Jonathan Curiel

A pedestrian film that provides little more than a superficial treat.

Funny, riveting look at the music scene that ruled Manchester, England, from 1976 to 1992.

Somehow, it all works -- even if Miller relies on a plot that meanders a bit and loses some of its luster.

A disjointed movie with uneven acting and too many scenes that defy belief.

A silly, snarling romp -- a fun (if you're in the mood for it), sometimes scary look at the life of a socially awkward man whose best friend is a white rodent he names Socrates.

A silly, cross-cultural shoot-'em-up -- the sort of movie that will work for those with some time to kill (no pun intended).

Damning.

A bittersweet film that tells the story of Palestinian life as eloquently as anything ever done.

A wonderful French offering whose jumping-off point is a bullfight.

Instead of a balanced film that explains the zeitgeist that is the X Games, we get a cinematic postcard that's superficial and unrealized.

A sometimes interesting remake that doesn't compare to the brilliant original.

Full of drama, poignancy and some heartbreaking moments.

Occasionally, this film is funny and cute. When the family's little girl narrates, it reaches a level of humor that is ironic and endearing.

Exceptional.

The plot twists in Little Secrets sustain the movie when it gets a bit too schmaltzy. This excess of cuteness and sentimentality won't be a flaw to moviegoers in the mood for it.

The jokes are sophomoric, stereotypes are sprinkled everywhere and the acting ranges from bad to bodacious.

Marks Chan's full arrival as an actor. Take away the violence - - and there's plenty of it for those who crave Chan's physical pyrotechnics -- and he's still an immense pleasure to watch onscreen.

Romantic and even silly -- a combination that makes Divine Intervention an almost irresistible work of art.

A minimalist film, Ten looks and feels like a documentary. At the end, there is no big denouement, but a profound realization that the people we see on camera are all aching for answers -- and struggling to come to terms with their lives.

So original, so funny, so alive with drama, intrigue, mystery and colors that you want to see it again and again.

There's a certain formulaic and familiar quality about Sweet Home Alabama, but it doesn't matter.

These aren't the marching band songs of your father's or mother's generation but a musical expression that is modern and exciting to watch.

A "Rocky"-like tale of determination and long odds that will appeal even to those who are turned off by most rap music.

A documentary that is as thoughtful and inspiring as the music it celebrates.

Through a simple story line, dramatic acting and National Geographic-like shots of the city's rough and pristine edges -- creates cinematic magic.

A touching, sophisticated film that almost seems like a documentary in the way it captures an Italian immigrant family on the brink of major changes.

Serious and absurd (mostly, it's a drama) but never finds a good rhythm. The movie flounders in a way that calls too much attention to itself -- and is hurt by jarring and unbelievable plot twists.

Ghobadi infuses his movie with a humor that can almost be called Seinfeldian, and it's this mix of laughter with tears that gives Marooned in Iraq its big impact.