Grade: B | Genre: Drama
Summary: Oliver Stone nicely captures W's aching journey for his father's approval and his cocky attitude of living by his gut while God steered the way.

When I first heard the rumor circulating that Oliver Stone would be doing a biopic on George W. Bush, I got a queezy feeling in my stomach. I had flashes of Michael Moore branching out to direct dramatic pictures, and Stone's slanted objectivity undercutting what could have been a potentially fascinating character study. I've got to say W. proved that my fears were unfounded. Now there is plenty here for the conservative, Christian right to flap about, but the essential focus here is the portrayal of Bush. At the close of the film, its fair, and while none of us can camp out in his brain for a day to see how all the creaky gears come to the decisions he does, I believe this rendition isn't too far off the target. Before watching the film, I also feared that we were still too close to the subject matter. Would we really be able to see Bush objectively, being that he was still in office as this film debuted in theaters? Thankfully, yes. Stone essentially highlights his focuses around the war in Iraq. There no mention of financial meltdown and the lame duck years that history will fuse into his legacy. This snapshot is just enough to give us an intriguing look at the life that is George W. Bush.

Grade: A | Genre: Drama
Summary: This is a great film, but its also a tough film. This family character study hits you on all levels.

Dysfunctional family life has rarely been approached as well as we see it in Rachel Getting Married. This film makes you recall 1980s Ordinary People that featured a family who looked rather bland on the surface but was stirring incessantly underneath. Rachel Getting Married features some fantastic acting at the hands of Rosemarie DeWitt and Debra Winger, but the tour-de-force performance here is Anne Hathaway. She has had the misfortune of landing her career in a pile of fluff films (Princess Diaries, Get Smart) and forgettable turns in quality flicks (Brokeback Mountain). Rachael Getting Married is the role that cements her as one of the premiere actresses of her generation. Her character Kym is cooping with a lifetime of disappointment fueled by the spark of addiction. On loan from rehab for the weekend so that she can attend her sister Rachel's wedding, Kym personifies someone who is uncomfortable in their own skin.

Grade: B+ | Genre: Drama
Summary: In all, Changeling is a very good film. Angelina Jolie's performance alone is worth the price of admission, and Clint's cinematic flare really props up this film. While its story makes it fall short of being a great movie, it is definitely one that needed to have been told.

There are a few things you can count on in this life outside of death and taxes. The Cubs will never win the World Series, no one will ever date Jessica Simpson for her brains and Clint Eastwood will always direct a quality motion picture. Whether it be Unforgiven, Mystic River or Million Dollar Baby, Eastwood never short sheets the bed. He faces a subject head on, and drops all those uncomfortable, real moments on the table to make his audience squirm like any great filmmaker should. Dirty Harry has a knack for telling the tough stories normally reserved for the likes of Scorsese and Coppola. With the release of each work, Eastwood continues to evolve into one of this generations great directors. The complex drama Changeling cuts at a parents worst nightmare -- losing a child.

Grade: D+ | Genre: Suspense
Summary: This film was akin to one of those throw away episodes from the original series. The suspense was tepid, the thrills were slight and the storyline never even bothers to consult reality.

It seems not so long ago that Mulder and Scully were searching for E.T. while busily answering life's unexplainable questions on the long-running suspense drama the X-Files. At the time, it was one of television's better shows and at its close it seemed to propel its leads in divergent directions. David Duchovny went on to star in the hit sex-fueled dramedy on Showtime Californication while Gillian Anderson has played support in a flurry of films (The Last King of Scotland, Tristram Shandy) to little fanfare for her efforts. Well 10 years have flickered by since we had our last installment X-Files: Fight the Future feature film, so you'd image if they were going to dust off the ol' case files for another crack at this it should be quite a doozy. That is where you would be wrong.

Grade: B+ | Genre: Action/Adventure
Summary: In a time when we are battling wars abroad while dealing with the interminable credit crisis that seems to cinch Americans tighter by the day, its nice to check-in to Bond's world for a couple hours where the most dire of situations can be squelched with a swift right hook and a stiff Martini.

Isn't it nice to finally have an actor who embodies the essence of James Bond the way Daniel Craig does? He is what Bond was always meant to be. Tough as nails, steely good looks, acting depth deeper than a rain puddle. He just slides on the coat of James Bond so well whereas the others made it look like they were borrowing their older brother's suit. Since Sean Connery abdicated his throne oh so many years ago, we've been assaulted with a guy who perpetually looked like he had a rod stuck up his a$$ (Roger Moore), a Shakespearean actor (Timothy Dalton) and a skin deep pretty boy (Pierce Brosnan). When the Bourne Identity franchise waltzed onto the silver screen, it seemed to be filling the action/adventure void Bond had left like a gapping wound. No more. Bond is back and badder than ever. Quantum of Solace marks the second film staring Daniel Craig (Layer Cake, Casino Royale) that features the reinvention of James Bond. Its a satisfying action picture from the opening wild car chase to closing credits.

Grade: A+ | Genre: Indie/Drama/Comedy
Summary: Indie as usual does good, and in the case of Juno, it does even better than most. An unconventional story of a very unconventional young girl with the sass and wit of all the people you wish you could be and sound like, Juno demonstrates how great screenwriting and endearing characters can engage and carry a film beyond any high-budgeted studio "Blockbuster."

Ellen Page is a revelation (in case you haven't seen Hard Candy, do so!), who has put herself in the pop-o-sphere of beloved and endearing female characters. From interviews, you can see that much of her own personality came through to Juno, but with an added whip smart sarcasm that wraps every word coming out of her mouth rivaling anyone that dare stand in her way.

Grade: B+ | Genre: Political Drama
Summary: The Last King of Scotland constructs a fascinating story of a country in flux and the power of unchecked idealism. President Amin is the role of a lifetime for Whitaker, and he takes advantage of the ripe opportunities it presents.

Africa seems to be finding the spotlight more and more among Hollywood's savvy directors and screenwriters. Perhaps this is due to a lack of news coverage on pressing issues or the cyclical poverty that seems to huddle the region in darkness. Whatever the cause recent years have shown us riveting portraits of this continent in crisis from the genocidal struggle of Hotel Rwanda and the intrigue of the Constant Gardener to the mangled youth of Tsoti. With each passing day, we know the killing impulses strengthen in Darfur and the AIDS epidemic slowly toils away at its task of blotting out an entire generation. The Last King of Scotland aids us in answering some of the questions plaguing Africa today through the looking glass of Uganda in the early-70s. It is a film hinged on stirring performances and a gripping intensity that doesn't let you free.

Grade: B | Genre: Comedy
Summary: No one is more surprised by the outcome of this rather witty little film than I. It has its share of problems, but this is light years away from the suck fest this was destined to be.

The rise and fall of Kevin Smith has been a swift and ugly thing to witness. I think the general sentiment was summed up best in a recent episode of Entourage when Vince discovers they've sloughed off directorial responsibilities of the Aquaman sequel to Kevin Smith after James Cameron bailed. The communal gasps of disappointment couldn't have been more telling. Smith was a man who entered with all the promise of indie Superman. Clerks had the grittiness of an El Mariachi with the savvy of Reservoir Dogs. It was lewd, crude and set its own rules that naturally come with a lack money and studio muscle forcing the film's evolution through focus groups. He would sputter out on Mall Rats, but fulfill all of his tremendous promise in the insta-classic Chasing Amy. Since then, one bad film has cascaded into the next -- Jersey Girl, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, the brilliantly mis-executed Dogma. It's amazing that this man can still take meetings in Hollywood. So when I first heard the rumor that Smith was queuing up a sequel to his indie smash hit, I could only think that he was sucking out that last ounce of indie credibility before getting tossed on the heap of hack directors for hire. Believe me, no one is more surprised by the outcome of this rather witty little film than I. It has its share of problems, but this is light years away from the suck fest this was destined to be.

Grade: A- | Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller
Summary: A "Spike Lee Joint" that delivers a satisfying, big-Hollywood heist movie in the best sense of the genre, sprinkled with a stellar cast that includes uber-cool Denzel Washington and Clive Owen. A nice night out for the money.

This movie introduces you to Dalton Russell (Clive Owen), criminal mastermind, with a monologue that appears to take place from a prison cell. So okay, we think we know how it ends, but hang on, sorting this plot out is half the fun in this two-hour flashback of a bank-robbery where cool, collected thieves execute a daytime siege of the main Manhattan Trust Bank. The heist happens when a band of gunmen take over this Wall Street bank and seize hostages who are forced to wear the same coveralls and white masks as the crooks to confuse the cops. Enter expert negotiator Detective Keith Frazier (Denzel Washington), who has his own cloud of mystery, as does this rich, complicated story of twists and turns. The dance begins between Frazier and Russell as they play mental games with each other in this film that is strongly reminiscent of some of Sydney Lumet's films such as Dog Day Afternoon and Serpico, and while this film is not exactly on the same par, it comes close and is a substantial effort in that direction. In fact, Frazier, makes mention of that epic film when he and mastermind Russell debate the escape plan details, by saying, "We've all seen Dog Day Afternoon, you're stalling."

Grade: C+ | Genre: Sci-Fi
Summary: V for Vendetta isn't unwatchable. It has its moments, but overly its a preachy version of the future where the government is as dark as they can be and the populous exists with a purity of soul, hinged on grand ideals.

So everyone had to do a neck wrenching double take when they saw the striking Natalie Portman playing a cue ball during promotions for the final chapter of the Star Wars saga. No Princess Amidala wasn't shipped off to some intergalactic concentration camp. She was busy filming her new sci-fi film V for Vendetta. Straight off the comic book pages, V comes to us when we are overloaded with roaming vigilantes and men in tights on the silver screen. V for Vendetta is one of DC Comics lesser-known series, tucked away in their Vertigo wing. It tells the story of one vigilante fighting a British government of the future (2020 to be exact) that has stripped its people of their freedoms and rules with an iron fist of fear. V's (Hugo Weaving) sole purpose in life seems to be the incitement of anarchy in the masses in order to topple the totalitarian regime. In an age where illegal government wiretaps and freedoms are cinched ever tighter with the decidedly unpatriotic Patriot Act, it's hard to see V as anything but a commentary of a bleak 1984 type existence we could be hurling towards.

Grade: C+ | Genre: Drama/Romance
Summary: John Fante's, Ask The Dust is a 1939, hipster's novel that is lost in translation to the big screen, confirming to me again, that some literature should be left to the ancient art of reading.

Directed and adapted to the screen by Chinatown scribe, Robert Towne, Ask the Dust, follows the life and loves of an aspiring Depression-era author, Arturo Bandini (Colin Farrell) as he makes his way in Los Angeles, while becoming involved with a Mexican waitress (Salma Hayek). Arturo is a second-generation Italian, who dreams of landing a writing career and a hot blue-eyed blonde on his arm, while Camilla Lopez, the intense and fiery Mexican waitress, wants to marry someone wealthy and above her station. So what do they do? Of course, this couple runs headlong into a love/hate affair that is filled with angst and racial conflicts. This folks, is the entire film, honest. Director Robert Towne, who possesses a huge fascination with old Los Angeles and has done well in sharing that image onscreen in this film, reportedly spent years bringing this cool, celebrated novel to the screen after meeting the author of this book in the 1970s.

Grade: D+ | Genre: Romantic Comedy
Summary: It won't change your outlook on love and life, but it might help you pass a couple of hours. Otherwise, spare yourself Terry Bradshaw's cottage cheese behind because this film is a stinker.

We should have known better when we saw the word "Failure" in the movie title. While we would never judge a book by its cover, especially one featuring Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker, a movie title can speak a thousand words. Sure, Failure to Launch may have not been such a failure in it's opening weekend, but it has set itself up for the numerous play-on-words that will foreshadow how quickly this film will fade away. Systems won't be a go for much longer, and as fast it launched to the top, it's sure to come crashing down.

Grade: A- | Genre: Action Adventure
Summary: Superman Returns is a thrilling rebirth of yesterday's "Man of Steel" for today's generation. The time spent in development was worth the wait and we can only hope that the following additions continue to build and stay true to the franchise.

Review: The "Man of Steel" has indeed come a long way since his Quest for Peace and finally returns to the big screen to soar over all those that get in his way (those that aren't Pirates of course). It seems director Bryan Singer was able to take the franchise back in time and drop it snugly between the second and third Superman installments just before Mr. Bulletproofs film career began to tank.

Clark Kent has continued to see some life on the small screen in the hit series, Smallville, but alas with not one glimpse of the red cape and blue tights. It took a while for Superman to take over the big screen where previous incarnations saw Rush Hour and X Men 3 director, Brett Ratner manning the helm and, get this, Nicholas Cage playing "The Man of Steel." With years wasted and millions of dollars lost, the studios finally got the right pieces in place to create a Superman fitting of today's movie climate. This time around, we are given a film that doesn't necessary reinvent the franchise but is a dedication to the legacy left behind by Christopher Reeves.

Grade: B+ | Genre: Comedy
Summary: Unfortunately, unless you know a bit about Steve Coogan and appreciate the realistic edginess of British wit, you could miss the laughs in this mockumentary about making a movie based on a novel that simply cannot be filmed.

