Once (DVD)

Once (2006) starring Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova. A sort of musical in which the actors play aspiring musicians, and they perform songs that they have written themselves. They meet as strangers, and you expect them to fall in love, but the film goes in a different direction. Very interesting. I wasn't that crazy about the music, however. Grade: B

Interview (DVD)

Interview (2006) starring Steve Buscemi, Sienna Miller. Directed by Buscemi. Hard-nosed journalist (Buscemi) is forced by his editor to interview seemingly vapid B-movie and slasher-flick star (Miller). The two clash at first, but then by chance end up spending the evening together. They both end up revealing unplumbed depths -- or do they? The movie starts slowly, and both characters are somewhat irritating. The verbal games they play hold only passing interest. Grade: B-

Vitus (DVD)

Vitus (2007) starring Fabrizio Borsani, Teo Gheorghiu, Julika Jenkins, Urs Jucker. Swiss film about a young boy named Vitus who is a virtual genius and piano prodigy. His parents try to nurture his talent and push him to succeed, but he seems to have other ideas about what to do with his life. So he feigns ordinariness, and turns himself into a different sort of prodigy altogether. There are some problems with pacing, motivation and believability in the latter half of the film, but still it builds to a satisfyingly triumphant conclusion. Grade: B+

Paprika (DVD)

Paprika (2007). Japanimation -- also known as anime -- about a team of psychiatric researchers who develop a device known as a DC-Mini. The DC-Mini can record dreams, and allows people to share dreams. But when it is stolen, the thief begins intertwining the patients' nightmares with the staff's dreams. The avatar Paprika, a female psychiatrist's alter ego, takes on the task of catching the person who took the device. This movie is unintentionally amusing for the disconnect between what the characters are saying and what the subtitles say they are saying, which adds another layer of entertainment. Some of the animated sequences are terrific, but the script leaves much to be desired. Grade: B-

Miss Potter (DVD)

Miss Potter (2006) starring Renee Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, Emily Watson. Charming exploration of the private life of Beatrix Potter (Zellweger), author and illustrator of the Peter Rabbit children's books. It's a gently told tale, occurring during the genteel age of the late 19th and early 20th century. There is little in the way of drama, though tragedy does strike at midpoint when Miss Potter's unexpected fiance (McGregor) dies suddenly at a young age. All in all, this movie meets with my approval, and I dare say it would be suitable for children, especially those who have been raised on Peter Rabbit. Grade: B+

The Nanny Diaries (DVD)

The Nanny Diaries (2007) starring Scarlett Johansson, Laura Linney, Paul Giamatti. Johansson stars as a young woman, fresh out of college, who can't decide what to do with her life. To fill the void, she takes a job as a nanny for wealthy Manhattanites. Johansson is appealing in the role as Nanny, but Linney and Giamatti are mostly just irritating as the parents of the child that Nanny is responsible for. Most telling, perhaps, is that the child actor portraying the young boy is lacking in appeal, and acting skill, and there's not much that can make us care about what happens to him. One thing for sure, this "comedy" isn't funny. Grade: C

Rescue Dawn (DVD)

Rescue Dawn (2006) starring Christian Bale, Steve Zahn, Jeremy Davies. Directed by Werner Herzog. Fighter pilot Dieter Dengler (Bale) is shot down in 1965 over Laos. Captured by the Viet Cong, he is imprisoned in a Laotian torture camp near the Ho Chi Minh Trail. From his first day as a prisoner, Dengler thinks of nothing but escape and, amazingly, his escape plan succeeds. But once outside the prison camp, he still must survive the monsoon, the jungle and the Viet Cong. Against all odds, he is rescued by an American helicopter, and it's an inspiring, uplifting event. Never boring, this movie is a great piece of story-telling. Grade: B+

The Namesake (DVD)

The Namesake (2006) starring Kal Penn, Irfan Khan, Tabu. A family of immigrants from India is torn between traditions of their homeland and the modern American lifestyle. The story is told gently and feelingly, with genuine emotions arising from modest events. The namesake of the title is the son of the family, who is named Gogol after the Russian writer. Grade: B+

Manufactured Landscapes (DVD)

Manufactured Landscapes (2007). Documentary about Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky, who finds often strange beauty in large industrial vistas. More than just a photographer, Burtynsky is a student of industrialization and globalization. The film begins and ends in China, which is in the midst of an industrial revolution. Burtynsky shows and verbalizes how much each one of us is responsible for the damage being done to Mother Earth. It's all quite unsettling, if not terribly original. Similar themes have been explored in earlier films, and this is not the best. Grade: C+

Knocked Up (DVD)

Knocked Up (2007) starring Katherine Heigl, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann. In a drunken night of celebration over her job promotion, Alison (Heigl) ends up sleeping with slacker Ben (Rogen). As you can tell from the title of the movie, she gets pregnant. There's a huge subplot about Alison's sister Debbie (Mann) and her husband Pete (Rudd), which is kind of entertaining, but it elevates the running time of this movie to over two hours. Never for one minute did I believe the romance between Heigl and Rogen, and this movie did not make me laugh. Grade: C

Live Free or Die Hard (DVD)

Live Free or Die Hard (2007) starring Bruce Willis, Justin Long. Willis reprises his role as John McClane, kick-ass New York cop, this time up against a group of Internet terrorists. The bad guys are intent on taking over the United States' information infrastructure, though why isn't entirely clear. That doesn't really make a lot of difference, as there is still time for lots of gunfights, smashups and explosions. McClane even succeeds in taking out a helicopter with a car.
This disc, however, rented from Netflix, proved to be unplayable about half way in. So I have to give Neftlix an F.

