Where danger is no longer an option in the form of whale training, Stephanie is drawn, like a moth to the flame, to the volatile volcano that is Ali. He is a construct of unbridled testosterone and is completely temperamental. His temper trigger is slight and his fury explosive.

A Prophet is a masterpiece. Obviously, it won't have the same cultural impact as The Godfather, but both are nuanced, emotionally gripping, and above all, wildly entertaining.

If the movie year had ended last week, instead of just the first six months of the year, what movies would be the big contenders for awards?

Juan Jose Campanella's The Secret of Their Eyes seemingly came out of nowhere to beat such critically favored films as The White Ribbon, Ajami and A Prophet for the foreign-film Oscar in March.