In the eight years I’ve taken on the regular duty of reviewing movies, 2012 just might have been the best. It wasn’t easy compiling a top 30 list for a 12-month period of so many diverse, outstanding films. I found myself having to make some absolutely painful snubs, including “Flight,” “The Sessions,” “The Hobbit: An Expected Journey,” and a little cinematic masterpiece by the name of “21 Jump Street.” In the end though, I managed to narrow the list down to the 20 titles that best encompass 2012 in all its glory. If you’re still behind on the movies of yesteryear, consider this your ultimate movie guide to 2012.

Marilyn Monroe. The Rolling Stones. And Bond — James Bond. What do they have in common?

A simple ring or bracelet could help give freedom to a girl trapped in the world of human trafficking and child rape.

The 2012 Southwest Open Squash Tournament goes through Sunday at LifeTime Fitness, 1616 W. Ruby Drive in Tempe. This is the third annual tournament and features some of the world’s best professional squash players from around the world, including the No. 1 player from the U.S. tournament top seed Latasha Khan.

A couple years ago, Meryl Streep played an aging woman rekindling the bond with her estranged husband in “It’s Complicated.” “Hope Springs” shares a similar premise in addition to casting Streep as a veteran woman seeking romance once again. While this is familiar territory, “Hope Springs” actually manages to improve upon “It’s Complicated” in almost every department. Where that romantic comedy from Nancy Meyers was basically an extended episode of a sitcom, this film has much more believable characters and situations. It moreover offers a frank look into the lives of a couple in their twilight years.

With a resume that includes a few roles on Broadway and several small supporting credits in film, Zoe Kazan isn’t necessarily a household name. That should all change however, with “Ruby Sparks.” This rising talent exposes her unparallel gifts as an actress and writer in this superb comedy from Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, the husband and wife directing team that previously made “Little Miss Sunshine.” Kazan is quirky, fearless, lovely, and flawless in making the audience fall in love with Ruby Sparks, who is brought to life via an imaginative début screenplay and the single best female performance of the year so far. In short, it’s a perfect marriage of a great role and a compatible actress.

It’s been more than 65 years, but Wayne Greiner still remembers the first dance he had with his wife, Ruby — the foxtrot.

If you are a Stephen King fan you’ve probably already read his latest best-seller, “11-23-63, A Novel.” If you have passed on it because you associate his novels with scary horror stuff, you might want to take another look.

As superhero summers go, this one is truly super.

As superhero summers go, this one is truly super.

It’s easy to love a great cocktail. Until you look at the numbers.

In the opening scene of “A Thousand Words,” the camera pans through a shattered house. Broken picture frames and furniture occupy the floor. The audience then hears the voice of Eddie Murphy, informing us in a grave tone that he is going to die. At first one might assume that Murphy has gone down the Liam Neeson route and made an action thriller. That thought is quickly diminished, however, as Murphy appears on screen with a piece of duck tape covering his mouth. From there on, “A Thousand Words” is the exact kind of light comedy we were expecting.

In the opening scene of “A Thousand Words,” the camera pans through a shattered house. Broken picture frames and furniture occupy the floor. The audience then hears the voice of Eddie Murphy, informing us in a grave tone that he is going to die. At first one might assume that Murphy has gone down the Liam Neeson route and made an action thriller. That thought is quickly diminished, however, as Murphy appears on screen with a piece of duck tape covering his mouth. From there on, “A Thousand Words” is the exact kind of light comedy we were expecting.

I had hoped to interview actor Stuart Margolin in time for last week's column about James Garner and Garner's recently released book, "The Garner Files: A Memoir" co-authored with Jon Winokur in which Garner mentioned a fondness for Mesa where part of "Murphy's Romance" was filmed.

I had hoped to interview actor Stuart Margolin in time for last week's column about James Garner and Garner's recently released book, "The Garner Files: A Memoir" co-authored with Jon Winokur in which Garner mentioned a fondness for Mesa where part of "Murphy's Romance" was filmed.

A radio station that launched inside a former grocery store near downtown Mesa and became a staple for generations of Valley listeners soon will reach a milestone: KDKB (93.3-FM) turns 40 on Aug. 23.

The executive chef title is a goal for students working their way through culinary school.

Are House Republicans, and the few Democrats who have joined them in voting against the interests of working families, smart enough to read the (very clear) handwriting on the wall?

Are House Republicans, and the few Democrats who have joined them in voting against the interests of working families, smart enough to read the (very clear) handwriting on the wall?

Two teams from Kyrene de los Cerritos finished in the top five at a state tournament designed to encourage scientific problem solving.

The 1959 play, “A Raisin in the Sun,” is considered a revolutionary work about the American dream that addressed serious issues of the time. Racism, poverty and cultural identity were dealt with in the drama, written by Lorraine Hansberry. And just in time for Black History Month, I have the privilege to perform in the cast of this historic drama, which opens Friday at Desert Stages Theatre in Scottsdale.