Sicko (DVD)

Sicko (2007) directed by Michael Moore. Moore takes aim at the American health care system. Why is health care free in Canada, England and France, while even Americans with insurance are being denied the treatment they need? It's a fascinating question, and Moore does a great sales job for universal health care. The disc also includes several interesting extra features. Grade: A

Grindhouse: Planet Terror (DVD)

Grindhouse: Planet Terror (2007) starring Freddy Rodriguez, Rose McGowan, Bruce Willis, Naveen Andrews, Michael Biehn, Marley Shelton, Josh Brolin, Michael Parks, Jeff Fahey. Directed by Robert Rodriguez. El Wray (Freddy Rodriguez), Cherry Darling (McGowan) and a ragged band of survivors battle an army of zombies infected with a biochemical weapon. Conveniently, these zombies stay dead when you kill them, mainly by shooting. And boy, do they have to kill a lot of zombies. There's lots of gore in this movie, plus lots of explosions, and it's taken to such extremes that it's a joke -- no doubt intentional. I was entertained, but not enough that I'd ever want to see this movie again. Grade: B-

In Between Days (DVD)

In Between Days (2006) starring Jiseon Kim. Newly transplanted Korean immigrant Aimie is trying to adjust to her new surroundings. Her only friend, Tran, regards her as "just a good friend." This film is a snapshot of her struggle with adolescence and assimilation. Supposedly it won a Special Jury Prize at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, but for the life of me I can't see why. I found it boring in the extreme. Grade: C+

La Vie en Rose (DVD)

La Vie en Rose (2007) starring Marion Cotillard, Gerard Depardieu, Sylvie Testud, Pascal Greggory. Cotillard throws herself into the role of beloved Parisian singer Edith Piaf. Piaf's tragedy-filled life and early death are portrayed lovingly, but the songs are all in French without subtitles. Plus, the subtitles that come with the movie are uncomfortably small when viewed on a TV screen. Unless you speak French, or you have a big-screen HD-TV, you will not enjoy the full experience of seeing this movie. By the time I finished viewing it, however, I was swept up in the emotion of it. Grade: B

Paris, Je T'aime (DVD)

Paris, Je T'aime (2007). A collection of 20 five-minute films, all set in Paris. Each features a different director, with actors ranging from the famous to the obscure. It's mostly in French with English subtitles, if that kind of thing matters to you. The short films vary from romantic to funny to surreal to supernatural, and it's all very entertaining. Grade: B+

Talk to Me (DVD)

Talk to Me (2007) starring Don Cheadle, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Martin Sheen, Cedric the Entertainer. Cheadle delivers a star turn as real life radio trailblazer Ralph "Petey" Greene, an ex-con who leveraged a prison disc jockey gig into a stint at a Washington, D.C., radio station, where he became a popular talk-jock. For a brief time, he even had a television show. The movie turns from comedy to tragedy as, in 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated and the blacks in Washington riot. Greene goes on the radio and becomes a voice of reason which helps calm the riots. Later, his manager gets him stand-up gigs, where he succeeds, and an appearance on the "Tonight" show with Johnny Carson, where he flops. It's a vivid portrait of a cultural icon who has been all but forgotten, but who deserves to be remembered. Grade: B+

Grindhouse: Death Proof (DVD)

Death Proof (2007) starring Kurt Russell, Rose McGowan, Rosario Dawson, Jordan Land, Vanessa Ferlito. Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Russell is suitably creepy as Stuntman Mike, a serial killer who uses his revved-up car to terrorize groups of women on the road. But in the second half of this faux-exploitation film, he decides to terrorize the wrong group of women.
The "Grindhouse" double feature, two movies interspersed with fake trailers, was meant to be seen as a block in a movie theater. Seeing this half of the twin bill at home instead of in a theater kind of defeats the purpose, but it's the only viable option for me. As it turns out, I ended up enjoying this movie. Grade: B

A Mighty Heart (DVD)

A Mighty Heart (2007) starring Angelina Jolie, Dan Futterman. Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl (Futterman) is kidnapped while researching a story in Pakistan. His pregnant wife, Mariane (Jolie) must do what she can as she awaits news as to his fate. Since this is a true story, there is little tension over Daniel Pearl's ultimate fate. We know that he dies at the hands of the terrorists who abducted him. Is there any suspense in this story? Not much. The viewer only sees Daniel Pearl in brief flashbacks and one scene that takes place at the beginning of the movie. So how are we to learn to care about him? We cannot and we do not. This is Mariane Pearl's story, and it all has a slight whiff of melodrama which detracts from its impact. Directed by Michael Winterbottom, based on Mariane Pearl's memoir. Grade: B-

Transformers (DVD)

Transformers (2007) starring Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Jon Voight. The Transformers are alien robots that can disguise themselves as cars, airplanes, tanks, trucks and more. Some of them are "good" (Autobots), some "bad" (Decepticons). The Decepticons attack humans, but mainly fight the Autobots. The script is of comic-book quality, but the machines are cool. Probably best if seen in a movie theater. Directed by Michael Bay. Rated PG-13. Grade: C

My Best Friend (DVD)

My Best Friend (2007) starring Daniel Auteuil, Dany Boon. French-language film tells the story of Francois, a man who is so career-driven that he has neglected to make any friends. When his business partner challenges him to produce his best friend, he finds to his surprise that he hasn't any. So he turns to a gregarious taxi driver to help him learn the meaning of friendship. There are several small surprises in this film, but the script is pretty thin and one never really quite understands why the two men end up liking one another. It has a nice ending, though. Grade: B

Crazy Love (DVD)

Crazy Love (2007) directed by Dan Klores. Documentary tells the true story of an obsessive relationship that made for sensational headlines, and is still stranger than fiction. It's the story of Burt Pugach, a married lawyer, and Linda Riss, the young woman he falls for in 1959. When she eventually rejects him, he hires thugs to throw lye in her face, blinding her. He goes to jail for the crime, but when he gets paroled he convinces her to marry him. But wait, there's more. I'm not going to tell it all here, but this rather slow-paced film turned out to be quite entertaining. Grade: B

The Hoax (DVD)

The Hoax (2006) starring Richard Gere, Julie Delpy, Marcia Gay Harden, Alfred Molina, Stanley Tucci. Gere plays Clifford Irving, who in the 1970s wrote an "authorized autobiography" of reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes. It's rather entertaining to watch Gere play the consummate con-man who nearly gets his fake book published. Grade: B

