Ruthe Stein

An unusual look at love and how it can unexpectedly develop. Those for whom the concept of an arranged marriage is foreign will get a little history lesson on the immigrant experience watching this sweetly engrossing film.

One of those quirky little movies that you marvel ever got made.

An extremely good picture that, with a little tweaking, might have been a great one.

Deeply affecting, "Blade'' portrays an oddly elegant way of life that will soon be like the era in that other movie, "Gone With the Wind."

An emotionally charged coming-of-age saga that will make you laugh and cry, maybe at the same time.

A spellbinding Australian Western.

An intriguing exploration of New York theater at the height of its glory.

Powerful and moving.

Sad yet offering glimpses of hope.

A slow seduction.

Offers a brew of wondrous chimera combined with the wonders of human nature.

Mehta has created the perfect guide to this strange female world.

It tells the amazing, but mostly true, story of a late-18th century aristocrat who made an indelible mark on English society akin to that of her direct descendant, Lady Diana.

Brosnan and Moore display a knack for fast delivery of smart dialogue both in court and in bed. Their verbal sparring is the main attraction of Laws of Attraction and helped me overlook plot holes of massive proportions.

The sooner you let yourself go with Kim's flow, the more likely you are to come away satisfied. Think of it as South Korea's answer to "Memento," just don't think too hard.

The movie has a sweetness and innocence that makes it near perfect entertainment for its target audience.

Columbus' schizoid approach works more often than not.

Like a Christmas present you didn't know you wanted but are delighted to receive.

A marital comedy as perceptive as it is delectable.

Heart-wrenching.

A solidly above-average thriller.

Offers another way into these complex indigenous people, through storytelling as haunting as their artwork.

Like its low-key star, Hamlet 2 is more likely to elicit quiet chuckles than raucous laughter.

A compelling Irish drama.

The way Boynton Beach residents reach out to one another is enough to make you consider relocating to one of these communities.

Lower your expectations going into Volver and accept it for what it is: a ridiculously entertaining melodrama with loud echoes of "Mildred Pierce" that provides Penelope Cruz with a vehicle for her multifaceted talents.

That the film succeeds as well as it does despite a series of coincidences that strain credibility is a credit to a fine cast and a joie de vivre that pervades even the most implausible moments.

A powerful and disturbing political drama.

To the extent that this difficult but ultimately rewarding film has a message, it's that you can't run away from who you are.

Quietly unsettling.

It looks like a low-budget film, but in this case that just adds to the charm. Croghan's only false move was to divide her film into segments, each one introduced by a quote from a famous writer.

Lacks the marquee names and production values of big studio romantic comedies, but it connects on an emotional level most of them fail to do.

As the title character in Lady Chatterley, Marina Hands does the most persuasive job of feigning sexual pleasure since Jane Fonda in "Coming Home."

The movie harks back to a time before state-of-the-art technology when writers and directors had to rely mostly on imagination.

Surprisingly robust.

Riveting.

Although based on a fictional story, it has the feel of truth and is a vivid reminder of the hell Mexicans put themselves through to live in the United States, even illegally.

Both actors are so appealing, you root for the inevitable meeting to happen somewhere in the vicinity of Wonderland.

An eerily affecting domestic drama combining elements of "The Lost Weekend'' with "Lost Highway.''

In the riveting Transsiberian, a train of that name adds international intrigue to the mix.

Hits a bulls-eye.

Revelatory as well as unsettling.

Perversely fascinating.

Mate swapping is so '70s. But Alan Rudolph, who wrote and directed Afterglow, avoids making it seem dated by presenting the menage a quatre as accidental.

Doesn't poke fun at anyone's beliefs.

A very human story.

A compelling, tightly made political thriller.

The Last Kiss ponders what you give up -- and what you gain -- from sticking with what you've got.

Raises the bar for movies geared to teens.

An emotionally satisfying example of a genre whose sketchiness can be off-putting.

Insightful but unfocused.

The directors pull off this faux documentary.

A sharp-witted satire of celebrity journalism.

Gut-wrenching.

An old-fashioned and occasionally schmaltzy movie that delivers an emotional wallop

Boy A will rivet you while raising issues about forgiveness and just who deserves it.

