David A. Schwartz, 12/21/12

Bitter, yet lovable, music snob; Worried philosopher

Film is a visual and aural medium, so it's only natural for filmmakers to strive to create a grand spectacle for the eyes and ears, but it takes a grand spectacle of emotion and story to create a true sense of wonder. That's where the magic of film lies.

Annette Bourdeau, 12/20/12

Entertainment Reporter

Watching Paul Rudd shine on the big screen once again in This Is 40 got me thinking about all of the amazing stuff he's done over the years. He's consistently funny, whether he's playing a hapless schmuck or a raging douchebag. With that in mind, I decided to honor Rudd with a list of the top 10 reasons I love him.

Rick Mele, 12/20/12

Writer, film critic, sports fan

Can This Is 40 top its "sort-of" predecessor, Knocked Up, which went on to critical acclaim and big money at the box office? Or does it land closer to overly narcissistic Funny People territory? To find out, I crunched the numbers.

Dwight Brown, 12/19/12

Film Critic and Travel Writer

A stellar year for filmmaking is behind us, and the best movies are worth seeing whether you screen them in a theater, on DVD or on VOD. Grab some popcorn and enjoy the exceptional work of black actors, directors and other talented artists.

Greg Wetherall, 12/18/12

Music, film and theater critic based in London

The Lord of the Rings trilogy. What is there to say about the behemoth of the modern cinematic age, with its awards, its ridiculously long running times and its enormous footprint in the sand of the modern movie epic?

Peter Van Buren, 12/18/12

Fmr. State Department Iraq PRT leader; Author, 'We Meant Well'

A widely praised new movie about the assassination of Osama bin Laden, Zero Dark Thirty, opens with a series of torture scenes. The movie scenes are brutal, yet sanitized.

Scott Mendelson, 12/18/12

Film critic at Mendelson's Memos, Valley Scene Magazine

At the conclusion of The Fellowship of the Ring, I was completely on board for the next two pictures, completely invested in the world that had unfolded over the previous 170 minutes. This time around? I'm not entirely sure whether I'll stick it out for the next two films.

Jon Patricof, 12/17/12

President and COO, Tribeca Enterprises

I wrote earlier this year that despite the predictions of the demise of movie theaters from market analysts, it looked like that the movies were set for one of their biggest years ever at the box office and the second-half hasn't let moviegoers or the movie industry down.

Liz Smith, 12/17/12

Columnist

Most insiders think the GG's really make an impression on Academy voters. The Globes are handed out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. They can be a bit strange and we've never heard of most of them, but once a year they are a power in Hollywood.

Chris Jancelewicz, 12/14/12

Lead Entertainment Editor, Huffington Post Canada

The Hobbit is enjoyable on every level -- from story to cinematography to the performances -- and despite the inherent nerdiness of the franchise, even the non-geeks among us can identify with the triumphs of a small man over big foes. If you still have no desire to see it, here are 26 reasons why you should re-consider and give it a chance.

Aaron Zelinsky, 12/13/12

Adjunct Professor, Peking University School of Transnational Law

Kathryn Bigelow's new film, Zero Dark Thirty, has reignited the debate over the role torture should play in U.S. counterterrorism policy. Here's the CliffsNotes answer: none.

Annette Bourdeau, 12/13/12

Entertainment Reporter

Before the age of the Internet and text messages, it was a heck of a lot easier for politicians to get away with affairs. Just look at the number of ladies wheelchair-bound Franklin D. Roosevelt managed to romance without detection. Somehow, though, Hyde Park falls flat.

Scott Mendelson, 12/13/12

Film critic at Mendelson's Memos, Valley Scene Magazine

The harshest thing I can say about Tom Hooper's Les Misérables is that I can only imagine those who have not seen the original show wondering what the fuss has been all about.

Ken Furer, 12/12/12

Comedy writer/producer; Funny or Die contributor

Out of the Loop: A struggling filmmaker who wishes he made Looper is visited by his future self who travels back in time to give him the idea for Looper.