Leprechaun (DVD)

Leprechaun (1993) starring Warwick Davis, Jennifer Aniston. Davis plays the title character, an evil leprechaun who goes on a killing spree when his hoard of gold is stolen. Aniston's appearance is notable mostly for this being her first movie. The script is totally laughable, and not in a good way. This might make a good scary film for 12-year-olds, except that it's rated R. Grade: D

28 Weeks Later (DVD)

28 Weeks Later (2007) starring Robert Carlyle, Rose Byrne, Catherine McCormack, Jeremy Renner, Harold Perrineau, Imogen Poots, Mackintosh Muggleton. The plague from "28 Days Later," which turns humans into zombies, seems to have run its course, and people are returning to repopulate Britain. But of course the plague returns and must be snuffed out again. Meanwhile, this movie is plagued by action scenes that consist of violent shaking of the camera and much gushing of blood. The director seems fond of things that flash -- jump cuts, for one, and lights that jitter on and off repeatedly. Epileptics should avoid this film. Plus, much of the "action" takes place in darkness. The whole film was so sickening and irritating that I could not watch it all the way through, so I must give it a Grade: F.

Stranger than Paradise (DVD)

Stranger than Paradise (1984) starring John Lurie, Eszter Balint. Willie isn't exactly thrilled when Eva, his cousin from Hungary, comes to stay with him in New York. But Eva eventually earns his grudging respect, and a year later Willie and a friend invite Eva to accompany them on a trip to Florida. Their destination is Miami, but suffice it to say they get sidetracked. Oddly involving little film from writer/director Jim Jarmusch, with an unsatisfactory ending. Grade: B-

Frida (DVD)

Frida (2002) starring Salma Hayek, Alfred Molina. Hayek plays Frida Kahlo, the Mexican painter, 20th century icon, communist and bisexual. Molina portrays her philandering husband, the Mexican artist Diego Rivera. Frida struggled with a life of wracking pain following a trolley accident, a miscarriage, the amputation of a leg, and finally, alcohol and pain-medication abuse that killed her at age 47. This movie is a vivid portrait of her life. Grade: B+

1408 (DVD)

1408 (2007) starring John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson. A writer and paranormal debunker (Cusack) checks into room 1408 of the Dolphin Hotel, a room purported to be "evil." Although he does not believe in "haunted rooms," he soon finds himself in his own personal hell. It's all pretty predictable and lacking in originality. Grade: C

Chocolat (DVD)

Chocolat (2000) starring Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench, Lena Olin, Johnny Depp. Binoche plays a wanderer, a free spirit who travels from town to town, and who changes people's lives with her chocolate concoctions. Along with her on her travels she takes her young daughter, who is not thrilled with all the constant moving. They move to a village in France where, surprisingly, everyone speaks English. She opens up a chocolate shop during lent and incurs the wrath of the mayor of the small town. It's all very whimsical and ultimately rewarding. Grade: A-

The TV Set (DVD)

The TV Set (2007) starring David Duchovny, Sigourney Weaver, Ioan Gruffudd, Justine Bateman, Lucy Davis. Duchovny stars as the writer who has his script picked to be made into a network TV pilot; Weaver plays the network executive who screws with his vision for the show. Based on real-life experiences of writers and producers of TV shows, "The TV Set" is more amusing in concept than in execution. It's a kind of inside joke that people outside the movie-making business cannot entirely appreciate, but can still enjoy. Grade: B

American Graffiti (DVD)

American Graffiti (1973) starring Richard Dreyfuss, "Ronny" Howard, Cindy Williams, Harrison Ford, Suzanne Somers. The real star of this film is the music, which acts as the soundtrack to a 1962 night when a disparate group of high school students struggle with rites of passage. Beautifully evokes a moment in time. Directed by George Lucas. Grade: A-

Away from Her (DVD)

Away from Her (2006) starring Julie Christie, Gordon Pinsent, Olympia Dukakis. A long-married couple struggle with the wife's Alzheimer's Disease. As she slowly deteriorates, she realizes she must go into a nursing home. Some of the dialog sounds a little stilted, but this is otherwise a poignant story. Grade: B

Disturbia (DVD)

Disturbia (2007) starring Shia LaBeouf, Sarah Roemer, Aaron Yoo, David Morse, Carrie-Anne Moss. In this updated and dumbed-down version of Hitchcock's "Rear Window," LaBeouf plays a troubled teen who is stuck in his house because he is on house arrest. He starts spying on his neighbors, and soon begins to suspect that he is living next door to a serial killer. There's not much real suspense, and the movie seems aimed at a teen audience. Grade: C+

Zelig (DVD)

Zelig (1983) starring Woody Allen, Mia Farrow. It's weird to watch a charming, funny movie from Woody Allen, knowing what has happened since between him and Mia Farrow. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this mockumentary about Leonard Zelig, a man who first turned up in the 1920s and who had the chameleon-like ability to transform himself into the likeness of whomever he was hanging out with. Film trickery allows Zelig to turn up in some very surprising surroundings, and the film succeeds in being entertaining and, at times, funny. Grade: B+

Year of the Dog (DVD)

Year of the Dog (2007) starring Molly Shannon, Peter Sarsgaard, Regina King, John C. Reilly, Laura Dern. Shannon plays Peggy, an upbeat secretary whose life takes a nosedive when her beloved dog, Pencil, suddenly dies. Although it is billed as a comedy, I found this movie rather sad. Peggy tries to fill her empty life with her love of animals, especially dogs. Given the right treatment, this theme might have made a moving film; but here, it's told in vignettes that don't really fit together. Grade: C+

The Lives of Others (DVD)

The Lives of Others (2006). In 1984 in East Berlin, a secret police spy bugs the apartment of a high-profile couple. He spies on the successful playwright and his actress companion, but begins to feel himself drawn into their lives. Frankly, I didn't know quite what to make of this movie. It got excellent reviews elsewhere, but I felt that I missed something when I watched it. Grade: B

