Mood Indigo

, 94 m., 2013

Romain Duris (Colin), Audrey Tautou (Chloé), Gad Elmaleh (Chick), Omar Sy (Nicolas), Aïssa Maïga (Alise), Charlotte Le Bon (Isis), Sacha Bourdo (La souris), Philippe Torreton (Jean-Sol Partre). Directed by Michel Gondry and produced by Luc Bossi. Screenplay by Gondry & Bossi (in French and English), based on a novel by Boris Vian.

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Begin Again

, 104 m., 2013

Mark Ruffalo (Dan), Keira Knightley (Gretta), James Corden (Steve), Hailee Steinfeld (Violet), Mos Def (Saul (as Yasiin Bey)), Adam Levine (Dave), CeeLo Green (Troublegum (as Cee Lo Green)), Catherine Keener (Miriam). Written and directed by John Carney. Produced by Tobin Armbrust and Anthony Bregman.

Snowpiercer

, 126 m., 2013

Chris Evans (Curtis), Jamie Bell (Edgar), John Hurt (Gilliam), Tilda Swinton (Mason), Alison Pill (Teacher), Octavia Spencer (Tanya), Ewen Bremner (Andrew). Directed by Joon-ho Bong and produced by Tae-sung Jeong, Tae-hun Lee, Steven Nam, Chan-wook Park. Screenplay by Bong and Kelly Masterson (in English, Korean, Japanese and French), based on an original story by Jacques Lob & Benjamin Legrand and Jean-Marc Rochette, and a screen story by Bong.

Venus in Fur

, 96 m., 2013

Emmanuelle Seigner (Vanda), Mathieu Amalric (Thomas). Directed by Roman Polanski and produced by Robert Benmussa and Alain Sarde. Screenplay by Polanski & David Ives (in French and German).

Third Person

, 137 m., 2013

Liam Neeson (Michael), Mila Kunis (Julia), James Franco (Rick), Olivia Wilde (Anna), Adrien Brody (Scott), Maria Bello (Theresa), Kim Basinger (Elaine). Written and directed by Paul Haggis. Produced by Paul Breuls, Haggis, and Michael Nozik.

The Sacrament

, 95 m., 2013

AJ Bowen (Sam), Amy Seimetz (Caroline), Joe Swanberg (Jake), Kate Lyn Sheil (Sarah), Gene Jones (Father). Directed by Ti West and produced by Molly Conners, Jacob Jaffke, Peter Phok, Eli Roth, Christopher Woodrow. Screenplay by West.

We Are the Best!

, 102 m., 2013

Mira Barkhammar (Bobo), Mira Grosin (Klara), Liv LeMoyne (Hedvig), Johan Liljemark (Kenneth), Mattias Wiberg (Roger), Jonathan Salomonsson (Elis), Alvin Strollo (Mackan), Anna Rydgren (Bobos mamma), Peter Eriksson (Bobos pappa). Directed by Lukas Moodysson and produced by Lars Jönsson. Screenplay by Moodysson (in Swedish), based on a story by Coco Moodysson.

Night Moves

, 112 m., 2013

Jesse Eisenberg (Josh), Dakota Fanning (Dena), Peter Sarsgaard (Harmon), Alia Shawkat (Surprise), Logan Miller (Dylan), Katherine Waterston (Anne), James Le Gros (Feed Factory Clerk). Directed by Kelly Reichardt and produced by Saemi Kim, Neil Kopp, Chris Maybach, Anish Savjani, Rodrigo Teixeira. Screenplay by Jonathan Raymond (as Jon Raymond) & Reichardt.

Filth

, 97 m., 2013

James McAvoy (Bruce), Jamie Bell (Lennox), Eddie Marsan (Bladesey), Imogen Poots (Drummond), Brian McCardie (Gillman), Emun Elliott (Inglis), Joanne Froggatt (Mary), Jim Broadbent (Dr. Rossi), Kate Dickie (Chrissie), Shirley Henderson (Bunty), Martin Compston (Gorman), Iain De Caestecker (Ocky). Directed by Jon S. Baird and produced by Mark Amin, Christian Angermayer, Baird, Will Clarke, Stephen Mao, Ken Marshall, James McAvoy, Jens Meurer, Celine Rattray, Trudie Styler. Screenplay by Baird, based on the novel by Irvine Welsh.

The Railway Man

, 116 m., 2013

Colin Firth (Eric), Nicole Kidman (Patti), Stellan Skarsgård (Finlay), Jeremy Irvine (Young Eric), Hiroyuki Sanada (Takeshi Nagase), Sam Reid (Young Finlay). Directed by Jonathan Teplitzky and produced by Chris Brown, Bill Curbishley, Andy Paterson. Screenplay by Paterson and Frank Cottrell Boyce, based on the book by Eric Lomax.

The Immigrant

, 120 m., 2013

Marion Cotillard (Ewa Cybulska), Joaquin Phoenix (Bruno Weiss), Jeremy Renner (Orlando the Magician / Emil), Dagmara Dominczyk (Belva). Directed by James Gray and produced by Gray, Anthony Katagas, Greg Shapiro, Christopher Woodrow. Screenplay by Gray & Ric Menello (as Richard Menello).

Palo Alto

, 100 m., 2013

Emma Roberts (April), James Franco (Mr. B), Val Kilmer (Stewart), Colleen Camp (Sally Grossman), Jack Kilmer (Teddy), Keegan Allen (College Boy #1), Nat Wolff (Fred). Directed by Gia Coppola and produced by Vince Jolivette, Miles Levy, Sebastian Pardo, and Adriana Rotaru. Screenplay by Coppola, based on a story by James Franco.

The Double

, 93 m., 2013

Jesse Eisenberg (Simon / James), Mia Wasikowska (Hannah), Wallace Shawn (Mr. Papadopoulos), Noah Taylor (Harris), Rade Serbedzija (Frightening Old Man), Yasmin Paige (Melanie Papadopoulos), James Fox (The Colonel), Nathalie Cox (Jack’s Wife), Phyllis Somerville (Simon’s Mother), Sally Hawkins (Receptionist at Ball). Directed by Richard Ayoade and produced by Amina Dasmal and Robin C. Fox. Screenplay by Ayoade and Avi Korine, based on a novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Belle

, 104 m., 2013

Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Dido Elizabeth Belle), Tom Wilkinson (Lord Mansfield), Miranda Richardson (Lady Ashford), Sarah Gadon (Elizabeth Murray), Sam Reid (John Davinier), Matthew Goode (Captain Sir John Lindsay), Emily Watson (Lady Mansfield), Tom Felton (James Ashford), Penelope Wilton (Lady Mary Murray). Directed by Amma Asante and produced by Damian Jones. Screenplay by Misan Sagay.

