Rust and Bone (2012)

Marion Cotillard, or as I like to call her, La Streep Francais, continues her parade of bafflingly good performances in "De rouille et d'os," or "Rust and Bone." Playing a killer whale trainer whose livelihood (and in some ways, her life) is cut short by a freak accident on the job, Cotillard's Stephanie fights to gain mobility, confidence and self-respect with the aid of a hunky but down-on-his-luck wanderer played by the magnetic Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts (last year's "Bullhead").

Directed by Jacques Audiard, who took my breath away with his last feature, "Un Prophete (A Prophet)," is not just a pity party about an able-bodied person learning to cope with a stunning new handicap. It's about redemption, maybe more for Schoenaerts' Ali than for Stephanie. And in the hands of Audiard, it is a stunning film of power with many excellent visual moments and a memorable score and soundtrack.

Expect to hear Cotillard's name called during the Oscar nomination announcements, and expect a full review from me as soon as I get a chance!