Just to get this out of the way first, in case you do not know about one of England's funniest and most creative men, Steve Coogan, shame on you. Not only will this keep you from catching some of the jokes in this film, as some are based on his former TV character Alan Partridge, and one running gag is about a real-life tabloid headline that plagues Coogan, but you are missing really brilliant humor from a great comic actor. But enough of that, and onto the review of the movie, which is a film about making a film from a novel that is un-filmable. In fact no one in their right mind would attempt to make a movie about this particular novel. The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman is a weighty novel written by Laurence Sterne that is one of those great books famous for being owned but seldom actually read. The book itself is a perfect vehicle for a movie about a novel that one simply cannot film, for this piece of literature is the fictional autobiography of an eccentric English gentlemen that have more digressions, narrative segues and utterly exhausting contrivances than any postmodern works that have ever been written.

Grade: D+ | Genre: Action/Suspense
Summary: Basically, it's a film that treads over ground we've seen hundreds of times to date and offers up nothing new for us to sink our teeth into. The goal seems to sufficiently vegetate the audience rather than intrigue them.

Its truly sad when once great actors become synonymous with bland filmmaking. Instead of being gracefully put out to pasture, they overstay their welcome, going through the motions without feeling and completely devoid of heart. Harrison Ford set the standard for tense action thrillers with nail biters like Patriot Games and The Fugitive yet these days he's a paycheck player, getting plugged in as the lead in the latest tepid action feature on the market. Remember stellar, gripping films like Hollywood Homicide, Six Days Seven Nights and K19: The Widowmaker? I didn't think so. The latest stink bomb is Firewall, pulling out all the formulas and wallowing in its own mediocrity. Shouldn't there be a mandate that guys like Ford, DeNiro and Pacino can't soil their brilliant body of work, slumming it in every half-baked project that gets green lighted through Hollywood?

Grade: B+ | Genre: Documentary
Summary: The power of this film lies in its array of eye opening facts, coupled with a desire to let both sides be heard. It sidesteps the heavy-handed flash that Michael Moore would employee, insuring he'll never preach to anything other than the choir.

In the San Francisco airport, I was in search of reading material as I prepared to swallow the nation in my flight home. I ran across the latest US News and World Report profiling presidents at war. Basically, it was trying to remove some of that polish and shine the history books have glossed upon great emancipators like Lincoln or Nazi weed killer Roosevelt. After all, Roosevelt did authorize certain American citizens of Japanese descent be relocated to internment camps during World War II. A new BBC documentary looks to shed fresh light on America at war and, more specifically, why it is that we fight. Are we following the path of the once great Britain with our economic imperialistic ways? How much longer can we serve as the world's policeman, brandishing our guns? Are we destined to be dethroned by our own hubris like every great civilization that has come before us? Why We Fight puts these difficult questions on the table to identify what exactly is in the fabric of the American DNA that keeps us at war.

Grade: C | Genre: Comedy
Summary: Nacho Libre isn't a total loss. There are a host of funny scenes, making it entirely watchable, but you come out feeling you got gypped.

Jared Hess has to be one of the most unlikely of heroes in Hollywood. His indie flick Napoleon Dynamite has become a baffling cult hit, embedding itself in the lexicon of our generation. Can you go anywhere these days without being hit up with the campaign message 'Vote for Pedro' blazoned across someone's t-shirt? Napoleon made it cool for everyone to embrace their inner dork whether its shaking your groove thing in front of the high school auditorium or putting your nuts into an electric vise labeled 'time machine.' We've all been through the hell known as high school and can finally smile about the daily misery Napoleon suffers on a continual loop because there is a little Napoleon in all of us. Now creator Jared turns his gaze from time warped Idaho to a Mexican monk turned wrestler, spearheaded by eccentric comic Jack Black. The fusion of humor between Hess and Black was just too tempting to pass up. It's a shame that something got lost in the translation.

Grade: D+ | Genre: Independent Drama
Summary: While I'm not ready to slap this with the label as being a 'bad film,' it doesn't have much point. It's a slice of life piece featuring a life not terribly interesting, which unfortunately seems to be Matt Dillon's specialty these days.

In a recent visit to Barcelona with my babelicious girlfriend, we were seeking a brief reprieve from history's engine and magnificent modernist architectural works. It was decided a choice piece of American cinema could definitely fill this craving. The problem was not stumbling over one offensive theatre after another busy dubbing box office blockbusters like the Da Vinci Code into Spanish. Have these Spaniards not heard of subtitles? I have to say that watching Clueless dubbed on late night TV was simply priceless. "Rollin' with the Homies." Here is a thought. Why not have special headphones/glasses at the theatre so the film can always run in its original format, allowing you can plug in the appropriate dubbing/subtitles as you see fit? After bouncing around town to three different theatres, we ended up on the Passeig de Gracia that screamed cool with its trendy shops and complete absence of tourist flavor. It also housed two of the cities indie cinema houses, featuring the much sought after VOSE (Version Original Subtitulada en Espanol). After narrowing a dozen foreign films down to two US imports, we settled on Factotum with Matt Dillon and Lili Taylor (Six Feet Under).

Grade: A | Genre: Drama/Thriller
Summary: If you think you dislike big oil companies and are suspicious of the feds now, you just wait until you see this flick. This film should be seen for its political insight and the sheer power of the message.

Syriana is an intelligent and masterfully crafted movie about the intrigue, politics, and underbelly of governmental involvement in the oil business. This movie possesses more plot lines than you can count on one hand, however, rest assured that by the end of the film all the dots will be connected, but you might not like the picture you are seeing. Syriana confronts the topics of big oil, shady government and the Middle East and demands that you think about those issues. This is a big, bold movie that is as complicated and as confusing at times as the subjects it is trying to cover, but somehow this film works. The writer/director, Stephan Gaghan delivers an ambitious piece of cinema which asks really tough questions about America's need for oil, in pretty much the same way he wrote about the drug world in his Academy Award winning screenplay Traffic, and amazingly enough, he succeeds. Gaghan forges a challenging, fictional thriller and solicits unaffected, honest performances throughout, but this film is not going to make you feel satisfied at the end, or comfortable, in fact you will feel quite the contrary.

Grade: C+ | Genre: Romantic Comedy (Supposedly)
Summary: The problem(s) with The Break-Up is that it was/is marketed as a romantic comedy that in reality is more serious and not as romantic as you would expect. You don't really feel anything for the characters and don't really understand why Gary can't get his act together early on, but when he finally does, why it's just not enough for Brooke.

Review: Many therapists like to encourage their patients to act out the quirks of relationship conflicts to help find resolve and an eventual inner peace. Jennifer Aniston takes that method one step further in her new movie, The Break-Up, playing a woman dealing with the inevitable end of her relationship with Brad...I mean Gary (Vince Vaughn). Actors tend to borrow from real life experiences in order to create a role that feels more genuine. Luckily, Aniston doesn't have to go far in her research as her real life divorce (in case you haven't heard) to Mr. Pitt contributes to this tired story about a couple, Gary and Brooke (Aniston), who can't seem to turn around their doomed relationship.

Grade: A- | Genre: Action/Comedy/Crime
Summary: A witty, sprawling mess of a film about a murder in Los Angeles that is as absurd and bizarre as the city it openly makes fun of.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, is a flick as breezy, surreal and disjointed as Los Angeles and yet it happens to be my first guilty pleasure of the year. Shane Black, screenwriter of the Lethal Weapon series, directs his first feature film after a long absence from the screen and surprisingly charms me silly. With a touch of film noir, a shade of Pulp Fiction, a hysterical narrative, bizarre flashbacks and machine-gun dialogue, Kiss Kiss rolls into kind of snowballing mess, and while you are not quite sure of what it is, you really do not care once it gets going. It is the first film I have laughed out loud at in at least two years. The plot has more twists than a pretzel and can almost overwhelm you with its continual barrage of action, humor and darkness making one wonder what the inside of Black's head must look like. Yes, this film is a mishmash of everything, but it somehow cooks up into a completely edible feast of a movie, thanks to some brilliant writing, superior performances by Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr., and edgy direction by a man who truly knows the strangeness of Los Angeles inside and out.

Grade: A+ | Genre: Drama/Suspense
Summary: Munich is an important film that speaks as much about the world we live in as it does about the 1970s. It's a blast that is dehumanizing, leaves a litter of questions for every answer and opens up your mind to this senseless struggle that will outlive us all.

Its quite a chore to balance the books on Steven Spielberg's 2005. First, he revisited the sci-fi cornerstone Close Encounters of the Third Kind by importing War of the Worlds into the twenty-first century. It was a sorely lackluster experience, complete with a feel good, Hollywood ending and Tom Cruise battling aliens with his couch jumping skills in basements from sea to shining sea. It can only be described as silly Hollywood excess with Spielberg caught in the crossfire. Now he tries to make it all better, squeezing in his eleventh hour Oscar picture Munich. In doing so he's unveiling what is probably the most important film to come out this year. Munich is a tough film that looks to capture the eternal chaos fought between the Israelis and Palestines in the Gaza Strip, focusing on the impact wrought by one defining event -- Munich. These embattled peoples form one of modern times bloodiest struggles, and one that will never see a resolution as long as new generations of terrorists are born with every brother or father that is incinerated at the hands of a suicide bomber.

Grade: A- | Genre: Adventure/Drama
Summary: Another artistic feast by writer/director Terrance Malick, who delivers a visually lush, hypnotic film, that opens "new worlds" to John Smith, Pocahontas, and the audience (if they let it.) Why the warning light? This flick might not suit your taste.

Writer/director Terrence Malick has only released four films of note in his career, and while taking his sweet time in making each of them, he has created his own unmistakable style in the process. His films are almost meditations with plots, and The New World is no exception. Malick uses the same techniques and modes of operation for each of these movies, and this makes him one of the few directors around anymore whom not only have cult-like devotees, but you could recognize his movies even if the director's name was never in the credits. Do not count on a hard and fast plot for The New World, or intense dialogue between the characters, and the use of CGI to bombard you, but instead open yourself up for a different kind of film. Malick uses his take on the Pocahontas myth to create a movie about innocence, love and loss, and the miracle of experiencing new places and new ways of life.

Grade: A- | Genre: Action Adventure
Summary: M:i:III, in this writer's opinion, lived up to all the hype and seems to be bullet proof when going up against Cruise's current love lost with the media and public.

Tom Cruise's mission, should he choose to accept it, is to prove that he is still the world's biggest movie draw, and Mission: Impossible III is the vehicle that he will be riding all the way to the bank. The first Mission, directed by Brian De Palma, was more about substance wrapped around a story line too convoluted for us simple minded folk to follow. The John Woo sequel was an over done spectacle that showed that Cruise's ego is as big as his smile. Now, the third installment by J.J Abrams, finally brings it all together and does the franchise proud with a film loaded with action that makes the first two look like gymnastics on Oprah's couch. However, what fuels the film though is not the impossible action sequences, but rather the inner personal story that humanizes Ethan Hunt and engages you more in the man than the flash.

Grade: B- | Genre: Comedy/Satire
Summary: American Dreamz certainly provides you with a nice satire of American pop culture and our political entanglements around the globe, but it's a little too safe. It needed to go for the jugular more and not apologize for its sharp humor.

Mandy Moore has been a bit of a sleeper on the Hollywood scene. A couple years ago, she was little more than a syrupy sweet pop princess who was looking to milk her fame into a crossover career in fluff films. Suddenly, she veered off course, showing a keen taste in men, hooking up with American tennis sensation Andy Roddick then the quirky humor genius of Scrubs Zach Braff. Next, after narrowly avoiding being tangled up in teen movie hell (How to Deal, Chasing Liberty), she has aligned herself with savvy directors (John Turturro) and sharp roles (Saved) that make you eager to scrap any preconceived notions you're harboring about her. This time she teams up with the brain trust that gave us quality flicks like About a Boy and In Good Company for an American Idol spoof that tries to get at that shred of goodness that keeps this mind numbing television slapping the Nielson families like it was their bitch.

Grade: B | Genre: Comedy/Drama/Holiday
Summary: The Family Stone is a funny, poignant tale that never forgets that family is what make the season so very stressful and utterly priceless, all in the same breath.

It just wouldn't be Christmas if we didn't have a couple movies barreling into theatres hoping to spur on that holiday spirit. Goodness knows with the sparring over the hot toy of the season and waiting in three-hour lines for a moment on Santa's lap, our daily preparations can sour those extra helping of joy this time of year. This year's film, striving to be the companion to the Yule log and the carved turkey, is The Family Stone. With a big name cast and a sharp wit, Stone stands out as one of the better holiday fare we've seen in recent years. It almost makes up for having to suffer through Ben Affleck in Surviving Christmas. On second thought, there's not much that will be able to wash away the foul taste of that stinker.

Grade: A- | Genre: Drama
Summary: Strong performances, interesting character dynamics and an intriguing storyline pull together one of 2005's most interesting films in Match Point.

