Maria, despite being occasionally slow, is a weird, good movie.

Aside from its scintillating title character, Bobi Wine: The People’s President is valuable because it stands as a clarion call against authoritarianism.

In honor of NOFX’s final performances, the punk band produced and candidly participated in the documentary “40 Years of F—in’ Up.” The result is even wilder than expected and more heartfelt than it has any right to be. Even still, it will likely be more appreciated by fans of the veteran California punks than by anyone new to their music.

A story so good that maybe anybody could have turned out something decent.

Even if the film seems slow at times, there’s always something to look at, including Miroshnichenko and Perelygina, who are able to find grace and dignity in two such odd, hollowed out characters. Maybe, just maybe, these two veterans working in a hospital can heal each other.

A delightful coming-of-age movie that teeters on contrivance but never topples.

Delightful blend of comedy, kung fu, soccer and special effects.

A two-hour nervous breakdown.

At times hilarious and occasionally very sad, it's a cautionary tale about the lure of instant fame.

Wong denies us the satisfaction of resolution, but in sharing his mastery of cinema, and his gift for conveying mood, desire and vivid emotions, he's more than generous.

Has that Dickensian spirit wherein simple acts of kindness can bring an audience close to tears.

A play-it-safe film, with its chaos a little too controlled. But Bell’s examination of the institution of marriage has it insights, and there are laughs.

A better- than-average children's film, dolled up with some high-priced art direction and extraordinary special effects.

Before I Go to Sleep emerges as a mystery — one with a slow burn leading to a big payoff. But what keeps the movie going, beyond questions of what is true and what is false, are the issues raised by the illness itself.

A small, independent comedy-drama that does a number of things very well. It does them all quietly. The scenes don’t swing for the fences. The emotional work is true, not pushed, and by the end, the movie ends up giving the sense of a world.

The Val Kilmer we meet has been in the arena, realizes he has been lucky despite the hard knocks, and has now achieved what we hope is a lasting peace. His physical voice might be gone, but his inner voice still has much to say.

A sharp, engaging look at what it's like to be hungry and not-so-young in New York.

The success of Chloe is largely due to the contribution of screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson.

Expansive, but succinct. Leigh tells a small story and doesn't try to make something huge of it.

The end result is something like the best blues festival anyone could have thrown last year, although Lightning in a Bottle falls a fair piece short of its own lofty goal.

Angourie Rice, who plays Gosling’s intelligent and highly moral 12-year-old, deserves a special mention. The character is an unexpected presence that adds dimension to the story, and Rice plays her beautifully.

Howard and Pratt don’t get to do much besides run like hell, but a movie like this in a way emphasizes rather than obscures the importance of star quality. They’re just so good-looking that it’s a pleasure to watch them -- idealized surrogates for humanity.

Even to those familiar with the bizarre affair, “JT Leroy” offers some new insights, not only because of the presence of Albert and her home movies, but also because of a treasure trove of phone recordings between JT and numerous luminaries.

It’s a quiet film that almost slips by without notice.

This affecting documentary focuses on their 2004 production, a play whose themes of forgiveness and redemption certainly ought to have some resonance for the inmates.

A charming, finely nuanced romance.

Placing style above coherence, Seven glosses over plot points and shows a weakness for cheap, lurid effects.

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