I Heart Huckabees (2004)

Comedy Rated R

Part shrinks and part private investigators, the “existential detectives” at the center of this farce (Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin) plumb life’s biggest questions for their angst-ridden clients. The latest sharp satire from writer-director David O. Russell (Three Kings), this often is as random and puzzling as its title, yet buried beneath the quirky characters,

Duma (2005)

Family Rated PG

Writer/director Carroll Ballard (The Black Stallion) once again explores the enchanting bond between children and animals with this initially clunky but eventually graceful story about a South African boy (Alexander Michaeletos) and his pet cheetah. After some contrivances, including a confrontation between the cat and the requisite school bullies, the movie finally settles into its

Land of the Dead (2005)

Horror Rated R

In this zombie installment from genre godfather George A. Romero (Night of the Living Dead), human survivors have quarantined themselves in a high-rise shopping center, trying to rebuild their consumerist lifestyle. But outside the undead have begun to evolve – communicating with each other and even learning to use basic tools. Romero’s social-critic tendencies make

Holiday, The (2006)

Romantic Comedy Rated PG-13

Far more fun in memory than in actual experience. Afterwards, the sporadic charming moments still carry a fizz, while you forget the indulgent fantasy that surrounds them. According to the contrived setup from writer-director Nancy Meyers, two women in romantic crises swap houses for the holidays: American Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz) and Brit Iris Simpkins

Wicker Park (2004)

Thriller Rated PG-13

Wicker Park, about a Chicago photographer (Josh Hartnett) investigating the disappearance of his girlfriend, goes about telling its story in the most complicated manner possible. The movie mostly consists of flashbacks and replayed scenes from different vantage points – techniques that are partly meant to keep us guessing, but are mostly there to cover up

Being Julia (2004)

Drama Rated R

Annette Bening bites into the title role – that of a 1930s London stage actress whose personal life is only slightly less dramatic than her theatrical one – as if it will be the last good part she ever gets. The scenery-chewing is a fortunate necessity, considering it only emphasizes the theme of ageism in

Deuces Wild (2002)

Drama Rated R

Another MGM/United Artists mess from 2002, though not quite as inept as Rollerball. Two brothers (Stephen Dorff and Brad Renfro) try to protect their neighborhood from a violent gang in 1958 Brooklyn, and the result – tough guys marching down the street in matching white T-shirts, more fake lightning than a heavy metal music video

Millions (2004)

Family Rated PG

Genre-hopping director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, 28 Days Later) makes this family drama something they rarely are: tough, funny and delightfully strange. When two British brothers find a bag full of money, they grapple with the issues of charity and guilt that ensue. Acting newcomer Alex Etel, as a 7-year-old who receives regular visits from various

Frequency (2000)

Thriller Rated PG-13

When a modern cop (Jim Caviezel) hooks up an old ham radio, he’s somehow able to communicate back in time with his late firefighting father (Dennis Quaid). They change history in order to save the father from a fire, but their alterations inadvertently set a serial killer loose. If you take a deep breath and

Proof of Life (2000)

Thriller Rated R

Despite the tabloid reports, there’s no proof of romance here between stars Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe, which makes this silly thriller – about a hostage negotiator (Crowe) who falls for the wife (Ryan) of a kidnapping victim – a lifeless, chemistry-free affair. If they were trying to hide something on the set, they took