“ You spend the first forty minutes of The Surrogate feeling vaguely uncomfortable. The film is based on the true story of journalist and poet Mark O'Brien, who spent most of his life in an iron lung, unable to move any muscles save those in his face. In spite of these challenges O'Brien, played wonderfully by John Hawkes (doing most of his work with his voice), attended Berkeley and, in the focus of this film, employed a sexual surrogate to allow him, in his late 30s to experience one of the most basic, enjoyable aspects of life; sex. Helen Hunt (welcome back!) as the surrogate, Cheryl Green, gives a natural, startlingly naked performance, as she convinces O'Brien there's nothing to be ashamed about. As she does, and as the relationship between O'Brien and Green matures into something akin to love, the awkward feelings of the viewer give way to feeling guilty for ever having felt that unease in the first place. We realize we're just as paralyzed in our attitudes about sex, and that it took The Surrogate to make us realize that. ”

“ Documentarian Kirby Dick (Sick, Outrage) crafts another compelling film with The Invisible War. It chronicles the horrifying statistics of the incidence of rape in the U.S. military, of both men and women, and the complete lack of resource, of recompense, and of justice for those who are the victims of the crime. While Dick can be accused of not being the most subtle filmmaker, here he is at his best, with a subject that would enrage any person who watches it. Dick also provides a coda showing how people can get involved in righting some of the crazed military procedures that endanger men and women in and outside of the Armed Forces at http://invisiblewarmovie.com. ”

“ No, it's not perfect but there are enough organic laughs in Liberal Arts to make up for its more precious failings. Writer/director/star Josh Radnor made the woefully under-valued Happythankyoumoreplease and crafts yet another clever and self-deprecating film. Arts wisely sends up the standard Sundance offering where some depressed hipster bastard entrances hot, nubile co-ed for no apparent reason other than the fact that the script calls for it. Here you actually get it. Happy. Thank you. More please. ”

“ Safety Not Guaranteed is a quirky but largely satisfying film about three editors in Seattle who follow the story of a man who has placed a classified ad stating "Wanted: Someone to go back in time with me. This is not a joke...You'll get paid after we get back. Bring your own weapons. SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED. I have only done this once before." Mark Duplass (who seems to be getting better with each performance) is the guy who submitted the ad and Aubrey Plaza plays the intern who investigates his claims. ”

“ Comedian Mike Birbiglia co-wrote, directs and stars in Sleepwalk With Me and, for those who've heard his stand-up routine over the years, a lot of the material will be familiar. It helps that it's good material and that Birbiglia leaves sentimentality behind. Much like Howard Stern's Private Parts the story here is about the struggle to start in a tough profession and how revealing personal, private details turned a faltering career around. ”

“ Gareth Evans's The Raid was a much-talked about film when it was in Toronto's Midnight Madness series last fall. Ultra-violent and ultra-gory, it showcases a police unit who raid a crime baron's tenement building and then, when the boss turns the tables on them, must fight to get out alive. It well deserves its fan-boy accolades with action choreography that often surprises and avoids the usual trap of going on interminably. Iko Uwais, who plays the main cop, is pretty amazing. ”