The 100 Best Movies of 2014, Ranked by Tomatometer

Critics Consensus: Marvelously directed by Sebastian Lelio and beautifully led by a powerful performance from Paulina Garcia, Gloria takes an honest, sweetly poignant look at a type of character that's all too often neglected in Hollywood.

Synopsis: An aging divorcee (Paulina García) embarks on an intense affair with a man (Sergio Hernández) she picked up at a disco.

Starring: Paulina García, Sergio Hernández, Diego Fontecilla, Coca Guazzini

Directed By: Sebastián Lelio

Critics Consensus: Boasting narrative depth, frank honesty, and exquisite visual beauty, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is a modern animated treasure with timeless appeal.

Synopsis: A tiny nymph found inside a bamboo stalk grows into a beautiful and desirable young woman, who orders her suitors to prove their love by... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chloë Grace Moretz, James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, Darren Criss

Directed By: Isao Takahata

Critics Consensus: Fueled by a gripping performance from David Oyelowo, Selma draws inspiration and dramatic power from the life and death of Martin Luther King, Jr. -- but doesn't ignore how far we remain from the ideals his work embodied.

Synopsis: Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally desegregated the South, discrimination was still rampant in certain areas, making it very difficult for Blacks to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, Carmen Ejogo, Giovanni Ribisi

Directed By: Ava DuVernay

Critics Consensus: Smart, hard-hitting, and queasily realistic, Starred Up is an instant classic of U.K. prison cinema.

Synopsis: An explosive teenager runs into his equally violent father after being switched to an adult prison from a facility for juveniles.

Starring: Ben Mendelsohn, Rupert Friend, Jack O'Connell, Sam Spruell

Directed By: David Mackenzie

Critics Consensus: The Babadook relies on real horror rather than cheap jump scares -- and boasts a heartfelt, genuinely moving story to boot.

Synopsis: Six years after the violent death of her husband, Amelia (Essie Davis) is at a loss. She struggles to discipline her 'out of control' 6... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Essie Davis, Daniel Henshall, Noah Wiseman, Hayley McElhinney

Directed By: Jennifer Kent

Critics Consensus: Epic in technical scale but breathlessly intimate in narrative scope, Boyhood is a sprawling investigation of the human condition.

Synopsis: The joys and pitfalls of growing up are seen through the eyes of a child named Mason (Ellar Coltrane), his parents (Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke)... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, Lorelei Linklater

Directed By: Richard Linklater

Critics Consensus: Led by a masterful performance from Timothy Spall and brilliantly directed by Mike Leigh, Mr. Turner is a superior Hollywood biopic.

Synopsis: Eccentric British painter J.M.W. Turner (Timothy Spall) lives his last 25 years with gusto and secretly becomes involved with a seaside landlady, while his faithful... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Timothy Spall, Paul Jesson, Dorothy Atkinson, Marion Bailey

Directed By: Mike Leigh

Critics Consensus: Another profoundly affecting work from the Dardenne brothers, Two Days, One Night delivers its timely message with honesty and clear-eyed compassion.

Synopsis: A factory worker (Marion Cotillard) has just one weekend to convince her colleagues to give up their bonuses so that she can keep her job.

Starring: Marion Cotillard, Fabrizio Rongione, Pili Groyne, Simon Caudry

Directed By: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne

Critics Consensus: Leviathan lives up to its title, offering trenchant, well-crafted social satire on a suitably grand scale.

Synopsis: A Russian fisherman (Alexey Serebryakov) fights back when a corrupt mayor tries to seize possession of his ancestral home.

Starring: Alexey Serebryakov, Elena Lyadova, Sergey Pokhodaev, Roman Madyanov

Directed By: Andrey Zvyagintsev

Critics Consensus: Warm, affectionate, and sweet but not cloying, The Lunchbox is a clever crowd-pleaser from first-time director Ritesh Batra.

Synopsis: Lonely housewife Ila (Nimrat Kaur) decides to try adding some spice to her stale marriage by preparing a special lunch for her neglectful husband. Unfortunately,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Denzil Smith

Directed By: Ritesh Batra

Critics Consensus: Boasting beautiful animation, a charming voice cast, laugh-a-minute gags, and a surprisingly thoughtful story, The Lego Movie is colorful fun for all ages.

Synopsis: An ordinary LEGO figurine Emmet who always follows the rules, is mistakenly identified as an extraordinary being and the key to saving the world. He... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Morgan Freeman, Elizabeth Banks

Directed By: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

Critics Consensus: Empathetically written, splendidly acted, and beautifully photographed, Ida finds director Pawel Pawlikowski revisiting his roots to powerful effect.

Synopsis: In 1962, Anna is about to take vows as a nun when she learns from her only relative that she is Jewish. Both women embark... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Agata Trzebuchowska, Agata Kulesza, Joanna Kulig, Dawid Ogrodnik

Directed By: Paweł Pawlikowski

Critics Consensus: Smart, stripped-down, and thrillingly grim, Blue Ruin proves that a well-told revenge story can still leave its audience on the edge of their seat.

Synopsis: An ominous piece of news sends a drifter (Macon Blair) back to his hometown to exact brutal -- and inept -- revenge for the deaths... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Macon Blair, Devin Ratray, Amy Hargreaves, Kevin Kolack

Directed By: Jeremy Saulnier

Critics Consensus: Sweet, empathetic, and shot through with a palpable joy, We Are the Best! offers a tender tribute to the bittersweet tumult of adolescence.

Synopsis: Three rebellious teenagers (Mira Barkhammar, Mira Grosin, Liv LeMoyne) form an all-girl punk band in 1980s Stockholm.

Starring: Mira Barkhammar, Mira Grosin, Liv LeMoyne, Johan Liljemark

Directed By: Lukas Moodysson

Critics Consensus: A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night blends conventional elements into something brilliantly original -- and serves as a striking calling card for writer-director Ana Lily Amirpour.

Synopsis: Residents of a worn-down Iranian city encounter a skateboarding vampire (Sheila Vand) who preys on men who disrespect women.

Starring: Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi, Marshall Manesh, Mozhan Marnò

Directed By: Ana Lily Amirpour

Critics Consensus: Alternately hilarious, gross, and simply diverting, Housebound is the rare horror-comedy that delivers on both fronts.

Synopsis: A would-be thief (Morgana O'Reilly) is remanded to the custody of her estranged mother (Rima Te Wiata), who turns out to be correct in her... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Morgana O'Reilly, Rima Te Wiata, Glen-Paul Waru, Cameron Rhodes

Directed By: Gerard Johnstone

Critics Consensus: Restless, visually sleek, and powered by a lithe star performance from Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler offers dark, thought-provoking thrills.