Fracture (DVD)

Fracture (2007) starring Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling. Legal thriller with Hopkins as the man who shot his unfaithful wife, Gosling as the prosecuting attorney who is trying to convict him of the crime. The twists and turns of the plot are too many to detail here, but when you think about it, it all doesn't quite hang together. Grade: B-

Sweetie (DVD)

Sweetie (1989) starring Karen Colston, Genevieve Lemon. Jane Campion's directorial debut plumbs the depths of a dysfunctional Australian family. There are no subtitles, and the Australian accents are impossible to understand. What would otherwise be just a strange movie becomes incomprehensible. Grade: D

Zodiac (DVD)

Zodiac starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Edwards, Chloë Sevigny, Brian Cox, Dermot Mulroney, John Carroll Lynch. Gyllenhaal plays Robert Graysmith, a cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle in the 1960s and '70s who becomes obsessed with the Zodiac killer and eventually writes a book about the still-unsolved case. Unfortunately, this movie, which runs over two and a half hours, spends most of its second half showing him doing research for his book -- not exactly riveting viewing. Dates and places where action takes place are shown in fine white type which is not legible while viewing the DVD. Grade: B

Days of Glory (DVD)

Days of Glory (2006) starring a cast of unknowns. North African soldiers join the French army to help liberate France from Nazi occupation during World War II. The film dramatizes a lost chapter of history and pays tribute to the heroism of these forgotten troops. It also shows how little gratitude France showed to her Colonial soldiers. In various languages, with English subtitles. Grade: B

They All Laughed (DVD)

They All Laughed (1981) starring Ben Gazzara, John Ritter, Audrey Hepburn, Dorothy Stratten. A private eye team is hired to track down two women suspected of infidelity, but they can't seem to separate business from pleasure. Makes great use of Manhattan locations, and many pretty actresses are on display, but mostly falls pretty flat. Hepburn and Gazzara both look past their sell-by dates. Notable for appearance by Stratten, young actress who was killed before the film was released. Grade: C+

Hot Fuzz (DVD)

Hot Fuzz (2007) starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost. A top London cop (Pegg) is transferred to a bucolic village because he's making everyone else on the force look bad. He gets more action than he bargained for when a series of grisly "accidents" starts hitting the people of the hamlet. Brought to you by Edgar Wright, director of "Shaun of the Dead," this is part action movie, part murder mystery, but mostly just goofy fun. Grade: B-

1900 (DVD)

1900 (1977) starring Robert De Niro, Gerard Depardieu, Sterling Hayden, Donald Sutherland, Burt Lancaster. Bernardo Bertolucci directs this epic tale that follows the lives of two Italian men -- a peasant and a landowner -- both born on Jan. 1, 1900. Friends as children, the two become estranged as their differing social status pulls them apart. Their personal conflicts mirror political events in Italy, as both fascism and socialism gain footholds in the country. Sutherland, De Niro and Depardieu look remarkably young. De Niro and Depardieu both appear totally nude in one scene where they attempt to employ a young prostitute. Ultimately, though, this movie is just a five-hour-long mess. Grade: C-

The Butcher Boy (DVD)

The Butcher Boy (1997) starring Eamonn Owens, Stephen Rea. Disturbing and surreal story of Francis Brady (Owens), young bully in Irish village whose horrific home life is eventually acted out in murderous fashion. The film is imaginative in its use of unreal imagery, including space aliens, an atomic bomb attack on the village, and Sinead O'Connor appearing to Francis as the virgin Mary. But on the emotional level it somehow fails to connect, and ends up as just a string of events that, while interesting, doesn't really move us. Directed by Neil Jordan. The English subtitles really helped me, because everyone spoke in an Irish accent and I would not have been able to follow it without the subtitles. Grade: B-

Extras: Season 2 (DVD)

Extras: Season 2 (2006) starring Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Ashley Jensen. The second season of this HBO comedy series from "Office" genius Gervais is hilarious, at least judging from the first disc. Gervais, as struggling actor Andy Millman, has managed to score the starring role in a sitcom he created for the BBC. But he finds his original vision destroyed by meddling network executives. Guest stars Orlando Bloom, David Bowie and Daniel Radcliffe all add extra pizazz to the mix. The DVD also features backstage commentary by Gervais and writing partner Merchant, plus a short reel of outtakes. Grade: A

After the Wedding (DVD)

After the Wedding (2006) starring a cast of Danish actors who will not be familiar to most Americans. A man who is running an orphanage in India comes home to Denmark on a money-raising trip. The wife of the billionaire from whom he is soliciting funds turns out to be an old flame, and that is only the beginning of the surprises, secrets and lies that soon come to light. The movie takes a marginally soap-opera turn, then the ending seems rushed. But there are extras on the DVD -- a conversation with director Susanne Bier, and a slew of deleted scenes -- that may help the viewer appreciate the experience more. Grade: B

The Last Mimzy (DVD)

The Last Mimzy (2007) starring Rhiannon Leigh Wryn, Chris O'Neil, Joely Richardson, Rainn Wilson. Two children discover a magical box of toys that's been sent from the future, and soon start to develop some inexplicable, unearthly abilities. As their mother and teacher delve into the mystery, the adults as well as the children are drawn into a strange and unpredictable world, and Homeland Security even gets involved. There's a lot that's nonsensical here, but also an entertaining story and some good visuals. Grade: B+

Fast Food Nation (DVD)

Fast Food Nation (2006) starring Greg Kinnear, Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, Bruce Willis. A corporate executive with a national fast-food chain (Kinnear) follows beef's journey from the corrals to the slaughterhouse and ultimately to our stomachs. Early on, we learn that "there's shit in the meat," and the film slowly narrows in on the part of the butchering process where this takes place. The scenes in the slaughterhouse are progressively more harrowing. This may be a necessary film, if not one to savor. Grade: B

The Perfect Crime (DVD)

