Argo (2012) ***

 

Excellent thriller about the rescue of American diplomats in Iran in 1980.

The Life Of Pi (2012) ***

Impressive adaptation of Yann Martel's magnificent novel.

Skyfall (2012) ***

Excellent James Bond movie with a memorable villain (Javier Bardem).

Frankenweenie (2012) ***

Excellent variation on the "Frankenstein" story, with a puppy dog brought back to life. Directed by Tim Burton.

Les Miserables (2012) ***

Superlative film adaptation of the legendary stage musical adapted from Victor Hugo's immortal novel.

Beasts Of The Southern Wild (2012) ***

Impressive film set in Louisiana bayou country.

The Angels' Share (2012) ***

Ken Loach in a lighter mode than usual.

Act Of Valor (2012) ***

Fine action film about Navy Seals, with actual soldiers playing all the roles.

Ted (2012) ***

Mirror Mirror (2012) ***

Very amusing parody of the Snow White tale, starring Julia Roberts. Nominated for an Oscar (best costumes).

Stand Up Guys (2012) ***

Looper (2012) ***

The Sessions (2012) ***

Savages (2012) ***

The Paperboy (2012) ***

The Impossible (2012) ***

Flight (2012) ***

Compliance (2012) ***

On The Road (2012) ***

Cloud Atlas (2012) ***

Anna Karenina (2012) ***

Marfa Girl (2012) ***

Magic Mike (2012) ***

Atlas Shrugged Part II The Strike (2012) ***

Second part of the adaptation of Ayn Rand's famous novel about the collapse of a collectivist society.

The Gardener (2012) ***

Starlet (2012) ***

Tout ce que tu possedes (2012) ***

Canadian drama about a young university teacher who refuses to accept a huge inheritance.

Rise Of The Guardians (2012) ***

Impressive action scenes in this entertaining animated film about Jack Frost, Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Sandman, the Boogie Man and the Easter Bunny.

Wreck-It Ralph (2012) ***

Amusing cartoon feature about a computer game villain trying to become a hero.

Les Saveurs du palais (2012) ***

Catherine Frot plays a French president's cook.

To Rome With Love (2012) ***

Is it a film or a cream soufflé ?

The Avengers (2012) ***

Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Captain America and many other superheros appear in this fine Hollywood action film.

The Gatekeepers (2012) ***

Fascinating Israel documentary about Shin Bet and its former leaders.

Ernest et Celestine (2012) ***

An excellent animated film from France.

Bernie (2012) ***

Truly inspired comedy based on a true story of a kind man killing a mean old woman. Jack Black gives the finest performance of his career.

Brave (2012) ***

“Brother Bear” with girls.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012) ***

Not nearly as impressive as "The Dark Knight", but still a superior "Batman" film. Its first half is a bit weak, but the impressive second half offers a surprising retelling of Dickens' "Tale Of Two Cities", complete with timely denounciations of the Occupy Wall Street mob, class warfare, and Solyndra bankrupcy. The film's unambiguous right-wing sympathies might surprise some Hollywood-bashers on the right, and might explain why in the aftermath of the Aurora massacre, the political controversies focused mainly on the issue of gun control, and largely spared the film itself (the rare condemnations of the film's violence coming mainly from leftist critics already offended by the film's politics).

Damsels In Distress (2012) ***

Another unique gem from Whit Stillman, a quirky comedy of manners about a bunch of delusional chicks in an Ivy League college volunteering at a local suicide prevention center.

Seven Psychopaths (2012) ***

White Tiger (2012) ***

Impressive tank battles in this Russian adaptation of "Moby Dick" with a white Koenig Tiger panzer tank instead of a white whale.