Woody Allen has been jettisoning down this film roller coaster, bugs lodged in his teeth, for many, many years. I don't know if he's been too busy soaking up his own peculiar pallet of neurosis or just feeling stale in the streets of New York. Regardless, I think all film buffs have grudgingly resigned themselves to the fact that we'll never again see anything as clever and mischievous as Annie Hall, spilling from his chaotic mind. Last year's Melinda Melinda, starring Radha Mitchell, certainly showed a lot of promise through its story bending formula, but it was still heavily steeped in the baggage of Allen's lifetime of film. Match Point only looks like a Woody Allen film in its title sequences and its character interactions. Otherwise, it is a fresh, savvy piece of cinema far removed from Allen's beloved New York (filmed in London) that shows a spark in his step we feared was lost forever. Strong performances, interesting character dynamics and an intriguing storyline pull together one of 2005's most interesting films in Match Point.

Grade: B- | Genre: Drama
Summary: Overall, this is Claire Danes' film. She single-handedly transforms this piece into an intriguing watch from material that is fairly forgettable.

Freshman year of college, I had a rather sizeable crush on Claire Danes, or was it the character she played on My So-Called Life? It's hard to tell and funny how those things are pretty much inseparable at the time. Angela was the modern equivalent of Holden Caulfield, a square peg attempting to fit into a round world. She captured the heartache, exuberance and stifling existence of the teenage years in a way few actresses could. Its been ten years since My So-Called Life closed the doors on its solitary season, and in the years since, Claire has found herself much like Angela -- helpings of promise largely left unfulfilled. Chalk it up to choosing bum roles if you will or just not getting the choice scripts coming across her desk, but Hollywood has neglected this rare gem for much too long. Within the past few months, she's had two substantial roles (The Family Stone and Shopgirl) that have generated considerable buzz, bumping her squarely under that unaccustomed spotlight. Her work in Shopgirl is even getting her name mentioned as a potential nominee in the Oscar race for best actress. Truthfully, she's just giving us a look back at Angela Chase, swapping out the teenage angst for loneliness as the twilight of her twenties dim.

Grade: D | Genre: Sci-Fi/Action
Summary: While its not completely unwatchable, thanks to Charlize modeling this season's Frederick's of Hollywood line, there's not much here to concern yourself with. The slick veneer is impenetrable for good reason. There's nothing beneath.

It was this time two years ago that we were taken aback with shock and awe over the transformation that the stunning Charlize Theron took to morph into the stomach turning Eileen Wuornos in Monster. Her portrayal was akin to crawling into the skin of the serial killer and having her mail forwarded. It seemed to be Charlize's shot across the bow saying, "I will not be written off as just another pretty face in Hollywood." Oh the difference a couple years make. Her latest sci-fi picture takes that equation and flips it on its head. Aeon Flux is a glossy airbrushed feature, overweighed so much by style I think they ran out of room to squeeze in any real content. I heard one writer comment that Charlize Theron officially has her Catwoman. While it falls a shade short of being as painful as Catwoman, this is certainly no gem. The storyline is a convoluted mess that doesn't even try to connect up much less takes a stab at making any sense. For a cast of top rate actors, we get a lot of phoned in performances, compounded by their ridiculous costumes. Ultimately, they've adapted a comic that really shouldn't have ventured outside the ink and flickering television screen.

Grade: A | Genre: Satire/Comedy
Summary: Thank You for Smoking is easily the best film to hit theatres thus far in 2006. Its savage commentary on cancer sticks, Washington lobbyists and a moral compass gone haywire is priceless.

It's been a while since Aaron Eckhart was really allowed the means to light up the screen. After a phenomenal breakthrough performance in Neil LaBute's savage take on misogyny, In the Company of Men, Eckhart has been languishing away in films that should have been tagged straight to video like Suspect Zero and the Core. It seemed he would be one of those actors with tremendous potential who never got a chance to take it around the block for a spin -- that is until now. Eckhart spearheads the most biting satire in years through the wily fun of Thank You for Smoking. As a lobbyist fighting for the rights of big tobacco, Eckhart transforms the slimiest being on the face of the planet into an unlikely hero to cheer for. The laughs are bold yet subtle, plastering a smile on your face for the duration over the utter ridiculousness of defending tobacco.

Grade: C+ | Genre: Comedy
Summary: If you aren't up to your eyeballs in hock and want to have a pleasant, no-brainer evening out with your spouse or significant other, then go see Fun With Dick and Jane. If, on the other hand, your house is being repossessed next week, maybe you should opt for a quick rental from your local video outlet.

In this remake of the 1977 comedy starring George Segal and Jane Fonda, Jim Carrey and Tea Leone try to update Watergate era financial woes with "W" era overspending. Things follow the same basic path as in the original (that in itself being a sad comment on the present day), but somewhere near the end of it all, the new version wimps out and fails to make a stand. It's not that Segal and Fonda's comic romp is a harder hitting satire, it's just that the bad guy, Ed McMahon (of all people!) at least gets his just desserts.

Grade: A- | Genre: Drama/Romance
Summary: The heart wants what it wants in this haunting love story which is made with a depth, passion, and sincerity that has not been seen in a romance in years. Phobias should be left at the door.

Despite all circumstances and societal pressures, a sensitive, tender love grows between two people caught in an era that, simply put, is not ready for them. Brokeback Mountain is the history of a romance that lasts through many seasons and changes, and this film demonstrates unflinchingly and painfully, the consequences of what can happen to people who fail to follow their hearts. In this movie based on a short story by Pulitzer Prize winning author E. Annie Proulx, two poor ranch hands take jobs guarding a flock of sheep on Brokeback Mountain in the lush Wyoming wilderness. Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) are stationed in this desolate world and come to know each other as men and eventually, out of loneliness, as lovers.

Grade: A- | Genre: Fantasy/Drama/Adventure
Summary: A beautiful, honest-to-goodness family film that has eternal messages to share and reminds us, through the presence of a saintly lion, of the reason for this holiday season.

If there is such a thing as an innocent movie these days, this film is it. Even entirely animated cartoon flicks have risque one-liners that are geared more toward adults than children, but not The Chronicles of Narnia. C.S. Lewis, a respected English author and close friend of J.R.R. Tolkien, author of the "Rings" trilogy, produced his seven-set chronicles after he returned from to his Protestant faith from a period of atheism. In fact, we have a devout Catholic to thank for his Christian-based works -- Tolkien himself. The story of their friendship is fascinating enough, but while both authors embraced spiritual themes in writing their epic works, C.S. Lewis was more unabashed in sharing Christian principles. In a time of strife across the world, it seems as if movies that have Christian-based themes are being welcome without shyness as this movie out grossed King Kong and most other films from this past year in its opening weekend. And guess what? You do not have to be Christian to appreciate the messages of sacrifice, forgiveness, unconditional love, and good triumphing over evil. For those who have read and loved The Chronicles of Narnia, the added plus is that the movie is utterly based on the book. Who knew Hollyweird had it in them? What a novel idea. Someone writes a tremendous book, and the director and producers stick to the story -- maybe this will start a new trend.

Grade: A- | Genre: Action/Thriller
Summary: One ape you will love, in fact, you will want one of your very own for Christmas. Peter Jackson, quite simply, has done it again.

After winning three Oscars for Return of the King, or in truth for the entire Tolkien trilogy, Peter Jackson has remade the first film he ever loved and created a tender monster movie that has painstakingly fleshed out the story and characters to the max, and to top it off, this flick possesses a soulful ape that can move you to tears. What more could you ask from a movie this holiday season? At a running time of slightly over three hours, you will need to hold off on the extra-large drinks, but you will get your money's worth out of this film. While a bit overindulgent in the detail and time, Jackson lovingly refashions a tribute to his favorite gorilla, who is breathtakingly created by WETA and given humanity by Andy Serkis, formerly Gollum from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Kong is the real star of this film. Every other element of this movie fades away against the humanity in Kong's eyes. Does this film match up to the famous Rings trilogy? Well not exactly, but then the genius of Tolkien is a hard act to follow, however, Jackson gives Kong his level best. This film possesses more story than the previous Kong movies, a breathtaking, 1933 New York City, amazing action sequences, and a monster gorilla you will adore. The movie is one of the two seasonal blockbusters and should be seen on a large screen. The other blockbuster I suspect will be The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. So there you have it this holiday season for your viewing pleasure, noble monkey love and a saintly lion.

Grade: A+ | Genre: Drama
Summary: Finally, a drama that delivers the goods on all fronts -- a tight story, flawless direction, and powerful acting. Give yourself an opportunity to get involved in a film again and discover this mesmerizing biopic about an event and an author that defines a piece of American culture.

Capote leads the pack of fall films as a powerfully crafted movie, with a shape-shifting performance by Philip Seymour Hoffman who morphs so completely into the skin of Truman Capote, that I could hardly tell the difference between Hoffman and the odd little man I used to see on old television talk shows. Bennett Miller and Dave Futterman forge a seamless film together with not one element missing. The scent of death in this film is palpable as the audience is ushered into another time and place in America. A physical sensation of the era, and the sense of desolation of Kansas itself descend upon you as the film opens, and never actually departs until you are out of the theater thanks to the powerful cinematography of Adam Kimmel. One can thank heaven for a film that actually permits for character development on all fronts and for all the characters in this film. Finally, a complete film, and unfortunately, one of the first I have seen in the current venue of films in a year that have made grey matter an optional requirement for viewing.

Grade: B | Genre: Drama
Summary: Dreamer is a quality family film that, while formulaic and sap prone, really caters to the budding talent of Dakota Fanning and gives her a strong supporting cast to work with.

Disney's signature is their animated features, most of which are being farmed out to Pixar these days. They are also known for their goofy kiddy fare, be it Freaky Friday, Little Big League or kids going as far as imagination will propel them. There is a third kind of film they are really staring to embrace as their own, and that is the heart warming true story. These are the stories of overcoming insurmountable odds to accomplish something that no one has before, and that no one believed was possible. They did a very good job executing this formula with Dennis Quaid in the Rookie. As the title implies, Dreamer is the same slice of boundless optimism set in the sport of horse racing. While it's certainly no Seabiscuit, Dakota Fanning rescues this film from teetering into the sap heap to give us a compelling drama, illuminated by her young talent.

Grade: B- | Genre: Thriller
Summary: Don't expect much from the new thriller, Derailed starring Clive Owen and Jennifer Aniston and you may find yourself somewhat entertained. Like a good beach read, this fatal distraction takes moviegoers on a plausibly scary ride down a dark alley of deceit and violence.

Charles (Owen) meets Lucinda (Aniston) on his morning commute to the windy city when he finds himself cash poor on the train and she casually offers to pay his way. A polite conversation soon turns to flirtation and the inevitable clandestine hotel routine. Charles should know better since he has a lovely wife and a diabetic daughter, but he's a man in the most basic sense, and thus, cannot help himself. Jennifer plays coy, but suddenly turns hot and heavy even though she has her rich husband and daughter to think about.

Grade: C | Genre: Family/Animation
Summary: Let's go ahead and get this out of the way: The sky is NOT falling. However, Chicken Little may be a sign that it is, in fact, starting to cave-in around Disney.

As the inspiration for its first full-length 3-D animation without Pixar, Disney's Chicken Little adopts the classic fable of the panic-stricken chicken that proclaimed the sky was falling. In this Disneyfied version, we see Chicken Little (voiced by Zach Braff) as he still lives under the shadow of that fateful day.

In addition to the continuous mocking from the whole town, his father (Garry Marshall) seems to have gone the way of the masses and is embarrassed by his son. But just as Chicken Little's string of bad luck seems to come to an end, he comes in contact with another piece of the "sky," and he finds himself smack dab in the middle of an alien invasion. That's right... an alien invasion.

Grade: B+ | Genre: Suspense
Summary: A History of Violence is a slowly evolving, crafty suspense that toys with your expectations.

Director David Cronenberg is perhaps best known for taking on bold and daring scripts, even if the results prove largely uneven. He's known for the TBS special The Fly, from stage to screen adaptation M. Butterfly, and the twisted fetish piece where car crashes spark eroticism, Crash. He's managed to make a name for himself with his peculiar brand of sensibilities that he introduces to his works rather than a distinctive directorial style. This was never truer than with his most successful effort to date A History of Violence. Violence is a slowly evolving, crafty suspense that toys with your expectations.

Grade: A | Genre: Drama
Summary: Good Night and Good Luck is one of the year's best releases, marking an important film about journalistic responsibility. It really makes you wish we had an Edward R. Murrow to take down our McCarthy's.

Did you know that there was a time when news organizations actually covered the news? I know this seems like a baffling concept after watching the watered down broadcasts of CNN, MSNBC and the network news, but, I assure you, it's true. There was a time when facts were king, and newsmen like Edward R. Murrow had balls made of titanium, standing up to the gross tyranny of McCarthyism. He did battle with the Senator, knowing with certainty that he'd be labeled a Communist himself. In 1950s America, that's not a tag you wanted to get stuck with. Good Night and Good Luck is the story of Murrow and his team of journalists at CBS news. They were pitching a heated battle to unveil truth and justice in the face of a dark political landscape, busily stripping American citizens of their liberties by instilling fear. Does this sound vaguely familiar? The similarities between the current political climate and the red scare of McCarthyism shouldn't be lost on anyone.

