2013 AARP Movies for Grownups Awards

John Goodman, Alan Arkin and Ben Affleck. — Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures

Best Time Capsule

Argo (1970s) 

From the circa-1970s Warner Bros. logo to the shaggy haircuts to the Star Wars–rip-off "fake movie" at its center, this story of how Hollywood and the CIA teamed up to rescue six Americans in Iran gets every little Carter-era thing just right. Production designer Sharon Seymour — whose keen eye gave authenticity to such films as The Men Who Stare at Goats and Gone Baby Gone — seems to have enlisted a time machine to bring back enough corduroy and oversized eyeglasses to supply an entire episode of Lou Grant.

• Read our review and watch the trailer for Argo

WE ALSO LOVED: Hitchcock | Hyde Park on Hudson

Emmanuelle Riva. — Courtesy Sony Pictures Classics

Best Foreign Film

Amour (Austria) 

As stark as it is artful, writer-director Michael Haneke's story of an octogenarian couple's final months together takes no sentimental detours — but it triggers an emotional torrent. Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant, criminally overlooked by the Oscars) and Anne (Emmanuelle Riva, who should win hers) are an active, happy couple until a devastating illness takes hold. Haneke, with the help of his astonishing actors, finds beauty in the long decline that follows.

• Read our review and watch the trailer for Amour
  

WE ALSO LOVED: Footnote (Israel), The Intouchables (France), Jiro Dreams of Sushi (United States, in Japanese), Lucky (South Africa)

Frank Langella and his buddy. — Samuel Goldwyn Films/Everett Collection

Best Buddy Picture

Robot and Frank (Directed by Jake Schreier) 

Sure, one of the buddies is a little white helper robot (voiced by Peter Sarsgaard). But to an ailing loner (Frank Langella), he embodies all the elements of a good friend: patience, companionship and a nonjudgmental ear. Also, Robot helps Frank get the girl (a radiant Susan Sarandon). Langella recently complained that at his age all he gets to play are gangsters and crooked businessmen; here he gets to be both playful and profound.

• Read our review and watch the trailer for Robot and Frank

Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Edward Norton and Bruce Willis. — Focus Features/Everett Collect

Best Movie for Grownups Who Refuse to Grow Up

Moonrise Kingdom 

Director and cowriter Wes Anderson's trademark quirkiness (think The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou) is in full bloom. His story of a preteen romance — and the grownups who don't understand — snuggles its way into the hearts of anybody who remembers the terrific, terrifying first time they fell in love. The kids (Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward) are adorable, but no less so than the befuddled adults (Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton).

• Read our review and watch the trailer for Moonrise Kingdom

WE ALSO LOVED: The Hobbit | Mirror Mirror | The Three Stooges | Wreck-It Ralph

Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln. — Courtesy DreamWorks Studios

Readers' Choice

Lincoln

First, there are the arresting performances of Daniel Day-Lewis and Sally Field as Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln. Then there's the direction of the masterful Spielberg. Add to that the compelling story of the last days of our 16th president's life and you've got our readers' favorite movie. Lincoln is a story for all ages and plenty of families have been filling theaters. The film is filled with contentious debate, but when it comes to the top vote getter in our Movies for Grownups poll there was no question: Lincoln is a winner.

• Read our review and watch the trailer for Lincoln
  

All about our 2013 Movies for Grownups Awards, including a tribute to Dustin Hoffman, and links to our 10 Best Grownup Movies of 2012