Locke

, 85 m., 2013

Tom Hardy (Ivan Locke), Ruth Wilson (Katrina (voice)), Andrew Scott (Donal (voice)), Olivia Colman (Bethan (voice)), Tom Holland (Eddie (voice)), Ben Daniels (Gareth (voice)), Bill Milner (Sean (voice)). Written and directed by Steven Knight and produced by Guy Heeley and Paul Webster.

Blue Ruin

, 90 m., 2013

Macon Blair (Dwight), Devin Ratray (Ben Gaffney), Amy Hargreaves (Sam), Kevin Kolack (Teddy Cleland), Eve Plumb (Kris Cleland). Written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier. Produced by Richard Peete, Vincent Savino, Anish Savjani.

A Promise

, 94 m., 2013

Rebecca Hall (Lotte Hoffmeister), Alan Rickman (Karl Hoffmeister), Richard Madden (Friedrich Zeitz), Toby Murray (Otto Hoffmeister), Maggie Steed (Frau Hermann), Shannon Tarbet (Anna). Directed by Patrice Leconte and produced by Olivier Delbosc and Marc Missonnier. Screenplay by Leconte and Jérôme Tonnerre, based on the novel Journey Into the Past by Stefan Zweig.

Fading Gigolo

, 90 m., 2013

John Turturro (Fioravante), Woody Allen (Murray), Vanessa Paradis (Avigal), Sharon Stone (Dr. Parker), Sofía Vergara (Selima), Liev Schreiber (Dovi). Written and directed by John Turturro. Produced by Bill Block, Paul Hanson, Jeffrey Kusama-Hinte.

Only Lovers Left Alive

, 123 m., 2013

Tom Hiddleston (Adam), Tilda Swinton (Eve), Mia Wasikowska (Ava), John Hurt (Marlowe), Anton Yelchin (Ian), Slimane Dazi (Bilal), Jeffrey Wright (Dr. Watson). Written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. Produced by Reinhard Brundig and Jeremy Thomas.

Oculus

, 104 m., 2013

Karen Gillan (Kaylie Russell), Brenton Thwaites (Tim Russell), Katee Sackhoff (Marie Russell), Rory Cochrane (Alan Russell), Annalise Basso (Young Kaylie), Garrett Ryan (Young Tim), Miguel Sandoval (Dr. Shawn Graham). Directed by Mike Flanagan and produced by Marc D. Evans, Trevor Macy. Screenplay by Flanagan & Jeff Howard, based on a short screenplay by Flanagan & Jeff Seidman.

Joe

, 118 m., 2013

Nicolas Cage (Joe), Tye Sheridan (Gary), Gary Poulter (Wade a.k.a. G-Daawg), Ronnie Gene Blevins (Willie-Russell). Directed by David Gordon Green and produced by Green, Lisa Muskat, Derrick Tseng, Christopher Woodrow. Screenplay by Gary Hawkins, based on the novel by Larry Brown.

The Unknown Known

, 103 m., 2013

Featuring: Donald Rumsfeld (Himself), Errol Morris (Himself – Interviewer (voice)). A documentary written and directed by Errol Morris and produced by Amanda Branson Gill, Mike Charlton (Baghdad), Ali El Chami (Baghdad), Robert Fernandez, and Morris.

Under the Skin

, 108 m., 2013

With: Scarlett Johansson, Paul Brannigan, Robert J. Goodwin (Tearoom Customer (uncredited)), Krystof Hádek (as Krystof Hadek), Michael Moreland, Scott Dymond, Jeremy McWilliams. Directed by by Jonathan Glazer and produced by Nick Wechsler and James Wilson. Screenplay by Walter Campbell and Glazer.

Nymphomaniac: Vol. II

, 123 m., 2013

Charlotte Gainsbourg (Joe), Stellan Skarsgård (Seligman), Shia LaBeouf (Jerôme), Jean-Marc Barr (Debtor Gentleman), Udo Kier (The Waiter), Jamie Bell (K), Willem Dafoe (L), Mia Goth (P), Michael Pas (Old Jerôme), Stacy Martin (Young Joe). Directed by Lars von Trier and produced by Marie Cecilie Gade, Peter Aalbæk Jensen, Louise Vesth. Screenplay by von Trier.

Alan Partridge

, 90 m., 2013

Steve Coogan (Alan Partridge / Jason Statham / Jason Bourne / Jason Argonaut), Anna Maxwell Martin (Janet Whitehead), Nigel Lindsay (Jason Tresswell), Simon Greenall (Michael), Colm Meaney (Pat Farrell), Felicity Montagu (Lynn Benfield), Phil Cornwell (Dave Clifton), Darren Boyd (Martin Finch), Tim Key (Side Kick Simon). Directed by Declan Lowney and produced by Kevin Loader and Henry Normal. Screenplay by Peter Baynham, Steve Coogan, Neil Gibbons, Rob Gibbons, and Armando Iannucci.

Dom Hemingway

, 93 m., 2013

Jude Law (Dom Hemingway), Richard E. Grant (Dickie Black), Demian Bichir (Mr. Fontaine), Emilia Clarke (Evelyn), Kerry Condon (Melody), Madalina Diana Ghenea (Paolina (as Madalina Ghenea)). Directed by Richard Shepard and produced by Jeremy Thomas. Screenplay by Shepard.

Bad Words

, 89 m., 2013

Jason Bateman (Guy Trilby), Kathryn Hahn (Jenny Widgeon), Allison Janney (Dr. Bernice Deagan), Philip Baker Hall (Dr. Bowman), Rohan Chand (Chaitanya Chopra), Ben Falcone (Pete Fowler), Patricia Belcher (Ingrid), Beth Grant (Bedazzled Judge). Directed by Jason Bateman and produced by Bateman, Jeff Culotta, Ted Hamm, Sean McKittrick, Mason Novick. Screenplay by Andrew Dodge.

Nymphomaniac: Vol. I

, 118 m., 2013

Charlotte Gainsbourg (Joe), Stellan Skarsgård (Seligman), Stacy Martin (Young Joe), Shia LaBeouf (Jerôme), Christian Slater (Joe’s Father), Uma Thurman (Mrs. H), Sophie Kennedy Clark (B), Connie Nielsen (Joe’s Mother). Directed by Lars von Trier and produced by Louise Vesth. Screenplay by von Trier.

Jodorowsky’s Dune

, 90 m., 2013

Featuring: Alejandro Jodorowsky, Michel Seydoux, H.R. Giger, Chris Foss, Brontis Jodorowsky, Nicolas Winding Refn, Richard Stanley, Devin Faraci, Drew McWeeny, Gary Kurtz. A documentary directed by Frank Pavich. In English, French, German and Spanish, with subtitles.

