It's faint praise to say that this is the best of the "Planet of the Apes" movies, because the evolution of special effects and makeup was predictable. But the unexpected strength of the film is its heart.

An inspiring but formulaic film about triumph over adversity.

A taut psychological thriller, just as tense for those who already know its conclusion.

A splendid murder mystery, but one with as much gore and steamy sex as I've seen in a long time. [20 Mar 1992, p.3F]

Bana ("Munich") makes an effective bad guy. Hunnam portrays Jay as a hero worth rooting for. And Wilde turns in a nuanced performance as a woman in conflict with herself.

Lacking beef or sufficient spice, it's nonetheless colorful comfort food.

Paul Simon and a Parisian orangutan tell us the same thing: It's all happening at the zoo.

This is rich material that Moretti mines for both superficial absurdity and deep pathos.

Barry Levinson's film, Bugsy, glamorizes the back side of the American dream, adjusting facts as necessary to keep the story dramatic and to paint Siegel in better colors. The result is a strong, fascinating film that features a number of impressive performances, especially from Warren Beatty as Siegel and Annette Bening as Virginia Hill, whose nickname became the name of Siegel's dream hotel and casino in Las Vegas, the Flamingo.

Throughout his career, Burton has always been capable of surprising audiences. Big Eyes is no exception.

The secret in this case is the jokes, which are ferocious. Marrying a monster flick with an adolescent romance has produced a merry mutant.

Because the sociopath at the center of this family portrait never asks for forgiveness, The Iceman is truly chilling.

A film that's as much a character study as it is a crime drama. At the heart of it is Caine's hauntingly memorable performance.

THE LAIR of the White Worm is an extremely silly and rather bloody movie. If you are willing to accept it as a tacky spoof of tacky horror movies, you should find it funny - at times, downright hilarious. [3 Feb 1989, p.3G]

At nearly three hours long, "An Unexpected Journey" has moments when the caravan seems both overstuffed and out of balance, but it's such a scenic trip that only a stubborn homebody could complain.

Like a Fishbone show or an LA weather forecast, the dark curtain rises, and there's a promise of more sunshine.

The accents are thick, but if you listen closely you'll be well rewarded with smart, wry humor, peculiar but likable characters and a story that while slow in spots is altogether intriguing. [1 July 1989, p.E6]

The simmering rivalry between Di and Fiamma, inflamed by the kind of glimpsed indiscretion that makes adolescent melodramas tick, explodes in a thriller ending that turns an observant coming-of-age story into something resembling "The Lord of the Flies."

Quite a few filmgoers lament the shortage of movies for adults. Ricki and the Flash goes against that trend with rock ’n’ roll attitude.

A full plate of tear-jerking drama is served here. And it’s even tastier than the first time around.

The Beaver isn't a perfect film, but it's challenging and original.

Although the story of Sin-Dee and Alexandra might have benefited from a bit more structure, it’s a window into a world of which many people are unaware — but a world that has its share of dreamers.

Arau gives the northern Mexican landscape a strange beauty, and the acting is sensual and effective, though there are periods when the dialogue becomes heavy-handed and the pace too slow. [07 May 1993, p.3G]

With Whitaker, Daniels and screenwriter Danny Strong pulling the strings, The Butler can take a bow.

Page is outstanding as a young woman who has finally found happiness, only to see it cruelly slipping away.

Mbatha-Raw continues to be a true revelation in a role that could be not be any more different from her star turn in “Belle” this year.

The fact-based Denial is a well-crafted and skillfully acted drama about standing up for the truth, regardless of how challenging that might be.

In the end, Light Sleeper is slightly more optimistic than some of Schrader's earlier works, but it's a tough, hard-nosed film that shows, in small moments here and there, what life in drugs is all about - and it ain't all about fun. [11 Sep 1992, p.3F]