Movies Listed Alphabetically: A | B | C | D | E-G | H-I | J-K | L | M | N-O | P-R | S | T | U-Z

"The Namesake" (Fox Searchlight)
Superb, beautifully acted over-the-years saga about Indian newlyweds (Tabu and Irrfan Khan) who emigrate to New York to start their life, and the joys and vicissitudes which follow, including the son (Kal Penn) who grows away from them. Director Mira Nair's adaptation of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri's acclaimed novel holds your interest right up to its two-hankie conclusion, and though there are a few uses of the "s" word, and some low-keyed bedroom scenes with brief rear nudity in one of them, this is highly recommendable for upper teens and up, for its poignant affirmation of family, respect for one's parents, and embracing one's heritage with pride. Partially subtitled. A few crude words, brief teenage drug use, brief sexual encounters -- a couple without nudity, one a premarital situation with rear nudity -- adultery, fleeting images of dead and injured after a train wreck. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Nanny McPhee" (Universal)
 Enjoyable tale of magical nanny (Emma Thompson) who comes to the aid of (seven) out-of-control children and their befuddled widower father (Colin Firth), a mortician, and the servant (Kelly MacDonald) who loves him from afar. Director Kirk Jones, working from a screenplay by Thompson based on the "Nurse Matilda" books, has derivative overtones of "Mary Poppins" and other children's fare, but the sweet story is touching, well acted by a solid British cast, including Angela Lansbury, Derek Jacobi and Imelda Staunton, and the almost fairy-tale ambience successfully sustained, with solid moral messages about the primacy of family and the inherent goodness of people. Some innuendo, mild bad language, rude humor, innocuous shots of cadavers and macabre childish pranks perhaps preclude viewing by the very youngest children. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II - adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" (Disney)
Exciting and well-crafted if less emotionally absorbing follow-up to 2005's "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe" has the Pevensie siblings (William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes and Georgie Henley) returning to Narnia to help the title character (Ben Barnes) stage a revolt against his evil uncle. The bellicose nature of the proceedings and uneven attempts by director and co-writer Andrew Adamson to inject humor and romance don't prevent this faithful adaptation of the second volume in C.S. Lewis' classic series from being salubrious entertainment. Battlefield violence and deadly hand-to-hand combat, an implied decapitation, a brawl involving schoolchildren, some intense scenes of child peril and several frightening sequences. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"National Lampoon's Gold Diggers" (Voyage Entertainment)
Atrociously unfunny comedy about two twenty-something numskulls (Will Friedle and Chris Owen) who scheme to wed a pair of elderly sisters (Louise Lasser and Renee Taylor), then kill them for their inheritance. What they don't realize is that the geriatric heiresses are actually broke and are only marrying the greedy gigolos so they can knock them off and collect on the life insurance. Full of vulgar sight gags, this witless and woefully directed clunker by Gary Preisler should be declared a "National" disaster. Recurring lewd sexual situations and humor, sporadic violence, drug content, as well as some crass language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"National Treasure" (Touchstone)
Unevenly entertaining action adventure about a fortune hunter (Nicolas Cage), who steals the Declaration of Independence, which he believes holds the key to unlocking a 200-year-old mystery surrounding a fabled treasure hidden by America's Founding Fathers. Combining Indiana Jones-inspired action sequences with "Da Vinci Code" intrigues involving secret societies like the Freemasons, director Jon Turteltaub has crafted a fun but forgettable popcorn film. Recurring action violence and some frightening images. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

"The Nativity Story" (New Line)
Dramatization of the New Testament birth narratives from the Annunciation to the birth of Jesus, focusing on the relationship between Mary (Keisha Castle-Hughes) and Joseph (Oscar Isaac) and their arduous trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem, with subplots tracking the journey of the three Magi and the efforts of King Herod (Ciaran Hinds) to prevent the prophecy of a messiah from coming to pass. A composite of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, embroidered with apocryphal traditions and the imagination of the filmmaker, the Bible story gets the prestige treatment in director Catherine Hardwicke's artful, reverent and affecting retelling, with soulful performances from an excellent international cast -- including Shohreh Aghdashloo as Elizabeth -- and impressive production design. Mike Rich's screenplay manages to flesh out Mary and Joseph while remaining faithful to Scripture, poignantly suggesting the humanity beneath the halos. Some violent images. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I --
general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Nearing Grace" (Whitewater)
 Melancholy coming-of-age drama set in 1979 about an 18-year-old (Gregory Smith) trying to cope after the recent death of his mother -- his despairing father (David Morse) numbs the pain with booze and his older brother (David Moscow) retreats into mind-altering drugs -- while torn between lust for a sexually aggressive high school seductress (Jordana Brewster) and his affections for his soul mate and best friend (Ashley Johnson). Director Rick Rosenthal's adaptation of Scott Sommer's novel touches on themes of love, loss and death, and, despite the amorality of its characters in navigating their brokenness and grief, ultimately endorses a deeper appreciation of life and others. Sexual situations, teen smoking and drinking, drug content, an attempted suicide, rear nudity, a vulgar gesture, an irreligious dispersal of ashes, as well as rough, crude and sexually blunt language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"New York Minute" (Warner Bros.)
