"Words and Pictures," Directed by Fred Schepisi

"Words and Pictures," directed by Fred Schepisi and written by Gerald DiPego, is a romantic comedy set in a prep school. Jack Marcus (Clive Owen) is an alcoholic English teacher who rails against social media, which he believes has led to a lessening of appreciation for the written word. He's by turns brilliant and impassioned, as well as erratic and irresponsible, and is fighting to keep his job. Dina Delsanto (Juliette Binoche) is a prominent artist and art teacher, new to the staff, who is demanding in her educational methods and seemingly uninterested in personal relationships with students and other faculty members. Jack, however, is quite interested in engaging with her, as well as proving his point that the written word is superior to images. When Dina (whose outstanding canvases were painted by Binoche, an actual artist, tells her students that "words are lies," Jack sets up a contest between their students to decide the primacy of one medium over another. Knowing that an important job review is coming, Jack attempts to act more responsibly as a teacher, and his deepening relationship with Dina is also part of getting his act together. It's all threatened by his on-and-off drinking and by an act of literary plagiarism. The contest becomes his one last chance to inspire his students and prove his worth as an educator. Regardless of the results, "Words and Pictures" offers a dramatic dialogue of ideas worth considering in an era of sound bites and tweets.

"Philomena," Directed By Stephen Frears

"Philomena" is based on Martin Sixsmith's non-fiction book "The Lost Child of Philomena Lee," about a young woman who was sent to a convent in Ireland after giving birth to a child out of wedlock. The teenage Philomena (Sophie Kennedy Clark) is forced to work long hours in the convent laundry and is allowed to see her son Anthony only an hour a day. She is also forced to sign a contract in which she agrees never to pursue her son, who is sold to an American couple as Philomena looks on in anguish. Years later, the elderly Philomena (Judi Dench) meets an unemployed journalist, Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan), and sets off with him to America to find her child in a journey that uncovers scandalous revelations. Philomena's religiosity and love of romance novels are contrasted with Martin's atheism and cynicism, but the movie avoids excessive sentimentality, respects both their perspectives and movingly conveys their journey.

"Milk": Stirring Portrayal Of America's First Openly Gay Official

Gus Van Sant's "Milk" is a moving depiction of gay activist and politician Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to serve in public office as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Milk moved from New York City to the Castro District of San Francisco during a period when the police still arrested patrons of gay bars (in New York, such raids led to the 1969 Stonewall riots) and area merchants did not welcome gay-owned businesses.

Milk was viewed askance by the gay political establishment, which preferred to quietly work for incremental change. Yet he refused to hide his homosexuality, even in the face of death threats, and encouraged gays to "out" themselves. Though losing several elections, Milk persevered with a two-pronged strategy: openly campaigning on a gay rights platform and working in coalition with organized labor, seniors and other groups.

Those dismayed by the passing of Proposition 8, which rescinded the rights of gays to marry in California, gain historical perspective as the film depicts the fight over Proposition 6, sponsored by Senator John Briggs, which called for the firing of gay teachers. Briggs was inspired by the repeal of an ordinance that made gay discrimination illegal, an effort led by Anita Bryant. Proposition 6, however, was defeated.

Milk and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were murdered by city supervisor Dan White, an anti-gay conservative who became unhinged after he was denied reinstatement to his position following his resignation. White was sentenced to only five years after his attorneys invoked the infamous "Twinkie defense," the claim that their client was mentally imbalanced due to junk food. White committed suicide a year and a half after his release.

Sean Penn, as the courageous and impassioned Harvey Milk, and Josh Brolin, as the brooding and resentful Dan White, turn in outstanding performances. Penn is fully convincing as the charismatic city supervisor who taught gays across the country essential lessons: to embrace their identity and to keep fighting for their civil rights. With the just struggle for full marriage equality underway, the life story shown in "Milk" offers particular inspiration