Blood Ties

, 127 m., 2013

Clive Owen (Chris), Billy Crudup (Frank), Marion Cotillard (Monica), Mila Kunis (Natalie), Zoe Saldana (Vanessa), Matthias Schoenaerts (Scarfo), James Caan (Leon), Noah Emmerich (Lieutenant Connellan), Lili Taylor (Marie), Domenick Lombardozzi (Mike), John Ventimiglia (Valenti), Griffin Dunne (McNally), Jamie Hector (Nick), Yul Vazquez (Fabio De Soto), Eve Hewson (Yvonne). Directed by Guillaume Canet and produced by Alain Attal, Canet, John Lesher, Hugo Sélignac, Christopher Woodrow. Screenplay by Canet & James Gray, based on the film Les liens du sang by Jacques Maillot and Pierre Chosson and Eric Veniard, based on the novel Deux freres, un flic, un truand by Bruno Papet and Michel Papet.

Le Week-End

, 93 m., 2013

Lindsay Duncan (Meg), Jim Broadbent (Nick), Igor Gotesman (Montmartre Receptionist), Olivier Audibert (Taxi Driver), Sophie-Charlotte Husson (Plaza Receptionist), Etienne Dalibert (Hotel Porter), Mauricette Laurence (Old Lady in Church), Gabriel Mailhebiau (Chez Dumonet Waiter), Violaine Baccon (Girl on motorbike), D. Damien Favereau (La Dame de Pic Maitre), Jeff Goldblum (Morgan), Déborah Amsellem (Hotel Shop Assistant), Stéphane De Fraia (Waiter at Morgan’s Apartment), Brice Beaugier (Robert Ertel), Charlotte Léo (Dominique Ertel). Directed by Roger Michell and produced by Kevin Loader. Screenplay by Hanif Kureishi.

Enemy

, 90 m., 2013

Jake Gyllenhaal (Adam + Anthony), Mélanie Laurent (Mary), Sarah Gadon (Helen), Isabella Rossellini (Mother), Joshua Peace (Teacher at School), Tim Post (Anthony’s Concierge), Kedar Brown (Security Guard), Darryl Dinn (Video Store Clerk), Misha Highstead (Lady in the Dark Room), Megan Mann (Lady in the Dark Room), Alexis Uiga (Lady in the Dark Room). Directed by Denis Villeneuve. Screenplay by Javier Gullón, based on the novel by José Saramago.

The Art of the Steal

, 90 m., 2013

Kurt Russell (Crunch Calhoun), Matt Dillon (Nicky Calhoun), Jay Baruchel (Francie Tobin), Kenneth Welsh (‘Uncle’ Paddy MacCarthy), Chris Diamantopoulos (Guy de Cornet), Katheryn Winnick (Lola), Jason Jones (Interpol Agent Bick), Terence Stamp (Samuel Winter), Devon Bostick (Ponch), Elle Downs (Female Border Guard), Durward Allan (Julius Friedman), Rob deLeeuw (Van Der Beer), Karyn Dwyer (Ginger), Christopher Dyson (Ranking Officer), Jasmin Geljo (Detective Brodowski). Written and directed by Jonathan Sobol. Produced by Nicholas Tabarrok.

Grand Piano

, 90 m., 2013

Elijah Wood (Tom Selznick), John Cusack (Clem), Kerry Bishé (Emma Selznick), Tamsin Egerton (Ashley), Allen Leech (Wayne), Don McManus (Reisinger), Alex Winter (Assistant), Dee Wallace (Marjorie Green), Jim Arnold (Janitor), Jack Taylor (Patrick Godureaux), Beth Trollan (Emma’s Publicist), Ricardo Alexander (Executive (as Richard A. Newby)), Rachel Arieff, Angie Arieu (Emma’s admirer), Chris Bobrowski (Chaz – The Lords of Uifam band member). Directed by Eugenio Mira and produced by Rodrigo Cortés and Adrián Guerra. Screenplay by Damien Chazelle.

The Lunchbox

, 104 m., 2013

Irrfan Khan (Saajan Fernandes), Nimrat Kaur (Ila), Nawazuddin Siddiqui (Shaikh), Lillete Dubey (Ila’s Mother), Nakul Vaid (Rajeev), Bharati Achrekar (Auntie), Yashvi Puneet Nagar (Yashvi), Denzil Smith (Mr. Shroff), Shruti Bapna (Mehrunnisa), Nasir Khan (Ila’s Father), Lokesh Raj (Duke’s Owner), Sadashiv Kondaji Pokarkar (Dabbawallah at Ila’s House), Aarti Rathod (Saajan’s Neighbor), Krishna Bai (Toothless Woman), Raj Rishi More (Ila’s Brother). Directed by Ritesh Batra and produced by Anurag Kashyap, Guneet Monga, Arun Rangachari. Screenplay by Batra (in Hindi and English with subtitles).

The Wind Rises

, 126 m., 2013

With the voices of: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Jirô Horikoshi), John Krasinski (Honjô), Emily Blunt (Nahoko Satomi), Martin Short (Kurokawa), Stanley Tucci (Caproni), Mandy Patinkin (Hattori), Mae Whitman (Kayo Horikoshi / Kinu), Werner Herzog (Castorp), Jennifer Grey (Mrs. Kurokawa), William H. Macy (Satomi), Zach Callison (Young Jirô), Madeleine Rose Yen (Young Nahoko), Eva Bella (Young Kayo), Edie Mirman (Jirô’s Mother), Darren Criss (Katayama). An animated film directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Toshio Suzuki. Screenplay by Miyazaki, based on a comic by Miyazaki.

In Secret

, 107 m., 2013

Elizabeth Olsen (Thérèse Raquin), Oscar Isaac (Laurent), Tom Felton (Camille), Jessica Lange (Madame Raquin), Shirley Henderson (Suzanne), Matt Lucas (Olivier), Mackenzie Crook (Grivet), John Kavanagh (Inspector Michaud), Lily Laight (Young Thérèse), Matt Devere (Therese’s Father), Dimitrije Bogdanov (Young Camille), Aleksandr Ivanovic (Coachman #1), Filip Dedakin (Coachman #2), Richard Sharkey (Chief Clerk), Miodrag Milovanov (Funeral Priest). Directed by Charlie Stratton and produced by William Horberg, Mickey Liddell, Pete Shilaimon. Screenplay by Stratton, based on a play by Neal Bell, based on the novel Therese Racquin by Émile Zola.

Jimmy P.

, 117 m., 2013

Benicio Del Toro (Jimmy Picard), Mathieu Amalric (Georges Devereux), Gina McKee (Madeleine), Larry Pine (Dr. Karl Menninger), Joseph Cross (Dr. Holt), Gary Farmer (Jack), Michelle Thrush (Gayle Picard), Misty Upham (Jane), Jennifer Podemski (Doll), Michael Greyeyes (Allan), A Martinez (Bear Willie Claw), Jesse Arehart-Jacobs (Puppeteer 1), Elya Baskin (Dr. Jokl), Loren Bass (Neurologist), Anton Bassey (Sam). Directed by Arnaud Desplechin and produced by Pascal Caucheteux and Jennifer Roth. Screenplay by Desplechin, Kent Jones, and Julie Peyr.