Cotton-candy comedy about twin sisters (Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen) with polar opposite personalities -- one studious, the other a slacker -- who are sidelined on their way to an important scholarship competition and rock concert, respectively, and wind up being pursued around Manhattan by a bungling gangster (Andy Richter) and an overzealous truant officer (Eugene Levy). The frothy but forgettable fluff, directed by Dennie Gordon, keeps its screwball silliness sanitary while promoting a family-value message, that, compared to harder-edged teen fare, most parents would take in a New York minute. Some slight sibling issues and mild sensuality. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

"Next" (Paramount)
Taut, atmospheric thriller about a Las Vegas magician (Nicolas Cage), with the power of seeing into the near future, who flees both a hard-nosed FBI agent (Julianne Moore) who wants to use his precognitive power to detect where a nuclear weapon is about to be deployed, as well as the would-be perpetrators who want him killed, all the while trying to keep the young teacher (Jessica Biel) with whom he's in love out of harm's way. Director Lee Tamahori's adaptation of a Philip K. Dick sci-fi story requires some suspension of disbelief, but the likable leads, along with stylish design, special effects and cinematography are compelling with relatively little objectionable content. Action violence with shootings and killings, a premarital situation, some crude words and profanity, mild innuendo and a fistfight. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Night at the Museum" (Fox)
Lightweight but diverting comedy-fantasy about a perennial loser (Ben Stiller) who takes a job as night watchman at New York's Museum of Natural History only to learn that the dinosaur bones, stuffed animals, mummies and diorama characters (played by Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan and others) all come to life after closing time, leading him on a whirlwind adventure of slapstick and mayhem, and eventually allowing him to earn back the respect of his young son. Director Shawn Levy's film could be much funnier, but the effects are terrific, Stiller is appealing, and old-timers like Mickey Rooney, Dick Van Dyke, Bill Cobbs and Stiller's mom, Anne Meara, add to the fun of this entertaining family film. There is the standard, but always worthy, message about proving yourself. Light slapstick violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Nim's Island" (Fox/Walden)
Winning yarn set on a solitary South Pacific island where an 11-year-old girl (Abigail Breslin) e-mails a heroic adventurer for help when her widowed marine biologist father (Gerard Butler) fails to return from a two-day research expedition, not realizing that her hero is actually a highly phobic fiction writer (Jodie Foster in a rare comic turn) living in San Francisco. Directors Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett deftly combine the adventurous, humorous, sentimental and fantastical aspects of Wendy Orr's novel, and the three stars are engaging, making this recommendable family fare. Mild action violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.


"The Ninth Day" (Kino International)
Quietly compelling drama about a Catholic priest (Ulrich Matthes) temporarily released from a concentration camp and returned to his native Luxembourg, where a young SS officer (August Diehl) informs him that he has nine days to convince the staunchly anti-Nazi bishop to sign a letter supporting Hitler, leading to a battle of wills in which the priest must choose between survival and the dictates of his conscience. Loosely based on the prison diaries of real-life Luxembourg priest Father Jean Bernard, and intelligently directed by Jesuit-educated German filmmaker Volker Schlondorff, the picture is an emotionally forceful and morally complex meditation on faith, redemption and the cost of true discipleship. Subtitles. Several images of sadistic violence, including a crucifixion, as well as some crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Not Rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Noel" (Red Rose)
Life-affirming holiday drama about five people struggling with personal pain -- including a lonely, middle-aged divorcee (Susan Sarandon) taking care of her ailing mother and a hotheaded cop (Mike Walker) whose uncontrollable jealous fits have driven a wedge between him and his beautiful fiancee (Penelope Cruz) -- as their lives intersect and are forever changed on Christmas Eve. Director Chazz Palminteri manages to elicit good performances from his ensemble cast and strikes the right balance between the stories' sweet-and-sour elements. But the film, though falling short of its Capraesque pretensions, imparts an uplifting message about faith, forgiveness and finding the miraculous in our everyday lives. An implied sexual encounter, some sexual comments and a few crude expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

"No Reservations" (Warner Bros.)