The Perfect Crime (Crimen Perfecto) (2004) starring Guillermo Toledo. Spanish-language film with English subtitles has hilarious take on Hitchcockian murder plot. Salesman accidentally kills rival, gets unexpected help covering up his crime from a homely sales girl. But she wants his love in exchange, and it's more than he's willing or able to give. Nevertheless, she blackmails him into sex, then a relationship, then to marriage. Grade: B+

The Holiday (DVD)

The Holiday (2006) starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black, Edward Burns, Rufus Sewell. Both seeking to escape their disastrous love lives, two young women (Diaz and Winslet) agree to swap homes for the holidays. One lives lives in England, one in L.A. Each finds that in her new surroundings, there are people worth getting to know. And all turns out well in the end. This disc, from Netflix, started skipping and freezing during the last half-hour. It was very irritating. Grade: B-

Breach (DVD)

Breach (2007) starring Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillippe, Laura Linney, Dennis Haysbert, Caroline Dhavernas. Soon after landing a plum assignment working for FBI operative Robert Hanssen (Cooper), Eric O'Neill (Phillippe) realizes he's been brought in to spy on his boss, who is suspected of selling secrets to the Soviets. Cooper is a great actor, but Phillippe seems weak cast opposite him. Even though we know how the movie will end, there are some genuinely suspenseful moments. Based on a true story, in which the worst known spy in U.S. history was finally caught. Grade: B

Shortbus (DVD)

Shortbus (2006). An unknown group of actors combines to present this unrated, rather kinky view into the fringe world of sexuality in New York City. Lots of sex and nudity, but strangely unappealing; mostly homoerotic action, not my thing. Sincere, but amateurish. Grade: C-

Bridge to Terabithia (DVD)

Bridge to Terabithia (2007) starring Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, Robert Patrick, Zooey Deschanel. Two fifth-grade outcasts become friends and create the make-believe kingdom of Terabithia, where they reign supreme and plot revenge against the school bullies. But the film is not, as Disney might want us to believe, a fantasy wonderland with happy ending. Well into the story, it takes a tragic turn, and becomes a rather serious movie about loss and transcendence. Grade: B+

Maxed Out (DVD)

Maxed Out (2006). Somewhat depressing documentary about the load of debt, both personal and national, being carried by Americans. Ringing indictment of the credit card industry and the major banks. Subtitles are not available in English, so some of the dialogue is hard to understand. Grade: B

The Painted Veil (DVD)

The Painted Veil (2006) starring Naomi Watts, Edward Norton, Liev Schreiber, Diana Rigg. Kitty (Watts) marries Dr. Walter Fane (Norton) to escape her parents' home, and ends up traveling with him to China, where he is fighting a cholera epidemic. Although she didn't marry him for love, she finds herself admiring his dedication to the cause. This understated period drama (it takes place in the 1920s) will reward the thoughtful movie viewer. Grade: B+

Children of Men (DVD)

Children of Men (2006) starring Clive Owen, Michael Caine, Julianne Moore. Dystopian drama set in 2027, in a world in which humans have lost the ability to reproduce. When a single woman mysteriously becomes pregnant, a conflicted government bureaucrat (Owen) tries to protect her. Based on the novel by P.D. James, directed by Alfonso Cuaron. If this relentlessly downbeat movie has a point, it escaped me. Grade: C

The Italian (DVD)

The Italian (2007). Six-year-old Vanya is about to be handed every Russian orphan's dream: A loving Italian family wants to adopt him and take him away from the run-down orphanage where he lives. But he can't get the thought of his birth mother out of his mind, and runs away to find her. This film, with an apparent happy ending, seems chiefly designed to reveal the plight of orphans in Russia today. The young actor who plays Vanya is not especially good. Grade: C+

Letters from Iwo Jima

Letters from Iwo Jima (2007) starring Ken Watanabe and a large cast of Japanese actors who will be unfamiliar to American viewers. Directed by Clint Eastwood. Excellent companion piece to Eastwood's "Flags of Our Fathers," this Oscar-nominated movie tells the story of the World War II battle for Iwo Jima from the Japanese point of view. Outnumbered and outgunned, the Japanese defenders of the island do not think of surrender, but of dying honorably -- even if this means suicide in the face of defeat. Eastwood does a good job of humanizing our former enemies, and even shows American soldiers being brutal in one memorable scene. Grade: A-

Venus (DVD)

Venus (2006) starring Peter O'Toole, Jodie Whittaker. Slightly creepy story of veteran actor, played by O'Toole, who falls for the niece of the daughter of a friend. He's in his seventies, she's in her twenties. It's rather entertaining to see how far they'll go (hint: not very); and O'Toole's character shows great insight into the female mind and heart. But even though it's handled with delicacy, the story of a March-December romance has a high "ewww" factor. Grade: B-

Apocalypto (DVD)

Apocalypto (2006) directed by Mel Gibson. In a time long ago, primitive natives live and hunt in the jungle, only to have their existence disrupted when a gang of slave-hunters from the great Mayan civilization which dominated Mexico sneaks up on their village and takes most of them captive, killing the rest. It's a fascinating and disturbing portrait of what life might have been like in the Mayan Empire before Europeans came on the scene. There's a lot of violence and bloodshed, but it's done as tastefully as can be expected. There's also a powerful twist at the end of the movie which, if you become as absorbed in the story as I did, you may not see coming. Also available on the DVD are a short on how the convincing look of Mayan civilization was created, and a commentary track by Mel Gibson and his co-producer. Grade: B+

The Good German (DVD)

The Good German (2006) starring George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, Tobey Maguire. Uninspiring tale of intrigue in post-World War II Berlin, not terribly well made. Army correspondent Clooney gets involved in intrigue with his prewar mistress Blanchett. Clooney gets beaten up several times and Blanchett gets her wish to escape Berlin; but her movie husband Emil Brandt, the "good German" of the title, ends up dead. Grade: B

The Dead Girl (DVD)

The Dead Girl (2006) starring Toni Collette, James Franco, Giovanni Ribisi, Mary Beth Hurt, Mary Steenburgen, Brittany Murphy. A series of vignettes shows how the body of a girl is found in a field, how those who knew her are affected, and ultimately who did the crime. Absorbing and, taken as a whole, very sad. Grade: B

