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-

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (DVD)

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) starring Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom. Pirate Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) tries to weasel his way out of a blood debt with the ghastly Davey Jones (Bill Nighy), who looks like an octopus is sitting on his head. After the ultimate battle with the Kraken, a mighty beast from the depths, we learn that this movie, long as it is at two and a half hours, is just the set-up for a sequel, which will be released in 2007. Depp fans will not be disappointed, but I found the whole thing rather disappointing. Grade: B-

The Oh in Ohio (DVD)

The Oh in Ohio (2006) starring Parker Posey, Paul Rudd, Mischa Barton, Danny DeVito. Priscilla (Posey) and Jack (Rudd) are a married couple on the verge of breakup because Priscilla can't achieve the big O, also known as an orgasm. Priscilla has an affair with a vibrator which seems to be going well when she decides it's not enough, and she breaks up with the vibrator by putting it down the garbage disposal. Later, stretching the bounds of credibility, it turns out that Wayne, the Pool Guy (DeVito) is the first man she's ever slept with who can bring her to orgasm. It's all low key and only mildly entertaining, but Posey is fun to watch. Grade: B

Little Miss Sunshine

Little Miss Sunshine (2006) starring Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Steve Carell, Alan Arkin, Abigail Breslin. A dysfunctional family embarks on a life-altering road trip to the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant, encountering mind-boggling obstacles along the way. This is a delightfully daffy movie. Grade: A-

The Ant Bully (DVD)

The Ant Bully (2006) with the voices of Julia Roberts, Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep. Kids might enjoy this animated tale about a boy who terrorizes an ant colony -- until he is shrunk down to ant size and becomes a member of the tribe. There is one set piece -- a battle with an exterminator -- that may prove especially exciting. But adults will be bored, as there is no meaningful subtext, no double entendres that both adults and children can enjoy. Grade: For kids, B+, for adults, C-

Goldeneye (DVD)

Goldeneye (1995) starring Pierce Brosnan as Agent 007, James Bond. Brosnan stars in his first Bond film, but the formula is pretty familiar by now. A little romance, a lot of action, some nifty gadgets thrown in, and a Bond girl/villain played by Famke Janssen. Her character's name is Onatopp (heh heh). You also get explosions. Lots and lots of explosions. Brosnan does all right in bringing off Bond's trademark cheeky attitude. At two hours and ten minutes long, though, this action/adventure film seems to go on forever. Grade: B-

Scoop (DVD)

Scoop (2006) starring Scarlett Johansson, Hugh Jackman, Woody Allen. A young American journalism student (Johansson) chances upon a major news story (the scoop of the title) while visiting London in this comedy directed by Woody Allen. Although it's not among Allen's best work, I found this simple tale to be entertaining enough. Then again, I'm a big fan of both Johansson and Jackman. Grade: B+

An Inconvenient Truth (DVD)

An Inconvenient Truth (2006) starring Al Gore. Gore, the former vice president of the United States and unsuccessful presidential candidate, explains global warming in pretty substantial detail. He paints a scary picture, and if he's right, we're in trouble. This movie is a bit dry at times, but is surprisingly engaging. Grade: A-