Sweet story, adapted from the 2001 German film "Mostly Martha," now set in New York, about a work-obsessed master chef (Catherine Zeta-Jones) who takes in her orphaned 9-year-old niece (Abigail Breslin) and her subsequent rivalry with and then growing admiration for the restaurant's happy-go-lucky sous-chef (Aaron Eckhart) who helps open her up to life. Despite formulaic and overly sentimental moments, director Scott Hicks' excellent adaptation maintains a sensible tone, and allows the engaging story to unfold at an unhurried pace, while the performances are immensely appealing. Apart from a handful of expletives and crass expressions, including an instance of profanity and some remarks that imply the acceptability of premarital living arrangements, and one such implied encounter, the film may be acceptable for older adolescents. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Norbit" (DreamWorks)
Mild-mannered nebbish (a sweet Eddie Murphy), raised in the Golden Wonton Restaurant Orphanage by an eccentric-but-caring Asian man (also Murphy), is later browbeaten into marrying an abusive and monstrously large battleaxe (Murphy again), but reunites with his childhood sweetheart (Thandie Newton) who comes back to town engaged to an unscrupulous con artist (Cuba Gooding Jr.). Director Brian Robbins -- working from a script by co-written by Murphy -- keeps the fitfully amusing gags coming, and Murphy's versatility is undeniably impressive but the script often sags, and vulgarity is rampant. How much compensation one finds in the heart beneath the bawdiness will depend on a willingness to look beyond the flagged elements listed below that in less skillful hands would be even more offensive. Much low humor including some brief irreverence, crude language and expressions and some profanity, farcical adultery, brief rear male nudity, suggestive costuming, two "ex-pimp" characters, innuendo, some ethnic stereotyping. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Northfork" (Paramount Classics)
Surrealistic fairytale about a fictitious town in Montana slated to be flooded by the government in order to power a hydroelectric plant and the lives of its residents, including a state evacuation agent (James Woods), a young terminally ill boy (Duel Farnes), a country priest (Nick Nolte), and a quartet of angels (among them Daryl Hannah). Though lethargically paced and at times pretentiously opaque, Michael and Mark Polish's unique vision is a somber tapestry of hauntingly evocative visuals, skillfully woven together as an elegiac meditation on faith and death. Brief sensuality and some mild profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"The Notebook" (New Line)
Florid romance set in both present-day and 1940s' North Carolina about a vacationing prep school debutante (Rachel McAdams) and a local working-class boy (Ryan Gosling) whose passion echoes through the decades and has a healing effect on an aging couple (James Garner and Gena Rowlands) who read their star-crossed saga in a diary. Though cynics may write it off as mawkishly melodramatic, director Nick Cassavetes' old-fashioned tearjerker, based on a Nicholas Sparks novel, wears its heartfelt sentimentality like a badge of honor and proves ultimately to be a tender portrait of the miraculous power of love. A few sexual encounters with shadowy nudity and recurring profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Nowhere in Africa" (Zeitgeist)
Absorbing drama set in 1938 about a Jewish couple (Merab Ninidze and Juliane Kohler) and their young daughter (Lea Kurka) who are forced to flee their home in Germany and relocate to a remote farm in Kenya to escape Nazi persecution. Beautifully filmed, writer-director Caroline Link's period piece weaves together various events in the self-exiled family's lives as each character struggles with questions of identity, love and loyalty to each other and country. Subtitles. Some sexual encounters, an implied affair, fleeting nudity, a few disturbing moments and an instance of crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Ocean's Thirteen" (Warner Bros.)