Adult World

, 97 m., 2013

John Cusack (Rat Billings), Emma Roberts (Amy), Armando Riesco (Rubia), Shannon Woodward (Candace), Chris Riggi (Josh), Darin Scott (Apartment Manager), Scott Coffey (Bookstore Owner), Jo Mei (Yumi), Leah Lauren (Maggie), Reed Birney (Todd), Catherine Lloyd Burns (Sheryl), Becky Cerio (Bus Driver), John Cullum (Stan), Niki Dellios (Art Show Attendee), Alexander Edinger (Customer Max). Directed by Scott Coffey and produced by Manu Gargi, Alex Goldstone, Joy Gorman, and Justin Nappi. Screenplay by Andy Cochran.

Labor Day

, 111 m., 2013

Kate Winslet (Adele), Josh Brolin (Frank), Gattlin Griffith (Henry), Tobey Maguire (Adult Henry), Tom Lipinski (Young Frank), Maika Monroe (Mandy), Clark Gregg (Gerald), James Van Der Beek (Officer Treadwell), J.K. Simmons (Mr. Jervis), Brooke Smith (Evelyn), Brighid Fleming (Eleanor), Alexie Gilmore (Marjorie), Lucas Hedges (Richard), Micah Fowler (Barry), Chandra Thomas (Bank Teller). Directed by Jason Reitman and produced by Helen Estabrook, Lianne Halfon, Reitman, Russell Smith, and Nicole C. Taylor. Screenplay by Reitman, based on the novel by Joyce Maynard.

The buzz has been bad since last year’s festival circuit with negative report piling upon negative report for months. Well, now the returns are in and my verdict is…the emperor has no clothes. In this case, it’s the critics who are naked, not the filmmaker. Can you remember the last time so many critics, mainstream and non-mainstream alike, ganged up on a film as if it was a harbinger of the apocalypse only for the film itself to be not only not bad but quite good (I feel in the minority about Ridley Scott’s The Counselor, for example)? Yet nevertheless, the Tomatomator hovers around 30% with a Rotten majority, while the ever-so-slightly more forgiving Metacritic score is 51/100 with mostly mixed reviews. What in the hell is going on here?

Such as it is, Jason Reitman’s Labor Day is, in my humble opinion, far from the disaster it’s suggested to be. Reitman, adapting a novel by Joyce Maynard (of To Die For), tells the story of one Labor Day weekend in a small New England town, circa 1987. Adele (Kate Winslet, whose previous January release was her truly disastrous role in the ensemble kerfuffle known as Movie 43) is a divorced single mom raising her son Henry (Gattlin Griffith of Changeling, among other films) alone in a quiet, somber household in a pretty, rural suburb.

Nebraska

, 115 m., 2013

Bruce Dern (Woody Grant), Will Forte (David Grant), June Squibb (Kate Grant), Bob Odenkirk (Ross Grant), Stacy Keach (Ed Pegram), Mary Louise Wilson (Aunt Martha), Rance Howard (Uncle Ray), Tim Driscoll (Bart), Devin Ratray (Cole), Angela McEwan (Peg Nagy), Glendora Stitt (Aunt Betty), Elizabeth Moore (Aunt Flo), Kevin Kunkel (Cousin Randy), Dennis McCoig (Uncle Verne), Ronald Vosta (Uncle Albert). Directed by Alexander Payne and produced by Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa. Screenplay by Bob Nelson.

Gimme Shelter

 , 101 m., 2013

Vanessa Hudgens (Agnes ‘Apple’ Bailey), Brendan Fraser (Tom Fitzpatrick), Rosario Dawson (June Bailey), James Earl Jones (Frank McCarthy), Dascha Polanco (Carmel), Stephanie Szostak (Joanna Fitzpatrick), Emily Meade (Cassandra), Ann Dowd (Kathy), Candace Smith (Marie Abeanni), Tashiana Washington (Destiny / Princess), Rachel Mattila Amberson (Nicky ‘Pink Friday’ (as Rachel Mattila)), Eddie Schweighardt (Dustin), Hector Lincoln (June’s Boyfriend), Sheila Tapia (Officer Ganz), Peter Epstein (Taxi driver). Directed by Ron Krauss and produced by Krauss and Jeff Rice. Screenplay by Krauss.

Ron Krauss’ Gimme Shelter, or (as it should be known) Apple Bailey’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, continues the ‘deglamification’ of former High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens.

Lone Survivor

, 121 m., 2013

Mark Wahlberg (Marcus Luttrell), Taylor Kitsch (Michael Murphy), Emile Hirsch (Danny Dietz), Ben Foster (Matt ‘Axe’ Axelson), Yousuf Azami (Shah), Ali Suliman (Gulab), Eric Bana (Erik Kristensen), Alexander Ludwig (Shane Patton), Rich Ting (James Suh), Dan Bilzerian (Healy), Jerry Ferrara (Hasslert), Rick Vargas (Crew Chief), Scott Elrod (QRF SEAL), Gregory Rockwood (Chinook Pilot #1), Ryan Kay (Chinook Pilot #2). Directed by Peter Berg and produced by Sarah Aubrey, Randall Emmett, Akiva Goldsman, Norton Herrick, Stephen Levinson, Barry Spikings, and Mark Wahlberg. Screenplay by Berg, based on the book by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson.

Inside Llewyn Davis

, 104 m., 2013

Oscar Isaac (Llewyn Davis), Carey Mulligan (Jean), Justin Timberlake (Jim), Ethan Phillips (Mitch Gorfein), Robin Bartlett (Lillian Gorfein), Max Casella (Pappi Corsicato), Jerry Grayson (Mel Novikoff), Jeanine Serralles (Joy), Adam Driver (Al Cody), Stark Sands (Troy Nelson), John Goodman (Roland Turner), Garrett Hedlund (Johnny Five), Alex Karpovsky (Marty Green), Helen Hong (Janet Fung), Bradley Mott (Joe Flom). Directed by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen and produced by the Coens, and Scott Rudin. Screenplay by the Coens.

