Elizabeth Weitzman

The only real reason to see it is for a luminous leading turn from Dakota Fanning as Brooklyn teen Lilly.

A brazenly mindless thriller about the infinite capacities of the human brain. That said, sometimes we just want to shut down and give in to bombastic summer entertainment. In that regard, as usual, Besson delivers.

Whether you call Anton Corbijn’s adaptation of John le Carré’s 2008 novel “deliberately paced” or “so slow I can feel my hair growing,” there’s no denying the power behind the central performance.

There’s a lot of heart in his creativity. But this particular effort, delightful as it often is, lacks some essential soul.

How could a movie that offers Jason Segel riffing on sex and Cameron Diaz regularly disrobing be so dull?

The results are awkward and atonal.

As for our leading man, he’s clearly just messing with us now. Who else would make a revenge thriller called Rage and then sleepwalk his way through it?

Pahani’s films have become increasingly indistinguishable from his complex life, making them a challenging but often thrilling experience.

The blatantly misogynistic treatment of the female characters, who exist solely to service Rob and his best friend (Craig Roberts), would have felt retrograde in a movie made decades ago.

Ferreras is similarly frank, but heavy doses of humor and empathy, along with gorgeous hand-drawn animation, keep things from getting too morbid.

Actually, Ramirez should probably have been cast in the lead, since things flatten out whenever he disappears.

Earth to Echo is a copy of a copy. The movie feels less like a weak “E.T.” than a substandard “Mac and Me.” And you may not even remember the latter, a 1988 flop — the fate likely to hit this well-meaning but underwhelming effort.

The 6-year-old I watched it with summed it up perfectly: “It starts out fun but then it’s kinda sad and scary. And sorta boring, too.”

Most of all, she (Zemeckis) brings generosity and compassion to the Hiltons’ tragic story.

Knightley does fine work, but she’s been miscast. Her innate sophistication undermines the movie’s intentions right off the bat. We never believe her as Greta.

As the most comfortable performer among this inexperienced cast, Walken brings a crucial maturity. In contrast, Young seems to have been hired primarily for his uncanny falsetto.

Daniel Cohen’s genial French comedy is as airy as a soufflé. Alas, it’s not nearly as satisfying.

Byrkit and his actors successfully build a sense of tension, and then dread, from what appears to be an extremely limited budget. Indeed, the movie was shot primarily in his own living room.

Younger kids looking for the cute connection between hesitant teen Hiccup and his loyal dragon, Toothless, may be stunned by the film’s violent tone. At the same time, it’s the unflinching edge that gives the film its unexpected depth.

Every actor probably dreams of creating his or her ideal role. So kudos to Marvel movie stalwart Clark Gregg (“The Avengers,” TV’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”) for actually doing it, as writer, director and star of this indie drama. If only we could extend our congratulations to the project itself.

The story itself is fairly straightforward, but lands with a thud.

The parts are greater than the whole, but there’s a lot to like here, including the easy interplay between the leads.

Crucially, Cruise knows just how to pace Cage’s shift from cowardly to courageous. Yes, we get cool effects and impressive machinery. But he and Liman add unexpected humor and genuine tension to the seasonal thrill of blowing stuff up.

In the end, Albert’s biggest problem isn’t the threat of coyotes or cholera. It’s that he’s being played by the wrong guy.

A charming coming-of-age drama.

So be forewarned: What admirers will consider measured may read, to the unimpressed, as merely slow-moving.

Before you spend good money to see the purported comedy, Blended, watch the trailer. The entire movie is packed into those 152 seconds.

Phil Alden Robinson’s overheated dramedy feels disconnected from reality in every emotional way.