Movies

By Courtney Hazlett The Scoop • "Speed Racer" Overstimulation, anyone? The Wachowski brothers update the animated "Speed Racer" series into a live action free-for-all, but unfortunately, they forgot to include a plot. The special effects also create the equivalent of a cinematic ice cream headache.

• "What Happens in Vegas" Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher star as two opposites who meet and marry after a drunken night in Vegas. They're ready for an annulment, but then Kutcher wins $3 million on Diaz's quarter. Wacky hijinks ensue. Best thing about this predictable comedy is the supporting cast.

• "The Fall" Director Tarsem Singh ("The Cell") is back with another film that has eye-popping visuals and a completely ridiculous story. A man (Lee Pace) meets a little girl (Catinca Untaru) in a hospital and tries to charm her with outrageous tales.

• "Iron Man" Robert Downey, Jr. stars as Tony Stark, a boozing, womanizing weapons manufacturer, who decides to start fighting evil by making his own special Iron Man suit. While the big-screen debut of the armor-plated Marvel Comics hero may feature technology that’s way ahead of reality, a very human heart beats within this souped-up action machine.

• "Made of Honor" Just when Patrick Dempsey realizes he has feelings for best pal Michelle Monaghan, she announces her engagement to another man and asks him to be her maid of honor. This oddly misogynistic chick flick paints women as despicable, pathetic and/or man-hungry.

• "Redbelt" Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as a Jiu-Jitsu instructor who gets pulled into the world of professional fighting by a seemingly random series of events. David Mament constructs a fascinating story, but if you think about it for more than a minute, it completely falls apart.

• "Son of Rambow" Two boys become unlikely friends and work together to make their own version of "Rambo" in early '80s England. The film maintains just the right tone throughout with its guileless, makeshift charm.

• "Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo" The pot-loving protagonists of the cult hit return in the sequel, and while the comedy is as low-brow and outrageous as ever, this new movie actually scores more points off the nation’s paranoid and repressive post-9/11 mindset than all of Hollywood’s hand-wringing war-on-terror dramas put together.

• "Baby Mama" Tina Fey stars as a woman who wants to have a baby and so she turns to the blue-collar, foul-mouthed Amy Poehler to be her surrogate. The performances are strong, but the movie softens its rough edges (and thus its laugh) in favor of warmth.

• "Deception" Ewan McGregor and Hugh Jackman star in this "thriller" about a secret sex club and the mysterious woman (Michelle Williams) that McGregor meets there. The film collapses into such a ridiculous pile of plot twists and double crosses, that there’s nothing pleasurable about it — guilty or otherwise.

• "Standard Operating Procedure" Ultra-smart documentarian Errol Morris strikes again, this time with a compelling look at the soldiers involved in the Abu Ghraib. They simply speak about what happens, and Morris doesn't condemn them, but he doesn't excuse them either.

• "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" Thanks to a terrific script by Jason Segel, who also stars, and perfect pacing from first-time director Nicholas Stoller, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” is the kind of smart and satisfying movie you’ll watch over and over without feeling guilty.

• "The Life Before Her Eyes" Diane (Uma Thurman) has to deal with her wild past and a school shooting that changed her life. Just when you think you’re getting an interesting movie about women and their travails and triumphs, the whiffs of a Shocking! Twist! Ending! begin to appear.

• "Forbidden Kingdom" Watching Jet Li and Jackie Chan face off is swollen with anticipation and indeed thrilling. The rest of the movie is a solid, though forgettable, family-friendly action flick.

• "88 Minutes" A forensic psychologist (Al Pacino) gets a call from a killer telling him he's got 88 minutes to live. Rather than being memorably disastrous, “88 Minutes” is merely crappy.

• "Where in the World is Osama bin Laden" To say that the “Super Size Me” director’s latest documentary is a gimmick would be a gross understatement. It’s also a given — that’s Spurlock’s trademark modus operandi.

• "Street Kings" Keanu Reeves plays a hard-drinking cop who hasn’t gotten over the death of his wife in this macho story that’s more yelling and bravado than anything else. You will be able to see this film’s one plot twist a mile away.

• "Smart People" Dennis Quaid stars as a professor and widower who falls for his doctor (Sarah Jessica Parker) in this lame comedy that thinks it’s smarter than it is. Ellen Page (who plays Quaid’s daughter) needs to move on from wise-beyond-her-years characters.

• "The Visitor" Director Tom McCarthy (“The Station Agent”) chooses an unlikely but talented star (Richard Jenkins of “Six Feet Under”) as his leading man in this film about a widowed professor who finds an immigrant couple living in his home and forms a bond with them. The film is a small charmer with great performances.

• "Nim's Island" Abigail Breslin stars as a little girl who lives with her dad on an island, and when he gets lost at sea, she calls on her favorite writer to help her. What she doesn't realize is that the writer is agoraphobic. Kids will love it; adults will be checking their watches.