Her

 

, 126 m., 2013

Joaquin Phoenix (Theodore), Lynn Adrianna (Letter Writer #1), Lisa Renee Pitts (Letter Writer #2), Gabe Gomez (Letter Writer #3), Chris Pratt (Paul), Artt Butler (Text Voice (voice), May Lindstrom (Sexy Pregnant TV Star), Rooney Mara (Catherine), Bill Hader (Chat Room Friend #2 (voice), Kristen Wiig (SexyKitten (voice), Brian Johnson (OS1 Commercial Lead), Scarlett Johansson (Samantha (voice), Amy Adams (Amy), Matt Letscher (Charles), Spike Jonze (Alien Child (voice) (as Adam Spiegel)). Directed by Spike Jonze and produced by Megan Ellison, Jonze, and Vincent Landay. Screenplay by Jonze.

Cold Comes the Night

, 90 m., 2013

Alice Eve (Chloe), Bryan Cranston (Topo), Logan Marshall-Green (Billy), Ursula Parker (Sophia), Leo Fitzpatrick (Donnie), Erin Cummings (Amber), Robin Taylor (Quincy (as Robin Lord Taylor)), Sarah Sokolovic (Gwen), Marceline Hugot (Denise), Stephen Sheffer (Jacques), Robert Prescott (Detective McKenney), Ashlie Atkinson (Social Worker), Dylan Chalfy (Police Officer), Horny Horny Horny Duck (Mr. Jones). Directed by Tze Chun and produced by Mynette Louie and Trevor Sagan. Screenplay by Chun & Osgood Perkins & Nick Simon.

August: Osage County

, 121 m., 2013

Meryl Streep (Violet Weston), Julia Roberts (Barbara Weston), Chris Cooper (Charlie Aiken), Ewan McGregor (Bill Fordham), Margo Martindale (Mattie Fae Aiken), Sam Shepard (Beverly Weston), Dermot Mulroney (Steve Huberbrecht), Julianne Nicholson (Ivy Weston), Juliette Lewis (Karen Weston), Abigail Breslin (Jean Fordham), Benedict Cumberbatch (Little Charles Aiken), Misty Upham (Johnna Monevata), Will Coffey (Sheriff Deon Gilbeau), Newell Alexander (Dr. Burke), Jerry Stahl (Liquor Store Owner). Directed by John Wells and produced by George Clooney, Jean Doumanian, Grant Heslov, and Steve Traxler. Screenplay by Tracy Letts, based on his play.

The Wolf of Wall Street

, 180 m., 2013

Leonardo DiCaprio (Jordan Belfort), Jonah Hill (Donnie Azoff), Margot Robbie (Naomi Lapaglia), Matthew McConaughey (Mark Hanna), Kyle Chandler (Agent Patrick Denham), Rob Reiner (Max Belfort), Jon Bernthal (Brad), Jon Favreau (Manny Riskin), Jean Dujardin (Jean Jacques Saurel), Joanna Lumley (Aunt Emma), Cristin Milioti (Teresa Petrillo), Christine Ebersole (Leah Belfort), Shea Whigham (Captain Ted Beecham), Katarina Cas (Chantalle), P.J. Byrne (Nicky Koskoff (‘Rugrat’)). Directed by Martin Scorsese and produced by Riza Aziz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joey McFarland, Scorsese, Emma Tillinger Koskoff. Screenplay by Terence Winter, based on the book by Jordan Belfort.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

, 114 m., 2013

Ben Stiller (Walter Mitty), Kristen Wiig (Cheryl Melhoff), Jon Daly (Tim Naughton (as Jonathan C. Daly)), Kathryn Hahn (Odessa Mitty), Terence Bernie Hines (Gary Mannheim), Adam Scott (Ted Hendricks), Paul Fitzgerald (Don Proctor), Grace Rex (Cheryl’s Co-Worker), Alex Anfanger (Ted’s Toner Box Associate), Amanda Naughton (Female Editor), Adrian Martinez (Hernando), Nolan Carley (Western Union Employee), Joey Slotnick (Retirement Home Administrator), Shirley MacLaine (Edna Mitty), Gary Wilmes (Walter’s Dad). Directed by Ben Stiller and produced by Stuart Cornfeld, Samuel Goldwyn Jr., John Goldwyn, and Stiller. Screenplay by Steve Conrad, based on his screen story, based on the short story by James Thurber.

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

, 141 m., 2013

Idris Elba (Nelson Mandela), Naomie Harris (Winnie Madikizela), Tony Kgoroge (Walter Sisulu), Riaad Moosa (Ahmed Kathrada), Zolani Mkiva (Raymond Mhlaba), Simo Mogwaza (Andrew Mlangeni), Fana Mokoena (Govan Mbeki), Thapelo Mokoena (Elias Motsoaledi), Jamie Bartlett (James Gregory), Deon Lotz (Kobie Coetzee), Terry Pheto (Evelyn Mase), Zikhona Sodlaka (Nosekeni), S’Thandiwe Kgoroge (Albertina Sisulu), Tshallo Sputla Chokwe (Oliver Tambo), Sello Maake (Albert Luthuli). Directed by Justin Chadwick and produced by Anant Singh and David M. Thompson. Screenplay by William Nicholson, based on the autobiography of Nelson Mandela.

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, with the emphasis on Long, begins and ends with shots of young African kids running. This is the fastest that anything in this film moves. The pacing of this film is all wrong. That’s it’s biggest fault – but more on that momentarily.

The Invisible Woman

, 111 m., 2013

Felicity Jones (Nelly), John Kavanagh (Rev. William Benham), Tom Attwood (Mr. Lambourne), Susanna Hislop (Mary), Tom Burke (Mr. George Wharton Robinson), Tommy Curson-Smith (Geoffrey), David Collings (Governor), Michael Marcus (Charley Dickens), Kristin Scott Thomas (Mrs. Frances Ternan), Perdita Weeks (Maria Ternan), Ralph Fiennes (Charles Dickens), Richard McCabe (Mr. Mark Lemon), Gabriel Vick (Mr. Berger), Mark Dexter (Mr. Augustus Egg), Joseph Paxton (Mr. Pigott). Directed by Ralph Fiennes and produced by Christian Baute, Carolyn Marks Blackwood, Stewart Mackinnon, Gabrielle Tana. Screenplay by Abi Morgan, based on a book by Claire Tomalin.

Grudge Match

, 113 m., 2013

Jim Lampley (Himself), Sylvester Stallone (Henry ‘Razor’ Sharp), Robert De Niro (Billy ‘The Kid’ McDonnen), Rich Little (Boxing Announcer), Ireland Baldwin (Young Sally (as Ireland Basinger Baldwin)), Anthony Bean (Dante Slate, Sr.), Mason Mackie (Young Dante), Kevin Hart (Dante Slate, Jr.), Barry Primus (Joey the Bartender), Oscar Gale (Shipyard Co-Worker), Frederick Douglas Plunkett Jr. (Walter), BJ Guyer (Jabby the Puppet), Jen Kober (Tough Female Customer), Anthony Anderson (Mr. Sandpaper Hands), Carrie Lazar (Nora). Directed by Peter Segal and produced by Michael Ewing, Bill Gerber, Mark Steven Johnson, Ravi D. Mehta, and Segal. Screenplay by Tim Kelleher and Rodney Rothman, based on a story by Tim Kelleher.

