In this stunningly realized Hong Kong fantasy, a writer interweaves his past with an imagined future, involving three beautiful women with whom he has romantic relationships. This cinematic masterpiece is gorgeous, with beautiful settings, a phenomenal screenplay, imaginative use of color to distinguish themes, and unforgettable interplay between the characters.

Grade: A.

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Jaye Tyler returns home to Niagara Falls after getting her philosophy degree to work in a gift shop, drink at a quaint bar, and hang out with her friends, when various animal-faced objects begin talking to her. This quirky comedy series is very well written with an exceptional cast.

Grade: A+.

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Maggie Gyllenhaal stars in this Golden Globe-nominated drama about a single mother trying to put her life back together and reestablish her relationship with her daughter after a three-year prison sentence. Gyllenhaal ably plays the dysfunctional woman in a picture full of addiction, relapse, bad choices, and temptation.

Grade: B.

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Russell Crowe is Captain “Lucky” Jack Aubrey in this naval adventure based on Patrick O’Brian’s novels. His ship, the Surprise, is chasing a French privateer around South America during the Napoleonic Wars. This huge picture with eye-popping naval battles and briny realism delivers a glimpse of life at sea.

Grade: A-.

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Rae Dawn Chong stars in this old school hip-hop movie about a classically-trained dancer who discovers a subculture of breakdancers, DJs, and graffiti artists in the Bronx. The story line and the costumes are horribly dated 25 years later, but the genre’s musical pioneers perform a classic soundtrack.

Grade: C.

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Aleksander, a refugee from Macedonia who becomes a respected photojournalist in London, returns home during the Bosnian war in this independent war film. Three sets of characters, including a silent young Orthodox monk, an Albanian girl who hides with him, and Aleksander’s friends and family bring the conflict to life.

Grade: A-.

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Jessica, frustrated with the parade of bad dates, reluctantly responds to a personal ad posted by Helen, who is looking for a girlfriend. The two of them start an unlikely relationship that runs from blissful to bored to tumultuous. This endearing picture has a lovely script and a poignant story.

Grade: B+.

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A diverse group of people from around the world begin to discover their superhuman abilities in this phenomenal NBC TV series. With riveting story lines, believable characters, nail-biting intrigue, and great acting, this series keeps the audience guessing through twists and turns, hidden subplots, reluctant heroes, and mysterious villains.

Grade: A.

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Elisabeth, a woman in an abusive marriage, takes her children to live with her brother, Göran, who lives in a commune filled with a variety of radicals and counter-culture activists. This fish-out-of-water comedy set in Sweden in 1975 explores friendship, politics, compromise, and building unlikely community.

Grade: B.

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Two hit men are sent to Bruges, Belgium, to lay low after a botched hit in this dark comedy starring Colin Farrell, Ralph Fiennes, and Brendan Gleeson. With a tight script, a revealing dark story line, and wonderfully nuanced acting performances, this little gem thrives against an unusual, gorgeous backdrop.

Grade: A-.

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