• "Leatherheads" George Clooney tries to revive the screwball comedies of the 30s and 40s in this romantic comedy set against the backdrop of 1925 football. Unfortunately, this film is neither funny nor charming and Renee Zellweger is extremely miscast as a fast-talking reporter.

• "My Blueberry Nights" Norah Jones stars as a woman who after finding out her man cheated on her hits the road and takes a series of waitressing job. Wong Kar-Wai (“In the Mood For Love”) is one of the more dependable filmmakers, but his first English-language film turns out to be his first misfire.

• "Shine A Light" Martin Scorsese directs this Rolling Stones documentary that, with the help of some really stellar cinematographers, looks like the world’s most expensive infomercial. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t shed much light on the band.

• "Stop-Loss" Ryan Phillippe stars in this compelling drama of a solider who, after two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, finally thinks he’s done serving his country only to find out he’s been “stop-lossed” and will be sent back to Iraq. Director provides a poignant and shattering portrait of what our soldiers have to endure in combat and at home.

• "21" This story of MIT students who, led by am scheming professor (Kevin Spacey), go to Vegas to count cards and make a bundle of dough had potential to be interesting, but just isn’t. Instead of focusing on the intricacies of the scam, the story wanders off to a romantic subplot featuring Kate Bosworth and Jim Sturgess.

• "Run, Fat Boy, Run" The man-child genre may have finally worn out its welcome with this lame comedy about a man (Simon Pegg) who after leaving his pregnant girlfriend (Thandie Newton) at the altar decides to win her back by running a marathon. None of the men in this movie are even worthy to be friends with Newton, let alone marry her.

• "Chapter 27" Jared Leto put on 60 pounds to play Mark David Chapman, otherwise known as the man who shot John Lennon. Unfortunately, this movie adds nothing new to the Chapman story. Yep, he was hooked on “Catcher and the Rye,” was a loner and killed the former Beatle. That’s about it, folks.

• "Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns" Brenda Brown (Angela Bassett) is a single mom who does her best to raise her kids in the Chicago projects, despite financial hardships and the lure of crime, drugs. The Tyler Perry sticks to his formula of moralizing uplift, this movie is thoroughly entertaining, with great performances from Bassett and the supporting cast.

• "Drillbit Taylor" A trio of boys (Tony Gentile, Nate Hartley, David Dorfman) hires Drillbit Taylor (Owen Wilson) to protect them from a bully (Alex Frost). Could this be the end of Judd Apatow’s winning streak? This clunker has about as many laughs as the evening news. The script (co-written by Seth Rogen) doesn’t give Wilson much to do.

• "The Hammer" Adam Carolla (of this season’s “Dancing With the Stars”) stars in a story inspired by his own life about a former boxer who scrapes by as a carpenter and boxing coach at the local gym. Carolla adds charm and the film has a do-it-yourself feel that makes it pretty darn likeable. Nothing too special here, but it does have a sweetness to it.

• "Horton Hears a Who!" Poor Dr. Seuss. After a lackluster “Cat in the Hat” and Jim Carrey-starring “Grinch,” Hollywood strikes again with “Horton Hears a Who!” At least this time, the movie looks more like the world you remember from the storybook. Though the film, which uses the voices of Carrey and Steve Carell, has a certain sweetness, it’s just not funny.

• "Funny Games" Want to be lectured in the movie theater? Michael Haneke is ready to give you a lesson on how bad it is to watch violent movies with this violent movie about two blandly attractive boys (Michael Pitt, Brady Corbet) who kidnap a family and casually bet them that they’ll be dead in 12 hours.

• "Doomsday" This ridiculous but hard-to-resist sci-fi action thriller is in the vein of end of the world epics like “I Am Legend” and “28 Days Days Later,” except a whole lot sillier. Yes, it steals from dozens of movies, but you it’s got such an “I can’t turn away from this car wreck” feel that you will be entertained. And in the long run, isn’t that what you want.

• "10,000 B.C." If you like CGI, this movie that has a remarkably similar plot to “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Raindeer” is for you. Roland Emmerich (“The Day After Tomorrow”) directs this story of D’Leh (Steven Strait) quest to rescue the woman he loves from a band of marauding horseman. But all you'll really care about are the cool prehistoric creatures.

• "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" Frances McDormand stars as a struggling governess who takes a job as a social secretary for the flighty Delysia (Amy Adams), who is juggling three men. The movie is a sweet, lightweight confection, but seems meant for a slightly older female audience. For everyone else, the shoes, purses and clothes may be enough to keep you interested.

