The script does create sufficient tension and intrigue to hook viewers along with a photogenic, hardworking cast.

Most of these linked "shorts" succeed remarkably in nailing the serendipitous flavor of love, New York-style.

This remake turns a fondly remembered horror/thriller into a mild and tedious suspense film.

Despite this promising subject matter, the film runs out of steam two-thirds of the way through and becomes a sort of Palestinian "Porky's," ending with a fast-forward 30 years into the future that is confusing and abrupt.

This is strikingly talented cinema from a notable international filmmaker.

Topped by a fine cast, a first-rate script by Nick Hornby and tight direction by Lone Scherfig, the film is a smart, moving but not inaccessible entry in the coming-of-age canon.

Director Tom Hooper ("John Adams") ably balances the games (surprisingly little football footage, actually), the personalities and the drama.

A good idea for a sophisticated comedy lurks within the latest Jon Favreau-Vince Vaughn collaboration, Couples Retreat, but the filmmakers lack the courage of their convictions. So the payoff is mixed at best.

Despite the artistic flourishes, this is still an utterly repellent look at a psychopath who does not deserve the attention of the filmmakers or the audience.

Entertaining and substantive enough to be interesting even for those completely unfamiliar with weaves and relaxers.

Although Trucker doesn't have the social import that made "Norma Rae" a hit, it's an affecting, small film that could catch on with sophisticated audiences as well as more down-home types.

A really terrific, intensely focused documentary on a fascinating personality.

As a spoof of against-all-odds sports movies, "Power" has its moments. But for most of its running time, it buys into the feel-good formula, aiming to blend silliness and social issues into an inspirational tale

The greatest romantic movie to jumble its time structure, Stanley Donen's "Two for the Road," is a touchstone that DiPietro must have had in mind. While this low-budget indie doesn't have the gloss or the depth of that romantic classic, the highest compliment I can pay Peter and Vandy is that it belongs in the same company.

This movie is a hoot, and a pertinent one at that.

It's an engaging piece of humanistic storytelling.

The always surprising Coen brothers have finally made a very serious movie with A Serious Man. It's about God, man's place in the world and the meaning of life, so naturally it's one of their funnier movies.

Clicks on so many levels -- heartwarming family story, rough-and-tumble display of grrrl power and a secondary but tender and convincing romance.

Falling closer in tone to "Shaun of the Dead" than "28 Days Later" or the George Romero movies, Zombieland has its tongue planted firmly in its rancid cheek while still delivering the visceral goodies.

Gervais and Robinson take what might have been a cute concept comedy and elevate it to delicious heights.

This is one helluva good movie that craves the eyeballs of as many American high schoolers as it can possibly get.

This is a sophisticated stylistic exercise too rarefied for wide audiences, but earmarked for critical kudos.

Manhattan's storied hotel is the timely subject of this passionate tribute.

While following a fairly predictable story line, the film has enough ambushes, treachery and irony to sustain audience involvement with a range of characters that stand for diverse points of view about that war.

For both the parents and the filmmakers, the journey of The Horse Boy was tough and utterly unpredictable, but their act of faith has produced a film that's surprisingly upbeat, evenhanded and imbued with wonder.

A mechanical sci-fi'er absent of logic or emotions. It functions as an expensive place-filler on the Disney release schedule and, as such, will be welcomed by only the least discriminating thriller fans.

"Paranormal" ultimately does deliver in a way that "Blair Witch" never did, but its achingly slow buildup is a test not just of an audience's patience but the power of hype surrounding the latest alternative scary movie.

Claustrophobic, tedious sci-fi thriller.