Another Year: A happy, late-middle-aged husband (Jim Broadbent) and wife (Ruth Sheen) face a quiet crisis with their single, fragile friend (Lesley Manville). Mike Leigh's compelling drama tackles the thorny matter of friendship, both its rewards and its perils.
- Kenneth Burns
True Grit: The 14-year-old daughter (Hailee Steinfeld) of a murdered farmer hires an infamous U.S. marshal (Jeff Bridges) to find the killer. In adapting Charles Portis' novel, the Coen brothers have subtly crafted what may be their most deeply felt movie yet.
- Scott Renshaw