Young Adult

"Young Adult": LA Times Critics' Choice Award from Betsy Sharkey:

Director Jason Reitman and writer Diablo Cody add their distinct light touch to dark comedy 'Young Adult,' with Charlize Theron and Patton Oswalt terrific as troubled beauty and sarcastic beast.

When it's done right, as it is in "Young Adult," there is something absolutely mesmerizing about watching a train wreck unfold on screen. When the wreck in question is a narcissistic beauty played to scheming, sour, downward-spiraling perfection by Charlize Theron, cringing is definitely called for, but so is laughter.

Betsy Sharkey's review of "Young Adult" at the LA Times

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy": LA Times Critics' Choice Award from Kenneth Turan:

'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,' starring Gary Oldman and directed by Tomas Alfredson, based on John le Carré's novel, is perhaps the great spy tale of our time. The question at the heart of "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" is simplicity itself: Is there a Soviet secret agent at the very highest echelons of British intelligence? Getting to the answer, however, couldn't be more deliciously, thrillingly, brilliantly complex.

Kenneth Turan's review of "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" at the LA Times

Melancholia

"Melancholia": LA Times Critics' Choice Award from Betsy Sharkey:

How does the world end? When it is in the hands of the cinematic master of human misery, dark Danish auteur Lars von Trier, as it is in "Melancholia," it ends in extraordinary, horrific, searing, aching and unthinkable ways. It is his most hopeful film yet.

Still firmly rooted in the filmmaker's esoteric, frustrating, provoking, demanding narrative style, the movie is also amazingly romantic — lush, ripe, rich, delicious. Its apocalyptic vision is encouraging in its hopelessness; its star, Kirsten Dunst, luminous in her anguish and devastation. Excessive in every way, and yet restrained. Everything and nothing that you'd expect a film called "Melancholia" to be.

Betsy Sharkey's review of "Melancholia" at the LA Times

J. Edgar

"J. Edgar": LA Times Critics' Choice Award from Kenneth Turan:

Leonardo DiCaprio's darkly fascinating performance as J. Edgar Hoover is matched by director Clint Eastwood's deft work behind the camera.

"J. Edgar" is a somber, enigmatic, darkly fascinating tale, and how could it be otherwise?

Turan's review of "J. Edgar" at the LA Times

The Descendants

"The Descendants": LA Times Critics' Choice Award from Betsy Sharkey:

In director Alexander Payne's intimate drama, George Clooney is powerfully effective as a man forced to reassess his life and legacy after a family crisis.

Betsy Sharkey's review of "The Descendants"at the LA Times

The Artist

"The Artist": LA Times Critics' Choice Award from Kenneth Turan:

French filmmaker Michel Hazanavicius' film is a delightful throwback to Hollywood's early days, when actors used their faces, not dialogue to convey the story. It manages to be both witty and convey the spirit of bygone days. "The Artist" is the wonder of the age, as much a miracle as "Avatar," though it comes at things from the totally opposite direction.

Kenneth Turan's review of "The Artist"