Last year, I chose my five favorite films and wrote what I liked about them. This year, something slightly different. Since it's New Years Eve and I'm rushing to get these out there, I'll aim to be more statistical. I've seen 23 movies or documentaries this year, excluding everything I watched that wasn't released in 2013. I think that's a hell of a lot of viewing, and there's still a TON I haven't seen yet. August: Osage County, Dallas Buyers Club, The Wolf of Wall Street, Her, Lee Daniels' The Butler, Inside Llewyn Davis, The Spectacular Now, Philomena... I expect to tackle most of these in the first few weeks of 2014. Now, on to the stats.

Total 2013 Releases (Films and Documentaries) Watched: 23 ...Watched in Theaters: 12 ...Watched via Netflix: 7 ...Watched in December: 6 ...Watched By Myself: 16 (ha!)

Favorite Films of 2013

When I see a movie or even hear a song that really strikes a chord with me, I tend to say "I'm changed." The movie altered the way I think or touched me deeply or stays in my thoughts for several days. Many movies did that for me last year but only a few this year (12 Years A Slave, Nebraska, Stories We Tell). I think the main theme of my favorite films of 2013 is entertainment. I was thoroughly entertained. And so, here are my five favorite movies and documentaries of the year, in no particular order:

1. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

2. 12 Years a Slave

3. American Hustle

4. Gravity

5. Stories We Tell

Other 2013 Releases I Watched (most-liked titles are bolded) 1. Nebraska 2. Elysium 3. Side Effects 4. The English Teacher 5. Man of Steel 6. About Time 7. Bridegroom 8. 56 Up 9. Salinger 10. Manhunt 11. Behind the Candelabra 12. Frances Ha 13. Blue is the Warmest Color 14. The Heat 15. The Wolverine 16. This Is The End 17. The Great Gatsby 18. The Way, Way Back