Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005)

Drama Rated R

Based on the true story of a British widow (Judi Dench) who ran a nude revue during World War II, this spends a lot of time arguing against misplaced shame, so why is the movie ashamed to be a simple character comedy? Director Stephen Frears’ picture begins that way – hilariously so – but soon

Murderball (2005)

Documentary Rated NR

Real human drama doesn’t get much more gripping than this documentary about the sport of paraplegic rugby, in which even the game’s winners must learn to live, day after day, with the agony of some sort of defeat. As it follows these young men, most of whom have ended up in wheelchairs because of car

Sharks 3D (2004)

Documentary Rated NR

The rare Imax documentary that places as much importance on information as it does on visual spectacle, Sharks 3D uses 3D technology to immerse us even further into the world of one of earth’s most fascinating creatures. In a kid-friendly conceit, the movie is “hosted” by a sea turtle who provides plenty of facts. Sharks

Murder by Numbers (2002)

Thriller Rated R

Two bored high-schoolers (the equally creepy Ryan Gosling and Michael Pitt) find a way other than multiple-choice quizzes to test their considerable smarts by plotting the intricate murder of a random stranger. Sandra Bullock plays the cop on their trail, and the attention paid to all three characters gives this genre exercise a surprising resonance.

Thirteen Days (2000)

Drama Rated PG-13

This dramatic re-creation of the Cuban Missile Crisis works best as a study in leadership. Although Kevin Costner, playing JFK adviser Kenny O’Donnell, is the story’s focus, Bruce Greenwood offers a fascinating portrayal of the mythical president. His intense, layered performance suggests leadership under pressure requires patience, principles and lots of luck.

Possession (2002)

Drama Rated PG-13

Watching Possession is a bit like hearing a disinterested high-schooler read one of Shakespeare’s sonnets: The words are there, but the passion is missing. Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart both give oddly miscalibrated performances as modern scholars researching an affair between two historical literary figures, but it’s most likely writer-director Neil LaBute who is responsible

Valiant (2005)

Family Rated G

A lame-duck movie about pigeons. The title hero is a pipsqueak of a bird who joins Britain’s Royal Homing Pigeon Service during World War II. He has the voice of Ewan McGregor, and like McGregor’s other animated incarnation in 2005 – Rodney Copperbottom of Robots – he suffers from a case of terminal niceness. I’ve

Crossroads (2002)

Drama Rated PG-13

More giggling goes on here than anyone over the age of 12 – or male – should have to endure. Otherwise, this movie debut of Britney Spears should please her two main audiences: young teen girls and the creepy men who ogle them. As a standard road-trip flick, Crossroads is predictably, harmlessly insipid, but worse

Fun With Dick and Jane (2005)

Comedy Rated PG-13

If Saturday Night Live ever did a theme show, it might look something like this Jim Carrey comedy, which is less a movie than a thinly connected series of sketches all riffing on corporate scandals and the resulting unemployment. There is some clever social satire here, but only in fits and starts, and never toward

I, Robot (2004)

Action/Adventure Rated PG-13

Admitting in its credits that it is simply “suggested by” the science-fiction writing of Isaac Asimov, I, Robot treats whatever ideas that may lie in its source material as little more than excuses to make a Will Smith cop picture with the slight novelty of having robots as perps. Too bad they look less like