47 Ronin

, 118 m., 2013

Keanu Reeves (Kai), Hiroyuki Sanada (Ôishi), Ko Shibasaki (Mika (as Kô Shibasaki)), Tadanobu Asano (Lord Kira), Min Tanaka (Lord Asano), Jin Akanishi (Chikara), Masayoshi Haneda (Yasuno), Hiroshi Sogabe (Hazama), Takato Yonemoto (Basho), Hiroshi Yamada (Hara), Shû Nakajima (Horibe), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Shogun Tsunayoshi), Neil Fingleton (Lovecraftian Samurai), Rinko Kikuchi (Witch), Natsuki Kunimoto (Riku). Directed by Carl Rinsch and produced by Pamela Abdy, Eric McLeod, and Scott Stuber. Screenplay by Chris Morgan and Hossein Amini, based on a screen story by Morgan & Walter Hamada.

Saving Mr. Banks

, 125 m., 2013

Emma Thompson (P.L. Travers), Tom Hanks (Walt Disney), Annie Rose Buckley (Ginty), Colin Farrell (Travers Goff), Ruth Wilson (Margaret Goff), Paul Giamatti (Ralph), Bradley Whitford (Don DaGradi), B.J. Novak (Robert Sherman), Jason Schwartzman (Richard Sherman), Lily Bigham (Biddy), Kathy Baker (Tommie), Melanie Paxson (Dolly), Andy McPhee (Mr. Belhatchett), Rachel Griffiths (Aunt Ellie), Ronan Vibert (Diarmuid Russell). Directed by John Lee Hancock and produced by Ian Collie, Alison Owen, Philip Steuer. Screenplay by Kelly Marcel and Sue Smith.

The Past

, 130 m., 2013

Bérénice Bejo (Marie Brisson), Ali Mosaffa (Ahmad), Tahar Rahim (Samir), Pauline Burlet (Lucie), Elyes Aguis (Fouad), Jeanne Jestin (Léa), Sabrina Ouazani (Naïma), Babak Karimi (Shahryar), Valeria Cavalli (Valeria), Aleksandra Klebanska (Céline), Jean-Michel Simonet (Médecin), Pierre Guerder (Juge), Anne-Marion de Cayeux (Avocate), Eléonora Marino (Collègue Marie), Jonathan Devred (Agent aéroport). Written and directed by Asghar Farhadi (In French and Persian with subtitles). Produced by Alexandre Mallet-Guy.

American Hustle

, 138 m., 2013

Christian Bale (Irving Rosenfeld), Bradley Cooper (Richie DiMaso), Amy Adams (Sydney Prosser), Jeremy Renner (Mayor Carmine Polito), Jennifer Lawrence (Rosalyn Rosenfeld), Louis C.K. (Stoddard Thorsen), Jack Huston (Pete Musane), Michael Peña (Paco Hernandez / Sheik Abdullah), Shea Whigham (Carl Elway), Alessandro Nivola (Anthony Amado), Elisabeth Röhm (Dolly Polito (as Elisabeth Rohm)), Paul Herman (Alfonse Simone), Saïd Taghmaoui (Irv’s Sheik Plant (as Said Taghmaoui)), Matthew Russell (Dominic Polito), Thomas Matthews (Francis Polito). Directed by David O. Russell and produced by Megan Ellison, Jonathan Gordon, Charles Roven, Richard Suckle. Screenplay by Eric Warren Singer and Russell.

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

, 119 m., 2013

Will Ferrell (Ron Burgundy), Steve Carell (Brick Tamland), Paul Rudd (Brian Fantana), David Koechner (Champ Kind), Christina Applegate (Veronica Corningstone), Dylan Baker (Freddie Shapp), Meagan Good (Linda Jackson), Judah Nelson (Walter Burgundy), James Marsden (Jack Lime), Greg Kinnear (Gary), Josh Lawson (Kench Allenby), Kristen Wiig (Chani Lastnamé), Fred Willard (Ed Harken), Chris Parnell (Garth), Harrison Ford (Mack Tannen). Directed by Adam McKay and produced by Judd Apatow, Ferrell, and McKay. Screenplay by Ferrell & McKay, based on their characters.

Some Velvet Morning

, 84 m., 2013

Stanley Tucci (Fred), Alice Eve (Velvet). Directed by Neil LaBute and produced by Michael Corrente, Daryl Freimark, Tim Harms, Trent Othick, and David Zander. Screenplay by LaBute.

Neil LaBute has been playing both sides of the Gender Wars against the middle for the better part of two decades. With Some Velvet Morning, his latest two-hander, another expose’ of the twisted underbelly of men and women, he is (perhaps) at his most cynical, misanthropic – and literate – which, indeed, is saying something.

Tim’s Vermeer

, 80 m., 2013

Featuring: Tim Jenison, Penn Jillette, Martin Mull, Philip Steadman (as Prof. Philip Steadman), David Hockney, Colin Blakemore, Leslie Jenison, Eric Armitage, Daniélle Lokin, Bob Groothuis, Ankie Bonnet, Ruth Steadman, Mike Hayes, Nicola Vigini, Graham Toms. A documentary directed by Teller and produced by Penn Jillette and Farley Ziegler. Screenplay by Jillette and Teller.

Out of the Furnace

, 116 m., 2013

Woody Harrelson (Harlan DeGroat), Dendrie Taylor (DeGroat’s Date), Carl Ciarfalio (Man at Drive In), Nancy Mosser (Woman at Drive In (as Nancy Mosser Bailey)), Christian Bale (Russell Baze), Casey Affleck (Rodney Baze Jr.), Zoe Saldana (Lena Taylor (as Zoë Saldana)), Sam Shepard (Gerald ‘Red’ Baze), Bingo O’Malley (Rodney Baze Sr.), Tom Bower (Dan Dugan), Willem Dafoe (John Petty), Bobby Wolfe (Dwight Van Dunk), Charles David Richards (Chaplain), Forest Whitaker (Chief Wesley Barnes), John W. Kleer (Man at Trailer Park). Directed by Scott Cooper and produced by Michael Costigan, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ryan Kavanaugh, Jennifer Davisson Killoran, Ridley Scott. Screenplay by Brad Ingelsby and Cooper.

The Punk Singer

, 81 m., 2013

Featuring:  Joan Jett, Tavi Gevinson, Carrie Brownstein, Adam Horovitz, Kathleen Hanna, Kim Gordon, Corin Tucker, Jocelyn Samson (as JD Samson), Lynn Breedlove, Jennifer Baumgardner, Kathryn Wilcox, Johanna Fateman. A documentary directed by Sini Anderson and produced by Anderson, Gwen Bialic, Tamra Davis, Rachel Dengiz, Erin Owens, Alan Oxman.

