Gravity (2013)

Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a medical engineer on her first shuttle mission which is where this film opens. Alongside fellow astronaut Matt (George Clooney) they encounter a disaster leaving the shuttle destroyed and both of them alone in the darkness of space hovering just above earth.
This gave me anxiety from start to finish almost making my stomach churn. Now we learn that Ryan's 4 year old daughter died before she embarked on this shuttle mission. So is she clinging to life, or to death? It then becomes a spiritual journey as well leaving me to wonder, did she truly survive? You will have to decide.
Do not watch this if you get bored easily or do not care for deeper meanings. It is NOT for everyone. The opening sequence alone lasts 13 minutes and the full 90 minutes of the movie is pretty intense. Definitely some really great CGI and stunning views of Earth.

Won - Best Director of a Motion Picture. Alfonso Cuaron.  
Nominated -  Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture. Sandra Bullock. 

Behind the Candelabra (2013)

Before I watched this I had no real background on Liberace other than he played the piano. An amazingly flamboyant star of the stage and of television Michael Douglas makes this role look easy. During his 40 year career he kept many young male lovers and yet was able to "conceal" his homosexuality. How I have no idea considering, um, well, it's very apparent. In the summer of 77 he met Scott Thorson (Matt Damon) and despite the age difference they embarked on a secret love affair that would span 5 years. This movie takes a look into their relationship from their first meeting in Las Vegas to the public breakup. Eventually revealing Liberace dying of AIDS.
A very entertaining movie with exceptional actors, not to mention some really great stage makeup. Sad, what great lengths people will go to conceal their true identity. 

Winner of 2014 Golden Globe for best TV movie or Mini Series. 
Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television. Michael Douglas.

Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

Katniss Everdeen returns as our new favorite sci-fi heroine. The film picks up right where we left off, the beginning of the Victory Tour. Catching Fire has a new director and bigger budget this time so expect a whole new refreshing feel. Katniss finds herself struggling with her feelings for Peeta and Gale. (Edward and Jacob? hmmm) While also once again being thrown into the 75th Quarter Quell.

This second movie is by far better than the first and follows the book better as well. The movie does NOT spend a lot of time recapping the first installment. Just enough. Expect certain things to be cut out but not enough to complain, i.e., the "mutts" from the first movie. Yes I am still annoyed with that. All new characters emerge in this film as well as the ones we love to love and love to hate. The truth here is that very few people will look at this for what it is in our culture. The spectacle of reality television and how it can amuse you to "death".

This Is The End (2013)

Now who doesn't love these guys? Okay maybe not everybody. You have to enjoy the humor of Seth Rogan and the fact that he plays Seth Rogan in all of his films. The movie opens with an all-star cast who all quickly "die". Sound funny? It is. 
Rogan's fellow actor friend Jay is in town to visit and wants some one on one buddy time.
However it just so happens that James Franco is having a housewarming party to which they attend and all "hell" breaks loose. Were talking aliens, demons, weed, dancing, earthquakes, fire, beams of light, Hermoine Granger, you know all the right shenanigans.
Now it is my gut instinct that this group of actors  hung out one weekend, smoked a lot of weed, and wrote this insanely ridiculous script. Definitely funny!