While Gyllenhaal is a competent actor, Ledger - surprisingly enough - is becoming a great one, and the levels of intensity they bring to their roles render this romantically star-crossed relationship emotionally lopsided.

The casual listener is easily put off, but by the end of the film, even a newcomer can see the magic that made fans of Kurt Cobain and Sonic Youth and led the estimable Yo La Tengo, Pearl Jam and Wilco to cover Johnston's remarkable body of work.

Baer asks all the right questions.

Akin achieves a peaceful balance here –- alongside the death and seemingly senseless tragedy, there’s also a kind of reassuring equilibrium.

Bernal continues to demonstrate an impressive range; the character requires the normally laid-back actor to be a wild ball of energy, and he's more than up to the challenge. His performance is hilarious, heartfelt and more than a little creepy, which could also be said about the movie itself.

A clever, ingeniously animated film filled with many shining moments.

Beautifully shot in rich colors by Franz Lustig, it's possibly Wenders' most accessible film to date, and among his most emotionally satisfying.

A wildly entertaining detective thriller that succeeds entirely on its own terms.

The standard British murder mystery is raised to a higher plateau by Hitchcock in STAGE FRIGHT, but still falters in comparison to the best of the master's works.

The village is filled with nay-sayers and depressing townsfolk, but Pollyanna soon changes matters by always managing to find something good in every situation, seeing the bright side of even the blackest occurrences.

Indeed, Hirschbiegel himself seems reluctant to single out a protagonist, and finally settles on Junge.

A sober, intelligent drama with surprising integrity.

Complex, atypical Bogie performance is keynote for strong drama from Pulitzer-winning novel and Broadway show.

A powerful, yet subtle, picture from Australian director Peter Weir, who has demonstrated quite a flair for mystical themes.

This dark, almost mythic heart is what makes the film such an emotionally rich experience.

Jean-Luc Godard visited the world of young folk to create his most humane film. (Review of Original Release)

Suspenseful and very frightening, thanks to Robert Mitchum's lethally threatening performance and the frightened reactions of a pro cast.

Musically it's often breathtaking.

Expansive and undeniably brilliant.

The performances of Oldman and Webb, both stage-trained veterans, are simply astonishing. Sid and Nancy will certainly be tough going for viewers unfamiliar with the punk movement and unprepared for the extraordinary amount of cynicism, ignorance, anger, and self-abuse that went hand-in-hand with it, but the film's value lies in its honest, unflinching gaze at a social phenomenon.

There isn't a one-note character in the mix, and they respond with haunting, subtle performances that feel utterly natural and unaffected. It's a striking debut for Estes, and a remarkable showcase for the cast.

Sweet, melancholy comedy; it's ineffable charm lies entirely in the delivery.

Though the story feels standard, the fun comes from the meticulously realized details that director Steven Spielberg and associate producer-writer Melissa Mathison have injected into the material.

While both the novel and the film are weighted in favor of Bill's (Cruise) character, it's Kidman who gives the film's standout performance.

Despite this flaw, several dramatic lulls, and an aggressive determination to "sparkle," the film often makes for crackling good drama with plenty of leavening humor and magnificent performances by Hurt and newcomer Matlin.

Under the sure directorial hand of genre veteran Marshall, Destry Rides Again is a well-paced western that seamlessly combines humor, romance, suspense and action.

Eisenstadt has an unerring sense of comedic rhythm and a knack of cutting away just in time to extract the drop of humor from a potentially pathetic situation.

Newcomer Cassidy is excellent, and Hoskins gives a flawless performance.