Oldboy

, 104 m., 2013

Josh Brolin (Joe Doucett), Elizabeth Olsen (Marie Sebastian), Sharlto Copley (Adrian / The Stranger), Samuel L. Jackson (Chaney), Michael Imperioli (Chucky), Pom Klementieff (Haeng-Bok), James Ransone (Dr. Tom Melby), Max Casella (James Prestley), Linda Emond (Edwina Burke), Elvis Nolasco (Cortez), Rami Malek (Browning), Lance Reddick (Daniel Newcombe), Hannah Ware (Donna Hawthorne), Richard Portnow (Bernie Sharkey), Hannah Simone (Stephanie Lee). Directed by Spike Lee and produced by Doug Davison, Roy Lee, Spike Lee. Screenplay by Mark Protosevich, based on the manga by Garon Tsuchiya & Nobuaki Minegishi.

The Book Thief

, 131 m., 2013

Roger Allam (Narrator / Death (voice)), Sophie Nélisse (Liesel Meminger), Heike Makatsch (Liesel’s Mother), Julian Lehmann (Liesel’s Brother), Gotthard Lange (Grave Digger), Rainer Reiners (Priest), Kirsten Block (Frau Heinrich), Geoffrey Rush (Hans Hubermann), Emily Watson (Rosa Hubermann), Nico Liersch (Rudy Steiner), Ludger Bökelmann (Football Urchin), Paul Schaefer (Football Urchin), Nozomi Linus Kaisar (Fat Faced Goalie), Oliver Stokowski (Alex Steiner), Robert Beyer (Jewish Accountant). Directed by Brian Percival and produced by Ken Blancato and Karen Rosenfelt. Screenplay by Michael Petroni, based on the novel by Markus Zusak.

Black Nativity

, 93 m., 2013

Forest Whitaker (Reverend Cornell Cobbs), Angela Bassett (Aretha Cobbs), Jennifer Hudson (Naima), Tyrese Gibson (Loot / Tyson), Jacob Latimore (Langston), Mary J. Blige (Angel), Nas (Street Prophet (Isaiah) (as Nasir Jones)), Vondie Curtis-Hall (Pawnbroker), Luke James (Jo-Jo / Joseph), Grace Gibson (Maria / Mary), Rotimi (Officer Butch McDaniels), J. Mallory McCree (Kyle), Henry Hunter Hall (Snoopy (as H. Hunter Hall)), Michael Dale (Innkeeper), Doug Willen (Chic Man). Directed by Kasi Lemmons and produced by William Horberg, T.D. Jakes, Galt Niederhoffer, Celine Rattray, Trudie Styler. Screenplay by Lemmons, based on the libretto by Langston Hughes.

12 Years a Slave

, 134 m., 2013

Chiwetel Ejiofor (Solomon Northup), Dwight Henry (Uncle Abram), Dickie Gravois (Overseer), Bryan Batt (Judge Turner), Ashley Dyke (Anna), Kelsey Scott (Anne Northup), Quvenzhané Wallis (Margaret Northup), Cameron Zeigler (Alonzo Northup), Tony Bentley (Mr. Moon), Scoot McNairy (Brown), Taran Killam (Hamilton), Christopher Berry (Burch), Bill Camp (Radburn), Mister Mackey Jr. (Randall), Chris Chalk (Clemens). Directed by Steve McQueen and produced by Dede Gardner, Anthony Katagas, Jeremy Kleiner, McQueen, Arnon Milchan, Brad Pitt, and Bill Pohlad. Screenplay by John Ridley, based on Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup.

About Time

, 123 m., 2013

Domhnall Gleeson (Tim), Rachel McAdams (Mary), Bill Nighy (Dad), Lydia Wilson (Kit Kat), Lindsay Duncan (Mum), Richard Cordery (Uncle D), Joshua McGuire (Rory), Tom Hollander (Harry), Margot Robbie (Charlotte), Will Merrick (Jay), Vanessa Kirby (Joanna), Tom Hughes (Jimmy Kincade), Clemmie Dugdale (Ginger Jenny), Harry Hadden-Paton (Rupert), Mitchell Mullen (Mary’s Father – Fitz). Directed by Richard Curtis and produced by Nicky Kentish Barnes, Tim Bevan, and Eric Fellner. Screenplay by Curtis.

Blue Is the Warmest Color

, 179 m., 2013

Léa Seydoux (Emma), Adèle Exarchopoulos (Adèle), Salim Kechiouche (Samir), Aurélien Recoing (Père Adèle), Catherine Salée (Mère Adèle), Benjamin Siksou (Antoine), Mona Walravens (Lise), Alma Jodorowsky (Béatrice), Jérémie Laheurte (Thomas), Anne Loiret (Mère Emma), Benoît Pilot (Beau Père Emma), Sandor Funtek (Valentin), Fanny Maurin (Amélie), Maelys Cabezon (Laetitia), Samir Bella (Samir). Directed by Abdellatif Kechiche and produced by Brahim Chioua, Kechiche, and Vincent Maraval. Screenplay by Kechiche & Ghalia Lacroix (in French and English with subtitles), adapted from: the comic book Le Bleu est une couleur chaude by Julie Maroh.

Blue is, of course, the most prominent color in the film. It permeates everything in her life – from the clothes she wears (even before first meeting her paramour to be) and the atmosphere at her school to, pointedly, the home space she occupies and, finally, the water she will envelop herself in after a period of lovelorn despair. Blue is also, tellingly, the shock of color which adorns her first true love’s hair. It is the development and nature of this first true love which becomes the preoccupation of Abdellatif Kechiche’s epic Blue is the Warmest Color, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes 2013 – and deservedly so.

Twenty Feet from Stardom

, 91 m., 2013

Featuring: Lou Adler, Stephanie ‘Stevvi’ Alexander (as Stevvi Alexander), Patti Austin, Chris Botti, David Bowie (archive footage), Todd Boyd (as Dr. Todd Boyd), Ray Charles (archive footage), Carole Childs, Amy Christian, Greg Clark, Kyliyah Clayton, Merry Clayton, Susan Collins, Charlotte Crossley, and Sheryl Crow. A documentary directed by Morgan Neville and produced by Gil Friesen, Neville, and Caitrin Rogers. Screenplay by Neville.

