Angel's Share (2013)

Ken Loach's surprise feel-good movie of the year might not seem like it in the first ten minutes but trust me when I say it slowly ups the comedy and the suspense to become the Ocean's Eleven of  whiskey-tasting capers.  To avoid jail Robbie, a young father in love with a woman who might as well be named Juliet to his Romeo, must volunteer for community service where he is introduced by the man running the program to the art of whiskey.  Soon he realizes he has a knack for tasting and that's when what might seem like a Scottish version of Sideways goes Mission Impossible.  This really is an impressive film with brilliant performances.  There's one particular scene where Robbie must confront a young man he beat up so bad he almost killed.  It's gut-wrenching and impressive for a film maker to so easily go from great drama to comedy.  So far this is the best film of the year.  A