Grade: A | Genre: Drama/Dark Humor
Summary: Just as he did with American Beauty, Director Sam Mendes finds humor within the human drama and takes Jarhead beyond the realms of the conventional war flick. Its boldness defines its brilliance and effectively displays a war of the human psyche rather than that on the battlefront.

"Welcome to the Suck." Based on Former Marine Anthony "Swoff" Swofford's best selling memoir about his experiences spent in Desert Shield, Jarhead is a wide-eyed look at what the anticipation of war can do to a group of young soldiers desperate to defend their country with the hopes of returning home as national heroes. What they never expected was that the reality of war in the Middle East would prove to be personal wars within themselves.

Jarhead is not your traditional war hero film. There are no real battle scenes and hardly a glimpse of the enemy. At the end of the day, these boys don't even get to fire guns with which they've been trained to kill. It's not about finding glory on the battle field but about how they spent their time preparing themselves for the worst when the worst isn't given time to even show itself.

Grade: A- | Genre: Biopic/Drama/Musical
Summary: Johnny Cash picked Joaquin Phoenix to play him in his biopic. Cash is looking down from heaven very pleased with his choice right about now.

'Tis the season of good movies, and it's about time after the previous famine of this year. Two biopics have released me from the doldrums of utter boredom recently. One flick that transported me was Capote, and now Walk the Line has made a believer out of me again. In both biopics the actors seemed to approach the roles from different paths, however, both movies deliver amazing, gut-wrenching performances. The major difference with Phoenix's performance was his wise decision not to attempt to speak exactly like one of America's symbols of rough and ready manhood, Johnny Cash. Phoenix knew where to "walk the line," so to speak. Hoffman became Capote, morphed into him, and that was appropriate for Capote was not worshiped like Cash. Phoenix's genius is that he captured the great man's soul, his essence, and gave it to us on film, and that is also the brilliance of this movie. The story it is a tad conventional but then most great love stories are. While it is not word for word Cash's biography, the film delivers a complicated love story and a look into the early life of an American troubadour. This film does not disappoint. James Mangold provides a faithfully reconstructed life of Cash, although he bends the facts just enough to make it more palatable for those who adore Cash.

Grade: B+ | Genre: Drama
Summary: Proof is a very good film. Gwyneth Paltrow really makes this film a must-see. She is inspired in a way we haven't seen in a long time.

Gwyneth Paltrow hasn't been basking in the Hollywood limelight for a while now. Proof marks her fourth movie in three years, and her acting caliber has been slight at best. I mean who was responsible for letting View from the Top escape from the studio lot? These days she's more known as the wife of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, mother of an Apple and for occasionally spouting relationship advice to her ex Brad Pitt from the cover of People. With all this superficiality, it can be easy to forget that she has a first rate actress rumbling about inside her, waiting for that one juicy role that she can let herself go. Remember Shakespeare in Love? Her portrayal of Catherine in Proof is evidence that her acting chops haven't dulled with the turn of years. They've just been quieted in hibernation, waiting to cat stretch and hungry to devour a rich character like this troubled mathematicians daughter.

Grade: B | Genre: Drama
Summary: Okay, I get it already, men are bad, women are good. A well made, gritty drama that is hard to watch, goes for the jugular, and almost misses the heart.

In North Country, director Niki Caro of Whale Rider fame, has recreated another unfamiliar culture brilliantly and in the process managed to scoop up an Oscar winning cast to perform this strong drama, but North Country delivers a harsh message at the expense of the book it was "inspired" from and without the subtle grace needed to carry it off. I am not saying this is a bad film, in fact in today's marketplace, it is a powerhouse of a drama, with Oscar-baiting scene after scene in it, but it is almost too much to bare with the relentlessness of continual harassment that the character Josey Aimes endures from nearly every male in her life. Screenwriter Michael Seitzman has taken this rather dated material from a novel based on the first sexual harassment class action suit in this country, which changed the fabric of the American workplace forever. The problem for me is that the original story was far more moving and powerful than the cliches I find in this script, and that is a shame for it was a hell of a story.

Grade: B | Genre: Comedy/Drama
Summary: Not exactly a feel good movie, in fact a bit of a bummer, but there is a bit of David Spritz in all of us

Nick Cage has probably cornered the market on quirky, offbeat roles and while some of his performances work and some do not, this time Cage nails a great performance. Cage plays David Spritz, a sad everyman whose life echos the lives of the many who never quite arrive at the place that they envisioned for themselves. Spritz is a tragic hero who does not even know his own worth and that fact could be said for many of us. This troubled weatherman believes his failed marriage can be resurrected, lives under the gazing disapproval of his Pulitzer prizewinning father, Robert (Michael Caine), has an overweight daughter and a son in counseling. Life is a not exactly sparkling for Spritz and his response to his problems can be both bizarre and pathetic. In this film, directed by Gore Verginski, of The Ring and Pirates of the Carribean fame, a melancholy life is on display and it is not pretty. In fact, this movie delivers a rather morbid story of a minor Chicago celebrity, rummaging around in the chaos of his existence and reacting to most events rather inappropriately. While the story will not have you smiling when you leave the theater, it is a thought-provoking movie, with sensitive performances by Cage and Caine, and moments of true comedy that are not just thrown in, but are earned the honest way.

Grade: B | Genre: Thriller/Horror
Summary: The Halloween season has already passed, but seeing Saw 2 is still recommended, as the twists, gore and great acting by Tobin Bell make the movie a suitable sequel.

After 2004's bone-jarring giallo homage Saw, Saw 2 writer/director Darren Lynn Bousman teamed with Saw scripter Leigh Whannell to amend Bousman's original script into a sequel. The only problem: how to top the original?

The answer, apparently, was the typical recipe for disaster, which is to throw more on top. More victims, more story twists, more gore, etc. Surprisingly, while this usually fails, Saw 2 manages to make it work for the most part.

Grade: B | Genre: Animation
Summary: Corpse Bride is a solid film with quality animation, a few holes in the storyboard and a crisis of audience. Fans of Tim Burton will be pleasantly surprised to see what the old master has conjured up this go around.

Years from now, we will look back on Tim Burton's films and see him as quite the visionary of our time. He redefined cool in starting the Batman franchise, showed us quirky can be riveting with Edward Scissorhands, and that cartoons aren't always for children in the Nightmare Before Christmas. He follows-up on his dark animated wonder with his latest creation Corpse Bride, just in time for Halloween. It's an intriguing little tale of 19th century marriage, mistaken proposals and finding love in the most unlikely of places. Its cleverly punny while coming together as the sweetest display of Claymation ever committed to film.

Grade: B+ | Genre: Foreign/Erotic
Summary: Belle de Jour is one of the classics of French cinema as well as the library of erotica. It shows us that everyone has urges and desires that we're petrified for even those closest to us to discover.

Recently, I wrote up a feature looking back on the 1967 French film Le Samourai which took the concept of less is more to ridiculous lengths. Today, I'm continuing to wander the streets of Paris circa the late 60s as I duck into a den of ill repute to eye one of the classic works of erotic cinema, Belle de Jour. I first came across Belle de Jour as a freshman in college. I was green in my discovery of what films could be, and the enticing Catherine Deneuve, staring from the cover bare backed with those golden locks, ensured her an early stop on my route of discovery. Unfortunately, I couldn't escape the fact that I was also an undersexed college male so a film revolving around deviant avenues of sex that was stripped of any nudity seemed like ordering a hot fudge sundae and only getting the dish, edges stale where the fudge once was. Although this film on its first go around was about as appealing as a cold shower, it hit me on a deeper level, echoing in my mind for years to come. Now that I'm older, wiser and a shade less horny, its time to take another trip to Madame Anais' to check-in on the errant, bourgeois housewife who is drawn to prostituting herself to allow her untapped sexual fantasies to come into bloom. Belle de Jour is a voyeuristic look at where fantasy violently collides with reality.

Grade: B | Genre: Documentary
Summary: As with any film with an ax to grind, Wal-mart: The High Cost of Low Price isn't nearly as effective as it could be if it took a more level approach to its commentary, but it is an eye opening array of facts that support its case very effectively.

When I first started college at Georgia Southern, Statesboro had just gotten its first Wal-mart. Not just any Wal-mart, but a Wal-mart Supercenter. It was a hulking behemoth that dwarfed the small college town in its shadow. This one-stop shopping center was largely seen as an overwhelming plus since you could get your tires rotated, eyes checked and weekly grocery shopping wrapped all under the same roof. It was a mini city that you really had no need to ever leave as Novalee discovers in Where the Heart Is. As the months on the calendar fell to the floor, the town started to realize the harsh unspoken undercurrent felt when Wal-mart moves in. Half the grocery stores went belly up. Only the Publix and the Piggly Wiggly, right off campus, could compete. Also, many mom and pop stores, like the Ace Hardware, saw their business cut so drastically that they couldn't afford to keep their doors open. Some of these businesses had been fixtures of this communities for several generations. We saw the power that this one store held, crippling small businesses and putting consumers under its mystical spell. The new documentary film Wal-mart: the High Cost of Low Price takes on the retail giant to shed some much needed light on the sins and corporate malfeasance of the company that defines America every bit as much as McDonald's.

Grade: B- | Genre: Suspense
Summary: Flightplan is a satisfying adventure. Its script does have its fair share of problems, but Foster's energized performance moves it along swiftly enough so you don't ponder too long on the pesky details.

Suspense at 36,000 feet seems to be all the rage in the multiplex these days. A couple months ago we welcomed Wes Craven's swan song Red Eye, and this time we have Jodie Foster working herself into a tizzy over her lost daughter in the tension filled Flightplan. Maybe it's the whole "terrorist taking over airplanes" thing that is inciting all this suspense, packed into cramped quarters. These things seem to come in waves like the dueling movies about the running legend Prefontaine or Scorsese meets Brad Pitt's Dalai Lama. It makes you wonder if the Hollywood studios actually talk to one another when planning projects or maybe that's the problem. I can hear the clear headed logic now, "well if Paramount's going to have a film about an obscure 70's running legend, we've got to have one too." Luckily, there's enough distinction to Flightplan to set it apart from Red Eye. So grab your salted nuts and fluff challenged pillow as we prepare for takeoff.

Grade: B- | Genre: Drama
Summary: I think with a better director and perhaps a cleaner script this could have been a true star vehicle for Pacino and McConaughey to cut loose and strut their stuff. Instead, we are left with an enjoyable film featuring solid performances, dead spots, and an acceptance to be the mediocre younger brother of Boiler Room.

About 90% of what's pumped out of Hollywood is formula filmmaking. It's been done before with some measure of success so its the studio's place to ride that ailing pony for all its worth. There really are very few original thoughts outside the realm of independent filmmakers and even they seem to be testing the outer fringes lately. Two for the Money is Boiler Room set in the world of sports gambling. The sport in question is football, and there are millions of dollars illegally riding on each game, be it professional or college. So for a man who can tell the future, the world is his oyster. When his crystal ball grows foggy and dim, everyone that rode his coattails to victory is standing in line to slice him by the throat. There are no off weeks in this sport.

Grade: C+ | Genre: Romantic Comedy
Summary: While Must Love Dogs doesn't really cover any new ground or give us the Hollywood couple we wish we could see canoodling on the tabloids, it is a mildly enjoyable comedy that employs quick wit and clever dating situations.

In life, even us guys have to take on the occasional chick flick. Sometimes you can chalk it up as a favor for a girlfriend, or perhaps your favorite actor tries on his sensitive side. You can't automatically relegate this entire genre to the film scrap heap. There are more than a few brilliantly made "chick flicks" that nail male/female interactions in very clever and enjoyable ways. Just take a look at When Harry Met Sally or more serious fare like The English Patient. The problem is you have all these other brainless features, drowning in cliches and warping reality with the obligatory happy ending. Just like their male counterparts -- the testosterone fueled action flick -- these Hollywood formula romances give the whole genre a bad name. Now we have the aging hottie Diane Lane and the perpetual everyman John Cusack striving to convincingly be the newest adorable couple in Must Love Dogs. Though we get the occasional witty banter and likable co-stars, it fares little better than an average romantic comedy, hoping to speak to singles everywhere about the new quirks that come packaged with Internet dating.

Grade: A- | Genre: Documentary/Sports
Summary: Murderball is a fascinating adventure, unleashing your mind on how you think of paraplegic individuals. These men are stunning athletes possessing tremendous talents, coupled with an inextinguishable will.

When I say the word paraplegic, I would imagine a lot of people conjure up images of wheelchairs, hospitals, care nurses and a pretty limited life, constrained by their physical handicap. Even the most open minded probably wouldn't think of hard-hitting rugby players. Welcome to Murderball. This is full contact, pimp my wheelchair, no helmets, fiercely competitive action where they make the most of what they have to work with instead of pitying themselves for what they are not. This is a film pulsing with empowerment that shows the paraplegic community, and those of us that look on, a wheelchair is simply another one of life's obstacles that begs to be conquered.

Grade: B+ | Genre: Foreign/Classic/Crime
Summary: If your brain is ready for a workout, Le Samourai can be a very satisfying experience and is evidence that America doesn't hold a monopoly on classic cinema.

