My top five most hotly debated movies of 2013 were spurred by a comment I heard at a New Year's Eve party last night as I stubbornly defended Bradley Cooper's acting career: don't argue over movies, religion, and politics late into a weekend night (counting New Year's Eve in that category), because no one can ever agree on any of those topics. Now that it's the daytime (though still closer to a weekend day than a weekday), I present a top five sure to evoke quality debate:

5. Gravity: I haven't seen this movie yet, which is precisely why the current front runner for best picture is on this list. The uninitiated can't understand how an action movie with basically one actor (or actress), few scene changes, and a whole lot of empty space could be generating this amount of Oscar buzz. Rarely are best picture nominees described in such upbeat language, or an "incredibly exciting, visually amazing film," as The Guardian reviewer Peter Bradshaw put it. I can't help but likening it to similarly isolating films, "Open Water" or "127 Hours," and probably won't see it before more traditionally styled movies like "Wolf of Wall Street" and "American Hustle." Once I finally watch it, however, I'll probably join the bandwagon. Until then, I'll argue against it any weekend night.

4. American Hustle: Speaking of "American Hustle," the previews on this movie looked so unappealing that I told my friend, sitting beside me as we waited for another Christian Bale movie ("Into the Furnace"), it would be a huge bust. I should have taken a closer look at Bale's notable paunch and Jennifer Lawrence's quip, "he's a little overweight, but..." Typically, when a leading actor/actress undergoes any sort of significant weight gain (Bale in "The Machinist," Charlize Theron in "Monster," Matthew McConaughey in "Dallas Buyer's Club," etc.), the movie's going to be a winner. Though I haven't actually seen this one either, by all accounts it is. Before the buzz, however, I only saw failure and declared so in several heated exchanges with friends and acquaintances.

3. Out of the Furnace: Finally, a movie I've actually seen. I came to an interesting personal discovery last night as I discussed this faux-action movie with my older brother. Because I was ambivalent after seeing it, I'm accepting of opinions on both sides of the spectrum, though I'm more sympathetic to the haters. "Out of the Furnace" was almost the opposite of "American Hustle": a promising preview that was ultimately misleading. Warning: this is not an action movie and shouldn't have been advertised as such. It has more literary aspirations and meets some of them. Probably the most telling scene is when Bale and a family friend enter the home of a rural New Jersey inbred (played by Woody Harrelson) responsible for killing Bale's brother. Despite being in the same house, they just miss each other -- to the good fortune of Bale and his companion. It was kind of cool how close they came to an encounter, and pretty realistic, too. The director repeats this technique throughout the film, but never quite achieves it to the same degree.

Also, its driving story -- underground fighting -- is pretty much played out in the cinema. That bothered me. The acting of Bale and Woody Harrelson, however, did not. This one is still worth the watch, just not in theaters.

For part two, click here.