Synopsis: Los Angeles denizen Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) survives by scavenging and petty theft. He stumbles into a new career as a cameraman and -- armed... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton, Riz Ahmed

Directed By: Dan Gilroy

Critics Consensus: A feel-good success crafted with care, Kim Mordaunt's story of two young kids in Laos is a heartfelt audience pleaser while remaining sensitive toward its subjects.

Synopsis: Ahlo's family moves after his village is cleared to make way for a new dam. They come across a rocket festival and Ahlo takes the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sitthiphon Deesamoe, Luknam Kaeosainam, Alice Keohavong, Sumrit Warin

Directed By: Kim Mordaunt

Critics Consensus: Intense, inspiring, and well-acted, Whiplash is a brilliant sophomore effort from director Damien Chazelle and a riveting vehicle for stars J.K. Simmons and Miles Teller.

Synopsis: Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller) is an ambitious young jazz drummer, in pursuit of rising to the top of his elite music conservatory. Terence Fletcher (J.K.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Melissa Benoist, Paul Reiser

Directed By: Damien Chazelle

Critics Consensus: Sweet, soulful, and smart, Spike Jonze's Her uses its just-barely-sci-fi scenario to impart wryly funny wisdom about the state of modern human relationships.

Synopsis: A sensitive and soulful man earns a living by writing personal letters for other people. Left heartbroken after his marriage ends, Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) becomes... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson, Rooney Mara

Directed By: Spike Jonze

Critics Consensus: Snowpiercer offers an audaciously ambitious action spectacular for filmgoers numb to effects-driven blockbusters.

Synopsis: A post-apocalyptic ice age forces humanity's last survivors aboard a globe-spanning supertrain. One man will risk everything to lead a revolt for control of the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chris Evans, Song Kang-ho, Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell

Directed By: Bong Joon Ho

Critics Consensus: Held aloft by remarkable performances from John Lithgow and Alfred Molina, Love Is Strange serves as a graceful tribute to the beauty of commitment in the face of adversity.

Synopsis: A recently married gay couple (John Lithgow, Alfred Molina) are forced to move into separate households after they lose their home.

Starring: John Lithgow, Alfred Molina, Marisa Tomei, Cheyenne Jackson

Directed By: Ira Sachs

Critics Consensus: Gleefully uncomfortable, Force Majeure is a relationship drama that's hard to watch -- and just as difficult to ignore.

Synopsis: A man's selfish reaction to the danger posed by an avalanche causes cracks in his marriage and relationships with his children.

Starring: Johannes Kuhnke, Lisa Loven Kongsli, Clara Wettergren, Vincent Wettergren

Directed By: Ruben Östlund

Critics Consensus: Earnest without being didactic and uplifting without stooping to sentimentality, Pride is a joyous crowd-pleaser that genuinely works.

Synopsis: Realizing that they share common foes in Margaret Thatcher, the police and the conservative press, London-based gays and lesbians lend their support to striking coal... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West, Paddy Considine

Directed By: Matthew Warchus

Critics Consensus: Compassionate, emotionally detailed, and populated with resonant characters, The Way He Looks leaves a warmth that lingers.

Synopsis: A blind teenager's life and world is changed with the arrival of Gabriel.

Starring: Ghilherme Lobo, Fábio Audi, Tess Amorim, Selma Egrei

Directed By: Daniel Ribeiro

Critics Consensus: Its four-hour length is undeniably imposing, but Norte, the End of History rewards patient viewers with an absorbing, visually expansive viewing experience.

Synopsis: An innocent man (Archie Alemania) goes to prison for murder while the real killer (Sid Lucero) goes free.

Starring: Sid Lucero, Angeli Bayani, Archie Alemania, Soliman Cruz

Directed By: Lav Diaz

Critics Consensus: Guardians of the Galaxy is just as irreverent as fans of the frequently zany Marvel comic would expect -- as well as funny, thrilling, full of heart, and packed with visual splendor.

Synopsis: Brash space adventurer Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) finds himself the quarry of relentless bounty hunters after he steals an orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel

Directed By: James Gunn

Critics Consensus: Typically stylish but deceptively thoughtful, The Grand Budapest Hotel finds Wes Anderson once again using ornate visual environments to explore deeply emotional ideas.

Synopsis: In the 1930s, the Grand Budapest Hotel is a popular European ski resort, presided over by concierge Gustave H. (Ralph Fiennes). Zero, a junior lobby... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric, Adrien Brody

Directed By: Wes Anderson

Critics Consensus: Exciting, emotionally resonant, and beautifully animated, How to Train Your Dragon 2 builds on its predecessor's successes just the way a sequel should.

Synopsis: Five years have passed since Hiccup and Toothless united the dragons and Vikings of Berk. Now, they spend their time charting the island's unmapped territories.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson

Directed By: Dean DeBlois, Tom Owens

Critics Consensus: Funny, clever, and endearingly unusual, Frank transcends its quirky trappings with a heartfelt -- and surprisingly thought-provoking -- story.

Synopsis: An aspiring musician (Domhnall Gleeson) finds himself way out of his element after he joins a pop group led by an enigmatic figure (Michael Fassbender)... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Scoot McNairy

Directed By: Lenny Abrahamson

Critics Consensus: Boasting enough intelligence to bolster its darkly violent thrills, The Guest offers another treat for genre fans from director Adam Wingard.

Synopsis: A string of mysterious deaths leads a teenager to become suspicious of a soldier (Dan Stevens) who showed up on her family's doorstep and claimed... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Dan Stevens, Maika Monroe, Leland Orser, Sheila Kelley

Directed By: Adam Wingard

Critics Consensus: This long-overdue return from Alejandro Jodorowsky finds him just as overflowing with imagination -- and heart -- as fans have come to expect.

Synopsis: Cult filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky presents a fanciful interpretation of his childhood, set against Chile's turbulent social and political environment.

Starring: Brontis Jodorowsky, Pamela Flores, Jeremias Herskovits, Alejandro Jodorowsky

Directed By: Alejandro Jodorowsky

Critics Consensus: Gripping, well-acted, funny, and clever, Edge of Tomorrow offers entertaining proof that Tom Cruise is still more than capable of shouldering the weight of a blockbuster action thriller.

Synopsis: When Earth falls under attack from invincible aliens, no military unit in the world is able to beat them. Maj. William Cage (Tom Cruise), an... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Brendan Gleeson, Bill Paxton

Directed By: Doug Liman

Critics Consensus: With intelligence and emotional resonance to match its stunning special effects, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes expands on its predecessor with an exciting and ambitious burst of sci-fi achievement.