After a convoluted European sojourn in "Ocean's Twelve," the third film in the stylish caper franchise returns to its entertaining if morally questionable Las Vegas roots as Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and company -- motivated by loyalty to their cohort Reuben (Elliott Gould) -- target an egotistical hotel mogul (Al Pacino). The buildup is more exciting than the payoff, but director Steven Soderbergh makes it easy to watch all the moving parts in this elaborate and of course improbable job. Some glorification of crime, crude language and profanity, sexual innuendo, one extended if nongraphic scene of sensuality. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Off the Map" (Holedigger)
Leisurely paced but ultimately affecting story (based on a play by Joan Ackermann) of the unconventional Groden family living in virtual isolation in New Mexico -- a husband (Sam Elliott) suffering from such depression he barely speaks; a mother (Joan Allen) who sometimes gardens in the nude; a precocious 11-year-old daughter (Valentina De Angelis) with a mind of her own; and the Internal Revenue Service agent (Jim True-Frost) who comes to see them about unpaid back taxes and who is so charmed by their bohemian lifestyle he decides to stay. Peculiar as the synopsis may sound, actor Campbell Scott's second solo directorial stint is actually a rather sweet story with a positive message about the value of family and love, and features solid performances all around, including that of J.K. Simmons as the husband's best friend. Fleeting, shadowy nudity, some crass language and brief sensuality. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"The Omen" (20th Century Fox)
Effective remake of the 1976 supernatural thriller about an American diplomat (Liev Schreiber) and his wife (Julia Stiles) whose adopted son (Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick) turns out to be the Antichrist. Slickly crafted and well-acted with a fair amount of suspense, director John Moore's virtual scene-by-scene update is a hodgepodge of Christian symbolism, biblical prophecies, nonscriptural inventions and occult mumbo jumbo, resulting in the sort of silly pop-religious junk food that should not be taken too seriously. Some disturbing scenes of violence, including an impaling, a decapitation, a dog mauling, a hanging suicide and a person getting hit by an automobile; a misrepresentation of Catholic doctrine; an instance of rough language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Once Upon a Time in Mexico" (Columbia)
Stylish third installment of the "Mariachi Trilogy" about a mysterious and nameless guitar-toting assassin (Antonio Banderas) who is forced out of hiding by a CIA operative (Johnny Depp) in order to thwart a drug lord's (Willem Dafoe) plot to kill the president of Mexico, and in exchange will be given the opportunity to exact vengeance on the man who murdered his wife and child. Despite its slickly choreographed carnage, director Robert Rodriguez follows the same pattern established in the earlier two films, resulting in a bloody revenge tale glamorizing violence and trivializing human life. Excessive gory violence, including profanely using a church as the setting for gunplay, brief partial frontal nudity and much rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Once Upon a Time in the Midlands" (Sony Classics)
Quirky melodrama about a timid garage owner (Rhys Ifans), who discovers that love is worth fighting for when his live-in girlfriend's former lover, a two-bit hood named Jimmy (Robert Carlyle), returns to reclaim her. Incorporating classic Western motifs into the film's British working-class setting, director Shane Meadows combines good performances with a sweet, at times trite, narrative, resulting in a modest but big-hearted tale about the fortifying power of love and the true meaning of family. Some slapstick violence and recurring rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"One Night With the King" (Gener8Xion Entertainment)
Biblical drama that tepidly recounts the Old Testament story of Esther (Tiffany DuPont), a devout Jewish maiden who becomes a queen when she is chosen as the bride of the powerful Persian King Xerxes (Luke Goss), and who uses her station to save her people from extermination by dissuading her husband from ordering the slaughter urged by a vengeful court adviser (James Callis). Based on Tommy Tenney's novel "Hadassah," the film has impressive production value and cameos by Oscar-pedigreed actors like Omar Sharif and Peter O'Toole, but it's handicapped by an inferior screenplay by Stephan Blinn -- which makes some changes to the story -- and awkward, if earnest, direction by Michael Sajbel. Still, the power of the tale's enduring theme of faithful witness in the face of persecution isn't completely diminished by the filmmaker's uninspired telling. Some discreet violence and sensuality and mature thematic elements. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Mot
ion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior" (Magnolia)
