Argo (2012)

Acting under the cover of a Hollywood producer scouting a location for a science fiction film, a CIA agent launches a dangerous operation to rescue six Americans in Tehran during the U.S. hostage crisis in Iran in 1979.

Well-crafted, entertaining political thriller with a good cast manages to mix tension and humour; however, the audacity of the true story seems more fascinating than what the movie actually offers.

Maltin***1/2: "Incredible true story...Affleck's sure-handed direction...manages to shift seamlessly from incredible tension in Iran and internecine politics in Washington, D.C., to the absurdity of the scheme in Hollywood. As the old pros in Movieland, Arkin and Goodman are hilarious, and every one of their punch lines scores a bull's-eye. Smart, enormously satisfying entertainment..."

Contagion (2011)

Healthcare professionals, government officials and everyday people find themselves in the midst of a worldwide epidemic as the CDC works to find a cure.

Realistic, grand-scale and star-cast catastrophe movie manages to keep multiple stories and locations  seamlessly in line with the major plot; however, the matter-of-fact approach underplays the doom of a pandemic.

Maltin***: "Pulse-pounding account...Scott Z. Burns' screenplay is scary  because it's all so credible. Soderbergh handles the material in utterly straightforward fashion; there's no poetry here."

Trumbo (2015)

In 1947, Dalton Trumbo was Hollywood's top screenwriter, until he and other artists were jailed and blacklisted for their political beliefs.

Good depiction of the effects of McCarthy's Hollywood blacklistimg concentrates on Dalton Trumbo's life, but gives enough details of the times; period detail and cast are excellent. 

Godzilla (2014)

The world's most famous monster is pitted against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity's scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence.

Finally, a worthy Western Godzilla production with all the beloved ingredients, although the star of the movie has less than 10 minutes of screen time.



On second view: I still think so, but it's a pity that the movie is photographed so much in the dark that it's hard to watch; and in a monster movie I want to see the monster - a lot.

Maltin***: "Spectacular, and surprisingly good, story reintroduces the formidable Japanese monster - and some parasitic predators - in a genre film that doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, except in its cutting-edge visual effects...Director Edwards breathes new life into formulaic monster-movie moments, ultimately proving that Godzilla still rules."