• "The Bank Job" This heist film is a respectable mix of fact and fiction inspired by the 1971 robbery of a Lloyds Bank in London. Jason Statham plays a used-car dealer who gets roped into the robbery along with some thug pals by the lovely Martine Love (Saffron Burrows). Though the film is entertaining, it’s nothing you haven’t seen before in other heist-movie films.

• "Paranoid Park" Max (Gabe Nevins) becomes involved in the murder of a security guard in this tale from Gus Van Sant, whose examination of the lives of pretty, vacant boys (“Elephant,” “Last Days”) is beginning to wear a bit thin. The lead character seems completely devoid of personality, which makes it hard to care about his fate. But the cinematography by Christopher Doyle and Rain Kathy Li is gorgeous.

• "Semi-Pro" Will Ferrell hammers the last nail into the-’70s-sure-were-wacky comedies with this film about a one-hit-wonder singer who parlays his brief success into ownership of an ABA basketball team. When the NBA gets set to absorb the top ABA teams into its league, Ferrell convinces the commissioner to let his team compete. Ferrell is doing his usual shtick here — you’ve already seen it in “Blades of Glory” and “Talladega Nights.”

• "The Other Boleyn Girl" This “Dynasty”-style look at the court of King Henry VIII (Eric Bana) isn’t a great movie, but it is a fun and trashy guilty pleasure. Scarlett Johansson plays the na�ve Mary Boleyn, who falls in love with Henry, while Natalie Portman is her scheming sister Anne, who plots to steal her sister’s husband — and get her revenge. Don’t expect a history lesson here, Wikipedia is probably more faithful to the real story, but if you want a soap opera, this movie is for you.

• "Penelope" Christina Ricci plays the title role, a girl who is cursed with a pig’s snout. The only way to reverse the curse is to find someone who will love her for who she is. The movie is meant to be a fable — and sometimes it works, but more often than not it misses the mark. Ricci has nice chemistry with co-star James McAvoy and the film has good intentions, but it’s ultimately too self-consciously quirky.

• "City of Men" In 2002’ director Fernando Meirelles (“Constant Gardener”) made a splash with a brutal story of the Rio slums, “City of God.” This more humanistic sequel focuses on those who live in the shadow of the slums and is helmed by Paulo Morelli. It may not have the bravado of the first film, but the sequel is ultimately more satisfying.

• "Be Kind Rewind" When Jack Black accidentally demagnetizes all the VHS tapes in his friend’s (Mos Def) video store, it’s up to them to recreate all the movies. And believe it or not, those recreations make the video store more popular than ever. The movies within a movie are fun, but the main story doesn’t hold together and feels like the bad kind of whimsy.

• "Vantage Point" When the president (William Hurt) gets shot, we get to experience it from eight points of view. This gimmick is tedious and really undercuts what could have been a good thriller. A nutty chase scene at the backend of the movie will also leave you scratching your head. But if you want to come late and leave early, the middle isn’t too bad.

• "Charlie Bartlett" Anton Yelchin stars as a boy who becomes everyone’s pal by setting up therapy sessions in the boy’s bathroom at his school. He also passes out meds. Unfortunately, there’s not much here that you haven’t seen in better teen flicks, such as “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “Rushmore.” Robert Downey, Jr. and Hope Davis give strong supporting performances, but can’t carry the movie all by themselves.

• "Definitely, Maybe" Ryan Reynolds has a bedtime story for daughter Abigail Breslin. He’s going to tell her which of three possible women (Isla Fisher, Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz) turned out to be her mother. The story is dull, the characters aren’t fleshed out, and frankly you may just end up feeling sorry for Breslin for having to sit through all this — although, at least it’s sure to put her to sleep.

• "The Spiderwick Chronicles" When the Grace family moves into an old, secluded house owned by their great uncle Arthur Spiderwick (David Strathairn) strange things begin to happen. Freddie Highmore plays twins Jared and Simon, and Simon, like the late Arthur, can see and talk to magical creatures (courtesy of CGI). Though not quite at the “Harry Potter” level, this is a fun film that adults and kids will enjoy, though it might be too scary for really young kids.

• "Jumper" If only the lifeless Hayden Christensen hadn’t been cast as the lead of this campy sci-fi thriller about a man who can pop from place to place just by thinking about it. He robs the film of any fun it offers by giving a completely flat performance, and co-star Rachel Bilson doesn’t do much to help the situation. Only Jamie Bell (all grown up from his “Billy Elliott” days) adds some fun as a fellow jumper.

• “George A. Romero’s Diary of the Dead” Romero is known for taking on real issues in his zombie movies. Here he takes on both an uninformed media and a nation of navel-gazers in this movie that’s filmed “Cloverfield”-style about a group of teens trying to escape from a band of zombies. Romero knows how to make a good zombie flick and the audience gets to watch through a handheld camera as the kids get picked off one by one, but otherwise, not much new here.

