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.

In Time

Niccol creates another gattacan future, with another incredible premise.  Unfortunately surrogate of plot drags film down and on and on into a cheesy underwhelming sci-fi action.  Beautiful young population are well-cast, but there’s little they can do to improve on a weak story.  Finds time for plenty of clever puns.

The Social Network

Three names synonymous with cinematic excellence – Fincher, Sorkin, Timberlake – craft action-free courtroom drama (sans court) that’s hilarious, exciting and powerful. Eisenberg follow’s Cera’s Pilgrim on journey out of Cera’s shadow, and Timberlake’s celebrity is used perfectly. Boring title and poster prove you should never judge a book by its face.

Alpha Dog

From the director of The Notebook comes this unusual approach to a true crime story. Young stars Yelchin and Hirsch easily outshine Willis and Stone. Perhaps one of the only films to leave audience feeling sorry for every character. Not great, but not terrible, earning it the title, Beta Dog.