The church at the center of The Gospel is in Atlanta, but its address might as well be on Melrose Place. This is a soap opera through and through, with church politics in place of sexual dalliances. Scattered throughout are appearances by actual gospel stars, but the genuine emotion in their performances only further emphasizes

Screenwriter Nicholas Meyer and director Robert Benton plow through this adaptation of Philip Roth’s The Human Stain – about a disgraced college professor (Anthony Hopkins) who has an affair with a troubled local woman (Nicole Kidman) – but the novel proves unmanageable. They give it staid respect when it needs cinematic invention.

Igby Goes Down is another independent feature chronicling the wayward ways of the young, restless and rich in the Big Apple. This doesn’t have much to say, as it follows 16-year-old Igby (Kieran Culkin) swearing and smoking in the usual, rebellious manner before rejecting his life of luxury in a last-minute stab at redemption.

Just what we need in today’s celebrity-crazed age: a movie that celebrate’s fame for fame’s sake. Bette Midler stars as Valley of the Dolls author Jacqueline Susann, one of the first people to help turn stardom into the new American dream. Unfortunately, Isn’t She Greatblows a congratulatory kiss to Susann for being an untalented hack

A dramatization of life inside the Catholic Church’s now-closed Magdalene Asylums, this import catalogs the abuses heaped upon young women whose only crimes were flirting, getting pregnant out of wedlock or being raped. Director Peter Mullan repeatedly rails against such injustices, and if his indignation eventually wears thin, the performances from his three lead actresses