Streetcar Named Desire (1951) - Elia Kazan

Marlon Brando.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) - Ben Stiller

I am told this hasn't been finished being edited, so I wonder what else could be in store for viewers, when the release date is on Boxing Day over here in the UK. It looked finished to me, it was entertaining, and Ben and Kristen Wiig are perfectly matched as a bit of an odd couple, in a nice way.
The David Bowie references also shined out of the otherwise average film. It was entertaining, but not something I would watch again, even if it was properly edited.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Lee Daniels' The Butler (2013) - Lee Daniels

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Gravity (2013) - Alfonso Cuarón

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lolita (1962) - Stanley Kubrick

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Thor: The Dark World (2013) - Alan Taylor and James Gunn

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Saving Mr Banks (2013) - John Lee Hancock

I am a big fan of Mary Poppins (1964) - Robert Stevenson (and Disney in general), so watching how it was made was a real treat for me. I also spotted a couple of shout outs to the original film, for example, the carousel music is the same as when they are on a carousel in the original. It's little things like that, that show how much care and research has gone into the making of this film. It's a simple film, and is simple to follow, but it is beautifully done. It isn't weighed down with unnecessary back story, like why P. L. Travers moved from Australia to England, it just tells the story at hand, and it may seem silly to say, but it ends at the end: at the premiere, where it should. I don't think that's a spoiler: the film gets made, everyone knows that.
Emma Thompson, Jason Schwartzman, Bradley Whitford, J. B. Novak and Paul Giamatti are all perfect in their roles, but obviously Tom Hanks plays the hardest, one of the most iconic real life figures of modern times: Walt Disney. As someone who never got to meet Disney, I can't tell whether he did him justice, but from my point of view, he was just the right amount of fun loving blended with charismatic he could be.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Lolita (1997) - Adrian Lyne

The critically underwhelming film version of what I can only describe as the book that made me most uncomfortable whilst reading on the bus. It was good, but it lacked both the loveable Humbert Humbert from the novel, and also the sheer shock factor that was also entailed within the novel. I am watching the Stanley Kubrick version on Thursday to compare the two, so expect a longer post soon. Jeremy Irons, however, was believable as the lead role.

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Filth (2013) - Jon S. Baird

Scotland has churned out a few good films this year, but none, I guarantee, will be or have been as gripping and entertaining as this. James McAvoy proves once again that he is a deserved BAFTA winning star. Probably the best film of the year.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

In Bruges (2008) - Martin McDonagh

This is McDonagh's iconic masterpiece. It's what Seven Psychopaths (2012) wishes it was, and this film is memorable for more that just its hour and a half long advertisement for Bruges in Belgium. Yeah, it also has in it three actors from the Harry Potter series: Mad-Eye Moody, Voldemort and Fleur Delacour. Ralph Fiennes is likeable, even in his role as the sort of villain of the piece with his own moral code. This film is a must see.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The Blues Brothers (1980) - John Landis

I can't believe I've not seen this film with the legendary James Brown and Aretha Franklin in. I love that kind of soul music as well, so this was a genuine treat for me. Dan Aykroyd is perfect in this and I like the way he doesn't make himself the main character. So many cameos to spot, from Steven Spielberg to Carrie Fisher. Just a genuinely feel good film.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Taxi Driver (1976) - Martin Scorsese

A good Scorsese film, but got a little confusing and Robert De Niro doesn't shine as much as he usually does. Sadly.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