Chef is palatable feel-good fare whose recipe has smatterings of moving performances and dashes of rib-tickling humour.

In a world where religion is viewed as an anthropological tailbone and a stumbling block in the way to a better tomorrow, Life of Pi is a well-told parable which offers scoffers a non-intelligence-insulting perspective. A visually captivating but subtlely written film with great performances, Life of Pi makes for interesting viewing.

While the story takes a definite turn for the cloying later on, the seamless manner where it switches back and forth from the domain of quirky light-hearted comedy and probing – occasionally upsetting – emotional drama is ingenious. The performances and unerring visual grammar are some reasons why the film is one of the best of 2012 and should not be missed.

Probably the best set-up sci-fi film you are likely to encounter in a while, Looper is worth engaging with.