• "Fool's Gold" This story of an estranged husband and wife (Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson) finding love while going on a wacky treasure hunt appears to be written by someone who’s watched “Romancing the Stone” one too many times. The film has few laughs, and the leads have just as little chemistry as they did in “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” Where oh where are the good romantic comedies?

• "In Bruges" Colin Farrell bounces back in a big way from the dreadful “Miami Vice” with this story of hit men hiding out in a Belgian town. The film is funny and intelligent and isn’t afraid to get dark when it needs to. Ralph Fiennes rivals Ben Kingsley in “Sexy Beast” playing Farrell and Brendan Gleeson’s foul-mouthed mobster boss.

• "The Hottie and the Nottie" Do you really expect a film starring Paris Hilton to be good? Here she plays a beautiful and massively desirable woman who wants to find a boyfriend for her more homely pal (Christine Lakin). She convinces the insecure Nate (Joel David Moore) to give her friend a chance. The film plays like a poor man’s Farrelly brothers’ movie. No surprises here: It’s not so hot

• "Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show" Vince Vaughn takes four up-and-coming comedians on the road with him for 30 shows in 30 nights. There are laughs here, but the movie never shows enough of the actual comics’ routines. Instead, Vaughn and pals such as Jon Favreau get to steal the spotlight. If you’re interested in the full routines, it’s probably best to wait for those DVD extras.

• "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins" Martin Lawrence stars as a TV talk show host who brings his reality-show veteran fiancée (Joy Bryant) home to Georgia to meet his family. The film is awash in broad stereotypes and is mean-spirited to boot. The comedy here is broad and predictable — a bit like “Big Momma’s House” without the female fat suit.

• "Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert" It’s almost impossible for an adult viewer of the 3-D concert film not to be overwhelmed by a sense of longing for the likable teen star to avoid turning into Britney. But tween girls won’t be thinking about this. They’ll just feel giddy that though they may not have seen the star live in concert, the effects will make Hannah Montana appear as if she’s walking right up to them during her wholesome performances.

• "Over Her Dead Body" From “Desperate Housewives” to desperate bridezilla, Eva Longoria’s Kate gets crushed to death while planning for her nuptials to dreamy vet Henry Mills (Paul Rudd). Naturally, she returns as a clinging ghost to “protect” her man. The movie was smart enough to pair Rudd with Lake Bell, but Longoria fails to bring any comic zest to the romantic comedy. At least it’s better than “27 Dresses.”

• "The Eye" What’s worse than a bad American remake of a terrifying Asian horror movie? Why, a bad American remake of a crappy Asian horror movie, of course. After getting a cornea transplant, Jessica Alba sees dead people. Unfortunately, her visions aren’t scary, just vaguely spooky.

• "Strange Wilderness" How is it that talented and funny stars could end up in a movie so bad that Paramount wouldn't put its logo on the film? Steve Zahn and Jonah Hill star in this “comedy” about stoned nature photographers in search of Bigfoot to save their TV show. Not only are the jokes not funny, the writers didn’t seem to have time for concepts such as “plot” and “characters.”

• "Rambo" Sylvester Stallone returns with yet another carnage-fest for 14-year-old boys of all ages. The film does for the Myanmar genocide what “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry” did for same-sex marriage. Yes, this is exactly the kind of mindless killing fest you might anticipate, however, this film does have some so-bad-they’re good moments.

• "Untraceable" Diane Lane stars as an FBI agent trying to track down a serial killer who murders his victims live on the Web while people watch. The more people watch, the faster he kills them. It’s a sick, violent movie that wants to make the audience feel guilty for being intrigued by its premise.

• "How She Move" Raya (Rutina Wesley) enters a step dance contest in to afford private school and maybe make it to the Ivy League some day. Though it follows the steps of the traditional dance movie, what makes “How She Move” different is its smart, fully developed female characters.

• "U2 3D" U2’s larger-than-life arena performances make them the perfect subject for a 3D concert film. No interviews here, just a solid hour and a half of music. You’ll feel like you’re part of the audience — and for those who really want to get up close and personal, go see it in IMAX. You can count Bono’s pores.

• "Cloverfield" From J.J. Abrams, the producer who brought you “Lost,” comes a creature feature for the post-9/11, YouTube era. Without revealing too much, we can say that the movie is exciting, terrifying and breathlessly entertaining. Those who found the “Blair Witch Project” camera work too jarring, however, should bring their Dramamine.

• "27 Dresses" Katherine Heigl stars as a perpetual bridesmaid who’s in love with her perfect boss (Edward Burns), who in turn doesn’t even notice her (suspend that disbelief if you dare). She meets a cynical journalist (James Marsden) and the two become � well, come on this is a standard rom-com, so you already know. If you are a woman, this movie has nothing but toxic messages for you.

