3. Smashed
Although it strays a little off course in an attempt to find humor, James Ponsoldt's alcoholism drama proves a powerful and unflinching debut feature, backed by revelatory performance by Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
2. The Sessions
Rare is the Hollywood film that can explore one man's sexual awakening with the care and maturity of The Sessions. John Hawkes gives an Oscar quality performance as the real-life Mark O'Brien, a paralyzed man hoping to lose his virginity late in life.
1. Cloud Atlas
Bold, ambitious, and messy, The Wachowskis and Tom Tyker's star-studded Cloud Atlas is a visual stunner only matched by its breadth of scope. With its multiple stories encompassing too many themes and ideas to easily categorize, Cloud Atlas is a film that makes others seem tiny and insignificant by comparison.
DVD Pick of the Week: Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
Part witty road trip comedy, part affecting human drama, Lorene Scafaria's directorial debut is an emotional and heartfelt triumph that finds suprising chemistry between stars Steve Carell and Keira Knightley.
