The Artist (2011)

A silent movie about the end of silent movies — a sort of prequel to “Singing in the Rain” — features a bouncy score, dance numbers and two winning performances by Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo, who prove just how much can be said with their faces.

d: Michel Hazanavicius | imdb.com | trailer | Charlie Rose
Screen dance | Breakfast table | Taking bows

Contraband (2012)

Mark Wahlberg, the Houdini of smuggling via cargo ship, takes on one last job, because his brother-in-law screwed up the last one. Wahlberg outwits Giovanni Ribisi, beats the shit out of Ben Foster and saves wife Kate Beckinsale in a satisfying payoff.

d: Baltasar Kormakur | imdb.com | trailer | Trust me.
Back from the dead | AA meeting | Customs | What’s up, Houdini?

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

The Cold War spy picture intends to be slow and unretired spy Gary Oldman intends to be quiet. But without knowledge of the source material — the 1974 novel or the 1979 British miniseries — the film plays cold, overly complex and even boring.

d: Tomas Alfredson | imdb.com | trailer | I’m retired.
Smiley is suspicious. | The scalp hunters | Belinda the Blonde