• "Mad Money" Three woman (Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, Katie Holmes) who work in the Federal Reserve Bank devise a plan to steal money that’s about to be recycled. This movie lacks suspense and laughs, and commits a crime of its own by wasting the talents of Keaton. The characters are sketches instead of people.

• "Cassandra's Dream" Colin Farrell and Ewan McGregor star as two brothers who are coaxed into murder for money that they’re both convinced they desperately need. Director Woody Allen has been a bit obsessed with murder-to-retain-social-status films (see also, “Match Point” and “Crimes and Misdemeanors”), and this one doesn’t cover any new territory.

• "Teeth" A teenage girl (Jess Weixler) discovers that her vagina has teeth (yes, you read that correctly in this comically dark revenge film. Though the film doesn’t quite hold together through its entire running length, it will have audiences squirming and laughing. And don’t be surprised if this one becomes a midnight movie staple at your local theater.

• "First Sunday" Ice Cube and Tracy Morgan star in this wacky heist comedy, which unfortunately veers into public announcement territory when both of the boys get "reformed" by the church. One to skip.

• "Sweeney Todd" Johnny Depp and Tim Burton combine to enliven this bloody good big-screen adaptation of the Steven Sondheim musical about a murderous butcher bent on revenge. Don’t let the gore scare you away from this deliciously wicked story. And, hey, Depp’s pipes aren’t bad.

• "Charlie Wilson's War" Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts are horribly miscast in this political satire about a conservative Texas senator who decides he’s going to send aid to the Afghans after the Soviets invade. It should be a sharp satire, but unfortunately, it completely lacks edge. Only Philip Seymour Hoffman is able to rise to the occasion.

• "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" This satire of music biopics such as “Ray” and “Walk the Line” has funny moments, but it exhausts its premise early. The songs aren’t funny enough and you may even get tired of John C. Reilly, who appears in almost every scene. Director Jake Kasdan simply fails to keep the laughs coming.

• "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" In this installment (let’s hope it’s the last) Nicolas Cage tries to clear the name of an ancestor who is implicated in the death of Abraham Lincoln. This story follows a simple formula: historical info, action scenes, dull laughs. And that’s basically what you get here.

• "P.S. I Love You" What is Hilary Swank doing in this sappy story of a woman who loses her husband (Gerard Butler) and then discovers that he’s left her notes telling her how to go on with her life (which include doing karaoke and traveling to Ireland). This is a schmaltz-fest that will leave most fans cold.

• "The Bucket List" Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman star as two terminally ill cancer patients who decide it’s time to “get busy living.” Unfortunately, Rob Reiner’s career is the real terminal patient here. This movie is a Hollywood sapfest that is unworthy of its two leading men.

• "The Great Debaters" This movie about a pioneering black debate team in the segregated South follows a distinct formula, but for the most part it works, because director and star Denzel Washington doesn’t let the film get too sappy or sentimental. There aren’t many surprises here, but there’s some very fine acting.

• "The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep" This is a sweet tale of a lonely boy (Alex Etel) who finds an egg, out of which hatches a water horse. This touching story may have the adults in the audience reaching for tissue and will prove magical for kids (though some scenes may be a bit too intense for your real little ones). A holiday family treat.

• "Persepolis" Based on Marjane Satrapi’s graphic-novel memoir, this funny, moving film tells a girl’s coming-of-age story set against the political backdrop of the rise of the Ayatollahs in Iran. Though not suitable for children under 12, everyone else will be riveted by Satrapi’s story of the adolescent angst.

• "There Will Be Blood" Daniel Day-Lewis turns in the best performance of his career in this remarkable story of the rise of an oil baron. Director Paul Thomas Anderson shows there’s far more to him than “Boogie Nights” as he takes on this epic tale, which will leave audiences gasping.

• "I Am Legend" Will Smith thinks he’s the lone human survivor of a virus that’s wiped out Manhattan in this chilling sci-fi thriller. Things get complicated when zombie-like creatures come out at night. Smith is utterly compelling and, though the film simplifies the book’s message, it will keep you on the edge of your seat. Save it for a matinee.

• "Alvin and the Chipmunks" Yes, those singing chipmunks are back, and they get a Justin Timberlake-esque makeover for this CGI-version of the story of their rise to fame. Unfortunately, the animation feels second-rate — the chipmunks are often blank and expressionless — and the humor feels stale and dated.

• "The Kite Runner" Based on the best-selling book by Khaled Hosseini and set in Afghanistan, this film tells the story of a man who betrays a friend as a child and attempts to redeem himself as an adult. Unfortunately, the story feels mawkish and sentimental and it’s hard to sympathize with the main character.

• "Youth Without Youth" Francis Ford Coppola is back with this story of a man (Tim Roth) who is struck by lightening and wakes up to find himself much younger and much smarter. This film is so self-serious and pretentious that you may find yourself laughing instead of being drawn in by the so-called drama.

