The year is half over, and the movies, predictably, haven't been great. Luckily, we're moving into the better half of the movie year - the half where studios ship out their best stuff in the hopes of winning awards.

But the first half movies deserve awards too, though they can be decidedly less prestigious than Oscars. Here are the highs and lows of the year so far.

Movie most likely to land on a year-end Top 10 list: "Before Midnight"

Richard Linklater revisits Jesse and Celine years after the events of (second installment) "Before Sunset" in another impeccably written walk-and-talk indie drama. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy give the best performances in the series as a couple struggling with kids and careers after their romantic spark has waned.

Most likely to land on year-end Worst lists: "A Good Day to Die Hard"

An almost unwatchable embarrassment and the nail in the coffin of a once reliable franchise. Available on home video, at your own peril.

Best alternative to loud summer blockbusters: "Mud"

After a stellar 2012, Matthew McConaughey continues his career resurgence as a fugitive who convinces a couple of local teenagers to help him contact his estranged love, played by Reese Witherspoon. This Mississippi River-set drama takes time developing its flawed characters, even the ones with minimal screen time. Contrast that to the typical summer movie that can't bother to develop one consistent character.

Biggest Disappointment: "Man of Steel"

Zack Snyder's revisionist take on Superman features the occasional "wow" moment that longtime fans of the hero have waited years to see. Unfortunately, the movie bombards the audience with shameless product placement and monotonous action that makes a mockery of human life.

Not as bad as you'd think: "Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters"

Cheesy B-movie fun with a wisecracking Jeremy Renner. Just don't take it too seriously - not that it should be a problem. Available on home video.

Most divisive (and possibly most brilliant): "Spring Breakers"

Definitely NOT your typical college party movie. Director Harmony Korine dives deep into the darker side of spring break - showing just how disgusting all that promiscuous sex, binge drinking and drug snorting can really be. It's tough to watch, but that's the point. Hang around for a bizarre musical montage featuring an unlikely Britney Spears track. Available on home video.

2013 MVP (so far): James Franco

Franco plays a creepy rapper/criminal in "Spring Breakers," and it's the most intense and disturbing performance of his career. Franco also mines huge laughs playing an uber-pretentious version of himself in the apocalyptic Seth Rogen comedy, "This is the End." And Franco definitely isn't the problem in the underwhelming "Oz: The Great and Powerful."

Best potential swan song: Steven Soderbergh's "Side Effects"

This Hitchcockian potboiler may be the last theatrical effort from Soderbergh ("Traffic," "Ocean's 11"). Definitely not a bad way to go out. Available on home video.

Funniest (and filthiest): "This is the End"

Celebrities don't handle the apocalypse well - which makes for the edgiest and funniest comedy in a long while.

The surprisingly decent movie undone by a horrible third act: "The Call"

Hey, Halle Berry! Don't go after that serial killer all by yourself! Available on home video.

The "sequels aren't so bad" award: Tie: "Star Trek Into Darkness," "Fast & Furious 6," "Monsters University" and "Iron Man 3"

We've had a surprising crop of entertaining sequels so far this summer.

Nevermind: "A Good Day to Die Hard," "The Hangover Part III," "Oblivion 2 (aka 'After Earth')"

Biggest waste of a great cast: "Gangster Squad"

Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin, Sean Penn, Emma Stone and more - such a slog of a movie. Available on home video.

Best performance in a bad movie: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, "Pain & Gain"

The Rock is always the best thing in every movie he appears. Unfortunately, he rarely appears in good movies.

The "Never going to see it" award: "Scary Movie 5"

Seriously, there is no way I'm going to sit through another one of these movies.

The "Why did I sit through it?" award: "A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III"

It stars Charlie Sheen, so I really should have known better. Available on home video.

Tyler Wilson can be reached at [email protected].