Something tells me the French really miss the days of the silent film. I can't speak for the entire film community on the other side of the pond, but those I've seen seem to be some mix of dark and brooding, quirky and visually stunning (The City of Lost Children, A Very Long Engagement) or deep character studies, served by torrents of inner storms (Belle De Jour, Bleu). They all seem to be very thoughtfully executed and artistically rich. They also seem to revel in the lost art of telling a story with an economy of words. Any writer worth anything knows its better to envelop the reader's senses, making their audience feel a scene rather than just spelling out the mundane details. The 1967 film, Le Samourai takes this minimalist approach to the extreme, telling the story of a contract killer with a Zen-like approach to his executions. The film is told almost without the benefit of words and it sits in stark contrast to modern American cinema.

Grade: B+ | Genre: Independent
Summary: Mysterious Skin is a rough film to take in and process, but just like enduring the pain of a marathon you get a strange sense of satisfaction from starring into the void of these lives to pull out the people buried inside.

The human mind is a complex bundle of neurons and synapses spastically firing away, serving as the air traffic control tower for the mess of complexity that is the human body. What happens when you take this finely tuned instrument and force it to digest images and actions no human was ever meant to experience? Does it reach its breaking point and simply sputter to a halt? Does it revolt, cutting into the fundamentals of personality and its own self-preservation instinct? How do you unbreak the egg and return the yolk to its shell? Gregg Araki's Mysterious Skin explores this topic with savage brutality and careful grace. This cross current of contradictions are what make Skin such a compelling portrait to behold.

Grade: B | Genre: Independent
Summary: This film, like all of Todd Solondz' films, is filled with cynicism, absurdity, human despair, bad clothes, and biting humor. It may not be his masterpiece, but it's a meaty, satisfying chunk of celluloid from one the current Master Chefs of the cinema.

Todd Solondz has enjoyed some notoriety over the years as a director who delights in revealing middle class America, warts and all to an unsuspecting public. Palindromes, his latest trek into dangerous waters is certainly filled with moments that will leave you aghast or choking on your popcorn, but it is hardly his best work.

As somewhat of an extension of his 1995 cult classic, Welcome To The Dollhouse, Palindromes shares that films adolescent theme of growing up in a world full of unfairness, cruelty and bizarre circumstances. On the other hand, Palindromes is nothing like Dawn Wiener's tale of teenage travails. It may start off with her untimely funeral, but from there, the story veers off into the unknown.

Grade: A | Genre: Independent
Summary: Definitely not for the multiplex crowd, Me and You... will delight those who look for something a little different and something that will make them think as well.

Miranda July not only wrote and directed this oddly moving film but stars as the wannabe performance artist at its core. Centered on a handful of everyday people, their friends and acquaintances, Me and You and Everyone We Know looks at the nature of innocence in our contemporary society.

A divorced shoe salesman, Richard (John Hawkes) encounters Christine (July) as he struggles to raise his two young sons. Unlike anyone he has ever encountered, Christine's penchant for turning every moment and every experience of her life into an artistic statement first charms and then repels Richard.

Grade: A | Genre: Sci-Fi Action
Summary: Revenge of the Sith deservingly receives a PM rating of "A" not necessarily because of the engaging dialog, which it isn't, or the superb acting, which it lacks, but for harking back to the days of Empire when emotional story telling was the focus.

Admit it, there's a little Padawon geek in all of us. We've all owned at least one action figure or have experienced Star Wars in one form or another. Sure, we may think we're too cool to dress up on opening day but are secretly envious of others decked out in their storm trooper uniforms or waving their light sabers. When the fanatics get up and perform choreographed fight scenes, we cheer them on and are glad we got to see these geeks live out their fantasy for us all to see. That was the scene last night at the 12:01 AM showing of Episode 3 - Revenge of the Sith. It was a gathering of Star Wars fans, young and old, bonded by our love for the "space opera" we've followed for so many years. The days leading up to the final installment of the intergalactic epic have been hard on all of us but rest assured young Jedi, your patience has finally been rewarded. I think I even saw that Star Wars Kid from the video that floated around the Internet in my theatre.

Grade: B | Genre: Comedy/Tragedy
Summary: This is a clever film that shows how a person's outlook on life can influence their destiny.

Woody Allen is such an interesting creature. He's an exceptional filmmaker whose collective work has left an undeniable imprint on film. He has turned conversation into an art form, paving the way for films like Before Sunrise and Metropolitan. For all his accolades, Woody has been in one hell of a slump. I mean Anything Else, Hollywood Ending, Everyone Says I Love You -- a musical Woody, really? The last truly noteworthy film he made was Mighty Aphrodite and that was ten years ago. How does he keep getting A list actors to sign on for his projects and have the seats fill up at the art room movie houses? Simple. Because he's Woody Allen and when he's brilliant, he's three shades of mesmerizing. Melinda and Melinda seems to be just the film to snap that ugly streak by tossing us a dash of that captivating brilliance that we've been starving for.

Grade: C- | Genre: Drama
Summary: Into the Blue is the film equivalent of eye candy. At best, this is the frothiest of guilty pleasures, watching Jessica and Paul strike a pose that will be poster fodder across the wall of many a teenager. At worst, this is mindless drivel, beating a dead horse that has been stinking up the barn for years.

Sex appeal is the special of the day for Jessica Alba's latest pic Into the Blue. Now I realize it's a bit redundant saying that sex is the driver for any film that she stars, but it's never been more true than here. She spends the majority of the film in the tinniest bikinis, slowly writhing about in the crystal clear waters of the Bahamas. I can just hear the director now, "Jessica, I need more bikini, less acting babe." If Jessica's oh so sexy sculpted curves doesn't float your boat, never fear. Paul Walker's finely chiseled abs and Brad Pitt crop top should cover your needs. This film is a question of lust. It doesn't matter which slab of meat you're salivating over, you just have to be teasing those hormones. Otherwise, there's really no point sitting through this horribly formulaic feature.

Grade: B | Genre: Drama
Summary: You don't feel much compassion for Orlando Bloom as Drew and wonder what Claire even sees in the guy. Kirsten Dunst and the cast of characters that make up the residents of Elizabethtown are what really make this film special.

There are two types of Cameron Crowe films, "movies that we are completely obsessed with and then the Tom Cruise movies." (IGN) Our first real introduction to the Crowe formula, not including Fast Times At Ridgemont High, was the much-adored Say Anything. If you're a guy, you've considered recreating that iconic radio over the head scene to win over your lady. These days, the best we can borrow from Crowe is to deliver, in our most sincere voices, the "You complete me" line. Gag me. Jerry Maguire was likeable but it worried us into thinking that Crowe left behind the personal screenplays from his inner memoirs for the bankable blockbusters that fizzle shortly after the DVD release. Almost Famous renewed our faith in Crowe's movie making skills until the ambitious but disappointing Vanilla Sky (starring Tom Cruise of course) threw us for a loop. Luckily, our affections for Crowe films weren't completely soured, which is why we have such high hopes for Elizabethtown.

Grade: F | Genre: Drama
Summary: Caution. Slowly back away from the rental counter. This film will prove hazardous to your evening.

Newsflash: Gus Van Sant has uncovered the real reason behind Kurt Cobain's suicide. It wasn't the heroin addiction, the trappings of fame or even dealing with the insufferable leech Courtney Love. It was actually a moment of clarity that came while watching a video for Boys II Men's "On Bended Knee." He realized the soul of music had been sucked out through a straw, and he no longer wanted to live in such a sick and twisted world. Ah, if it were only that simple. Cobain's death still remains shrouded in mystery to this day. I was hoping Van Sant was going to shed some much needed light on the subject to help some of us struggling Nirvana fans finally achieve closure on the subject. Instead, he gives us the most boring two hours of my life. Watching grass grow would be more compelling than having to sit through this film. It's atrociously bad.

Grade: A+ | Genre: Action
Summary: Nolan resurrects the Batman franchise with stunning visuals, a stellar cast and a compelling script. Batman Begins is the new gold standard for the superhero genre.

Grade: A- | Genre: Documentary
Summary: You can't walk away from Born into Brothels and forget these children. Their faces burn into your mind until you start asking what can we do to stop this vicious cycle from robbing another generation from their childhood.

Last year saw documentary filmmaking enter the mainstream with Michael Moore's box office coup Fahrenheit 9/11. It stoked waves of controversy concerning his scathing take on the ineffectual Bush administration. The film was considered a sure fire win for the Oscar for best documentary filmmaking, yet he decided to bypass collecting his third artsy Oscar to instead take his chances at reeling in the big kahuna of Oscars, Best Picture. The gamble backfired, failing to even secure a nomination. If there is a positive to Moore getting overlooked, it was that the buffet table at the Oscar after-parties didn't run out by 8 o'clock. More importantly though, it blew the documentary category wide open, pulling in features from a man destroying himself with daily injections of greasy Big Macs (Super-Size Me) to Tupac's final words (Tupac: Resurrected). In between the fanfare lays this gem, shot in the streets of the red light district in Calcutta, India; Born into Brothels. Enter only if you are ready to take a hard look at poverty that knows no boundaries.

Grade: C- | Genre: Foreign Horror
Summary: I'm only recommending this one for those who love slasher films. As for the remaining, don't fall into this trap.

In preparation for my trip to Paris, I figured what better way to get a feel for the rich French culture than through one of their Americanized slasher flicks. High Tension is an art house horror import that goes heavy on the guts and gore while trying to scribble down a plot along the way. It's proof that when it comes to sub par cinema, we don't have a monopoly on studios that spend their money on all the wrong things. Next time, can you just send us a bottle of choice Bordeaux instead, or is this our punishment for "Freedom Fries?"

Grade: B+ | Genre: Suspense
Summary: Pollack creates a compelling, tense picture through the Interpreter similar to his work in the Firm. Hollywood should be busily taking notes here. This is how a big budget blockbuster should be done.

Sydney Pollack showed us with the Firm that he could string together a nail biting suspense rivaling the best of the post-Hitchcock filmmakers. His latest work, the political thriller the Interpreter, shadows real life drama in Africa to craft this intriguing work. It seems to crush its characters between a rock and a hard place. If a man killed your parents then went on to enact a massive campaign of genocide decimating your country, could you forgive him? If revenge were in your hands and all you had to do was look the other way, could you dig deep enough to find your principles in order to weigh out the right decision?

Grade: B- | Genre: Documentary
Summary: Inside Deep Throat is a great focal piece, exploring in depth a film that helped spark the sexual revolution. When it loses that focus, you begin to wonder what Jenna's up to these days.

So you're sitting in your living room just minding your own business, then suddenly the Feds come bursting through your door to start rifling through your video collection, telling you what you can and can't see. Yes, I'm talking about pornography and no this isn't a discussion of child porn, snuff films or anything utterly vile like that. This is regular old porn. The Washington Post recently revealed that the ever-incompetent Bush administration has tasked the FBI with taking on the war on porn. Let's see, Bin Laden is still at large. Check. Drugs still flooding in over our unprotected borders. Check. Crime is still pilfering honest citizens at an alarming rate. Check. Well, I'm relieved they've addressed all the serious issues before they started infringing on our civil liberties. Anti-porn crusaders contest that pornography turns normal law abiding citizens into depraved sex offenders. I'm sorry guys, but that's just not true. Conservative politicos have tasked study after study, and the overwhelming majority says there is no correlation that would allow you to draw any connection between violent sex crimes and pornography. One study in Japan showed that the influx of pornographic material actually decreased the rates of violent sexual crime. I can hear the Christian Coalition bristling up as we speak. Read the full article at MSNBC. The film Deep Throat was a piece that awakened America to the porn industry and 33 years later we're still talking about Linda Lovelace and her extraordinary talent.

Grade: C+ | Genre: Drama
Summary: If your head can check out on this one, there is more than enough to keep you entertained, but that's really the problem isn't it. This is a John Singleton film. You shouldn't have to checkout when it comes to sitting down to the work of a quality filmmaker.

After watching the incredibly gripping Boyz n the Hood, who would have imagined that talented director, John Singleton, would go on to make swill like 2 Fast 2 Furious. Really I guess its no worse than Deniro hocking credit cards or Pacino having his name plastered all over Gigli. Singleton's catalog since Boyz has been marred by disappointment more so than bombs. Films like Higher Learning and Poetic Justice were decent selections, yet ever since the soul of this potentially brilliant filmmaker has gone missing somewhere during production. Four Brothers follows suit, trying to show heart and the ties of brotherhood, but it only gets muddled in the numbing action during the shoot 'em up sequences.

Grade: B | Genre: Drama
Summary: Layer Cake charges in like a starving lion yet fades out very sheepishly. If the writer had put a little more time into mapping out the final twists and turns, this could have easily have been an 'A' film.

So you wanna be gangsta, huh? What makes you think you have what it takes to live the good life? Can you buy a Hummer without slobbering on the hood? Does your anus stay pucker free when you hear the blaring sirens of the five-o zooming in? Is Rockstar Video Games hounding you day and night to model the next "Grand Theft Auto" based on your filthy life? Congratulations, you just might be a gangsta. The 70's marked the renaissance of the gangster film. You had such classics like Mean Streets, the Godfather and Scarface. Recent years have been a bit slim. Tarantino slashed up the space with fresh takes like Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction only to go make the ultimate homage to Kung Fu films. Guy Richie scored monster gangsta cool points with Snatch and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, but most of us can't think past the island stinker Swept Away. Layer Cake struts onto the scene just in time to keep us hungry and trigger-happy.

