In "The Descendants," Alexander Payne has found source material that builds upon his oeuvre without replicating it.

In 2011, a surprising number of films had genuine spiritual intentions.

The salubrious 'War Horse' offers an understated anti-war message.

'The Muppets' subtly explores how our passions shape us.

Ostensibly a film about a cult, 'Martha Marcy May Marlene' feels eerily universal as it explores issues of family, belonging and identity.

'Saviors in the Night' captures the terror of the Holocaust without ever taking us to the concentration camps.