Synopsis: Ten years after simian flu wiped out much of the world's Homo sapiens, genetically enhanced chimpanzee Caesar and his ever-growing band of followers has established... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell

Directed By: Matt Reeves

Critics Consensus: A thrilling leap forward for director Alejandro González Iñárritu, Birdman is an ambitious technical showcase powered by a layered story and outstanding performances from Michael Keaton and Edward Norton.

Synopsis: Former cinema superhero Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton) is mounting an ambitious Broadway production that he hopes will breathe new life into his stagnant career. It's... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough

Directed By: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Critics Consensus: A one-man show set in a single confined location, Locke demands a powerful performance -- and gets it from a never-more-compelling Tom Hardy.

Synopsis: A man's (Tom Hardy) life unravels after he leaves a construction site at a critical time and drives to London to be present for the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Hardy, Ruth Wilson, Andrew Scott, Tom Holland

Directed By: Steven Knight

Critics Consensus: Dear White People adds a welcome new voice to cinema's oft-neglected discussion of race, tackling its timely themes with intelligence, honesty, and gratifyingly sharp wit.

Synopsis: A campus culture war between blacks and whites at a predominantly white school comes to a head when the staff of a humor magazine stages... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tyler James Williams, Tessa Thompson, Kyle Gallner, Teyonah Parris

Directed By: Justin Simien

Critics Consensus: While certainly not for the faint of heart, Wetlands transcends its shock value with sweetness, heart, and subversive wit.

Synopsis: After an unfortunate shaving accident lands her in the hospital, a rebellious teen (Carla Juri) bonds with a male nurse (Christoph Letkowski) and schemes to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Carla Juri, Christoph Letkowski, Marlen Kruse, Meret Becker

Directed By: David Wnendt

Critics Consensus: Urgent, mesmerizing, and infuriating, The Kill Team looks at American foreign policy from a rarely considered perspective.

Synopsis: Working from the viewpoint of the accused, filmmaker Dan Krauss examines reports of terrible war crimes committed by a U.S. Army platoon in Afghanistan.

Starring: Alex Winfield, Stephen Xenakis

Directed By: Dan Krauss

Critics Consensus: X-Men: Days of Future Past combines the best elements of the series to produce a satisfyingly fast-paced outing that ranks among the franchise's finest installments.

Synopsis: Convinced that mutants pose a threat to humanity, Dr. Bolivar Trask develops the Sentinels, enormous robotic weapons that can detect a mutant gene and zero... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence

Directed By: Bryan Singer

Critics Consensus: Suspenseful and politically astute, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a superior entry in the Avengers canon and is sure to thrill Marvel diehards.

Synopsis: After the cataclysmic events in New York with his fellow Avengers, Steve Rogers, aka Captain America (Chris Evans), lives in the nation's capital as he... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Sebastian Stan

Directed By: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

Critics Consensus: With an outstanding starring performance from Benedict Cumberbatch illuminating its fact-based story, The Imitation Game serves as an eminently well-made entry in the "prestige biopic" genre.

Synopsis: In 1939, newly created British intelligence agency MI6 recruits Cambridge mathematics alumnus Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) to crack Nazi codes, including Enigma -- which cryptanalysts... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Rory Kinnear

Directed By: Morten Tyldum

Critics Consensus: Gritty, gripping, and weighted with thought-provoking heft, A Most Violent Year represents another strong entry in writer-director J.C. Chandor's impressive filmography.

Synopsis: In 1981 New York, a fuel supplier (Oscar Isaac) tries to adhere to his own moral compass amid the rampant violence, corruption and decay that... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, David Oyelowo, Alessandro Nivola

Directed By: J.C. Chandor

Critics Consensus: Agreeably entertaining and brilliantly animated, Big Hero 6 is briskly-paced, action-packed, and often touching.

Synopsis: Robotics prodigy Hiro lives in the city of San Fransokyo. Next to his older brother, Tadashi, Hiro's closest companion is Baymax, a robot whose sole... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, T.J. Miller, Jamie Chung

Directed By: Don Hall, Chris Williams

Critics Consensus: Tackling a sensitive subject with maturity, honesty, and wit, Obvious Child serves as a deeply promising debut for writer-director Gillian Robespierre.

Synopsis: An immature, newly unemployed comic (Jenny Slate) must navigate the murky waters of adulthood after her fling with a graduate student (Jake Lacy) results in... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jenny Slate, Jake Lacy, Gaby Hoffmann, Gabe Liedman

Directed By: Gillian Robespierre

Critics Consensus: Twisty and riveting, Omar is a well-directed crime drama with uncommon depth.

Synopsis: Arrested after the death of an Israeli soldier, a Palestinian baker (Leem Lubany) agrees to work as an informant, but his true motives and alliances... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Adam Bakri, Leem Lubany, Samer Bisharat, Eyad Hourani

Directed By: Hany Abu-Assad

Critics Consensus: A coming-of-age drama entwined with a political statement, In Bloom underscores its well-worn themes with strong performances and palpable real-world tension.

Synopsis: Eka and Natia leave their childhood behind and ignore societal customs to escape from their turbulent family lives.

Starring: Tamar Bukhnikashvili, Lika Babluani, Mariam Bokeria, Zurab Gogaladze

Directed By: Nana Ekvtimishvili, Simon Groß

Critics Consensus: She's Beautiful When She's Angry takes an entertaining, informative look at the dawn of the American women's movement -- and the oft-overlooked activists who fought for it.

Synopsis: Filmmaker Mary Dore chronicles the events, the movers and the shakers of the feminist movement from 1966 to 1971.

Starring: Anna Nugent, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Karla Jay, Susan Brownmiller

Directed By: Mary Dore

Critics Consensus: There's no shortage of similarly themed crime dramas, but The Drop rises above the pack with a smartly written script and strong cast.

Synopsis: Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy) tends bar in his cousin's pub and looks the other way when local mobsters use the joint as a temporary bank.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, James Gandolfini, Matthias Schoenaerts

Directed By: Michaël R. Roskam

Critics Consensus: Led by a brilliant performance from Brendan Gleeson, Calvary tackles weighty issues with humor, intelligence, and sensitivity.

Synopsis: An honest and good-hearted priest (Brendan Gleeson) wrestles with a cynical, spiteful community after he receives a death threat from an unknown parishioner.