Grade: B+ | Genre: Comedy
Summary: Fever Pitch is a sharp romantic comedy that fits just about anyone's palate. The women will love to watch Ben and Lindsey fall in love, set to a crafty batch of relationship trials and tribulations. The men will love getting enraptured in what it means to be a dedicated sports fan.

So its date night and you are combing the movie listings for something to satisfy her tastes and yours. Hers tend to run sweet love story, woman triumphing over insurmountable odds or Disney. Yours tend to look for somebody kicking someone's ass, a hot female in as little clothing as possible or juvenile humor. Inevitably, compromise strikes, and one suffers this time so that the other can enjoy themselves, only to return the favor next time. It's been a while, but I've been there and I know its no fun when you're the one being drug into Ever After. Ladies why do you do this to us? I've got the ultimate comprise movie that both halves of the couple will love. Fever Pitch, on the surface, looks like a cute romantic comedy complete with girl-next-door Drew Barrymore and goof ball Jimmy Fallon. If you peer closer, you will see that this is really a cleverly disguised baseball movie. If you've ever painted your face team colors or just yelled at the TV in the heat of a game winning shot, this is your film.

Grade: C+ | Genre: Foreign
Summary: If you have the patience of a saint, this can be a rewarding film, but you have to make a lot of sacrifices to piece this puzzle together where the edges keep changing. Its tough to watch and not think about the film that could have been with a little reshaping through a clearer timeline and more focused plot.

The problem with films that play around with time sequences -- dreams, time travel or simply frolicking back and forth through one's life -- take on the tough task of saying, "just follow me," only to gun the gas, loosing the bewildered moviegoer at the last stoplight. Its a tough device to execute well, and when a film like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or 21 Grams manage to pull it off, they deserve a whole other round of kudos for landing the daring maneuver. Unfortunately, too many potentially promising films get hopelessly tangled in the web of time skipping, which heavily cuts at the director's ability to tell a coherent story. That is the case which afflicts Wong Kar-Wai's 2046. It is a compelling love story that keeps trying to extricate itself from the time chaos and the explosion of random women that keep cluttering the storyboard. Oh what a film this could have been.

Grade: B | Genre: Action/Thriller
Summary: English Actor Jason Statham returns as the crime-fighting chauffeur, Frank Martin, in the movie Transporter 2, with spectacular driving demonstrations that not only defy the laws of physics, but also never seem to scratch or damage his 12-cylinder Audi A8 (automaker BMW apparently didn't want to participate in product placement this time around). When he's not behind the wheel, he also finds time to show us that it's still possible to take ass-kicking to a brand new level, making other would-be action heroes like Xander Cage of xXx (Vin Diesel) look meek by comparison.

The French EuropaCorp Group produced Transporter 2. Established by author, director and producer Luc Besson, the studio has produced such cult movies such as The Big Blue and Leon - The Professional. It is one of Europe's few independent studios. Both stunt choreographer Cory Yuen (Romeo Must Die, X-Men) and Michel Julienne (007-The Living Daylights, Taxi) worked on the film.

Grade: B- | Genre: Drama
Summary: This is not a lighthearted movie for the weary. You walk out of the theatre a little guilty for all the thoughts that have run through your mind about other people of color.

Even the most self-righteous advocate of civil rights has a subconscious collection of stereotypes organized by race, color, sex and financial status. We won't admit it, but we are all guilty of it. Though the racial climate today is much different from that of the civil rights era and beyond, it's still a noticeable blemish that flaws human nature. Nowadays, racial tensions are more whispered and masked than spoken out loud. It seems to have become an easier topic to joke about rather than having to deal with it.

Crash is a film that takes what we are all thinking and broadcasts it for all to hear. Watching the film, you're shocked by the blunt dialogue the characters use against one another, but don't question what is being said. Could it be so true in our own minds that we are comfortable enough to laugh it? It says a lot about the times we live in and magnifies what we don't want to see in ourselves.

Grade: B | Genre: Documentary
Summary: March of the Penguins is a very good film, outlining the struggles and the hardships that these birds overcome to mate. It is shot exquisitely in the Antarctic and shines like an IMAX spectacular visual feast.

Being the film buff that I am, I've been watching the documentary March of the Penguins mounting the box office charts like a bucking bronco at the county fair for weeks on end. It just didn't make any sense how this film had already brought in a staggering $55 million dollars, putting it behind the politically charged Fahrenheit 9/11 as the highest grossing documentary of all time. I mean its penguins. How is this any more spectacular than a feature I can see on PBS? Well it turns out that March of the Penguins huddles around a very intriguing tale of journey and sacrifice for the sake of mating in which some will survive to birth new young and some will not. It's a beautiful picture to watch unfold as the penguins inch their way to the breeding ground then come full circle back to the water's edge that they call home.

Grade: B | Genre: Suspense
Summary: If you are edging to see McAdams at her best this summer, check out Wedding Crashers. After that if you are still needing your Rachel fix and are geared up for a taut, no-brainer thriller, get a ticket on the Red Eye.

Wes Craven (Nighmare on Elm Street, Scream Trilogy) has decided that his days as storyteller of suspense, horror and thrillers have been scared out of him as he presents us with the final chapter in his film catalog Red Eye. This film seems to be the desperate Hail Mary pass, attempting to salvage a career riddled with few hits and lots of misses. Red Eye recruits fast rising stars Rachel McAdams (the Notebook, Wedding Crashers) and Cillian Murphy (28 Days Later, Batman Begins) to tell this thriller with a touch of political intrigue and life threatening moments at 30,000 feet. Ladies and gentlemen, the captain has now turned off the fasten seatbelts sign. Feel free to torture the passenger next to you.

Grade: A- | Genre: Comedy
Summary: It's "J-Lo vs J-Fo" in a heavy weight bout where only the stronger can survive. The extremes that the two take against each other are slap-stick entertainment, and you're laughing your arse off.

Gasp...an A- rating?! For a film I originally had no interest in seeing, I must admit that I had a great time and still find myself playing gut busting scenes back in my head. Jennifer Lopez may have received top billing, but the real star of the show was Jane Fonda who played the title character with such natural ability, you wonder if life imitates art. Also notable was Wanda Sykes who, like a bandit, stole the scene every chance she could get. The two make for an interesting pairing that totally works and is the latest incarnation of the "The Odd Couple."

The night of May 5, 2005 was an opportunity to attend a red-carpet premiere of Monster-in-Law to benefit G-CAPP (Georgia Campaign For Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention), a charity spearheaded by Fonda and a worthy cause that has educated and given so many young mothers an opportunity for a more fulfilling life. All of the film's primary stars were in attendance (minus Michael Vartan due to the filming of Alias), which had the star struck crowd happy and in good spirits going into Atlanta's Fox theatre.

Grade: A- | Genre: Comedy
Summary: This is a guy film with a heart, which is as hard a thing to pull off as Andy mastering the condom. The 40-Year-Old Virgin wraps that puppy around the banana with side splitting style.

Is there anything a teenage boy struggles with more than trying to pawn off his virginity? Forget the acne or the mouth filled with railroad tracks, these are simply well crafted hurdles that stand between him and that sex-obsessed touchdown. After countless solo flights and fumbling bra clasps on her parent's couch, that fateful day finally arrives and it's usually well...something a tad short of earth shattering. It usually takes practice, the loving relationship and yet more practice to get the rhythm and technique to the point where it's actually enjoyable for both parties. Sadly, you can't just lay this out to a hormonally challenged male. He came to the party to do a keg stand, and damn it if he's going to wait for some other party to get his drink on. So compound that by a hundred after living a lifetime of build-up and awkwardness. The 40-Year-Old Virgin is every teenager's worst nightmare. That he'll miss his window and end up with his prime a distant memory, still clutching onto his cherry that he's been furiously wagging before every woman who has ever pricked his attention. Be ready for some ridiculous laughs, likeable characters and moments decked out in brash sincerity in this shrewdly crude film.

Grade: B+ | Genre: Drama
Summary: Broken Flowers works because of its strong performances and small curiosities that Jarmusch needles into us.

With some films you can't just walk out of the theatre and emphatically say, "I liked it." Some prove to be slow burners that only start working you over the moment you pass into the blinding light. Basically, it's a red flag that the film has hidden complexities that don't allow you to easily quantify and categorize them. Hollywood usually hates these pictures because your average theatergoer is looking for a two-hour escape from daily existence rather than something you have to keep turning over in your head to keep up with the ambitious plot. Broken Flowers certainly qualifies as one of these multi-faceted films that wants to be more than what it is. Leave it to eccentric orator Jim Jarmusch (Stranger than Paradise, Dead Man) to shove us into the deep end without a life preserver.

Grade: B+ | Genre: Horror
Summary: This is a sequel that doesn't fall flat like most. It's a genuine horror flick full of thrills and chills.

Rachel Keller (Watts) and her creepy kid, Aiden (Dorfman), have moved to Astoria, Oregon hoping to start over and to forget the ghost of an even creepier little girl, Samara (Chase/Stable), who caused so much death and destruction in their lives back in Seattle, WA. Rachel has settled for a low-key desk job as a newspaper editor, away from Seattle's faster paced headlines on which she used to report. This affords her time to focus more on being a better and more attentive mother to Aiden. They've moved into a quaint little neighborhood, got a new couch, and are content to live quiet and peaceful lives. However, Samara and her spine tingling video have also made their way to Astoria and can't be pushed away as easily as they were the first time.

Grade: B | Genre: Drama
Summary: Easy is less a description of how Jamie deals with her promiscuity, but rather how life could be if she would just open her eyes to what's right in front of her....Its simplicity strengthens its honesty and helps all those involved to shine brighter.

Easy there! What you think this indie flick is about is only part of the story. Calling a movie such a name is only certain to create poor assumptions about this honestly sensual, but rather more sincere look at a young woman who lives life on a whim.

On the surface, Jamie Harris is a single woman jumping from one sexual relationship to the next. She's carefree and treats each sexual encounter as if it were an impulse buy at checkout. A deeper look reveals a lost soul whom you can't take your eyes off of. Easy is the opposite of what life is for Jamie; however, it is easy to become totally engaged in this young woman making impetuously wrong choices in life and love when the right one was in front of her all along.

Grade: B- | Genre: Drama
Summary: The Skeleton Key is definitely creepy and throws its fair share of chills at you. It plays out like a classic Southern ghost story filled with aberrations, voodoo and overhanging shadows of slavery.

The Skeleton Key is the latest Hollywood fright fest, trying to scare up some box office dollars during the sultry summer months. It also serves as the newest vehicle for Kate Hudson to downplay her talent as she drifts ever further away from her Oscar nominated turn as Penny Lane in Almost Famous. Where oh where did our "Tiny Dancer" go? Why does she keep starring in these tepid features (Raising Helen, Le Divorce, Alex & Emma) instead of sinking into a meaty and challenging role? Just one of those riddles for the ages I guess. Her latest turn in Skeleton Key is as a hospice worker that comes face to face with the brewing voodoo expelled out of the mosquito thick Louisiana Bayou. There are plenty of chills and thrills even if the mediocre script leaves a little to be desired.

Grade: B+ | Genre: Drama
Summary: Sin City is high style narratives overshadowed by Rodriguez's need to stay true to the graphic nature of Miller's books. It's Dick Tracy on crack.

Originally released during the season of family fun and no-brainer entertainment of 2005, there lacked a film that went out its way to push the limits. From animated robots to beauty shop antics to date doctors, we were sheltered long enough, and it was high time we had our worlds rocked and our morals challenged.

For those of you who have yet to experience this flick, the cold wet streets of Sin City will stretch your imagination in ways you never thought possible and have you running for your life. Director Robert Rodriguez's faithful screen adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic comic books are brought to life as the stories jump from the pages and are projected in gritty detail. It's nothing like you've ever seen...if you can keep from covering your eyes.

Grade: C+ | Genre: Comedy
Summary: The Dukes of Hazzard stays true to the original series with a smokin' hot rod, a show stopping Daisy, a chunkable story and good comradery between our hillbilly er...Appalachian American cousins. Fans of the old series will definitely want to check it out. Just don't go in expecting Shakespeare.

Not all movies are created equal, and that was never more true than with the Dukes of Hazzard. I mean do you put Old School and the Godfather side-by-side? Of course not. They are both brilliant films, but it's like comparing a cat to an orange. So with the Dukes you have to walk in with the bar of expectations set pretty low because, let's face it; the TV show was mega cheesy. Don't get me wrong. When I was seven, it was da' bomb. My friend and I used to play Dukes of Hazzard almost everyday, he as Luke, me as Bo -- it was a hair color thing. We'd always single handedly save Hazzard from the dastardly Boss Hogg. Going back and catching the re-runs today, I shake my head at how surface level it all was. It was, and still is, the guilty pleasure at it's purist, and the film version continues the cause with a smokin' hot Daisy, the beautiful rumble of the General Lee and a handful of laughs to spread around a little too thinly.

