V for Vendetta (2006)

Action/Adventure Rated R

This politically charged adaptation of Alan Moore’s graphic novel takes place in an England in which a fascist government has exploited fears of terrorism to put an oppressive vise grip on the nation. Arbitrary imprisonment, military torture, civilian surveillance – it’s all here except for Cheney’s hunting accident. This is ultimately a pulpy parable, though,

Idlewild (2006)

Musical Rated R

“There hasn’t been a movie musical this impulsive, this risky, this impetuous since Moulin Rouge. Even when it falters, you’re still swept along by its sheer ambition – and the joy it takes in being ambitious.

Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004)

Comedy Rated PG-13

When Barbershop broke out as an unexpected hit in 2002, it was one of those rare movie successes with the defining trait of modesty. Modesty is an even rarer quality in sequels, but Barbershop 2 miraculously retains its predecessor’s unassuming air. As the movie once again follows the loud, passionate conversations in a South Side

Beerfest (2006)

Comedy Rated R

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Stepford Wives, The (1975)

Drama Rated PG

As unintentionally silly and heavy-handed as it often is, this feminist landmark ó based on Ira Levin’s novel ó still works because of the brilliance of its central, satirical metaphor: the housewife as automaton. Katharine Ross plays young mother and aspiring photographer Joanna Eberhart, who reluctantly moves to the suburban enclave of Stepford, where the

Top Hat (1935)

Musical Rated NR

It never really mattered what loopy plot was devised to get Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers together in their musicals – once they started dancing in each other’s arms, all contrivances fall to the wayside and you clearly see they were made for each other. Top Hat relies on especially flimsy contrivances, already recycling from

Illusionist, The (2006)

Drama Rated PG-13

Acting chameleon Edward Norton finally finds a color he can’t match, and it’s a surprisingly conventional hue: that of a tragic romantic lead. Norton plays a magician in 1900 Vienna who discovers his childhood love (Jessica Biel) is unhappily engaged to a sinister crown prince (Rufus Sewell). Norton should set the tone for this moody,

Barnyard (2006)

Family Rated PG

This is one long, computer-animated gag reel about farm animals who secretly act like humans. All of the jokes are obvious, some are funny and none are what you would call inspired. For every amusing gag – we finally find the source of that awful painting of dogs playing poker – there are a bunch

Saving Shiloh (2006)

Family Rated PG

The filmmakers behind Saving Shiloh, the third movie to be adapted from Phyllis Reynolds Naylor’s series of children’s novels, must think kids are a pretty slow lot, considering the way they repeatedly hammer home the moral of the story. The picture has more respect for the intelligence of the title dog than for its audience.

9 Songs (2004)

Drama Rated NR

9 Songs flits back and forth between concert footage of contemporary rock bands and explicit scenes of actors Kieran O’Brien and Margo Stilley – as a fictional couple named Matt and Lisa – having actual sex. It doesn’t take long for both elements to become incredibly boring. You might think some sort of arty, intellectual