Starring: Brendan Gleeson, Chris O'Dowd, Kelly Reilly, Aidan Gillen

Directed By: John Michael McDonagh

Critics Consensus: Topped with bittersweet humor but possessing surprisingly thorny depths, Le Week-End offers a sophisticated, well-acted portrait of late-life struggles and long-term marriage.

Synopsis: A British couple return to Paris many years after their honeymoon to rejuvenate their marriage.

Starring: Jim Broadbent, Lindsay Duncan, Jeff Goldblum, Olly Alexander

Directed By: Roger Michell

Critics Consensus: The Blue Room proves a sobering study of the dark side of human nature, as well as a coolly assured directorial effort from star and co-writer Mathieu Amalric.

Synopsis: Following an adulterous tryst, a man (Léa Drucker) finds himself under investigation for an unknown crime.

Starring: Léa Drucker, Mathieu Amalric, Stéphanie Cléau, Laurent Poitrenaux

Directed By: Mathieu Amalric

Critics Consensus: Dark, intelligent, and stylish to a fault, Gone Girl plays to director David Fincher's sick strengths while bringing the best out of stars Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike.

Synopsis: In Carthage, Mo., former New York-based writer Nick Dunne and his glamorous wife Amy present a portrait of a blissful marriage to the public; when... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry

Directed By: David Fincher

Critics Consensus: Powerfully moving and emotionally resonant, Wild finds director Jean-Marc Vallée and star Reese Witherspoon working at the peak of their respective powers.

Synopsis: Driven to the edge by the loss of her beloved mother (Laura Dern), the dissolution of her marriage and a headlong dive into self-destructive behavior,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Thomas Sadoski, Michiel Huisman

Directed By: Jean-Marc Vallée

Critics Consensus: The Wind Rises is a fittingly bittersweet swan song for director Hayao Miyazaki.

Synopsis: A lifelong love of flight inspires Japanese aviation engineer Jiro Horikoshi, whose storied career includes the creation of the A-6M World War II fighter plane. View Full Synopsis

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Martin Short

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki, Gary Rydstrom

Critics Consensus: While perhaps not quite as fresh as Coogan and Brydon's original voyage in The Trip, The Trip to Italy still proves a thoroughly agreeable sequel.

Synopsis: During a tour of Italy, two friends (Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon) enjoy sumptuous meals and lively conversations about such eclectic topics as Batman's vocal range.

Starring: Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Rosie Fellner, Claire Keelan

Directed By: Michael Winterbottom

Critics Consensus: Provocative, funny, and brilliantly acted, Venus in Fur finds Roman Polanski in top late-period form.

Synopsis: An enigmatic actress (Emmanuelle Seigner) may have a hidden agenda when she auditions for a part in a misogynistic writer's (Mathieu Amalric) play.

Starring: Emmanuelle Seigner, Mathieu Amalric

Directed By: Roman Polanski

Critics Consensus: Gleefully nasty and darkly hilarious, Cheap Thrills lives down to its title in the best possible way.

Synopsis: A series of escalating bets pits recently reunited friends against each other.

Starring: Pat Healy, Ethan Embry, Sara Paxton, David Koechner

Directed By: E.L. Katz

Critics Consensus: Impassioned and infuriating, Code Black awakens viewers to an endemic problem with no clear solution.

Synopsis: Resident physician Ryan McGarry provides a close-up look at the inner workings of the treatment of trauma patients at one of America's busiest emergency rooms.

Starring: Alison Martin, William "Billy" Mallon

Directed By: Ryan McGarry

Critics Consensus: A chilling true crime drama, Foxcatcher offers Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, and Channing Tatum a chance to shine -- and all three of them rise to the challenge.

Synopsis: When wealthy John du Pont (Steve Carell) invites Olympic wrestler Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) to move to his estate and help form a wrestling team... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo, Vanessa Redgrave

Directed By: Bennett Miller

Critics Consensus: Chef's charming cast and sharp, funny script add enough spice to make this feel-good comedy a flavorful -- if familiar -- treat.

Synopsis: After a controlling owner (Dustin Hoffman) pushes him too far, chef Carl Casper (Jon Favreau) quits his position at a prestigious Los Angeles restaurant. As... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jon Favreau, Sofía Vergara, John Leguizamo, Scarlett Johansson

Directed By: Jon Favreau

Critics Consensus: The Alan Partridge movie ditches the TV series' nuanced humor for something broader, and succeeds in presenting the character on a global scale.

Synopsis: Radio host Alan Partridge (Steve Coogan) gets a chance to boost his sagging career by serving as a liaison between police and his former co-host... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Steve Coogan, Colm Meaney, Felicity Montagu, Monica Dolan

Directed By: Declan Lowney

Critics Consensus: Epic in length, thrilling to behold, and utterly absorbing, Winter Sleep demands -- and rewards -- viewers' patient attention.

Synopsis: Aydin, his wife and his recently divorced sister spend the winter in their hotel.

Starring: Haluk Bilginer, Melisa Sozen, Demet Akbag, Ayberk Pekcan

Directed By: Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Critics Consensus: Borgman's unpredictability may confound as many viewers as it enthralls, but either way, it's a refreshingly original experiment in off-kilter terror.

Synopsis: A vagrant turns the lives of arrogant upper-class people to a psychological nightmare.

Starring: Jan Bijvoet, Hadewych Minis, Jeroen Perceval, Alex van Warmerdam

Directed By: Alex van Warmerdam

Critics Consensus: Stylish, thrilling, and giddily kinetic, John Wick serves as a satisfying return to action for Keanu Reeves -- and what looks like it could be the first of a franchise.

Synopsis: Legendary assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) retired from his violent career after marrying the love of his life. Her sudden death leaves John in deep... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Willem Dafoe

Directed By: Chad Stahelski

Critics Consensus: Worth watching for Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton's performances alone, Only Lovers Left Alive finds writer-director Jim Jarmusch adding a typically offbeat entry to the vampire genre.

Synopsis: Artistic, sophisticated and centuries old, two vampire lovers (Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston) ponder their ultimate place in modern society.

Starring: Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston, Anton Yelchin, Mia Wasikowska

Directed By: Jim Jarmusch

Critics Consensus: Led by powerful performances from Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader, The Skeleton Twins effectively mines laughs and tears from family drama.

Synopsis: Following many years of estrangement, twins Milo (Bill Hader) and Maggie (Kristen Wiig) have an unexpected reunion after a set of near-tragedies. The situation forces... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Luke Wilson, Ty Burrell

Directed By: Craig Johnson

Critics Consensus: A uniquely character-driven thriller with a finely composed cast and some outstanding direction from Kelly Reichardt, Night Moves bolsters its thought-provoking themes with compelling drama.