Grade: A | Genre: Foreign Drama
Summary: The Inheritance is a great film that really grows into its complexity well. Christoffer proves to be such an interesting character. Toiling around in his head is a full time job.

When I was in London last month, my path just happened to pass through Leicester Square several times, and I saw the Brits version of the multiplex theatre. There are massive billboards sprouted above them advertising the hot film of the moment from War of the Worlds to Batman Begins. When I surveyed the movie times, I discovered something very peculiar, a boatload of films I had never heard of. Now I consider myself a pretty savvy filmgoer, keeping up with the myriad of indie releases and the foreign features, but here was an entire crop of films I'd never heard a single inkling about. I guess I always pictured Hollywood as the 400-pound gorilla, and film development in other countries as more akin to cottage industries. It was a good wake-up call to my sheltered cinematic view. Since I got back, I've made a concerted effort to try to unearth some of these foreign jems, which brought us to my last review, Downfall, and the highly compelling Danish drama the Inheritance. I don't want to hear any whining about reading a film. Wouldn't you rather see an interesting foreign film than a droll domestic one? Did I just paint myself into a corner, more or less disavowing American cinema?

Grade: B+ | Genre: Foreign Drama
Summary: Downfall is a must for history buffs and anyone who has spent more than a few minutes pondering how a man like Hitler came to mesmerize an entire country into submission.

At first, I was thinking of writing up Alexander, but really what is there to tell. It's not as bad as everyone made it out to be, but it doesn't qualify as good either. It seems Oliver Stone was defeated by his own hubris more than anything. Instead, I've chosen to focus on another moment in history -- Adolph Hitler's last days. Downfall is an adaptation of two books on the subject: Inside Hitler's Bunker and Until the Final Hour. It chronicles every step that led to the end of Hitler's life, helping to shed some much needed light on this mysterious figure, and witness the struggle faced by the army commanders surrounding him. It is an intriguing journey that starts off like the best original feature the History Channel has ever produced and evolves into a first rate film with great performances, thick tension and a tide of change triumphing over radical ideology that could have ended the German people.

Grade: A | Genre: Foreign Comedy
Summary: Kung Fu Hustle is basically a parody on all the classic kung fu movies of yore yet unlike most parodies that I've ever experienced, its crafty and inventive rather than being lathered in cheesiness.

The only thing you can really say after watching this film is "Wow." Then go ahead and say it again to try to get it out of your system. This is one super interesting film. Kung Fu Hustle is basically a parody on all the classic kung fu movies yet unlike most parodies that I've ever experienced, its crafty and inventive rather than being lathered in cheesiness. The dialog is thoughtfully inane, the characters are oodles of fun and I would put the action sequences toe to toe with anything from the Matrix to Hero. I'm still trying to grasp how they pulled this magnanimous feat off. Time to stop questioning and sit back to take it all in.

Grade: C- | Genre: Independent Drama
Summary: There are times Particles of Truth does connect, showing sparks of promise, but they are too few and far between to make this work worth the wait.

With Queer as Folk marching towards it's series close Sunday night (look for the review), I thought it would be a grand idea to see what life after Folk might look like for some of our favorite cast members. Gale Harold, best known for his playboy ways as Brian Kinney, takes the starring role in the recent indie DVD release Particles of Truth. Particles is really the baby of writer/director/lead actress Jennifer Elster. Harold seems to be onboard to lend the film some legitimacy, his familiar name and fan following. Unfortunately, he's little more than a pawn in this artsy, overly complex human drama whose poor aim overshoots the mark more than it hits.

Grade: A | Genre: Drama
Summary: Million Dollar Baby doesn't make life easy. There are times you will squirm in your seat, but it provides an immensely thought-provoking portrait that lingers long after the credits roll.

When Million Dollar Baby first made its debut in theatres, it left an impression on moviegoers, stirring up a torrent of emotions. Some left muddled in the feeling of sadness. Some walked away uplifted by what they saw as a life affirming message. Others were so incensed by the film, they did their talking with markers and poster board, picketing theatres in protest of the film's central theme. The Academy of Motion Pictures felt so strongly about the merits of the film they showered it with Oscars, including Best Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman), Best Actress (Hillary Swank), Best Director (Clint Eastwood) and Best Picture. Regardless, the film exacted a strong emotional response from the viewer, which is the goal of any great piece of art. How does this film dig so deep into the audience's emotional core you ask?

Grade: C | Genre: Action
Summary: So the Fantastic Four isn't quite as fantastic as some had hoped, but it could have been a lot worse. It has its moments, but falls short of being anything substantial.

I think we have been flooded to the point of complete saturation with film adaptations of comic books. When we start featuring little known characters like the Punisher and Daredevil, you know the well is getting a bit dry. I'm still waiting for Wonder Woman myself, which oddly enough is being written up as we speak a Google search just told me. This spin around the merry-go-round, we get Marvel's latest batch of super human freaks, the Fantastic Four. They are very similar to the mutant X-men, which you've no doubt heard a little about thanks to Bryan Singer and Hugh Jackman. The Fantastic Four are four individuals who's DNA is beautifully mangled to award them special powers whose only limits seem to exist on the comic book pages.

Grade: A- | Genre: Comedy
Summary: Prepare a prime spot in your comedy collection for Vince and Owen because they've earned it with the uncontrollable laugh fest Wedding Crashers.

The sweltering days of summer are upon us. It's a time for lazy afternoons at the water park, sitting in the stands with a greasy dog rooting on your favorite ball team and, lest we forget, wedding season. Gentlemen start your engines. Now to most single men, weddings are about as pleasurable as nails raked across a chalkboard. I mean the sleepy ceremony, the prospect of being caught "white man" dancing, and looking around in general wonderment at how much your buddies' pocketbook got taken for in this flower filled extravaganza. Yet for every dark cloud there is a silver lining -- readily available women caught up in the moment. Wedding Crashers is the story of two individuals who turn weddings into the ultimate one night stand.

Grade: C- | Genre: Independent Drama
Summary: This is an unconventional tale that certainly has its moments, including closing well, yet the story fails to take hold.

Daniel Day-Lewis is a bit of enigma. By all accounts, a brilliant actor who is a bit of a recluse, turned off by the glitz and glamour of the Hollywood machine. He pops out of hiding every so often (Gangs of New York, The Age of Innocence) to remind us that he hasn't completely taken a header off the face of the Earth. It's a shame to blunt this acting talent, but it's a story we've become all too familiar with. Lewis emerges this time for the IFC Films feature The Ballad of Jack and Rose. The film premiered at Sundance in January promising a full-scale release to the art house circuit come the sunny days of summer.

Grade: C+ | Genre: Comedy/Satire
Summary: Team America is disappointing because of the cards they play versus what they had in their hand. It starts out incredibly well with this interesting puppet angle and savvy political satire that takes no prisoners. Ultimately, it gets so weighted down by Parker and Stone trying to pander to their core fans that any real sting gets sucked out of this one.

Oh what to do with Team America: World Police? On the one hand, it is a biting political satire, sharp and an equal opportunity offender. On the other, it's a low grade James Bond spoof punctuated by warped G.I. Joe battle calls revolving around the Parker and Stone's 4th grade humor. They are truly the most unlikely comic geniuses and their own worst enemy, all rolled up into one. Now that is quite an accomplishment for a pair of guys who make a living off of dick and fart jokes.

Grade: D+ | Genre: Comedy
Summary: While Bewitched will get its share of chuckles out of you, this humor well is much too dry. The poor writing makes it come across as very disjointed and badly pieced together.

Hollywood seems to be in nostalgic love with all the cheesy television we grew up with as kids. When we plopped down in front of the TV to elbow out a day's worth of school work, we joined up with our faithful friends the Smurfs, Masters of the Universe and Transformers to mesmerize us with their alternate universe until something better came up or dinner chimed. Little did we know that twenty odd years later they'd be adapting these puppies into feature length films? As soon as they bring over Punky Brewster and the Greatest American Hero, we'll know they've gone too far. Bewitched was one of those safe shows from our parent's generation that you could flip over to TBS to fill one of those thirty-minute bites of time. Elizabeth Montgomery could always be counted on for her mischievous twitching nose as she navigated life as a normal housewife with witchy powers.

Grade: B+ | Genre: Comedy Album
Summary: It's fair to say that this DVD isn't for weary ones too sensitive for Stephen Lynch's brand of wicked humor. It's just enough to rock your perfect little world but yet you're able to still sleep at night. Although, you do wonder how Lynch is able to.

The first time I heard of Stephen Lynch was when a local radio station played a track off his Superhero comedy album called "What if that guy from Smashing Pumpkins lost his car keys?" Though brief, those 30 seconds of a dead-on Billy Corgan impression almost caused myself to run off the side of the road from laughing so hard. Once I regained control and made it safely home, I Googled his name and came up with a comedy DVD called, Live at The El Rey. It's Lynch, with his guitar, playing to an audience unphased by Lynch's crude and twisted humor. Musical tales of self-pleasure and Jesus' brother, Craig, are hilarious bits of alarming humor. All are shocking evidence that Stephen Lynch is on his way to Hell, but at least Satan will have someone to lighten the mood.

Grade: A | Genre: Drama
Summary: In what is sure to be one of the film highlights of 2005, Crowe and Zellweger are at their best as Ron Howard creates a stunning drama where the human spirit can't be contained

It was the last days of 1920s and life couldn't be more glorious. The American economy was booming along at breakneck pace, propped up by a speculative frenzy. Work was plentiful to all who wanted it and novel luxuries like the radio and the automobile were finally becoming part of the everyman's staple household items. Up and coming boxer, James J. Braddock was lighting up the boxing circuit with his lethal right jab with the look of a sure fire title contender. Four grueling years later, life couldn't be anymore different. The country was in the deepest throws of the Great Depression. 15 million couldn't find work, and Americans wondered where the money would come from to pay the mountain of bills. How would they feed their children? Braddock, once one of the most promising boxers of his time, was crippled by injury and encroaching age. Who would have an answer to the direst questions that seemed to stare through this generation without hope?

Grade: C- | Genre: Action
Summary: Bruce Willis is an old pro as a one-man army on a mission to thwart the evil powers that be. This time however, the evil powers are juveniles, and even they are punking him just like Ashton Kutcher has been, dating Demi Moore.

The clever but misleading opening credits of Hostage have you wondering what type of film you're about to get yourself into. The raw blacks and reds are reminiscent of the feel to another Bruce Willis film, the overly gruesome and edgy, Sin City. However, this is no comic book as the credits paint a dark portrait of nervous energy that comes to life as the picture transitions onto a small street outside a home in Los Angeles where Willis' character, Jeff Talley, is in hostage negotiations with a twitchy suspect ready to blow his fuse at any second.

Talley is confident and in control until he loses his grip of the situation as the survival rates of the hostages, the suspect's young son and wife, quickly drop. He can hear the Lord's prayer coming through the phone he's been using to communicate with the suspect signaling that the end is near and that the result won't be in his favor. He breaks his way into the suspect's home to find him and his wife dead. When Talley finds the son, who has been shot in the chest, the young boy dies in his arms gasping for air.

Grade: B+ | Genre: Romantic Comedy
Summary: The Girl in the Cafe sheds important light on the G8 conference by supporting this heavy drama on a light love story that is clever, fresh and inventive. It is a rousing success on all levels and a pleasure to watch.

Most writers find it complicated enough trying to assemble an original romantic feature, much less attempting to attack poverty during the same thought. Leave it to Richard Wright (Love Actually) to tackle this formidable task, and arise on the plus side of the equation. Saturday marked the premiere of the Girl in the Cafe on HBO, which features an unlikely budding romance over the backdrop of the G8 conference. While it may sound as sexy as two folks in a nursing home doing the horizontal, the writer strikes the perfect balance, not overly preaching to us on the horrors of extreme poverty while not weighing down the romantic elements with this seven headed hydra. Count me among the surprised that he pulled this delicate feat off.

Grade: B+ | Genre: Drama
Summary: Coach Carter is no Friday Night Lights, but it is film with comparable heart and desire. It's success lies in our empathy for the players and the struggles that each go through to stay on the team and on the right path.

Hey Mister Kotta! Sure, it may not work as well for this film, but what Coach Carter has that does work is a very convincing presence on the screen thanks to the baddest mother f-er of them all, Samuel L. Jackson. Anyone who has the gall to have you include his middle initial as you speak his name has got to be a force to be reckoned with. Don't even say a word about Michael J. Fox.

Anyway, Coach Carter is a very engaging film about an inner city high school basketball program that not only lacks the ambition for the game but also in themselves. Ken Carter knows a thing or two about success by believing in oneself and brings his discipline to a group who can't even spell discipline. He'll give you respect until you lose it and is all about bringing out the best in you, physically and most of all academically.

Grade: B+ | Genre: Drama
Summary: This is an important film highlighting an essential figure in science. His significance wasn't in his findings so much as the influence he had on helping to relax America's Puritanical attitudes on sex.

