From a talky chameleon who's forced to find his swagger to a silent-screen idol who's losing his mojo, the heroes of 2011's best films made indelible impressions. NPR's Bob Mondello reviews the year's high points.

The writer/director of a widely acclaimed Iranian drama talks about the broader social conflicts that shed light on a family story taking place largely in a small apartment.

The Iron Lady is a look at the life of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, played by actress Meryl Streep. Streep's performance has been winning early praise, but how well does the movie capture what really happened? Robert Siegel talks with political biographer John Campbell. Campbell wrote The Iron Lady: Margaret Thatcher, from Grocer's Daughter to Prime Minister. This is the final installment of our fact check film series.

Asghar Farhadi's film is a beautifully crafted, fascinating thing, both as a portrait of modern Iranian society and as a twisty family drama. (Recommended)