Philomena

It is quiet, restrained, unfussy, and has, at its heart, an injustice so grave it will make your blood boil. You will also cry.

Despite its weighty themes, Stephen Frears' film is almost as much a comedy as a drama.

The movie is a bit of a puzzle coming from atheist co-writer Steve Coogan and the script grapples with these big questions of religion, class, and justice in a way that's far beyond the typical teary human-interest story.

One of the best purely British films of the year.

[The final act is] a great half hour or so of film -- funny, charming, sad, satisfying -- but the rest of Philomena isn't so up to snuff.

What at first seems formulaic comedy gains a deeper resonance as we see how they represent two responses to cruelty and injustice -- first outrage, and with time, eventually, forgiveness.

Judi Dench's greatest screen performance...

While several dramatic liberties were taken with the actual true account, most of them help make this a better film.

The restrained realism and depth of the melodrama are perfectly balanced, altogether avoiding what could have easily become schmaltzy.

Transcends its roots as a class study, becoming instead a poignant and funny story of forgiveness and the true nature of love.