"Let's talk about sex ba-by." Contrary to popular belief Salt-N-Pepa weren't the first ones to get us talking about sex. It was Alfred Kinsey. In the hyper-Puritan times of the 1950s, he published the groundbreaking Sexual Behavior in the Human Male that exploded in the American consciousness with the most comprehensive study of human sexual behavior at the time. Prior to its publication, the commonly held view was that everyone followed the traditional standards of the Puritanical society, and the very few who deviated from these norms lacked the proper moral fiber and willpower. The truth created shockwaves of awe and comfort as people kept asking "am I normal?" In a time that taught abstinence and propagated misinformation about sex, Kinsey flung open the doors to the bedroom to find out just what was going on.

Grade: C | Genre: Horror
Summary: This film isn't destined to be a classic, but Keaton's performance compounded with the jump out of your seat thrills are engaging enough to have you clutching the pillow you've got covering your eyes.

Electronic Voice Phenomenon (E.V.P.) is the recording of voices and images of the dead using de-tuned receiving apparatuses. Identified in 1939, and now the subject of increasing scientific research worldwide, it is able to finally show evidence of communication with the deceased.

Architect John Rivers (Michael Keaton) has never been exposed to such supernatural abnormalities but is about to engulf himself in the movement when his wife, now dead six months, begins to make contact with him through the static of his television set and radio receiver. The White Noise he hears becomes his main focus in life and consumes everything around him. From Architect to paranormal crusader, John turns his world inside out in order to see and speak to his wife one last time.

Grade: C+ | Genre: Drama
Summary: This is a tough movie to make happen. It takes a lot of patience to see it through to the final revelation, concerning what brought Trevor to this disturbed state.

Actors have often sacrificed their better sense by going to extremes for a juicy part. Look at the gorgeous Charlize Theron gaining all that weight and generally mucking herself up for the role of Aileen Wuornos in Monster. We heap praises upon them for their authenticity and their daring to mess up their life for the sake of art. Is there a line where they go too far? If there is, Christian Bale has crossed it with the Machinist. He dropped 63 pounds for the part, which resulted in an emaciated skeleton akin to what you would see in concentration camp footage. It's pretty disgusting to look at, and he's the central focus of the entire two hours.

Grade: A- | Genre: Comedy/Action
Summary: Mr. & Mrs. Smith takes the old adage that "love is war" and riddles it with bullets until it is delicate Swiss cheese. This is a highly enjoyable film that gets more laughs than I would have thought possible.

How long has the media storm surrounding Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie been pounding us? It must be close to absolute fever pitch with the release of their long awaited film Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Why everyone cares so much about their personal lives is beyond me, but on the same thought trying to get through this review without connecting it back to everyone's favorite non-couple is about impossible. So I'm going to go ahead and get this dirty business out of the way. Pitt and Jolie are two uber attractive people who look comfortable together. He with his suave Ocean's Eleven charm and good looks; her with that exotic, confident sexuality. There are sparks splintering all over the place when they are sharing the screen, and in this film, Jolie looks about as tempting as anything I've seen. With that out of the way, let's dig into this delicious film that curiosity alone will force everyone into the theatres.

Grade: D- | Genre: Drama
Summary: A buddy summed it up best when he said, "it doesn't even make me want to go out and buy a skateboard."

In 2001 skateboarding pioneer, Stacy Peralta, made an effective documentary called Dogtown and Z-Boys about youths that took a recreational sport to elevated heights never before seen until the Z-Boys. Surfers turned concrete wavers, the crew advanced a culture built on angst and rebellion, which inevitably translated into a very lucrative business.

Once again, the Z-Boys are resurrected in the new film Lords of Dogtown set in 1975 on the asphalt slums of Santa Monica and Venice Beach. It's the story of 3 aimless youths with one thing in common...their desire to live life standing on a board and 4 urethane wheels.

Grade: A- | Genre: Drama
Summary: Although this film stands untouched as one of the classics of the age, it rests with me as a reminder of the brilliance of the talent present in James Dean. He seemed to carry the uncertainly of a generation in his eyes.

What is it about the bad boys that make the girls go weak in the knees? Is it the danger, the mystery, the snake tattoo? Us normal guys may never know, though we can take tips from the eternal bad boy, James Dean. He is getting the proper star treatment on the 50th anniversary of his death. This week, they released all three of his films on special edition DVD that will hopefully spur a new generation of Dean aficionados. While Rebel Without a Cause is the film that resonates in everyone's mind at the mention of his name, East of Eden was the shining moment of his career. He plays bad boy Cal Trask in this Steinbeck translation, which plays like a modern day story of Cain and Abel. It is about one young man's struggle to win his father's love after a lifetime of scorn. He's fighting to know who he is and he brings himself into odds with his brother Aron when Aron's girl starts to fall for Cal. The drama is thick and potent as James Dean gives the performance of his tragically brief career.

Grade: A- | Genre: Foreign
Summary: The Sea Inside is a deeply moving film that takes on the extremely volatile subject matter of euthanasia with knowledge and grace.

A man has been paralyzed from the neck down for 28 years. He decided long ago that life isn't worth living as he's deemed the quality of life to be basically zero. This isn't a rash decision that was haphazardly made upon awaking one gloomy morning or in a depressed state one drunken evening. It is an intention he's carried with him for the better part of his life, which he is unable to carry out himself due to his circumstance. He is of sound mind and discusses the topic rather matter of factly as you or I would the weather or whose turn it is to take out the trash. Is it really for any of us to say that he must keep living against his will? Is it right to prosecute someone who helps him carry out this deep seeded wish? The Sea Inside is a film that deals with the daunting issue of euthanasia, putting a face and a life on an issue that sparks much religious fervor and heated debate. This eloquent film looks to answer the question regarding if we really have the right to make someone live whose desire for life retreated long ago.

Grade: A | Genre: Documentary
Summary: Caouette is an extremely talented filmmaker who has created a deeply moving work in Tarnation. It is the portrait of a family in disintegration, ravaged by mental disease that afflicts each of its members in different ways.

There are certain films that come along ever so often that shrug off the words. They defy description and peel off the labels you try to stick to them. They are always tough works of art that make you question yourself and your world. They loiter around in your mind when the film goes quiet and life resumes. Sometimes we are better for having seen them, sometimes worse, but their impact leaves a divot in our brain that will never go back to the way it was before. Tarnation is one of these films. It is a hard, uncomfortable look at a family plagued by mental illness, shadowing three generations.

Grade: C | Genre: Drama/Action
Summary: Assault on Precinct 13 is definitely an unlucky number for the old police station as well for those involved with the film. Filled with talent, Assault on Precinct 13 under utilizes the resources it was given and has us struggling to stay awake.

It's New Year's Ever and Precinct 13's last night of operation. The city is underneath mounds of snow, and the late night crew is working their last shift before the old police station is retired forever. Across town, crime boss Marian Bishop (Lawrence Fishburne) has been arrested and is on route to be transferred to a maximum security holding cell along with three other prisoners. However, due to inclimate weather, the transport unit must make a detour to, of all places, good ol' Precinct 13 where the pipes are leaking and the hinges are rusted. Outside, a specially trained unit of gunmen has begun to infiltrate the station in order to bust Bishop out of holding...or are they?

Grade: C+ | Genre: Suspense
Summary: Surprisingly, this is an enjoyable film, but it's quite mindless. It doesn't offer anything fresh or new to the adventure genre and comes off as a poor man's Indiana Jones.

What if Indiana Jones had plotted his daring adventures in America instead of the leaping through the rich history across the globe? We're not talking about the golden cross of Coronado or anything remotely cool like that. No, we are rolling the date back to the Revolutionary War some 200 years ago, a mere blip in most countries' heritages. What if Indie searched for a treasure passed from the Egyptians, to the Crusaders and ultimately to the Free Masons, better knows as our founding fathers? Sound a little far fetched and more than a bit out there? Welcome to National Treasure, the film where reality never existed. If you enjoy adventure films that don't require you to use any of your mental facilities, I have the perfect film for you.

Grade: A- | Genre: Comedy
Summary: In Good Company is film of subtle intricacies. It's not an exaggerated attempt to woo the academy but an honest look into one's humility and how they are able to cope with the adversities that present themselves.

You may be too young and too sure of yourself to realize this, but in just a few years, when corporate America sees you for your age rather than your work, some hotshot rookie will swoop in and take over the position you worked so long and hard to build. Dan Foreman (Dennis Quaid) is approaching 52 and has just found out that his company, Sports America, has been bought out by super media conglomerate, Globecom. The executive position that he has nurtured and developed over the years will now be handed over to 26 year old, Carter Duryea (Topher Grace), forcing Dan to cope with adjustments not only to his professional life, but to his personal life as well...all because of an inexperience but eager executive with age on his side.

Grade: C- | Genre: Comedy
Summary: While this is a far cry from being an unwatchable film, it is still very lackluster and can be tedious at times to sit through.

The Godfather of quirky, Wes Anderson, has come for a visit bringing his latest sea adventure The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Anderson always balances on such a fine line. There is no question that he is one of the most innovative directors in Hollywood, but his level of unconventionality sometimes gets him in deep water. After all without a striking story and absorbing characters, you just have this huge ball of quirk bounding down a hill, mowing over everything in its path. The Life Aquatic is that ball, and though he may fascinate us with the bountiful tricks up his sleeve, it simply stuns us for long enough to get squashed.

Grade: B- | Genre: Comedy
Summary: Guess Who is an enjoyable comedy that leaves some laughs on the table. It has the same feel as Meet the Parents even if it doesn't have that same cleverness about it.

When a smart comedy hits theatres that charm those box office dollars, it's always a bit of a mixed blessing. While it's nice to have a great comedy to cut you up with laughter, you also have to brace yourself for the inevitable onslaught of Hollywood copycats that will roll into production right after opening weekend. The film in this case is the side splitting Meet the Parents, and Guess Who is definitely dragging on the coat tails of its success. So what is the spin to give this film its own unique flavor? It is the interracial version, which has plenty of room for extra comedic material, yet Guess Who doesn't exploit this advantage as effectively as it should.

Grade: B+ | Genre: Comedy
Summary: In all, this was a very enjoyable film. It isn't breaking any new comedic ground, but it stood up to the impossible expectations set by the initial one, faring extremely well.

Not too long ago, my sister brought together my parents with the parents of this guy she's been seeing. When I asked my mom how the dinner went, she said it was Meet the Fockers. Basically there is one scene in this film where free spirited Bernie (Hoffman) is first introduced to painfully uptight Jack (DeNiro), and he forgoes the traditional handshake to give him a heartfelt hug, planting one firmly on his cheek. The entire time, Jack is crawling in his skin at this outpouring of emotion. In three words, my mom defined the evening and didn't need to say anything else. My dad still bristles up when it's mentioned. How many movies can you say that about? Meet the Fockers is a clever sequel that doesn't fall prey to the inevitable cliches that go along with big budget repeat comedies.

Grade: B | Genre: Independent Drama
Summary: This film is a fascinating psychological portrait of one man who felt powerless and disenfranchised with the America he once knew. In his fragile mind, he sees his revolutionary action as his only means of regaining the handle on a life spiraling out of control.

I'm sure we've all been there at one point. The government, the system, the man [fill in your appropriate authority figure] tightens its grip around your world to the point where you feel like you can't breathe. You are forced to lash out at something in order to fight back and regain control of your life. This world we inhabit is filled with constraints where certain people control resources, money and, though we usually don't like to admit it, other people. It's a world order that we have all bought into since the first moment we understood what it meant to be free and not. What if there came a day when it wasn't acceptable anymore? What if you decided there needed to be a new world order that started and ended with you? How exactly does your life get to that point, and what is it like living with the service light of your mind on the blink? This film shows us that life through the troubled eyes of Samuel Byck.

Grade: C+ | Genre: Drama
Summary: Birth relies on implications rather than a spoon fed story line. It's not for everyone and you have to be prepared before sliding in this DVD.

If you lost your wife and then one day a bird appeared on your windowsill saying that it was she, would you believe it? That's the question posed by Sean, a happily married man you never meet but is the presence that haunts this inconceivable film.

Birth is the unnerving story of Anna (Nicole Kidman), a widow of 10 years who has recently gotten engaged. One night, a mysterious young boy (Cameron Bright) appears and claims to be the reincarnation of Sean, her deceased husband. Initially, the idea is absurd, but somehow 10-year-old Sean is able to disclose details about his relationship with Anna no one else could now. Is this really Sean? Can Anna actually believe his claim?

Grade: C+ | Genre: Family Adventure
Summary: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is just that...unfortunate, because it doesn't quite live up to the original story written by Daniel Handler. The film works because of Jim Carrey, but you still find yourself impatiently squirming as you wait for it to end.

Jim Carrey is the reigning King of funny with the surprising ability to step out of the box he's created for himself and take on roles that more serious actors would gush over. The Truman Show gave us a more subdued Carrey though you could see Ace Ventura doing his best to break free. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind saw him evolve from the Robin Williams School of nut jobs to a seasoned actor comfortable in his own skin.

In Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Jim Carrey continues to build on his range of characters of which he has yet to play. Yes, the funny guy is still there, but at the same time, there's a sinister tone in his Count Olaf that forces you to see him in yet another new light.