Above-average martial arts action movie set in Thailand about a local scrapper (Tony Jaa) -- trained in an ancient fighting system -- who volunteers to retrieve a sacred Buddha statue revered by the locals which was stolen from the village temple by a ruthless crime boss (Sukhaaw Phongwilai) looking to sell it on the black market. Director Prachya Pinkaew dresses up the film's generic chop-socky premise with hyperkinetic fight sequences -- as balletic as they are brutal and all done without special effects -- which show off the athleticism of Jaa, who combines the acrobatic daredeviling of Jackie Chan and the lethal limbs of Bruce Lee. Much strong action violence, drug content, an aborted sexual encounter, fleeting rear nudity and sporadic rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Opal Dream" (Strand)
Gently charming tale set in an Australian opal mining colony about an 8-year-old girl (Sapphire Boyce) heartsick over the disappearance of her two imaginary friends, the search for whom causes unintended consequences resulting in the locals turning against her father (Vince Colosimo), until the supportive efforts of her 11-year-old brother (Christian Byers) -- concerned about his sister's deteriorating emotional and physical condition -- win over the town. Director Peter Cattaneo's adaptation of the Ben Rice novel "Pobby and Dingan" celebrates themes of family, community and the value of childlike faith in a way that's genuinely sweet while avoiding excess sentimentality, with tender performances by Boyce and Byers. A lovely little film. Brief violence, some crude expressions and a fleeting instance of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not
be suitable for children.


"Open Range" (Touchstone)
Well-crafted western about a pair of cowboys (Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall) who must stand up to a ruthless rancher looking to run them out of town. While walking a fine line in its treatment of justice versus revenge and saddled with moments of heavy-handed melodrama, Costner, who wore a director's cap under his Stetson, effectively captures the big sky grandeur and mythic romance of the Old West at its sunset. Recurring gunplay, including a violently jarring image and minimal vulgar language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Open Water" (Lions Gate)
Hair-raising deep-sea thriller about a career-consumed couple (Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis) whose island vacation turns into a fight for survival when a mix-up during a scuba-diving excursion leaves them stranded in the middle of the ocean in shark-infested waters. Inspired by true events and made on a shoestring budget by the husband-and-wife team of Chris Kentis and Laura Lau, the movie follows a simple formula for primal-fear success: Take two actors, put them in the water with real sharks and, voila, you have one of the most truly terrifying films in years. Sustained suspense, brief frontal nudity, and scattered rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"The Order" (20th Century Fox)
Problematic supernatural thriller about a maverick Catholic priest (Heath Ledger), who, while investigating his spiritual mentor's alleged suicide, travels to Rome in order to hunt down the sole remaining practitioner of an arcane medieval ritual known as "sin eating," a rite by which a person can receive absolution without recourse to sacramental confession. Wrapped in a convoluted story, the film, directed by Brian Helgeland, is full of egregious theological distortions and bogus stereotypes targeted at painting the church and its clergy as callous, corrupt and ultimately the root of all evil. A warped view of church doctrine, a shadowy sexual encounter with partial nudity, a suicide, recurring violence including ritual murder, and sporadic rough and crude language, as well as profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"The Other Boleyn Girl" (Columbia/Focus)
Fresh telling of the oft-dramatized liaison of Anne Boleyn (Natalie Portman) and King Henry VIII (Eric Bana), including the monarch's break with the Catholic Church so he could divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon (Ana Torrent), with an emphasis on Anne's younger sister, Mary (Scarlett Johansson), who was the first Boleyn to win the monarch's favor. This adaptation of Philippa Gregory's best-seller from director Justin Chadwick keeps the story admirably intimate, and features surprisingly authentic performances by its non-British leads with predictably solid supporting work from Kristin Scott Thomas, David Morrissey and Mark Rylance. Royal bedroom intrigue with nongraphic sexual encounters including a rape, incest reference, adultery, divorce, light sexual banter and innuendo, and discreetly filmed beheadings. Acceptable for older teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Owning Mahowny" (Sony Classics)
Cautionary tale, based on actual events, about a mild-mannered Canadian bank executive (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who embezzles company cash to fuel his out-of-control gambling habits. Director Richard Kwietniowski scores big with this well-crafted character study of one man's self-destructive, downward spiral of addiction. Sporadic rough language and vulgarities as well as fleeting nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.