Time to take stock, filmwise, of the year that was. My grading system (from 0—none this year though I could barely bring myself to give a 6 to the much-applauded Tree of Life—to 20) helps do a quick scan of the hundreds of films I’ve seen in 2011. What does a film have to be and do to get 20? Keep me consistently engaged, not have any off moment, not have any special goofs or anachronistic touches, offer intelligent writing

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The acting is truly awesome. Nowadays, athletes—be they tennis players, runners or X-game participants—accomplish incredible feats that leave us slack-jawed and wondering what they will do next. Snowboard down Everest? Jump parkour-style over the rooftops of Paris from Montmartre to Notre-Dame? Run a thousand miles without stopping? Actors are the same. Their performances become better and better and not only because of the perfect digitized images on enormous Cineplex screens and of voices booming through dolbied surround sound.