Played by likable newcomer Jamie Sives, who resembles Colin Farrell without the scowl, Wilbur grows on you the same way this offbeat movie does.

A little picture -- the names of the entire cast would fit on half a sheet of paper -- but it’s more heartfelt than movies with 50 times the budget.

Showing the intricate dynamics of family relationships is something Mira Nair does as well as any director working today.

High-gloss trash but compulsively watchable.

Schizo offers not just the proverbial window into village life in Kazakhstan, but a panoramic view.

Known for his visual images, Jordan outdoes himself in "Breakfast,'' a feast for the eyes.

Though overly long and difficult to digest, it's a feast you won't want to miss.

Worth seeing just to admire how Argentine writer-director Marcos Carnevale avoids so much as a whiff of condescension.

The movie doesn't aspire to be art, merely to entertain adolescent girls, which is practically guaranteed by the luminous presence of Anne Hathaway.

The spellbinding power of this almost certain Oscar nominee for best documentary comes from its chilling subject matter.

When the movie is viewed with fresh eyes, the most captivating feature is this surreal Vegas -- its neon signs askew, as if reconfigured by Andy Warhol, and its preternaturally glistening streets a siren's call to an ever-new batch of suckers.

The filmmakers have wisely turned it into a comedy, and a wickedly entertaining one at that.

This is a very little film with a very large heart.

An amusing melodrama.

That the film finds its own groove is due largely to the eye of director Ernest Dickerson. Not surprisingly, he began his career as a cinematographer, working on Spike Lee’s early films.

The humor is all over the place, veering from light to dark and from broad to subtle -- as if an "I Love Lucy" episode had been retooled by Woody Allen.

It's a serious subject handled with humor -- not the ha-ha kind, but the hard laughter that comes from recognizing parts of yourself in the Perelmans.

Entertaining in a pulpy kind of way, like the fight films of the 1930s and '40s, and more accessible than most of Mamet's movies.

Fascinating and impressively balanced documentary.

A hauntingly lyrical study of sexual awakening.

There's a manic quality to the film that may wear you down. But at least you won't be bored.

With the aid of a charmingly offbeat story and a jolly good dialect coach, the stars leave you thinking, well done. Their spirited performances help cover up glaring holes in the plot.

McNally adapted his Tony-award winning play for the screen, and for once a movie is an improvement on the stage version.

Accomplishes the near impossible, bringing a fresh perspective to a horrific subject.

Bouncy, informative and funny documentary.

Wickedly funny.

Dark, disturbing and audaciously original in a way only indies are given license to be anymore, the film never telegraphs where it's heading. But you don't need a pathfinder to sense the general direction is toward hell.

It's a broad generality to say that French filmmakers have a particularly perverse sensibility, but it can be backed up by one import after another. The latest, La Moustache, is wonderfully odd in a minimalist kind of way.

The film's ambitions are laudable, and it manages to be touching, funny and true to life. It seems ungrateful to ask for anything more.

The suggestion that Peter O'Toole is playing some version of his real self in Venus adds a bittersweet poignancy to this quietly affecting British drama.

Akeelah and the Bee connects where it counts most, on an emotional level. Only a curmudgeon could watch this feisty but vulnerable youngster rack up victories against all odds without tearing up.

So cleverly constructed that it's easy to be taken in and believe these twins really rocked.

The Astronaut Farmer's goofy quality makes it totally endearing. It's also super entertaining. Critics are fond of referring to movies as a "great ride." With this one, the words couldn't be more apt.

Charmingly offbeat in the vein of early Woody Allen.

Engrossing documentary.

The offbeat drama The Seagull's Laughter is the kind of movie I appreciate because it never announces where it's headed.

By focusing on one family's dilemma, the movie brings home the messy Middle Eastern situation in a way easier to relate to than the headlines and opinion pieces.

Keeps you riveted through parts that might otherwise be difficult to watch.

Haunting case study of a romantic obsession.

At its warmhearted center, Beauty Shop is a workshop in how to walk around like Oprah with a feeling of confidence and entitlement.

The best way to take this film is with a box of popcorn and a grain of salt.

Engaging and perceptive.