2. Prisoners: Just as "out of the Furnace" was partially the opposite of "American Hustle," "Prisoners" is, in an even stronger way, the opposite of "Out of the Furnace." Despite a lineup of stars -- Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhal, Paul Dano, Terrance Howard, Maria Bello (not quite as skilled as Harrelson and Bale) -- the acting in this film was largely uneven. At times, Jackman was too much, though his was probably the best performance of the movie. Gyllenhal wasn't bad, but his character was kind of a cliché. I didn't quite understand what drove him besides a Floyd Mayweather-like arrest record (he'd closed ever case as detective) and a childhood spent in an orphanage. Combined with Jackman's record hardheadedness, Dano's trapped mysteriousness, and Terrance Howard's lack of spine, Maria Bello constant sobbing was nearly unbearable. But maybe that was the film's point. It certainly was entertaining throughout (and was better reviewed nationally than it is in this space) and could have worked if not for a plot filled with holes. It's just not fair to build a viewer's suspense so dramatically, and then leave unsatisfactory clues. You're going to have to watch this one a second time to make sense of things -- if you can bear the characters for another round.

1. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues: Many people walked out of this one unsatisfied. Not me. People forget about the first film, which didn't perform well out of the box and only gained momentum once it converted to DVD and cable television. Part of the reason why "Anchorman 1" was at first a slight disappointment was because of its plot, which falls apart about halfway through (and is almost non-existent in the second one). That's not really the point of the Anchorman series. Fans should know this. The point is watching Ron Burgundy encounter social change while delivering some of the most creatively worded lines ever in a comedy. The second one delivered on that front, but erred by devoting too much attention to Brick (I love him, but he's no Burgundy) and Champ (we get it, he's in love with Burgundy). Once again, Brian Fantana played his role capably and with class (though he wasn't quite as funny as he was in "1").

Bonus title: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

For part one, click here.