Synopsis: Two Oregon environmentalists (Jesse Eisenberg, Dakota Fanning) and a former Marine (Peter Sarsgaard) hatch a plan to blow up a hydroelectric dam.

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Dakota Fanning, Peter Sarsgaard, Alia Shawkat

Directed By: Kelly Reichardt

Critics Consensus: Rich in atmosphere and anchored by a powerful performance from Nicolas Cage, Joe is a satisfying return to form for its star -- as well as director David Gordon Green.

Synopsis: The rough-hewn boss (Nicolas Cage) of a lumber crew courts trouble when he steps in to protect the youngest member (Tye Sheridan) of his team... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Tye Sheridan, Gary Poulter, Ronnie Gene Blevins

Directed By: David Gordon Green

Critics Consensus: Sensitively written, smartly directed, and powerfully performed, Like Father, Like Son uses familiar-seeming elements to tell a thought-provoking story.

Synopsis: Ryota learns that his biological son was switched at birth with the boy he has raised, and he must make a life-impacting decision between his... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Machiko Ono, Yôko Maki, Masaharu Fukuyama, Lily Franky

Directed By: Hirokazu Koreeda

Critics Consensus: Recklessly assembled and occasionally compelling in spite of itself, A Field in England showcases a singularly brilliant voice in British cinema.

Synopsis: Two men capture a small group of deserters during England's civil war. After the captives ingest some wild mushrooms, they fall victim to the powerful... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael Smiley, Reece Shearsmith, Peter Ferdinando, Richard Glover

Directed By: Ben Wheatley

Critics Consensus: Smart, subtle, and steadily absorbing, A Most Wanted Man proves once again that John le Carre books make for sharp, thoughtful thrillers.

Synopsis: An escaped militant's (Grigoriy Dobrygin) attempt to claim an inheritance gives a German agent (Philip Seymour Hoffman) the chance to lay a trap for a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams, Grigoriy Dobrygin, Willem Dafoe

Directed By: Anton Corbijn

Critics Consensus: As smart, funny, and trenchant as writer-director-star Chris Rock's best standup work, Top Five is a career highlight for its creator -- and one of the comedy standouts of 2014.

Synopsis: Though he began in stand-up comedy, Andre Allen (Chris Rock) hit the big-time as the star of a trilogy of action-comedies about a talking bear.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson, Kevin Hart, Gabrielle Union

Directed By: Chris Rock

Critics Consensus: Beautiful visuals, James Gray's confident direction, and a powerful performance from Marion Cotillard combine to make The Immigrant a richly rewarding period drama.

Synopsis: After her sister is quarantined at Ellis Island, a Polish nurse (Marion Cotillard) is forced into prostitution by a theater manager (Joaquin Phoenix) who moonlights... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Renner, Dagmara Domińczyk

Directed By: James Gray

Critics Consensus: The Good Lie sacrifices real-life nuance in order to turn its true story into a Hollywood production, but the results still add up to a compelling, well-acted, and deeply moving drama.

Synopsis: After their village is destroyed and their parents killed by Northern militia, Sudanese orphans Theo, his siblings and other survivors make a difficult journey to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Arnold Oceng, Ger Duany, Emmanuel Jal

Directed By: Philippe Falardeau

Critics Consensus: Its meditative pace and low-key approach may prove too ponderous for some, but Hide Your Smiling Faces will cast a potent spell on viewers patient enough to let it unfold.

Synopsis: Tommy (Ryan Jones) and Eric (Nathan Varnson) spend their summer days having fun until death enters their lives.

Starring: Ryan Jones, Nathan Varnson, Colm O'Leary, Thomas Cruz

Directed By: Daniel Patrick Carbone

Critics Consensus: Its message may prove elusive for some, but with absorbing imagery and a mesmerizing performance from Scarlett Johansson, Under the Skin is a haunting viewing experience.

Synopsis: Disguising herself as a human female, an extraterrestrial (Scarlett Johansson) drives around Scotland and tries to lure unsuspecting men into her van.

Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy McWilliams, Lynsey Taylor Mackay, Dougie McConnell

Directed By: Jonathan Glazer

Critics Consensus: Boasting plenty of twists, a suitably seedy tone, and a memorable supporting turn from Don Johnson, Cold in July proves an uncommonly rewarding thriller.

Synopsis: The killing of a home intruder puts a Texas man (Michael C. Hall) and his family on the radar of the dead man's vengeful father... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard, Vinessa Shaw, Don Johnson

Directed By: Jim Mickle

Critics Consensus: Thanks to smart direction and a powerhouse performance from Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Beyond the Lights transcends its formulaic storyline to deliver thoroughly entertaining drama.

Synopsis: Though she's been groomed for stardom all her life by an overbearing mother (Minnie Driver), singer Noni (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is having trouble dealing with her... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nate Parker, Minnie Driver, Danny Glover

Directed By: Gina Prince-Bythewood

Critics Consensus: As compassionate as it is infuriating, Rich Hill offers a sobering glimpse of American poverty.

Synopsis: The turbulent lives of three boys living in a poor Midwestern town, and the fragile bonds that sustain them.

Starring: Alyssa Jewell, Andrew Jewell, Elizabeth Jewell, Willie Jewell

Directed By: Andrew Droz Palermo, Tracy Droz Tragos

Critics Consensus: Writer-director John Carney's return to musical drama isn't quite as potent as it was with Once, but thanks to charming work from its well-matched leads, Begin Again is difficult to resist.

Synopsis: Gretta (Keira Knightley) and her songwriting partner/lover Dave (Adam Levine) head for New York when he lands a record deal with a major label. However,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Hailee Steinfeld, Adam Levine

Directed By: John Carney

Critics Consensus: Hauntingly bleak and thrillingly ambitious, The Double offers Jesse Eisenberg a pair of compelling roles while reaffirming writer-director Richard Ayoade's remarkable talent.

Synopsis: An awkward office drone (Jesse Eisenberg) becomes increasingly unhinged after a charismatic and confident look-alike takes a job at his workplace and seduces the woman... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Mia Wasikowska, Wallace Shawn, Rade Serbedzija

Directed By: Richard Ayoade

Critics Consensus: The Book of Life's gorgeous animation is a treat, but it's a pity that its story lacks the same level of craft and detail that its thrilling visuals provide.

