American Hustle [2013]

Director David O. Russell convincingly cheats off Martin Scorsese’s paper, Christian Bale channels De Niro and the All-Star cast struts around like they are in “Saturday Night Fever” in a sterling comedy really loosely based on 1970s Abscam scandal.

d: David O. Russell | imdb.com | trailer | He saved my life.
Dry cleaners | He can’t get enough | Science oven

X-Men: First Class (2011)

Matthew Vaughn directs the “X-Men” prequel, the sort of corny comic book movie that he satirized so well in last year’s “Kick-Ass.” This time, Vaughn provides the fodder, including hackneyed dialogue and 12 mutants who rewrite the Cuban Missile Crisis.

d: Matthew Vaughn | imdb.com | trailer | Training montage

Winter’s Bone (2010)

Jennifer Lawrence gives a breakthrough performance as Ree Dolly, a 17-year-old Ozark Mountain girl looking for her missing father. She is an everyday American hero, fighting for her life and against the antiquated social mores of her extended family.

d: Debra Granik | imdb.com | trailer