Who the #$&% is Jackson Pollock? (DVD)

Who the #$&% is Jackson Pollock? (2006). True story of trailer park resident Teri Horton , who buys a painting at a thrift store for $5 and becomes convinced that it is a genuine Jackson Pollock. But the painting is unsigned and lacks "provenance," meaning a paper trail that shows who has owned it and can be traced back to Pollock. After 15 years, no one has been able to prove whether it is real or fake, but Horton is convinced that it is real. By the end of the movie, she is offered $9 million for the painting, but refuses it, because she believes it is worth more the $50 million. Grade: B

Army of Shadows (DVD)

Army of Shadows (1969) starring Lino Ventura, Simone Signoret, Paul Meurisse, Jean-Pierre Cassel. Director Jean-Pierre Melville's experiences as a member of the French resistance during World War II inform this movie about a civil engineer who becomes one of the chiefs of the underground movement. Apparently, the Resistance is a controversial subject in France, but it will have little resonance for American audiences. The final half-hour of the film is rather interesting. In French, with English subtitles. Grade: B

Pan's Labyrinth (DVD)

Pan's Labyrinth (2006) in Spanish with English subtitles. In 1944 in Spain, Franco's army sets up an outpost in the effort to suppress the rebellion of the left against the Fascists. Meanwhile, a young girl stumbles on a labyrinth guarded by Pan, an ancient faun who claims to know her destiny. A deeply moving motion picture. Directed by Guillermo del Toro. The commentary track by del Toro is illuminating, and the subtitles are bright and bold, easy to read. Grade: A

The Pursuit of Happyness (DVD)

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) starring Will Smith and his real-life son, Jaden Smith. Struggling single parent goes from dead-end job to unpaid internship at a stock brokerage firm. It's all about Will Smith's charm, and what a struggle life is when you're pinched for money. I loved the happy ending, but couldn't help but wonder what happened to all the other homeless who weren't so blessed. Grade: B+

Little Children (DVD)

Little Children (2006) starring Kate Winslet, Jennifer Connelly, Patrick Wilson. Sarah (Winslet) and Brad (Wilson) meet at the playground, where they have taken their respective children. Even though he has a beautiful wife named Kathy (Connelly) at home, Brad is titillated by the idea of a fling with the rather more plain Sarah. Meanwhile, Sarah's husband Richard is entranced by Slutty Kay, an Internet porn star. And woven in and out of this narrative is the story of Ronnie McGorvey, the town pervert, who was once arrested for indecent exposure.

It's all about "grown ups" who don't know how to be parents to their kids. I found the voiceover to be a bit annoying, but Winslet looks lovely and does a passable American accent. Grade: B+

Dreamgirls (DVD)

Dreamgirls (2006) starring Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Hudson. Hudson, an "American Idol" reject, won an Oscar in this musical about three black women who seek fame and fortune as a singing trio. Unfortunately, the songs are mostly pretty uninspired, although the performers try to make of them all they can. In a movie which should be driven by that catchy Motown sound, the music just drags it down. Grade: C

Happy Feet (DVD)

Happy Feet (2006) with the voices of Elijah Wood, Nicole Kidman, Robin Williams, Hugh Jackman. Young Mumble, an animated penguin, can dance but he can't sing -- which is a problem in this movie because every penguin must have a "Heartsong" to win a mate. It's basically a penguin musical, which is, I guess, an original concept. But the movie takes a sharp left turn into weirdness in the final half hour, and what little charm it had is lost. Grade: C+

Freedom Writers (DVD)

Freedom Writers (2007) starring Hilary Swank, Scott Glenn, Imelda Staunton, Patrick Dempsey. Idealistic young teacher (Swank) is posted to an inner-city school that is racked by gang violence. She inspires her class by getting them to read "The Diary of Anne Frank" and go to the
Holocaust Museum. The at-risk kids respond to her teaching methods, but the school administration (embodied by Staunton) doesn't. Her struggle to teach in unorthodox ways and outfox her enemies in the bureaucracy make up the meat of this movie. There's a lot of rap music involved, most of which I found hard to understand. Younger viewers might get more out of it. Grade: B

The Queen (DVD)

The Queen (2006) starring Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen. Mirren won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II, who faces an angry public after Princess Diana's death in an auto accident. Why don't the royals respond to the public's outpouring of grief? There are a few striking images in this movie, but Sheen seems a bit off as Prime Minister Tony Blair. Grade: B

Notes on a Scandal (DVD)

Notes on a Scandal (2006) starring Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett. Dench and Blanchett are both excellent in this story in which one high-school teacher has an affair with a student, and an older teacher finds out about it. Dench, as the older teacher, must decide between turning in the offender or trying to use the information to her advantage. Grade: A-

The Last King of Scotland (DVD)

The Last King of Scotland (2006) starring Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy, Gillian Anderson. Whitaker won an Oscar for his portrayal of brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin; McAvoy plays a Scottish doctor, Nicholas Garrigan, who becomes Amin's personal physician. The problem seems to be that the focus of the movie is on Dr. Garrigan, and Whitaker has too little screen time. There are some chilling scenes, though, and Whitaker earned his Oscar. Grade: B

Come Early Morning (DVD)

Come Early Morning (2006) starring Ashley Judd. Judd plays Lucy, a 30-something small-town southern girl who makes a habit of drinking too much and waking up next to strangers. Powered by alcohol and country music, this independent movie is more a slice of life than a story with a beginning, middle and end. We see Lucy make a little progress, but it's hard to tell if she's really going to be all right. Grade: C+

The Silent Partner (DVD)

The Silent Partner (1978) starring Elliot Gould, Christopher Plummer, Susannah York. Not-so-timid bank teller Gould manages to cut himself in on a robbery by Plummer, who then comes after him for the balance of the money. One scene of graphic violence is particularly jarring, but the rest of the film stands up well. Look for John Candy in an early screen appearance. Grade: B

Volver (DVD)

