10 Movies you need to see not titled Hobbit, Hunger, or Horrible

I was trying to come up with a good title, and didn't want to exclude the two blockbusters and one comedy that will likely rule the winter box office. Here are 10 films you need to see between now and January 1st, and why.

Fury - David Ayer is a hit or miss writer/director with such films as End of Watch, Training Day, Harsh Times, Sabotage, SWAT, and Dark Blue under his belt. See a trend? He takes his wheelhouse to a whole new level with the help of what appears to be a stellar cast, led by Brad Pitt. A World War II tank crew find themselves stranded in Nazi Germany and have to fight their way out. His films have a way of killing off main characters/protagonists pretty frequently, so expect the unexpected as it comes to a conclusion. There hasn't been a good tank action film in awhile (ever?), and Pitt was exceptional in Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds, so it should be a very entertaining film.

Whiplash - I'm hearing a lot of buzz about Whiplash. Particularly the acting of Miles Teller as the drumming protege, and JK Simmons as the angry mentor. The director, Damien Chazelle is new, but this is a very intriguing character study and relationship around the pursuit of musical perfection. It's something different, but likely will garner some awards talk.

Birdman - Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu is a fantastic director, part of the trio of Hispanics who hit the scene hard in 2006 with his film Babel (Guillermo Del Toro's Pan's Labrynth and Alfonso Cuaron's Children of Men were the other 2). Michael Keaton plays an aging former film star whose Birdman hits very close to home in its verisimilitude. Keaton played Batman all those years ago, and although he's had a successful career, there are more than a few parallels from what I hear. The fascinating thing about Birdman however, is Inarritu's decision to film it seamlessly. The sequences are in some cases up to 10 minutes long, and the whole film appears as one long take. It was a big deal when Brian De Palma did an extended opening sequence with Snake Eyes, and it's been attempted in the past, but with technology, it just might work. Either way, I'm excited.

Nightcrawler - Jake Gyllenhaal continues to make great choices, and Nightcrawler just might be a vehicle good enough to get him a Best Actor nomination. He's due, and playing a gaunt, aspiring crime journalist who gets a bit too involved in his scenes, this might be the film to get him into the top 5. The film has potential to lose audiences due to content, and director Dan Gilroy's inexperience (he's married to Rene Russo, also starring in the film). Look for a strong performance nonetheless.

Interstellar - Anything Christopher Nolan touches turns to gold, and this just might be the second coming of 2001. His vision has no limitations, and with an A list cast, good word of mouth, and an astronomical budget, this will be THE sci-fi film of the year. Of course, it's one of the only sci-fi films of the year, but that doesn't matter. It's one of the most difficult genres to do well, but Nolan is the master. This will be a must-see. Probably in IMAX and/or 3D to achieve maximum enjoyment.

Foxcatcher - Oscar nominee Steve Carrell. Yep, it's going to happen. This film has been on the shelf for over a year, but Bennett Miller (Moneyball) is carving a niche as the dramatic sports biopic champion. Carrell, in heavy makeup, plays John DuPont, the millionaire heir who sponsors the Schultz brothers (Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo) to train for Olympic wrestling. There is murder, deception, and the truth is stranger than fiction, but one thing is for certain; Steve will have at minimum a Best Actor Academy Award nomination.

Wild - Who was the biggest snub last year? There are arguments, but I would say Dallas Buyer's Club director Jean Marc-Vallee. He champions two actors to Oscars and isn't nominated himself. Shame. Anyhow, he might be the next David O. Russell, and this time his film follows Reese Witherspoon as a woman on an 1,100 mile solo hiking journey to find herself. Sounds very Kerouac, but reminds me of Krakauer's Sean Penn adaptation Into the Wild (Emile Hirsch was robbed). It seems to be one of the only noticeable strong female performances slated at this point, but we will see.

Inherent Vice - Paul Thomas Anderson films are mesmerizing. They are so deliberate and noir that you are sucked into the setting and just plain captivated by the performances. His use of music, and sucking the best possible characters out of his actors is unmatched in the industry. Joaquin Phoenix headlines his latest concoction, playing a seedy detective in 1970's LA. It's not likely to be accepted by the masses as PT Anderson normally isn't, but it will surely be admired.

American Sniper - Films aren't often moved up into December from January, but American Sniper is gaining some attention for its performance by Bradley Cooper. Clint Eastwood is one of the greatest directors in the game, and this biopic is a little bit Hurt Locker and a little bit Lone Survivor as Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle recounts his tours in Iraq and Afghanistan over a ten year period. He came to be known as "The Devil" by his enemy, and was respected among his military brethren capturing the honor of having the most confirmed combat kills in American history. Heavy stuff, and a great biography. Sadly and ironically, Kyle was killed a few years ago at a gun range in his hometown in Texas. After retirement and documenting his story, he took to helping soldiers deal with their PTSD by taking them to his gun range. One of them turned a gun on him, killing Kyle. Bradley Cooper will certainly receive a nomination for his performance.

Unbroken - The true story of Louis Zamperini, underdog survivor of childhood delinquency, athletic competition, WWII combat, survival at sea, and an extended stay in a Japanese POW camp. Unbroken is based on the novel by Laura Hillenbrand and is directed by Angelina Jolie. The screenplay was written by the Coen Brothers, which is a very exciting prospect for me. They are one of my favorite film making teams. The cast isn't headlined by anyone recognizable, but Jack O'Connell might become the next big thing if everything works out for him. This could be the film to beat for Best Picture, making Angelina Jolie a front-runner for Best Director right off the bat.