Synopsis: In the Mexican town of San Angel, Manolo (Diego Luna), Maria (Zoë Saldana) and Joaquin (Channing Tatum) have been friends ever since childhood. Although their... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Diego Luna, Zoe Saldaña, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube

Directed By: Jorge R. Gutierrez

Critics Consensus: Gently amusing and agreeably modest in scale, Land Ho! uses its stars' warm chemistry to impart its poignant, quietly effective message.

Synopsis: A retired surgeon (Earl Lynn Nelson) and his reserved former brother-in-law (Paul Eenhoorn) try to recapture their youth during a journey across Iceland.

Starring: Paul Eenhoorn, Earl Lynn Nelson, Karrie Crouse, Elizabeth McKee

Directed By: Aaron Katz, Martha Stephens

Critics Consensus: Although Ivory Tower makes it clear that there isn't enough room in a 90-minute film to tackle spiraling student loan debt, it also serves as a compelling call for deeper investigation.

Synopsis: As tuition spirals upward and student debt passes a trillion dollars, students and parents begin to wonder if college is worth the expense.

Starring: Jerry Brown, Clayton Christensen, Michael Crow, Andrew Delbanco

Directed By: Andrew Rossi

Critics Consensus: Although its high-energy plot and over-the-top violence may play better with genre aficionados, The Raid 2 definitely delivers more of everything audiences loved about its predecessor.

Synopsis: After surviving a bloody fight with powerful gangsters, rookie Jakarta cop Rama thinks he can resume a normal life. However, his exploits during that fateful... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Iko Uwais, Yayan Ruhian, Arifin Putra, Oka Antara

Directed By: Gareth Evans

Critics Consensus: What Tracks lacks in excitement, it more than makes up with gorgeous cinematography and Mia Wasikowska's outstanding performance.

Synopsis: Accompanied only by her faithful dog and four camels, an Australian (Mia Wasikowska) satisfies her craving for solitude by embarking on a solo trip across... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Adam Driver, Rainer Bock, Rolley Mintuma

Directed By: John Curran

Critics Consensus: The One I Love doesn't take its intriguing premise quite as far as it could, but it still adds up to an ambitious, well-acted look at love and marriage.

Synopsis: A couple (Mark Duplass, Elisabeth Moss) whose marriage is crumbling have a surreal experience during a weekend getaway at a house recommended by their therapist... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mark Duplass, Elisabeth Moss, Ted Danson, Kiana Cason

Directed By: Charlie McDowell

Critics Consensus: Skillfully weaving multiple delicate tonal strands into a quietly affecting whole, Lilting serves as a thoroughly compelling calling card for writer-director Hong Khaou.

Synopsis: In London, a Cambodian mother mourns her son as she struggles to connect with someone.

Starring: Ben Whishaw, Morven Christie, Peter Bowles, Cheng Pei-pei

Directed By: Hong Khaou

Critics Consensus: Wise, funny, and heartbreaking without resorting to exploitation, The Fault In Our Stars does right by its bestselling source material.

Synopsis: Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old cancer patient, meets and falls in love with Gus Waters, a similarly afflicted teen from her cancer support group. Hazel... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Willem Dafoe, Nat Wolff

Directed By: Josh Boone

Critics Consensus: With an unforgettable Chadwick Boseman in the starring role, Get On Up offers the Godfather of Soul a fittingly dynamic homage.

Synopsis: James Brown (Chadwick Boseman) was born in extreme poverty in 1933 South Carolina and survived abandonment, abuse and jail to become one of the most... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd, Viola Davis

Directed By: Tate Taylor

Critics Consensus: A squarely traditional yet somewhat progressive Western, The Homesman adds another absorbing entry to Tommy Lee Jones' directorial résumé.

Synopsis: A frontier farm woman (Hilary Swank) saves the life of a claim-jumper (Tommy Lee Jones) and persuades him to help her escort three insane women... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Hilary Swank, David Dencik, William Fichtner

Directed By: Tommy Lee Jones

Critics Consensus: Mr. Peabody & Sherman offers a surprisingly entertaining burst of colorful all-ages fun, despite its dated source material and rather convoluted plot.

Synopsis: Mr. Peabody (Ty Burrell), the most accomplished canine in the world, and his boy, Sherman (Max Charles), use a time machine called the Wabac to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Ariel Winter, Stephen Colbert

Directed By: Rob Minkoff

Critics Consensus: As thought-provoking as it is uncompromising, Listen Up Philip finds writer-director Alex Ross Perry taking a creative step forward while hearkening back to classic neurotic comedies of '70s cinema.

Synopsis: After refusing to promote his eagerly awaited second novel, a self-absorbed writer (Jason Schwartzman) takes up residence at the home of his literary idol (Jonathan... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jason Schwartzman, Elisabeth Moss, Jonathan Pryce, Eric Bogosian

Directed By: Alex Ross Perry

Critics Consensus: Compact and effective, In Fear offers discerning horror fans a smart and disturbing plunge into the depths of cinematic anxiety.

Synopsis: A young couple gets lost in a maze of country roads and becomes the target of a mysterious tormentor.

Starring: Iain De Caestecker, Alice Englert, Allen Leech, Jemma Powell

Directed By: Jeremy Lovering

Critics Consensus: Bolstered by a pair of likable leads and suffused in a warmly nostalgic glow, Rob the Mob is an uneven crime caper that mostly works.

Synopsis: While robbing a mob-owned hangout, two lovers (Michael Pitt, Nina Arianda) stumble upon a secret that could help the FBI dismantle New York's crime syndicate.

Starring: Michael Pitt, Nina Arianda, Andy Garcia, Michael Rispoli

Directed By: Raymond De Felitta

Critics Consensus: Part biopic, part love story, The Theory of Everything rises on James Marsh's polished direction and the strength of its two leads.

Synopsis: In the 1960s, Cambridge University student and future physicist Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) falls in love with fellow collegian Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones). At 21,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Emily Watson, David Thewlis

Directed By: James Marsh

Critics Consensus: While it may not reach the delirious heights of The Muppets, Muppets Most Wanted still packs in enough clever gags, catchy songs, and celebrity cameos to satisfy fans of all ages.

Synopsis: Dominic Badguy (Ricky Gervais), The Muppets' new manager, convinces the gang to embark on a world tour. Kermit the Frog doubts that it's a good... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, Tina Fey, Danny Trejo

Directed By: James Bobin

Critics Consensus: It might be a more entertaining watch for diehard fans of the show, but Veronica Mars offers enough sharp writing and solid performances to entertain viewers in the mood for a character-driven thriller.

