Prisoners

Gyllenhaal rechecks his zodiac and flinches at the result while Jackman and his co-stars deliver soulful, vulnerable performances as they navigate this mystic labyrinthine river of mystery (with s whistle of predictability).  Painted shades of gray by the moral ambiguity of characters and brilliant (or anti-brilliant) eye of DP Deakins.

Rush

Howard ducks away from Da Vinci crap to deliver another great film.  Hunt/Lauda features distinctive vintage visuals, gripping races and the best casting and characterization of any true-story film.  Exhilarating action is welded onto stunning historical accuracy creating a vehicle that defies formula but flies through every turn with ease.

The World's End

Hot World of the Dead delivers outstandingly funny and deeply poignant first act before abruptly transitioning into brilliantly choreographed string of slightly self-indulgent robot fights.  Clever in-jokes and addiction parallels propel Pegg’s performance until giant barcode scanner signals the end is Nighy and blasts the world into an incongruous epilogue.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Apparently the game-makers caught and fired whoever did the Shakicam to part 1, because this sequel is well choreographed and crisply shot.  With deeper character development, larger cast, and imaximum number of digital tricks, the only thing extinguishing this fire’s sure victory is a twisty spoiler of a ship-sized plothole.

Blue Jasmine

Jasmine and her Sister marks Woody’s return to quasi-comedic female-lead character studies.  Loosely plotted, chronologically fractured character study is held aloft by characteristically brilliant Blanchett and soaring support from Hawkins.  Brits' ‘American’ are backed by bleak modern perspective.  Allen even rolls Dice on Clay for result that’s anything but crap.

Inside Llewyn Davis

Barton Fink’s tone, A Serious-ly deep and narratively ambiguous character study, and O Brother, what folk music.  Perhaps the most Coen-y Coen brothers film yet, blending the quips of their comedies with the depth of their dramas.  Oscar Isaac helms his meandering odyssey majestically amidst questionably relevant supporting bit parts.