Volver (2006) starring Penelope Cruz. Single mom Cruz hears that her mother has come back from the dead and is haunting the village where she grew up. She goes back for a visit in this charming film, written and directed by Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar. Grade: B+

Sleeping Dogs Lie (DVD)

Sleeping Dogs Lie (2006) starring Bryce Johnson, Colby French. Amy, while a college student, performed a rather shocking sex act with her dog. Now, years later, the question arises: Is she obligated to be totally honest with her fiance? This film follows a mostly predictable trajectory once you get past the premise, but amuses nonetheless. Grade: B

Candy (DVD)

Candy (2006) starring Heath Ledger, Abbie Cornish, Geoffrey Rush. Australian film about two junkies in love. Not a bad drama, but not top-notch. The dialog is difficult to understand because of the Australian accents, and subtitles in English are not available on this disc. Grade: B-

Charlotte's Web (DVD)

Charlotte's Web (2006). When Wilbur the pig discovers he's destined for the dinner table, kindly spider Charlotte (voiced by Julia Roberts) hatches a plan to keep him around. Dakota Fanning plays sensitive farm girl Fern in this children's tale based on the book by E.B. White. The DVD features two commentary tracks and two making-of features. While adults might find it a bit saccharine, it's a fine movie for youngsters. Grade: B+

The Good Shepherd (DVD)

The Good Shepherd (2006) starring Matt Damon, Robert De Niro, Angelina Jolie. Fictionalized account of the birth of the CIA, following one agent's (Damon) career from World War II through the Bay of Pigs debacle. Thinking about the movie after watching it is more interesting than actually watching it, partly because of slow pacing, partly because of the long running time of about two and a half hours. There are moments when the movie comes alive (a particular torture scene comes to mind), but for the most part the glacial pacing and Damon's dead-fish portrayal of super spy Edward Wilson make it a chore to watch. Grade: B

The Bridesmaid (DVD)

The Bridesmaid (2004) starring a cast of French actors who will be unfamiliar to Americans. At his younger sister's wedding, Philippe meets Senta, a bridesmaid. Sparks of passion soon fly between the two, but Senta has some pretty dark ideas about how Philip should prove his undying love. Based on a novel by Ruth Rendell, this movie nevertheless still has a very strong French flavor. The extras on the DVD are revealing about the director's mind-set. Grade: B

Casino Royale (DVD)

Casino Royale (2006) starring Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Eva Green, Jeffrey Wright. Lots of action in this film adaptation of Ian Fleming's first novel about Agent 007, James Bond. It's supposed to tell Bond's back story, but it's obviously set in the present, which was a bit anachronistic to me. Can't be helped, I guess. Grade: B

The Prestige (DVD)

The Prestige (2006) starring Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, David Bowie. Rival magicians go all out trying to outdo each other with their tricks -- on and off stage. Three separate time lines keep the action unnecessarily confusing, while Jackman and Bale look enough alike that it's easy to get them confused in some of the more rapid cutting scenes. It's all an elaborate revenge flick, and as such it lacks heart. Grade: C+

The Departed

The Departed (2006) starring Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga, Alec Baldwin. An undercover cop (DiCaprio) curries favor with a Boston Irish mob kingpin (Nicholson), while a career criminal (Damon) rises through the police ranks. Both sides soon discover there's a mole among them, and most of the dramatic tension in the movie derives from the attempts by both to discover the "rat." Won the Oscar for Best Picture, which I don't think was deserved. The cutting back and forth makes it hard to follow, and the action is hyper-violent. Director Martin Scorsese won for Best Director. Grade: B

Hollywoodland (DVD)

Hollywoodland (2006) starring Ben Affleck, Adrien Brody, Diane Lane, Bob Hoskins. Dogged private eye Brody investigates the death of George Reeves, the actor who played Superman on TV in the '50s. Was it suicide or murder? By the end of this movie, you probably won't care any more than you do now, but the film is an interesting snapshot of Hollywood during the '40s and '50s. Grade: B

Borat (DVD)

Borat (2006) starring Sacha Baron Cohen. As Kazakhstani reporter Borat, Cohen cruises across the U.S., making fun of American institutions and making satirical points as he goes. Very funny if you're in the right frame of mind. Grade: B+

Babel (DVD)

Babel (2006) starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett. Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. An American couple (Pitt and Blanchett) vacationing in Morocco fall victim to a random act of violence. Meanwhile, a Mexican nanny takes her two young charges to a wedding south of the border, and a deaf-mute Japanese school girl struggles with her place in society. The seemingly disparate stories are all connected, and as the title implies, it's all about the necessity and the impossibility of human communication across boundaries. Grade: A-

The Heart of the Game (DVD)

The Heart of the Game (2005). Documentary telling the story of a gifted young black female basketball player who attends a predominantly white high school because her mother thinks she'll have better academic opportunities there. Shot in a suburban Seattle high school over a seven-year period, director Ward Serrill's documentary explores the relationships among gender, race and organized sports. Young Darnellia Russell, the talented young player, becomes the focus of the documentary as her life outside of school and basketball begins to get complicated. Grade: B+

Stranger than Fiction (DVD)

Stranger than Fiction (2006) starring Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Queen Latifah. A novelist (Thompson) struggles with how to kill off her main character, IRS auditor Harold Crick (Ferrell). Crick begins hearing her narration in his head and begins trying to avoid being knocked off.
With Will Ferrell in the lead, you expect a comedy, but this is more of an offbeat drama with comedic overtones. The bottom line for me is, I just don't like Will Ferrell. But I do like Maggie Gyllenhaal, so Grade: B

Invincible (DVD)

Invincible (2006) starring Mark Wahlberg, Greg Kinnear. Average Joe and devoted Philadelphia Eagles fan Vince Papale (Wahlberg) manages to land a spot on his favorite NFL team in open tryouts in 1976. Papale has just lost his wife and his job as a substitute teacher, so making the team turns a terrible year into a winner. Based on a true story.
If you're a Philadelphia Eagles fan and come from Philadelphia, you might enjoy this movie. Others should save their money and their time. Grade: C

