Inside Llewyn Davis

Director: Ethan Coen and Joel Coen

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2042568/

Review: Has some good things going for it and never drags but neither does it ever truly come together or engage fully.

Watch it if: You're a Coen Brothers fan.

And if you liked: A Serious Man, Miller's Crossing

The Comedy

Director: Rick Alverson

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2112293/

Review: A pretty dark and ugly exploration of a very unpleasant person which would be tough to watch if it wasn't so beautifully put together.

Watch it if: You can handle some very uncomfortable scenes.

And if you liked: The World's End, Shame, A Serious Man

12 Years a Slave

Director: Steve McQueen

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2024544/

Review: Perfectly pitched and well paced with beautiful imagery and an exceptionally strong central performance.

Watch it if: You can handle some very harrowing scenes of cruelty.

And if you liked: There Will Be Blood, A Serious Man, Atonement, Cry Freedom

Check this out: Twelve Years a Slave

The Wolf of Wall Street

Director: Martin Scorsese

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0993846/

Review: An engaging, energetically performed and put together film that never drags despite being far too long.

Watch it if: You can handle a lot of drug use and nudity in a film.

And if you liked: The Departed, Spring Breakers, Wall Street

Check this out: Jordan Belfort

Nebraska

Director: Alexander Payne

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1821549/

Review: A little too long but moves along nicely with plenty of humour and a lovely denouement.

Watch it if: You're ok with a slower moving film.

And if you liked: About Schmidt, The Straight Story, This Must Be the Place

American Hustle

Director: David O. Russell

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1800241/

Review: Quite messy by design and suffering from a few odd choices but holds together fairly well largely due to its strong performing cast.

Watch it if: You can handle a film that takes a while and some meandering to get where it's going.

And if you liked: American Gangster, The Fighter, Mean Streets

Check this out: Abscam

They Live

Director: John Carpenter

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096256/

Review: Pretty solidly put together with a fun premise and great straight-forward action.

Watch it if: You enjoy a particular type of blunt 80s filmmaking.

And if you liked: A Scanner Darkly, Day of the Dead, The World's End, The Matrix

Check this out: Eight O'Clock in the Morning

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Director: Phil Lord and Chris Miller

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0844471/

Review: Filled with laughs and charm with some great timing and really funny voice performances.

Watch it if: You're ok with a large amount of silliness.

And if you liked: The Incredibles, 21 Jump Street, Monsters Inc.

Check this out: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Director: Peter Jackson
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1170358

Review: Ends on a very dissatisfying note despite being far too long with an odd mix of excellent and ropey special effects.

Watch it if: You've been to the bathroom.

And if you liked: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Saving Mr. Banks

Director: John Lee Hancock
 
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2140373/

Review: Runs a bit long and has some score issues but manages to convey a genuinely moving and sweet story.

Watch it if: You're ok with some sentiment in a film.

And if you liked: Mary Poppins, Radio Flyer