• "The Golden Compass" This adaptation of British writer Philip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” is a breathtakingly exciting creation of a thrilling universe and its characters. Nicole Kidman oozes old-school Hollywood glamour as the worldly woman with nefarious plans who befriends the film’s heroine, Lyra (played by Dakota Blue Richards).

• "Atonement" If one is to judge the new film version of Ian McEwan’s award-winning novel for its fidelity to the source material, “Atonement” is certainly a success. Unfortunately, since the book itself had narrative flaws, the movie offers no improvement upon them. And without giving away too many details, the book’s socko twist fails to resonate on the screen as much as it did on the printed page.

• "Grace is Gone" Previous war-on-terror dramas this year have fallen short by putting their heads before their hearts. Not this one. It’s stirring, even gut-wrenching, on the strength of John Cusack’s terrifically restrained performance as a husband in denial over the death of his wife in Iraq. This film had crowds weeping at its Sundance Film Festival premiere last January, so unless you’ve had your tear ducts removed, bring along some tissue.

• "Juno" Juno MacGuff is the kind of teenager we all wish we could have been: quick-witted, frighteningly smart and comfortable enough in her own skin to resist high-school pressures to conform, even as her body expands with an unplanned pregnancy. And “Juno” is the kind of movie all indie comedies wish they could be: light and lovable, perhaps a bit too pleased with the cleverness of its dialogue, but a charmer nonetheless.

• "Revolver" Guy Ritchie’s latest is a hard-boiled crime flick that is an unwatchable mess, and after his equally terrible “Swept Away” (2002), Ritchie has managed to make, back to back, two of the worst films any one director can lay claim to.

• "The Savages" Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman play two siblings who have to deal with the father’s Alzheimer’s in this dark comedy. The fun of this film is in the narcissism of the two leads, who make all the wrong choices for their ailing father. Though the film goes soft in the end, it’s still has brilliant moments.

• "The Diving Bell and Butterfly" Based on the true story of French Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby, who suffered from a syndrome known as “locked-in syndrome,” which allowed him only to communicate using his left eye, is a gorgeous look at the triumph of imagination over adversity. Director Schnabel, however, never lets go of the artifice; you're always seeing the glossy surface of this work of art.

• "Enchanted" Giselle (Amy Adams) is a fairytale maiden who gets stranded in real-life Manhattan in this sweet comedy. Don’t expect any ironic commentary on Disney films — after all they made this one. But Adams is completely winning as the naive maiden.

• "August Rush" There are a few too many convenient coincidences in this story of an orphaned boy (Freddie Highmore) who tries to find his parents (Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Keri Russell) by connecting to them through music. You may find yourself stifling giggles during this sappy film.

• "Stephen King's The Mist" Frank Darabont (“Shawshank Redemption”) proves once again that he’s one of the abler interpreters of Stephen King’s stories with this truly thrilling film about creatures that live in thick mist and terrorize a group of people holed up in a grocery store. It’s an antidote to horror porn.

• "Margot at the Wedding" When Pauline (Jennifer Jason Leigh) decides to marry slacker Malcolm (Jack Black) her sister Margot (Nicole Kidman) not only disapproves but seems determined to drive a wedge between the couple. The humor here seems cruel rather than funny and lacks the humanity of director Noah Baumbach’s last film, “The Squid and the Whale.”

• "I'm Not There" You won’t find a more inventive and effective approach to the biopic than Todd Haynes’ latest film in which he casts six different actors (including Cate Blanchett and Heath Ledger) as Bob Dylan-type figures at different stages of his life.

• “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium” What a wonderful holiday treat. Dustin Hoffman stars as a 243-year-old owner of a magic toy store, who realizes the time has come for him to move on from this world. This is one of those rare movies that will make you gasp with wonder.

• “Beowulf” This is not the epic poem you remember from the ninth grade. Instead, this thrilling tale, which uses motion-capture computer animation, has breathtaking battles and a wonderful hero in its title character (Ray Winstone). It’s not perfect, but you won’t be bored.

• “Love in the Time of Cholera” Anyone who’s read this glorious novel, won’t be surprised that the big-screen adaptation just can’t live up to Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s words. This story of a man (Javier Bardem) who stays in love with the same woman for decades, feels like a telenovela rather than an epic.

• “Redacted” There is no doubt that Brian De Palma is mad about the Iraq war, but unfortunately that rage doesn’t translate into a compelling movie. Instead, “Redacted’s” story of the rape and murder of an Iraqi girl by American soldiers feels too heavy-handed.

• "Southland Tales" If you’re wondering whether audiences were justified in booing this film when it played at the Cannes Film Festival, the short answer is, “yes.” This self-important, deliberately cryptic tale about an apocalypse that’s close at hand is completely incoherent.