Shut Up and Sing (DVD)

Shut Up and Sing (2006). Controversy swirled around the Dixie Chicks after lead singer Natalie Maines told a London audience in 2003 that she was ashamed that President Bush was from Texas -- where the Chicks are from. Country music fans vilified the band, crushed and burned their CDs, and even made death threats. This movie takes a look at the three band members during the period from '03 to '06, how they dealt with the controversy and how it affected their lives. Probably best if you're a fan of the Dixie Chicks' music. Grade: B

For Your Consideration (DVD)

For Your Consideration (2006) starring Christopher Guest, Catherine O'Hara, Parker Posey, Fred Willard, Harry Shearer, Michael McKean, Eugene Levy, Ricky Gervais. During the making of a schlock independent drama, "Home for Purim," rumors arise on the Internet that some of the actors may be up for Oscars. Guest's reliable troupe of improv actors deliver a funny and poignant and sometimes savage take on Hollywood. Extras on the DVD include a number of worthwhile deleted scenes and outtakes. Grade: B+

Marie Antoinette (DVD)

Marie Antoinette (2006) starring Kirsten Dunst. Profoundly boring portrait of Marie Antoinette, naive Austrian princess who married Louis XVI of France right before the French Revolution. The film explores her luxurious yet terribly confining lifestyle and seems to suggest that it was her overspending that brought down the monarchy. Grade: B

Half Nelson (DVD)

Half Nelson (2006) starring Ryan Gosling, Shareeka Epps. Inner-city teacher (Gosling) spends most of his time nursing hangovers. But one of his students (Epps) is on to him, having witnessed him smoking crack in the girls' locker room. They develop an engaging, if unlikely, friendship. Grade: B

My Favorite Year (DVD)

My Favorite Year (1982) starring Peter O'Toole, Bill Macy, Joseph Bologna, Mark Linn-Baker. O'Toole stars as washed-up, booze hound matinee idol Alan Swann, who is forced by financial considerations to make an appearance on a live comedy-variety TV show in 1954 New York. The unknown actor Mark Linn-Baker plays a junior writer whose job it is to make sure that Swann shows up for rehearsals and his appearance on the show. Made in 1982 and set in 1954, this movie feels dated, but O'Toole's performance is vintage quality. Grade: B

Flags of Our Fathers (DVD)

Flags of Our Fathers (2006) starring Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford, Adam Beach, Jamie Bell, Barry Pepper, Tom Verica, Paul Walker, Robert Patrick, Neal McDonough. Clint Eastwood directed this World War II drama that tells the story of the small band of soldiers that were famously photographed raising the American flag on a mountain on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. Based on the book of the same name, the film reconstructs the events that preceded and followed the snapping of the photo. The parts of this movie are admirable, but it's a little over-ambitious, overlong and over-stuffed. Grade: B+

Sherrybaby (DVD)

Sherrybaby (2006) starring Maggie Gyllenhaal. After her release from prison, Sherry Swanson (Gyllenhaal) returns to the realities of life, visiting with her parole officer, finding a job and trying to be a mother to her five-year-old daughter. There are some unforgettable scenes and a superb performance by Gyllenhaal. Grade: A

This Film Is Not Yet Rated (DVD)

This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006) directed by Kirby Dick. Documentary investigating the secretive and inconsistent process by which the Motion Picture Association of America rates films. Dick hired a private investigator to find out who the members of the motion picture rating board are (their names had previously been kept secret). This film makes for an interesting look inside the flawed rating process. Grade: B+

Umberto D. (DVD)

Umberto D. (1952) starring Carlo Battisti. An old man in post-war Rome struggles to survive on his small pension. Bankrupt and lonely, he has only his beloved dog and a maid as friends. Could have been titled "An Old Man and His Dog." It's a good film, but not very exciting by current Hollywood standards. Directed by Vittorio De Sica. In Italian, with English subtitles. Grade: B+

Jules and Jim (DVD)

Jules and Jim (1961) starring Oskar Werner, Henri Serre, Jeanne Moreau. Two writers who are close friends fall in love with the same woman in Paris right before World War I. The fact that it is basically a true story gives it heightened impact. Based on an autobiographical novel by Henri-Pierre Roche. In French, with English subtitles. Grade: A

The Four Hundred Blows (DVD)

The Four Hundred Blows (1959), directed by Francois Truffaut. In black and white, French with English subtitles. The cast of this film will be unrecognizable to the vast majority of Americans. In the movie, an adolescent Parisian boy is neglected by his parents, acts up in school, and turns to a life of petty crime. He doesn't get very far, and his parents turn him over to the care of the state. I think this is meant to be a commentary on society, but since it's French society, maybe something was lost in translation. I was very involved in the story, but the ending seemed a little flat. Grade: B

The Illusionist (DVD)

The Illusionist (2006) starring Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel. A magician (Norton) returns to public life after a long absence, and finds that his true love (Biel) is engaged to be married to a prince. How can he win her back, and win her freedom? Giamatti is great in a supporting role. Grade: A-

The Devil Wears Prada (DVD)

The Devil Wears Prada (2006) starring Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci, Simon Baker. Small-town girl Andrea Sachs (Hathaway) takes a job as assistant to powerful fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly (Streep). At first, Andrea is indifferent to the fashion world, but soon finds herself sucked in by the force of her boss' personality. Streep is masterful as the boss from hell, and Hathaway charms as she goes through the transition from fashion slob to "glamazon." Emily Blunt is a standout in the supporting role of Priestly's assistant. Grade: B

A Scanner Darkly (DVD)

A Scanner Darkly (2006) starring Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder. Directed by Richard Linklater. Based on Philip K. Dick's novel. Reeves plays an undercover cop working in a world, "seven years from now," where almost everyone is addicted to a drug called Substance D. The most notable feature of this film is the rotoscoping, whereby live actors are "animated" by tracing over their image in every frame of the movie. The effect doesn't contribute much to the work, other than to make it look weird. Grade: B-