Pain & Gain

, 129 m., 2013

Mark Wahlberg (Daniel Lugo), Dwayne Johnson (Paul Doyle), Anthony Mackie (Adrian Doorbal), Tony Shalhoub (Victor Kershaw), Ed Harris (Ed DuBois), Rob Corddry (John Mese), Bar Paly (Sorina Luminita), Rebel Wilson (Robin Peck), Ken Jeong (Johnny Wu), Michael Rispoli (Frank Griga), Keili Lefkovitz (Krisztina Furton), Emily Rutherfurd (Carolyn ‘Cissy’ DuBois), Larry Hankin (Pastor Randy), Tony Plana (Captain Lopez), Peter Stormare (Dr. Bjornson). Directed by Michael Bay and produced by Bay, Ian Bryce, Donald De Line. Screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely, based on the magazine articles by Pete Collins.

Michael Bay’s Pain & Gain is something like the Thin Red Line of crime comedies (or would that be Martin Scorsese’s Casino?), with the attention span of someone going through Riddlin withdrawal. With its multiple perspective narration and hyperkinetic style, I’m reminded of that description of Christopher Walken’s character in Tony Scott’s Domino (2005): “like a ferret on crystal meth.” Still, this is the most coherently-filmed Bay film since…I dunno, Bad Boys (1995)?

42

, 128 m., 2013

Chadwick Boseman (Jackie Robinson), Harrison Ford (Branch Rickey), Nicole Beharie (Rachel Robinson), Christopher Meloni (Leo Durocher), Ryan Merriman (Dixie Walker), Lucas Black (Pee Wee Reese), Andre Holland (Wendell Smith), Alan Tudyk (Ben Chapman), Hamish Linklater (Ralph Branca), T.R. Knight (Harold Parrott), John C. McGinley (Red Barber), Toby Huss (Clyde Sukeforth), Max Gail (Burt Shotton), Brad Beyer (Kirby Higbe), James Pickens Jr. (Mr. Brock). Written and directed by Brian Helgeland. Produced by Thomas Tull.

Admission

, 107 m., 2013

Tina Fey (Portia Nathan), Ann Harada (Mrs. Lafont), Ben Levin (Junior Lafont), Dan Levy (James (as Daniel Joseph Levy)), Maggie Keenan-Bolger (Girl on Tour), Gloria Reuben (Corinne), Paul Rudd (John Pressman), Wallace Shawn (Clarence), Elaine Kussack (Abby), Christopher Evan Welch (Brandt), Michael Genadry (Ben), Juliet Brett (Praying Applicant), John Brodsky (Smug Kid), Camille Branton (Gymnast), Sarita Choudhury (Rachael). Directed by Paul Weitz and produced by Kerry Kohansky-Roberts, Andrew Miano, and Weitz. Screenplay by Karen Croner, based on the novel by Jean Hanff Korelitz.

21 & Over

, 93 m., 2013

Miles Teller (Miller), Skylar Astin (Casey), Justin Chon (Jeff Chang), Sarah Wright (Nicole), Jonathan Keltz (Randy), François Chau (Dr. Chang (as Francois Chau)), Russell Hodgkinson (The Chief), Daniel Booko (Julian), Russell Mercado (Jayden), Josie Loren (Pledge Aguilar), Christiann Castellanos (Pledge Gomez), Dustin Ybarra (PJ Brill), Samantha Futerman (Sally Huang), Julian Gavilanes (Stoner #1), Josh Truax (Stoner #2). Directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore and produced by David Hoberman, Ryan Kavanaugh, Todd Lieberman, and Hugo Shong. Screenplay by Lucas & Moore.

A Good Day to Die Hard

, 98 m., 2013

Bruce Willis (John McClane), Jai Courtney (Jack McClane), Sebastian Koch (Komarov), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Lucy), Yuliya Snigir (Irina (as Yulia Snigir)), Radivoje Bukvic (Alik (as Rasha Bukvic)), Cole Hauser (Collins), Amaury Nolasco (Murphy), Sergei Kolesnikov (Chagarin (as Sergey Kolesnikov)), Roman Luknár (Anton), Zolee Ganxsta (MRAP Driver (as Ganxsta Doglegy Zolee)), Péter Takátsy (Prosecutor), Pasha D. Lychnikoff (Cabbie), Megalyn Echikunwoke (Pretty Reporter), Melissa Tang (Lucas). Directed by John Moore and produced by Wyck Godfrey and Alex Young. Screenplay bySkip Woods, based on certain original characters by Roderick Thorp.

Gangster Squad

, 113 m., 2013

Sean Penn (Mickey Cohen), Holt McCallany (Karl Lockwood), Wade Williams (Rourke), James Landry Hébert (Mitch Racine (as James Hébert)), Ambyr Childers (Milk Skinned Blonde), Josh Brolin (Sgt. John O’Mara), Mick Betancourt (Detective Sgt. Will Hendricks), Mac Brandt (Bruiser), Brandon Molale (Jimmy ‘Bockscar’ Knox), Michael Papajohn (Mike ‘The Flea’), Jeff Wolfe (Giovanni Vacarezza), Anthony Molinari (Lorenzo Molinari), Austin Highsmith (Patty), Ryan Gosling (Sgt. Jerry Wooters), Neil Koppel (Max Solomon). Directed by Ruben Fleischer and produced by Dan Lin, Kevin McCormick, Michael Tadross. Screenplay by Will Beal, based on the book Gangster Squad by Paul Lieberman.

May fortune favor the editor behind the trailers (pre-Aurora shooting and post) of Ruben Fleischer’s Gangster Squad, because it takes real talent to take a so-so movie like this and make it look so much better than the sum of its parts. This is a great-looking throwback to everything from The Untouchables to L.A. Confidential that ultimately falls short in the screenplay and performance departments.

Texas Chainsaw 3D

, 92 m., 2013

Alexandra Daddario (Heather Miller), Dan Yeager (Leatherface), Trey Songz (Ryan (as Tremaine ‘Trey Songz’ Neverson)), Scott Eastwood (Carl), Tania Raymonde (Nikki), Shaun Sipos (Darryl), Keram Malicki-Sánchez (Kenny), James MacDonald (Officer Marvin), Thom Barry (Sheriff Hooper), Paul Rae (Burt Hartman), Richard Riehle (Farnsworth), Bill Moseley (Drayton Sawyer), Gunnar Hansen (Boss Sawyer / Leatherface (archive footage)), David Born (Gavin Miller), Sue Rock (Arlene Miller). Directed by John Luessenhop and produced by Carl Mazzocone. Screenplay by Adam Marcus & Debra Sullivan and Kirsten Elms, based on a story by Stephen Susco and Adam Marcus & Debra Sullivan, based on characters by Kim Henkel and Tobe Hooper.

I must be depressed. Here it is the first week of January and while I went into Texas Chainsaw 3D in a misanthropic mood and fully expected to hate it, I found it oddly watchable. Oh, sure enough on some purely logical, rational plane of my mind I can’t help but think how stupid and at times incompetent it is, but that doesn’t completely dilute the fact that as it was going on I wasn’t really bored.