Since everybody else is doing it, why can't I (with apologies to 'The Cranberries')? So here, in no particular order, are my top ten films of 2013.
1) Safety Not Guaranteed - yes it may have opened on Boxing Day 2012, but I didn't get to see it until February and it was the first film of the year to leave me with a smile on my face.
2) Zero Dark Thirty - it may have been controversial, but the spectacular raid on Osama's compound and Jessica Chastain's fascinating central performance added-up for me to a great watch.
3) The Place Beyond The Pines - any film that (SPOILER) does away with Ryan Gosling part way into it is brave in my book and, after that, this study of 'the sins of the father are visited on the sons' tale was still a great watch.
4) Before Midnight - I have grown-up with and loved the story of Jesse and Celine and when I heard that a third movie was on the cards I could not wait to see it. Whilst this one is sadder than the previous two, it was still a wonderful watch. I just can't decide if I want another one in nine years time.
5) The Way Way Back - another film that gave me the 'warm and fuzzies' and left me with a huge smile on my face. This was my film of the summer.
6) Iron Man 3 - I was disappointed by 'Iron Man 2', but with Shane Black at the helm this movie put the fun back into superhero movies. Plus it has one(?) of the best gags ever about Croydon.
7) Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa - Alan Partidge on the big screen thankfully worked a treat, plus I will never think of Roachford in quite the same way again.
8) Wadjda - a very simple story about a girl in Saudi Arabia wanting a bike adds up to a fascinating look at women and their rights in that country.
9) Enough Said - Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini were simply wonderful in this small movie. Nicole Holofcener has done it again.
10) All Is Lost - whilst 'Gravity' was a cracking thrill ride of a movie with some spectacular effects (and I really enjoyed it at the time) I was more emotionally involved by this story of Robert Redford as a lone sailor lost at sea. The lack of dialogue just added to the experience.
Honorable mentions should go to 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' (bring-on 'Mockingjay'), 'The Kings Of Summer', 'Sunshine On Leith', 'Frances Ha', 'Much A Do About Nothing' and 'Robot And Frank'.