Synopsis: With her graduation from law school imminent, Veronica Mars is interviewing with prestigious New York law firms when she gets a call from ex-boyfriend Logan,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kristen Bell, Jason Dohring, Krysten Ritter, Ryan Hansen

Directed By: Rob Thomas

Critics Consensus: With striking visuals, complex characters, and Hitchcockian plot twists, The Two Faces of January offers a pleasantly pungent treat for fans of romantic thrillers.

Synopsis: After he kills a detective, a con artist (Viggo Mortensen) and his wife (Kirsten Dunst) must trust a potentially dangerous stranger (Oscar Isaac) to help... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst, Oscar Isaac, Daisy Bevan

Directed By: Hossein Amini

Critics Consensus: Its unabashedly positive tone may strike some viewers as disingenuous, but even if Supermensch doesn't tell the whole story, it's an undeniably entertaining one.

Synopsis: Actor Michael Douglas, rocker Alice Cooper, chef Emeril Lagasse and others pay tribute to Shep Gordon, the Hollywood insider who spent his life making other... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Arnold, Mario Batali, Dana Carvey, Julia Child

Directed By: Mike Myers, Beth Aala

Critics Consensus: Grand Piano is so tense in its best moments -- and appealingly strange overall -- that it remains rewarding in spite of its flaws.

Synopsis: A concert pianist who has stage fright finds a threatening note written on his sheet music just moments before a performance.

Starring: Elijah Wood, John Cusack, Tamsin Egerton, Kerry Bishé

Directed By: Eugenio Mira

Critics Consensus: G.B.F. explores high school relationship dynamics and teen stereotypes with a refreshingly humorous touch - and surprisingly subtle smarts.

Synopsis: A closeted gay teen (Paul Iacono) wants to join the popular gals' clique, but his scheme backfires when his best friend (Michael J. Willett) is... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael J. Willett, Paul Iacono, Sasha Pieterse, Andrea Bowen

Directed By: Darren Stein

Critics Consensus: Deliriously manic and gleefully tasteless, Why Don't You Play in Hell? delivers infectious genre fun.

Synopsis: In Japan, gonzo filmmakers hatch a three-pronged plan to save an actress's career, end a yakuza war and make a hit movie.

Starring: Jun Kunimura, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Hiroki Hasegawa, Gen Hoshino

Directed By: Sion Sono

Critics Consensus: It wears its influences on its sleeve, but Bad Turn Worse still boasts more than enough pulpy thrills to justify its place at the table.

Synopsis: Three teens from Texas move out of their small town and get sucked into organized crime when one of them steals from the wrong man.

Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Logan Huffman, Mackenzie Davis, Mark Pellegrino

Directed By: Simon Hawkins, Zeke Hawkins

Critics Consensus: While the script may not always be worthy of her gifts, Catherine Deneuve's performance ultimately offers more than enough reason to watch On My Way.

Synopsis: A woman leaves on a road trip with her grandson after her relationship and her restaurant fail.

Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Nemo Schiffman, Gérard Garouste, Camille

Directed By: Emmanuelle Bercot

Critics Consensus: Pleasantly easygoing and consistently funny, Chinese Puzzle offers a suitably endearing conclusion to Cédric Klapisch's Trilogy of Xavier.

Synopsis: A 40-year-old divorced father of two cannot cope with his children moving to New York with their mother, so he moves there to be close... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Romain Duris, Audrey Tautou, Cécile de France, Kelly Reilly

Directed By: Cédric Klapisch

Critics Consensus: Balancing complex Middle Eastern politics against a universal human drama, director Yuval Adler fashions Bethlehem into a thought-provoking, well-acted character study.

Synopsis: A complex relationship develops between an Israeli secret service officer (Tsahi Halevi) and his teenage Palestinian informant (Shadi Mar'i).

Starring: Shadi Mar'i, Tsahi Halevi, Haitham Alomari, Tarik Kopty

Directed By: Yuval Adler

Critics Consensus: While it's far from Laika's best offering, The Boxtrolls is still packed with enough offbeat wit and visual splendor to offer a healthy dose of all-ages entertainment.

Synopsis: Eggs (Isaac Hempstead-Wright), an orphan, lives with the Boxtrolls -- a community of quirky, mischievous creatures who inhabit a cavern beneath the city of Cheesebridge.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Elle Fanning, Ben Kingsley, Toni Collette

Directed By: Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable

Critics Consensus: Lucky Them may not quite live up to Toni Collette's bravura starring performance, but it's certainly elevated by it.

Synopsis: A wealthy aspiring filmmaker (Thomas Haden Church) accompanies a rock journalist (Toni Collette) as she searches for her former lover, a music legend she helped... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Toni Collette, Thomas Haden Church, Nina Arianda, Ryan Eggold

Directed By: Megan Griffiths

Critics Consensus: St. Vincent offers the considerable pleasure of seeing Bill Murray back in funny form, but drifts into dangerously sentimental territory along the way.

Synopsis: An unlikely bond forms between a single woman's 12-year-old son and the boozy misanthrope who lives next door.

Starring: Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts, Chris O'Dowd

Directed By: Theodore Melfi

Critics Consensus: Timely, solidly acted, and unabashedly earnest, Rosewater serves as an impressive calling card for first-time director Jon Stewart.

Synopsis: In June 2009, BBC journalist Maziar Bahari, an Iranian-born Canadian citizen, returned to his native country to interview Mir-Hossein Moussavi, the prime challenger to incumbent... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Gael García Bernal, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Golshifteh Farahani, Dimitri Leonidas

Directed By: Jon Stewart

Critics Consensus: Kill the Messenger's potent fury over the tale of its real-life subject overrides its factual inaccuracies and occasional narrative stumbles.

Synopsis: Journalist Gary Webb (Jeremy Renner) happens upon a story that not only leads to the origins of America's crack epidemic but also alleges that the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ray Liotta, Tim Blake Nelson

Directed By: Michael Cuesta

Critics Consensus: Amiably slight, A Coffee in Berlin compensates for its lack of narrative drive with a sure-handed screenplay and echoes of early Woody Allen.

Synopsis: A fateful day pushes an aimless college dropout (Tom Schilling) to stop wasting his time and finally engage with life.

Starring: Tom Schilling, Katharina Schüttler, Justus von Dohnányi, Marc Hosemann

Directed By: Jan-Ole Gerster

Critics Consensus: The Green Prince doesn't answer all the questions it raises, but it's still timely, gripping -- and ultimately uplifting -- viewing.

Synopsis: After his arrest, Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of a founder of Hamas, becomes an informant for the Israeli secret service.

