The midpoint of cinema's yearly cycle is underway. Already 331 films have been released this year and a number of art house and studio films have had terrific success both critically and financially. Here are some of my favorites thus far.

One of the best films to be released this year is undoubtedly Wes Anderson's "The Grand Budapest Hotel." While the film may be stylistic, Anderson tells a compelling story that conveys nostalgia and charm. At the heart of the film is Ralph Fiennes' nuanced performance, which shows his impeccable comic timing. One of the most interesting parts of his performance is how he manages to always keep his calm in the most chaotic and dangerous situations. The rest of the cast is led by a breakthrough performance by Tony Revolovri and the ever-brilliant Saoirse Ronan. The costumes by Milena Canonero are impeccable, while the art direction helps tell the story in a very subtle way.

Another movie that also impressed was "The Immigrant." When the James Gray movie opened at the Cannes Film Festival, it garnered mixed reviews and even caused the film to be delayed. However when it opened in the US, critical reception was outstanding.

The movie is led by a fine Marion Cotillard who gives the best English-language performance of her career. Cotillard's facial expressions and her eyes convey the emotions of a broken woman and her performance in many ways recalls the actresses of the silent era. Meanwhile Joaquin Phoenix gives an astonishing performance that is unpredictable, while Jeremy Renner adds charisma to this dark tale. The production design is also impeccable as it makes the viewer feel like he/she is in the 1920's. Darius Khondji's cinematography also recreates the distinct feel of old black in white photographs especially since all the colors are muted. Finally, the score by Christopher Spelman is rich with a diverse amount of colors.

"The Rocket" is another movie, which deserves mention particularly for its uplifting story. While the movie competed for the Academy Awards last year, it was only released until January. The Australian drama premiered at the Tribeca Film festival where I had a chance to see it. Not only did the film open me to a new culture but also told a universal story about an underdog who is able to overcome all obstacles. While the drama is predictable, the cultural background and performance by the young lead Sitthiphon Disamoe ultimately make this a worthwhile adventure, which is bound to stay with audiences.

Another film that I saw at Tribeca was "Run and Jump." The dramedy is an intimate family story, which unfortunately had a limited release by IFC and very little publicity. "Run and Jump" is a soulful and positive film filled with energy and emotions and which audiences can easily identify with. Not only does the film showcase the beautiful landscapes of the country, but it also steers away from all the cliché seen in larger pictures. Led by Maxine Peake's introspective and charming performance and showcasing Will Forte's dramatic skills, this Steph Green feature film debut is a must-see movie.

One of the most impactful films thus far is "The Rover." The movie was met with mixed reviews, but it is ultimately a dark tale that can be hard to watch. David Michod directs the film at a slow-burning pace that requires tremendous patience from its audience. Nevertheless it helps set the tone and gives way to an excruciatingly tense ride. Guy Pearce gives a subtle and nuanced performance that is among the best of the year. Meanwhile Robbie Pattinson gives his own transformative turn as Pearce's foil. One of the genius elements in the movie is the art direction as most of the film conveys death through the desert setting and lack of people around.

A few films that deserve a special mention include "Chef" which was one of the most entertaining movies of year as well as "X-Men: Days of Future Past," which raised the bar for the subpar blockbusters released this summer. Roman Polanski also returned with a thrilling physiological film, "Venus in Fur." Meanwhile A24 continued to bring risky and diverse content in the weird but engrossing "Under the Skin" and the incredibly surreal "Enemy." Lars Von Triers also deserves plaudits for his ambitious and provoking four-hour film "Nymphomaniac," while Jim Jarmusch made the Vampire genre interesting woth "Only Lovers Left Alive."