Ron Howard and Russell Crowe bring the Braddock story to vivid life in a superbly acted, beautifully shot, highly engaging drama that ranks as one of Howard's best efforts.

Takes a surprisingly gritty approach that gives the material some gravitas but also robs it of some of its fun.

Rock School rips out in the gritty-underdogs-conquer-the-world story progression. In this real-life scenario, Green whips them into shape for a triumphant performance at a Zappa Festival in East Germany.

The story itself is silly and exaggerated.

Ultimately neither funny nor touching enough to make much of an impact, but it does offer many small, insightful moments along the way.

This adaptation of South African writer Olive Schreiner's cult novel is too cute by far, sapping emotional resonance from a story that was in its original incarnation apparently far darker.

Despite a few design flaws, "Pants" should wear well with its young female demo.

This agreeable remake still manages to go the distance.

It's frustrating to see this wonderful-looking, laugh-out-loud funny survival tale fall short of its potential.

Should attract some interest in urban theatrical situations before settling into cult video status.

The film is thought-provoking but not terribly involving.

Browne keeps it amusingly involving.

A juicy Chinese-American romance about preserving "face" at the sacrifice of your whole being. This Sony Pictures Classics release is a comic gem.

Sequins will tax the patience of most viewers not enthralled with endless close-ups of beads and brocades.

Awfully dull, with scant evidence of the sort of things that make horror movies attractive -- like mounting suspense and spine-tingling creepiness and, oh yeah, the element of horror.

A thought-provoking and involving film.

Pantoliano brings his usual degree of wily, understated humor to his role and is ably supported by the terrific ensemble, but he's unable to elevate a film that is ultimately as directionless as its protagonist.

Well meaning but less than riveting in its execution, this documentary is far better suited for public television exposure than theatrical release.

The final episode of George Lucas' cinematic epic "Star Wars" ends the six-movie series on such a high note that one feels like yelling out, "Rewind!" Yes, rewind through more than 13 hours of bravery, treachery, new worlds, odd creatures and human frailty.

A fascinating account of its subject's self-torture over his inability to stop one of the 20th century's greatest tragedies.

Director Renny Harlin's take on Agatha Christie's versatile "Ten Little Indians" is total B-movie swagger in all its unsubtle glory.

Laughs-wise, it lacks the raucous edge of an "Old School" or "Anchorman" or the retro charm of an "Elf," but there's still plenty of Will-power to fuel this likable underdog trifle. It certainly is more enjoyable than a lot of what passes for family entertainment these days.

A deeply dispiriting movie, not just because it is grindingly bad but because Jane Fonda actually chose this for her comeback after a 15-year absence from the screen. But it's worse than that. Fonda, one of the best actors of her generation, is downright awful in a role she could have -- and probably should have -- sleepwalked through.

An action picture with the emotional simplicity of a bedtime story, painted in the grimy colors of the London underworld.

Resistance is futile. It's impossible not to be swept up into the uplifting world of Mad Hot Ballroom, a documentary that can be neatly summed up as the "Spellbound" of competitive ballroom dancing.

Yet another stylish exercise in depravity in which Huppert floats through the sordid proceedings in a calm haze. If only the film she inhabits was as sexy as it aspires to be.

Smartly put together, with interesting characters and caustic wit.

Garcia has his moments as a wild man but the script never really allows him to plumb the artist's emotional depths.