Starring: Mosab Hassan Yousef, Gonen Ben Yitzhak

Directed By: Nadav Schirman

Critics Consensus: With just enough human drama to anchor the sweeping spectacle of giant monsters smashing everything in sight, Gareth Edwards' Godzilla satisfyingly restores the franchise's fire-breathing glory.

Synopsis: Ford Brody (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), a Navy bomb expert, has just reunited with his family in San Francisco when he is forced to go to Japan... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen, Juliette Binoche

Directed By: Gareth Edwards

Critics Consensus: Overall, Fury is a well-acted, suitably raw depiction of the horrors of war that offers visceral battle scenes but doesn't quite live up to its larger ambitions.

Synopsis: In April 1945, the Allies are making their final push in the European theater. A battle-hardened Army sergeant named Don "Wardaddy" Collier, leading a Sherman... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Peña

Directed By: David Ayer

Critics Consensus: Darkly funny, fearlessly bold, and thoroughly indulgent, Nymphomaniac finds Lars von Trier provoking viewers with customary abandon.

Synopsis: Joe, a self-diagnosed nymphomaniac who is discovered badly beaten in an alley by an older bachelor, Seligman, who takes her into his home. As he... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgård, Stacy Martin, Shia LaBeouf

Directed By: Lars von Trier

Critics Consensus: Intelligent, well-acted, and satisfyingly low-key, Happy Christmas marks another step in prolific filmmaker Joe Swanberg's creative evolution.

Synopsis: An immature party girl (Anna Kendrick) moves in with her brother's family to get over a breakup and throws their lives out of whack.

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Melanie Lynskey, Mark Webber, Lena Dunham

Directed By: Joe Swanberg

Critics Consensus: With just enough black humor to lighten the disturbing subject matter, Big Bad Wolves is as rewarding as it is challenging.

Synopsis: A cop (Lior Ashkenazi) and a vengeful father (Tzahi Grad) torture a teacher (Rotem Keinan) whom they believe was involved in several killings, including that... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Lior Ashkenazi, Rotem Keinan, Tzahi Grad, Dov Glickman

Directed By: Aharon Keshales, Navot Papushado

Critics Consensus: Smart, stylish, and nail-bitingly tense, Honeymoon packs more slow-building horror than many bigger-budget productions.

Synopsis: A honeymooning bride (Rose Leslie) goes sleepwalking into the woods surrounding a secluded cabin. When she returns she looks the same, but something about her... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Rose Leslie, Harry Treadaway, Ben Huber, Hanna Brown

Directed By: Leigh Janiak

Critics Consensus: With sweeping visuals grounded by strong performances in service of a timeless tale told on a human scale, Darren Aronofsky's Noah brings the Bible epic into the 21st century.

Synopsis: When God decides that mankind has become too sinful and must be wiped off the Earth, he chooses Noah (Russell Crowe), a pious man, for... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson, Anthony Hopkins

Directed By: Darren Aronofsky

Critics Consensus: A true account of military courage and survival, Lone Survivor wields enough visceral power to mitigate its heavy-handed jingoism.

Synopsis: In 2005 Afghanistan, Navy SEALs Marcus Luttrell (Mark Wahlberg), Michael Murphy (Taylor Kitsch), Danny Dietz (Emile Hirsch) and Matthew "Axe" Axelson (Ben Foster) deploy on... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Eric Bana, Emile Hirsch

Directed By: Peter Berg

Critics Consensus: With an emphasis on dread over gore and an ending that leaves the door wide open for sequels, Oculus could be just the first spine-tingling chapter in a new franchise for discerning horror fans.

Synopsis: Haunted by the violent demise of their parents 10 years earlier, adult siblings Kaylie (Karen Gillan) and Tim (Brenton Thwaites) are now struggling to rebuild... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Karen Gillan, Brenton Thwaites, Katee Sackhoff, Rory Cochrane

Directed By: Mike Flanagan

Critics Consensus: Camp X-Ray's treatment of its subject verges on the shallow, but benefits greatly from a pair of impressive performances from Kristen Stewart and Peyman Moaadi.

Synopsis: A female guard at Guantánamo Bay forms an unlikely friendship with one of the facility's longtime detainees.

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Peyman Moaadi, Lane Garrison, J.J. Soria

Directed By: Peter Sattler

Critics Consensus: Interstellar represents more of the thrilling, thought-provoking, and visually resplendent filmmaking moviegoers have come to expect from writer-director Christopher Nolan, even if its intellectual reach somewhat exceeds its grasp.

Synopsis: In Earth's future, a global crop blight and second Dust Bowl are slowly rendering the planet uninhabitable. Professor Brand (Michael Caine), a brilliant NASA physicist,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine

Directed By: Christopher Nolan

Critics Consensus: With plenty of bawdy humor evenly spread between its well-matched stars, Neighbors earns its R rating -- and filmgoers' laughs.

Synopsis: A young couple suffering from arrested development are forced to live next to a fraternity house after the birth of their newborn baby.

Starring: Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne, Christopher Mintz-Plasse

Directed By: Nicholas Stoller

Critics Consensus: The Congress rises on the strength of Robin Wright's powerful performance, with enough ambitious storytelling and technical thrills to overcome its somewhat messy structure.

Synopsis: An aging actress agrees to preserve her digital likeness for a studio to use in any future films it likes.

Starring: Robin Wright, Harvey Keitel, Jon Hamm, Paul Giamatti

Directed By: Ari Folman

Critics Consensus: Ozon may not explore his themes as fully as he should, but Young & Beautiful poses enough intriguing questions -- and features a strong enough performance from Marine Vacth -- to compensate for its frustrations.

Synopsis: Isabelle (Marine Vacth), a 17-year-old student, loses her virginity during a quick holiday romance. When she returns home, she begins a secret life as a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Marine Vacth, Géraldine Pailhas, Frédéric Pierrot, Fantin Ravat

Directed By: François Ozon

Critics Consensus: Powered by Clint Eastwood's sure-handed direction and a gripping central performance from Bradley Cooper, American Sniper delivers a tense, vivid tribute to its real-life subject.

Synopsis: U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper) takes his sole mission -- protect his comrades -- to heart and becomes one of the most lethal... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Jake McDorman, Luke Grimes

Directed By: Clint Eastwood

Critics Consensus: Thanks to a strong performance from Jake Gyllenhaal and smart direction from Denis Villeneuve, Enemy hits the mark as a tense, uncommonly adventurous thriller.

Synopsis: A mild-mannered college professor (Jake Gyllenhaal) discovers a look-alike actor and delves into the other man's private affairs.

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mélanie Laurent, Isabella Rossellini, Sarah Gadon

Directed By: Denis Villeneuve