Kim Morgan

By a certain point The Heart of Me becomes pointlessly depressing and unlikable without offering insight.

A bit of exotic neo-noir, clunky in parts and long, but often engaging and artfully atmospheric as well.

Watching the teachers whip these kids into Wilder recitations is especially intriguing, particularly when their personalities come out during the sometimes-arduous process.

It's creepy, but it's not horrifying. Still, the movie has its distorted, haunting moments that will stick with you, and it's stunning to look at.

You can't just rework a beloved Christmas classic, set it in reverse and expect it to run smoothly.

A funny and sometimes substantial movie that in real life would never have a happy ending.

Manages to be a solid, though not exceptional, heist movie with a good-looking cast and -- maybe -- even better-looking cars.

A witty, frightening, well-acted picture with near-perfect cinematic timing.

An atrocity exhibition from start to finish.

A flimsy film that's too clean and corn pone to be anything near rock 'n' roll.

Compelling and superbly acted.

Written and edited by Sayles, "Casa" is certainly the artist's baby, but he crams too much into a relatively brief running time. Worse, though it should be longer, we're not especially unhappy that it isn't, for being around these women gets tedious.

Works like a funnier "Austin Powers" -- you laugh just enough to want to see the whole thing again.

A family film, but it's a wonder if kids will really enjoy it. The picture is geared for older folks, people who'll be heartened by the message that sometimes, you can return to your passions.

America's favorite romantic comedian is miscast in Kate & Leopold -- a disappointment with the warm and charming Jackman around.

The film isn't terrible, it's just trying too hard.

The dialogue is clipped and theatrical, and, aside from Harvey Keitel's German officer, accents are abandoned, which may distract viewers. For me it worked fine.

Simply something you don't want to touch.

This is not a movie about actors. It's a movie about racing, chasing, chicks and adrenaline -- just what many theatergoers are dying for in a summer dominated by a sweet ogre and a dumbed-down historical tragedy.

Maybe if the story weren't so ludicrous we'd care. Or maybe if the film just went overboard with its ludicrousness, we'd be entertained, but Don't Say a Word is merely boring.

It's a stylish work, seeping with brilliant animation and potentially interesting characters that didn't need so much time to establish themselves. It's worthwhile, but it's a good thing there's a television show to refer to.

You get to know each person just well enough to compare them, allowing you to judge as you like; the film, nicely, refrains from moralizing.

Gallo makes some fatal mistakes in his direction. As Griffin talks, he adds sound effects that are distracting and annoying. It's actually an insult to the comic -- as if his jokes aren't clever enough on their own.

Ledes shows promise, but truly, this would have been better left to Todd Haynes.

One of the most aggressively ambiguous pictures of the year. There is a certain power to that.

A picture that could have bordered on classy screwball if written wittier, acted sexier and filmed shinier.

It's classic movie manipulation gone amok.

A lazy, trite comedy that's made by people who don't care either.