow a well trodden formula,\u00a0Monsters University<\/em> does have some rather unexpected twists in the tale at the end.<\/p>\n

Click here to read a review of Monsters University<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\"2013theimpossible\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Impossible
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This film blew me away and left me breathless.\u00a0 I didn’t really know what to expect with The Impossible<\/em>.\u00a0 In fact, I was pretty indifferent to the film in its pre-production.\u00a0 It was only through strong word of mouth that I gave the film a go and I’m glad I did.\u00a0 The film gave me a much greater appreciation for what happened in the Boxing Day Tsunami disaster.\u00a0 The film is brutally realistic, occasionally difficult to watch, but worth it for the extraordinary effects.\u00a0 Very little CGI was used in the making of The Impossible<\/em>.\u00a0 Most of the time that you’re seeing people getting slammed around by tides of water, its actually happening.<\/p>\n

Click here to read a review of The Impossible<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\"2013gravity\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Gravity
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Film of the Year<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you haven’t already seen\u00a0Gravity<\/em> then its too late.\u00a0 It’s an incredible experience but one that really needed to be seen on the biggest IMAX cinema screen in your town with the loudest Dolby Digital sound system and the most eye-ball meltingest Real3D technology you can get your hands on.\u00a0 If you don’t see it that way then you hugely diminish your own enjoyment of this spectacle.\u00a0 Part film, part theme park amusement ride,\u00a0Gravity<\/em> offered up one of the most exhilarating cinematic experiences this year.<\/p>\n

Click here to read a review of Gravity<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\"2013warmbodies\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Warm Bodies
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A zom-rom-com about an undead teenager named ‘R’ who finds love amongst the living when he crosses pathes with the beautiful Julie.\u00a0 A creative, surprising and sweet film based on a ludicrous premise.\u00a0 Also, its nice to see Rob Cordry, formerly of The Daily Show<\/em> fame still finding work.<\/p>\n

Click here to read a review of Warm Bodies<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\"2013catchingfire\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The sequel to The Hunger Games<\/em> ups the stakes in the competition, expands the lore of Panem and gets downright mushy as the love triangle between Katniss, Peeta and Gale gets complicated.\u00a0 As popular teenage fantasy series go, its a lot closer to Harry Potter<\/em> in terms of its quality (both the story and underlying messages) than, say, Twilight<\/em>.\u00a0 Its shows the versatility of Jennifer Lawrence who’s able to hold her own as an action star in all ages popcorn fare one second…<\/p>\n

Click here to read a review of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\"2013silverlinings\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Silver Linings Playbook
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

…and then put in an Academy Award nominated performance in a David O Russell film the next. \u00a0Silver Linings Playbook<\/em> is a fun, Oscar-bait film about two outcasts in society who find one another and embark on a quirk, tumultuous romance together.\u00a0 It’s the sort of stuff that the Academy has lapped up since\u00a0As Good As It Gets<\/em> and guess what?\u00a0 I kinda like this stuff too.\u00a0 Especially when you’ve got leads as likable as Lawrence and Bradley Cooper.<\/p>\n

Click here to read a review of Silver Linings Playbook<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\"2013pacificrim\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Pacific Rim
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Huge, heavily armed mech robots hitting giant sea monsters, fighting over the fate of the planet.\u00a0 That’s how Pacific Rim<\/em> starts.\u00a0 Gradually, it ups the stakes by introducing more monsters, bigger monsters and bigger weapons for the humans to destroy them.\u00a0 The beauty of this film is its simplicity.\u00a0 It’s clean, wholesome carnage without Michael Bay’s leery camera lens spoiling the moment.<\/p>\n

Click here to read a review of Pacific Rim<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\"2013lincoln\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Lincoln
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Nineteenth Century episode of The West Wing<\/em> in which a politically embattled Abraham Lincoln must find a way to convince a gridlocked, filibuster-happy congress to pass an amendment freeing the slaves.\u00a0 It’s not nearly as idealistic a film as you’d imagine.\u00a0 It’s focused a lot more on the wheeling and dealing and the political pragmatism required to pass such a monumental piece of legislation.\u00a0 It’s not really a particularly accessible film but for those interested in the subject matter, Daniel Day Lewis delivers an uncanny performance as Honest Abe.<\/p>\n

Click here to read a review of Lincoln<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Honorable Mentions
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Other great films this year that didn’t make the cut:<\/p>\n

Zero Dark Thirty <\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Trance<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Olympus Has Fallen<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

The World’s End<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

In Memoriam
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Sadly, 2013 was the year that saw the passing of Roger Ebert, one of the most famous and celebrated film critics in the world and a big personal inspiration<\/a> for appreciating and writing about film.\u00a0 For anyone interested in learning more about Roger Ebert and his colourful life, I highly recommend his memoirs<\/a> Life Itself<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Previous Years
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

And here\u2019s the links to The FAT Website Top Ten Films from the past:<\/p>\n

Top Ten Films of 2012<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Film of the Year – The Descendants<\/a><\/p>\n

Top Ten Films of 2011<\/a> |\u00a0 Film of the Year \u2013 True Grit<\/a><\/p>\n

Top Ten Films of 2010<\/a> | Film of the Year \u2013 The Social Network<\/a><\/p>\n

Top Ten Films of 2009<\/a> | Film of the Year \u2013 In The Loop<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I didn’t think I had been this behind on my movie-watching or my blogging.\u00a0 I sat down this evening to write a list of my ten favourite films of the year.\u00a0 You’d think it would seem like light work after recently compiling a list of one hundred games!\u00a0 Yet I came up with about four …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":12226,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1802,15,5],"tags":[1726,1553,1685,1557,2310,1655,1676,1559,1727,1725,1224,1534,471,1693],"class_list":["post-12220","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-best-of-the-year-movies","category-blog","category-films","tag-catching-fire","tag-django-unchained","tag-gravity","tag-lincoln","tag-list","tag-monsters-university","tag-pacific-rim","tag-roger-ebert","tag-rush","tag-silver-linings-playbook","tag-the-hunger-games","tag-the-impossible","tag-top-ten","tag-warm-bodies"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12220","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12220"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12220\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14026,"href":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12220\/revisions\/14026"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12220"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}