V.A. Musetto

The story is told in fractured time. This might not be a problem if his visuals were more fear-inducing.

Well-intended and often poignant film that, unfortunately, too often bogs down in too much talk by its participants.

Sadly, with the Soviet Union gone, the art faces a new enemy: Islamic extremists.

The sweet script, crisp direction and a delightful performance by Leila Hatami, as the sad-eyed wife, should put Deserted Station on your must-see list.

Will Marcela (wonderful Ana Geislerova) opt for brains or brawn? The answer might surprise you.

With Treeless Mountain, Kim establishes herself as a first-class filmmaker.

As Mark Twain didn't say, reports of the death of mumblecore are greatly exaggerated. As proof, I offer Andrew Bujalski's wise and wondrous Beeswax.

House is a spooky fairy tale mixed with martial arts, slow motion, black-and-white flashbacks — even a little upskirt action. A demonic white cat and a people-eating piano add spice. Movies as original as this one don’t come along very often, so grab it while you can.

The Japanese anti-war drama Caterpillar is difficult to watch. But it's directed, acted and photographed well, and it's worth seeing even if it makes you uncomfortable.

You might be reminded of Jean-Jacques Beineix's 1981 thriller "Diva," which also involves crooked cops and Metro chases. But you need never have seen "Diva" to be captivated by the exhilarating Point Blank.

In her directorial debut, Venditti does her best to keep a distance between herself and her subjects. But you have to wonder how much of the Billy we see on-screen is affected by the presence of Venditti's camera.

The story, based on a best-selling novel, has familiar overtones; but Kormakur overcomes them with stylish direction - Iceland's natural beauty looks great - and a gripping performance by Ingvar Eggert Sigurdsson.

Heisenberg's thriller ends with a chase across highways and through woods that will give viewers adrenaline highs of their own.

Koteas and Ribisi, as two very different brothers, give realistic performances, and play off the differences brilliantly.

Man's inhumanity to man is gruesomely detailed in S21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine.

The actors are charmingly low-key, and the lensing, by Jorgen Johansson, adds to the offbeat aura. Whatever you do, don't miss the booze-guzzling showdown.

The film flawlessly glides along as bodies start piling up. The finale brings to mind another Hitchcock film, "Psycho."

Directed by C. Scott Willis, this beautifully shot documentary blends Francesca's work -- photos, videos and passages from her diary -- with interviews.

An acid trip of a movie about a piece of Los Angeles history that exists no more: the Ambassador Hotel.

Sparse of plot, Iron Island is visually rich, thanks to cinematographer Reza Jalai. The final scene is especially stunning.

Director Ferzan Ozpetek's film doesn't break any new ground; rather, it recycles every cliché about gays in what is essentially an extended soap opera.

While never exploitative, Polisse can be extremely disturbing. Is it possible for a parent to mistreat a child in the ways shown here? Sad to say, the answer is yes.

Bardem gives such a brilliant performance in The Sea Inside, it's a crime that the film itself drowns in tears.