Ice Storm, The (1997)

Drama Rated R

A grim family tragedy set in the aftermath of the sexual revolution. Kevin Kline plays a philandering husband and father in 1973 Connecticut who trudges halfheartedly through an affair with his neighbor (Sigourney Weaver). Meanwhile, his daughter (Christina Ricci) begins exploring sex for herself with the neighbor’s two sons. With key parties and the Nixon

Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

Drama Rated PG-13

First-time screenwriter Zach Helm has crafted a clever ode to creative constipation on par with Charlie Kaufman’s Adaptation (to which Helm owes a great debt). Both movies play games with the ways writers back themselves into a corner and the ways they try to get out of it. The pawn here is Harold Crick (Will

Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)

Family Rated PG

One of the most distinct writing voices in children’s literature – the matter-of-fact morbidity of Snicket author Daniel Handler – remains delightfully intact in this witty adaptation, about a trio of orphans left in the sinister care of their uncle, Count Olaf (Jim Carrey, icky and inspired). Add sorrowful sets and smoky cinematography, and the

Libertine, The (2005)

Drama Rated R

One of those erotic dramas that actually works better as a video touting abstinence. The sex is that soulless, that dingy, that diseased. Based on the life of John Wilmot, an English earl renowned in the late 1600s for his satirical plays and salacious personal life, this even manages to make Johnny Depp look icky

Life or Something Like it (2002)

Drama Rated PG-13

What would you do if you only had a week to live? What would you do if you had to watch yet another movie based on that premise? The latter question is the more pertinent one when it comes to this half-baked drama. The movie is supposed to follow Seattle television reporter Lanie Kerrigan (Angelina

Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)

Drama Rated PG-13

Memoirs of a Geisha wants to be too pretty – with each frame designed for maximum visual appeal, the picture mistakes opulence for importance. It’s like a geisha who is all dressed up with no place to go. Arthur Golden’s 1997 book fleshed out exhaustive research with a Pretty Woman story arc, in which a

March of the Penguins (2005)

Documentary Rated G

Parental sacrifice takes many forms – I had trouble adjusting to Disney songs rather than, say, U2, as the soundtrack to a road trip – but few human endeavors can match what emperor penguins do for their chicks. This acutely observant documentary records the astonishing acts of commitment and endurance that these birds engage in

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)

Action/Adventure Rated R

Director Peter Weir and star Russell Crowe have tried to make Master ring true for seafaring buffs, especially fans of Patrick O’Brian’s series of historical novels. I don’t belong to either group, but I’d rather be immersed in the history and jargon such enthusiasts demand than sit through a mindless spectacle of which no one

Mexican, The (2001)

Romantic Comedy Rated R

Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts bring luster to this clever, slight story of a dippy mob gofer (Pitt) who’s sent to retrieve a cursed Mexican gun, much to the dismay of his nagging girlfriend (Roberts). This is a romantic comedy in a crime farce’s clothing (or maybe vice versa), but most importantly it’s fun –

Mission: Impossible II (2000)

Action/Adventure Rated PG-13

More of a fashion magazine photo spread than an action film, this sequel to 1996’s Mission: Impossible showcases some snazzy stunts courtesy of Hong Kong action director John Woo. But there’s no real vision here, aside from the slavish devotion to slow-motion shots of Tom Cruise’s perfectly coifed hair.