Marion Cotillard, who won an Oscar playing Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose, is so possessed of talent, allure and exquisite grace that you follow her anywhere. In Rust and Bone, Cotillard plays Stéphanie, who trains orcas at an aquarium on the French Riviera. Stéphanie enjoys a healthy sex life, casually picking up burly boxer Ali (Matthias Schoenaerts) at a local club.

Everything changes when Stéphanie loses her legs in a work accident, shown in detail later in the movie. Her sense of self is shattered. It's Ali, struggling to raise his five-year-old son, who helps restore her sexual identity and sense of purpose. It doesn't come easy. Writer-director Jacques Audiard (A Prophet) probes the psyches of two people in crisis His hypnotic film means to shake you, and does. Schoenaerts reveals unexpected layers in Ali. And Cotillard delivers a tour de force of unleashed emotions. She's astonishing.

“More Than a Feeling”

Boston mastermind Tom Scholz was as surprised by anyone when he sent his unsolicited demo to record labels and got back a positive response. Scholz said, “I couldn’t believe it. Nobody knew who we were, so I wouldn’t even say we were struggling. It was groveling.” Part of the credit for the interest must go to the anthemic rock number "More Than a Feeling." Inspired by the Left Banke's 1966 hit "Walk Away Renee," Scholz worked on the song for five years in his basement studio before it was released on this album.