• "Lions for Lambs" Tom Cruise is an ambitious senator, Meryl Streep a feisty reporter and Robert Redford an idealistic professor in this movie that plays more like a civics class instructional film than a drama. Yet another mediocre response to the war.

• "No Country For Old Men" Good news for Coen brothers fans: You are going to love their new ultra-violent adaptation of the Cormac McCarthy novel. Everyone else: You'll be shrugging your shoulders as you usually do during a Coen brothers film. For fans only.

• "Fred Claus" Vince Vaughn plays the disgruntled brother of Santa (Paul Giamatti) in this film that veers awkwardly between shrill slapstick and snuggly feel-good. Vaughn does his usual shtick here, and it's wearing thin.

• "American Gangster" If you think the title “American Gangster” sounds generic, wait until you see the movie. A shopworn compendium of charismatic crooks, scruffy cops, corruption, temptation and absolution, the film makes one regret that Denzel Washington already made a movie called “Déj� Vu,” since that’s what he’s trafficking in here.

• "Bee Movie" There’s not enough sting — and just enough Sting — in “Bee Movie,” Jerry Seinfeld’s animated attempt to reposition the sitcom king as a movie star. The gazillionth movie in recent years to present the anthropomorphic adventures of bugs, fish, cars, robots, etc., this comedy provides sporadic chuckles but, you’ll pardon the expression, drones on for much of its running time.

• "Martian Child" Martians have landed, or at least one Martian. Instead of slimy and tentacled as in “The War of the Worlds,” this Martian is cuddly, adorable and just troubled enough that John Cusack can’t help but want to kiss away his psychological boo-boos and play dad to him.

• "Dan in Real Life" Steve Carell shouldn't leave his day job at "The Office." His new film is yet another disappointing comedy, this one about the host of a radio advice show whose own life is a mess. Remember "Hello Larry"? This plays like the big screen version.

• "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke star as two brothers who decide to solve their money problems by robbing their parents' jewelry store. Director Sidney Lumet creates a riveting tale about a failed heist that will restore your faith in crime movies.

• "Rails & Ties" Alison Eastwood (Clint's daughter) directs this implausible story of a boy who goes in search of the stoic train engineer (Kevin Bacon) who accidentally killed his mother ... with his train. Good acting, but a ridiculous story.

• "Jimmy Carter: Man From Plains" Jonathan Demme takes an intimate look at the 39th president in this documentary in which he followed Carter on his book tour. The movie's biggest flaw might just be that Carter is too nice to be particularly interesting.

• "Things We Lost in the Fire" Halle Berry stars as a recently widowed woman who finds comfort in her late husband's junkie friend (Benicio Del Toro). The performances are strong, but the movie seems almost afraid to make viewers too sad.

• "Reservation Road" This story of a father (Joaquin Phoenix) who loses his son in a freak car accident and then just happens to hire the driver (Mark Ruffalo) as his lawyer is so cliche-ridden that it feels like the "MADtv" version of an Oscar bait film. It's that ridiculous.

• "Rendition" This film takes a serious topic -- the American government flying terror suspects off to foreign countries -- and turns it into a Lifetime movie. And that's exactly where you should wait to watch it.

• "Gone Baby Gone" Ben Affleck makes a stellar directorial debut with this story about a kidnapped 4-year-old girl and the two private detectives (Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan) who try to track her down. This powerful story is moving and incredibly smart.

• "30 Days of Night" A great premise -- vampires on feeding frenzy in Alaska, where darkness lasts for months -- is marred by repetitive gimmicks and silly characters. You'll feel like you've been sitting for 30 days of night after this one.

• "Control" Joy Division's Ian Curtis (Sam Riley) was not a happy guy. Have you heard the music? Director Anton Corbijn turns this film into a psychological drama rather than a paint-by-numbers music biopic. A refreshingly strong film.

• "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" Queen Elizabeth I (Cate Blanchett) must take on the Spanish Armada and her feelings for Sir Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen) in this disappointing sequel. Though Blanchett does fine work, she's saddled with a dopey script.

• "Sleuth" Michael Caine and Jude Law play two men sparring for the same woman and engage in series of mind games. Remaking a strong film is always a dicey prospect, and this new film suffers by comparison. Rent the original instead.

• "We Own the Night" Joaquin Phoenix is a club manager with shady associates who's coaxed toward the right side of the law by his cop-brother Mark Wahlberg. This is your standard cop-movie fare, and it takes itself way too seriously to boot.

• "Lars and the Real Girl" Ryan Gosling stars an awkward, fiercely anti-social guy who falls in love with a sex doll he orders online. It sounds like "Mannequin" but this film is one of the most heartwarming movies you may see this year. So go check it out.

• "The Heartbreak Kid" Ben Stiller stars as a man who meets his perfect mate — while on his honeymoon. The movie has laughs, but you may feel guilty for taking the side of a man who treats women so poorly.

