Argo (2012, dir. Ben Affleck) ****/****

Ben Affleck's Argo demonstrates that great suspense can be mustered from a story in which we already know what will happen in the end.  It tells the story of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979 in which six American's are successfully taken out of Iran by posing as a Canadian film crew.  Everything about Argo is top-notch.  Affleck's direction, the period detail, the acting, the script all make it a great film and one of the best of the year.  Even though you know from historical accounts that the Americans made it out, the film so expertly portrays their escape that the viewer is left breathless.  A must-see.

Gangster Squad (2013, dir. Ruben Fleischer) **.5/****

Gangster Squad is like a big glossy present with all the bells and whistles but in the end it doesn't amount to something with much soul or lasting impression.  It has great period detail and a stellar cast but you are left with a sense of let-down and longing for something more.  Sean Penn is Mickey Cohen a ruthless gangster who runs the city of L.A. in 1949.  A group of rogue cops get together and form the "gangster squad" of the title trying to bring him and his empire down.  There is a lot of violence and gunplay in this film but it offers nothing new or revelatory.  It just doesn't have very much depth to it and is all spectacle.  Its an adequate film but could never be considered great.

The Sessions (2012, dir. Ben Lewin) ****/****

The Sessions tells the tale of Mark O'Brien who, stricken with polio, is forced to live his life in a semi-paralyzed manner, frequently spending his time in an iron lung so he can breathe properly.  He is a virgin and has the desire to have sex.  That's where Helen Hunt's character, Cheryl, comes in.  She is "sex surrogate" providing the means by which O'Brien can become liberated.   Over a series of sessions Cheryl and Mark become sexually involved so Mark can know the joys of a sexual life.  Though by this brief plot description, it may seem like a sexually explicit, adult tale, it is actually a heart-warming, funny, well-acted and satisfying picture which has real heart and humanity.  The performances are top notch and it explores the institution of religion and how it can actually be quite tolerant in its outlook on sexuality.  William H. Macy plays a Catholic priest who O'Brien confides in and provides open-minded, sincere advice to him.  It is a great film and packs an emotional wallop.

Black Moon (1975, dir. Louis Malle) ***.5/****

I had the privilege of viewing Louis Malle's 1975 film, Black Moon yesterday and it had to be one of the strangest films I've seen in a while.  It is slightly reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland.  A young girl is driving in a war-torn countryside and avoids being shot by a group of soldiers.  The war is seemingly between the sexes and she witnesses a firing squad where a group of women are gunned down by a group of armed men.  She manages to get away and soon finds herself on the grounds of an old mansion isolated from the rest of the world.  There isn't much of plot to this movie but a lot of weird things happen.  An old women is breast-fed by her daughter and the main character, little feral, naked children are constantly running around, and many of the animals around the household can talk including a unicorn.  The film is apparently about the sexual awakening of the young girl and there is a lot of dealing with the natural world which is very much alive and possesses and equality with humanity.  The film is reminiscent of a dream (at times a nightmare) and there is very little talking in it.  The communication is via touch most of the time and the sensation of touch is prominent theme throughout the film.  Truly bizarre but fascinating at the same time.

Where Do We Go Now? (2011, dir. Nadine Lebaki) ***/****

Where Do We Go Now? is a Lebanese French co-production that depicts life in a small village in Lebanon where there is groups of Christians and Muslims co-existing.  It has some funny moments and highly dramatic moments as well.  It is basically a sketch of small village values and beliefs and is highly critical of religious idealism and division.  There are musical numbers as well that are sparsely spread throughout the film that add colour and character to it.  There is nothing earth-shatteringly revelatory about it and it isn't the best film of the year.  But it is a good film and worth checking out.

The Queen of Versailles (2012, dir. Lauren Greenfield) ***.5/****

This documentary by Lauren Greenfield follows the lives of a billionaire family who are constructing a home, larger than the White House, based on Versailles.  The financial crisis takes its toll on the family and they must abandon the construction of the house.  The film details their struggle in an often humourous sometimes sad manner.  The film is a comment on the decadence of the privileged classes and how they take their riches for granted.  The film deals with the relationship between the various family members and how they deal with the stress of the financial crisis.  A great documentary and a fascinating look into the American dream and its negative side.

Django Unchained (2012, dir. Quentin Tarantino) ****/****

Django Unchained could be the best film I've seen in 2012 and that's saying a lot.  The violence, as typical with Tarantino, is excessive but suitable to the film.  Revenge is a typical theme is Tarantino pictures and it is prominent in Django.  Jamie Foxx plays the title character, a slave who is freed by a bounty hunter (Christopher Waltz).  They then team up and become a bounty hunting duo.  Django's ultimate goal is to free is enslaved wife from the plantation owned by Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio).  It is a brutal tale and much bloodshed and death ensues and Tarantino is a master at creating visceral, cathartic experiences through his stylized violence.   At 2 hours and 45 minutes the film is long but not overlong.  Tarantino weaves brilliantly into his screenplay several set pieces that are exciting and heart-pounding.  This is among Tarantino's best and the year's best as well.