Jami Bernard

The information here isn't necessarily new, but it is packaged in an acid-tongued way along with powerhouse visuals that drive home the filmmaker's nakedly political views.

A fascinating movie that explores grief from an emotionally truthful angle rarely seen in movies.

Presents a refreshing appreciation of Chaplin's work in the context of comedy, political and social satire, and history itself.

Its social satire is so dead-on.

Furiously paced.

A rare window into the apparatus and limitations of glam-rock.

Satires like this tend to throw a lot of stuff at the wall, and in Undercover Brother, a surprising amount sticks.

Absorbing, operatic.

This South Korean political satire might not have historical resonance for American audiences -- it's loosely based on the 1979 assassination of dictator Park Chunghee by his own people -- but it takes the same comically dim view of governmental power and procedure as "Dr. Strangelove."

This is a lyrical art movie with admittedly limited commercial appeal, but worth seeing for cinematic explorers.

A poetic and somber film that underscores the bum deal women usually get in any restrictive society.

Disturbing, visually stunning thriller.

Cannibalizes "Saturday Night Fever" for everything from structure to plot, but does it adorably.

This one uses sweeping compositions of nearly solitary figures as a reminder of what individuals stood to lose, and an auction scene is horrifying -- some livestock and a basket of everyday items are exchanged for a man's future.

The strong script (with updated flourishes by "Bad Santa" writers Glenn Ficarra and John Requa) and some of the vibrant child characters pull it through, with the comically reptilian Thornton egging them on with one inappropriate shocker after another.

This heavenly sequel, again directed by "McG" (aka Joseph McGinty Nichol), is infused with an irresistibly joyous spirit that simply cannot be faked.

Uses social and historical perspective to explain what happened then and, perhaps inadvertently, what's happening now.

Yet another deceptively simple, supremely moving film from Iran.

After a moment's adjustment, it works amazingly well, because the emotions that drive teenagers like Jim to seek their places in the firmament transcend eras, fashion, even animation styles.

An adorable family movie.

Wolfgang Becker's premise is absurdist and makes great sense as political satire.

If it doesn't shed much light on the violinist's personal life, it certainly conveys how personally she relates to her work.

An intelligent, old-fashioned nail-biter.

Once in a very long while, a truly memorable romantic teen comedy comes along. The Girl Next Door is one.

When it comes to cute, this baby is off the charts.

A thorough, gutsy and appropriately scuzzy-looking documentary.

Ya-Ya Sisterhood is so divine. It offers a world where friendship is forever, the half-empty glass is refilled and the men are perfect.

Blood, grotesquerie and humor mix equally in the first two, but the full combo makes a savory witches' brew for Asian-cinema cultists (or Halloween lovers in need of a gore fix).