• "Michael Clayton" This film about a lawyer (George Clooney) who starts questioning his own values system doesn't always work on a story level, but it is saved by strong performances by Clooney and Tilda Swinton.

• "Darjeeling Limited" The latest self-satisfied exercise in style over substance from writer-director Wes Anderson will amuse his cult followers — as well as Anderson himself and his pals, of course — but probably nobody else.

• "The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford" This brutal, intimate story about strife among the James gang is one of the most ambitious films of the year. And it hits the target dead on. Pitt turns in his best performance as Jesse James.

• "Into the Wild" Sean Penn directs this fascinating story about Chris McCandless (Emile Hirsch) who abandons everything to live off the land — with tragic results. The movie is gorgeous, but its one flaw is in not letting us truly know McCandless.

• "In the Shadow of the Moon" In this stellar, heart-lifting documentary, members of the Apollo crews who went to the moon come together to look back on those times. The film combines new interviews with footage from back in the day for a fascinating journey back in time.

• "The Brave One" When a woman (Jodie Foster) is attacked and her fiancé is killed, she decides to fight back — and she buys a gun to do it. Unfortunately, this movie asks no hard questions about vigilantism. But Foster does do a pretty good Charles Bronson.

• "In the Valley of Elah" Tommy Lee Jones stars as the father of an Iraq war soldier who's mysteriously murdered upon his return to the States. Though the acting by Jones and co-star Charlize Theron is first rate, the story has a heavy-handed message from director Paul Haggis ("Crash").

• "Eastern Promises" Viggo Mortensen is a driver for Russian mobsters who gets mixed up with a doctor (Naomi Watts) trying to solve a mystery. The movie starts strong but takes one crazy twist that will probably leave most audiences shrugging their shoulders.

• "Across the Universe" Rachel Evan Wood stars in this musical that uses Beatles songs to tell a love story set to the backdrop of the 1960s. Unfortunately, director Julie Taymor isn't afraid to get self-indulgent, and though the film has moments, it's far too long.

• "3:10 to Yuma" If you're a fan of Westerns, this old-fashioned remake of the 1957 film about a pacifist (Christian Bale) who must escort a dangerous criminal (Russell Crowe) to the train that will bring him to justice is just the ticket for you.

• "The Hunting Party" Richard Gere stars as a burnt-out journalist who returns to Bosnia in search of an interview with a war criminal in this engrossing, darkly funny film that actually has something important to say.

• "Shoot Em Up" This unbelievable story about an almost super-human man (Clive Owen) who must protect a baby from an evil gunman (Paul Giamatti) is over the top, but makes the mistake of also wanting the audience to care about the characters. You won't.

• "Fierce People" This story about a 16-year-old boy (Anton Yelchin) and his coke-addict mom (Diane Lane) who go to live with the super-rich is almost insultingly unbelievable. Characters like this just do not exist in real life.

• "Balls of Fury" In the spirit of "Dodgeball," this film attempts to wring humor out of an unlikely source — in this case pingpong — but doesn't have much success. Could this be the end of a trend? Let's hope so.

• "The Nines" Ryan Reynolds stars in three intertwined stories set in this film set in the world of TV. This head--scratching film is confusing, but never boring.

• "Resurrecting the Champ" This story of a reporter (Josh Hartnett) who meets a homeless man (Samuel L. Jackson) who claims to be a famous former boxer is hammy and generic. Even Jackson gives a phone-in performance in this male weepie.

• "Nanny Diaries" This story of a recent college graduate (Scarlett Johansson) who takes a job as a nanny for a persnickety family (Laura Linney, Paul Giamatti) has potential, but just doesn't offer anything that interesting or new.

• "2 Days in Paris" Marion (Julie Delpy) and boyfriend Jack (Adam Goldberg) head to Paris to visit Marion’s parents in this surprisingly fun film. What seems like a romantic comedy actually takes a look at a relationship from hell.

• "Mr. Bean's Holiday" Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson) takes a trip to France in this G-rated comedy. The gags are cute and somewhat clever but there's nothing to make you laugh out loud.

• "Illegal Tender" A son (Rick Gonzalez) searches for the truth behind his father's death, while the mother (Wanda De Jesus) works bravely to protect the family from a band of thugs. It's hard to take something this soapy seriously; you might mistake it for camp.

• "Rocket Science" A teen (Reece Thompson) with a terrible stuttering problem decides to join the debate team in this winning flick. Anna Kendrick costars as a bossy, brilliant fellow debater who proves to be a force of nature.

• "Superbad" Yes, this comes from the makers of "Knocked Up." But that film is a hard act to follow, so the smartest thing you can do for yourself walking into “Superbad” is lower your expectations. It has all the laughs of its predecessor but only about half the heart.