"Bad Education" (Sony Classics)
Triangular drama set in Spain about a young, gay filmmaker (Fele Martinez) who, after encountering a former classmate (Gael Garcia Bernal) -- now a struggling actor -- whom he had once been enamored with, decides to make a movie about their youthful experiences as students at a strict, all-boys Catholic boarding school, in particular the pederast predations by their headmaster, a priest (Daniel Gimenez-Cacho). Stylishly directed by Pedro Almodovar, the movie's plot takes classic film-noir conventions and gives them a homoerotic twist. In touching on the hot-button issue of sexual abuse by the clergy, Almodovar paints an unflattering -- and unbalanced -- picture of Catholic priests; however, his primary motive seems to have been to use the crimes as a catalyst for the story rather than as a weapon to target the church in general for condemnation. Subtitles. Several intense homosexual encounters, implied pedophilia, murder without consequence, recurring drug content, transvestism, a scene of two boys masturbating, brief nudity, fleeting violence, instances of irreverent humor and frequent rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Bad News Bears" (Paramount)
Bawdy, albeit entertaining, remake of the 1976 kiddie sports comedy about a boozing ex-big leaguer (Billy Bob Thornton in the Walter Matthau role) hired to coach a bungling team of Little League misfits and ends up turning their season and his own life around. Directed by Richard Linklater, the new version follows the original's coarsely sardonic lead, and, though ultimately redemptive, strikes out as recommendable family fare. Pervasive crude language and humor, as well as profanity by adults and children, drunkenness, some ethnic insensitivity, delinquent behavior, an implied sexual encounter and some risque situations. 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 PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Bad Santa" (Dimension)
Abrasive black comedy about a self-loathing safecracker (Billy Bob Thornton) who, along with his dwarf accomplice (Tony Cox), poses as a department store Santa to rob shopping malls of their holiday loot -- that is, until a friendless overweight boy (Brett Kelly) stirs his booze-soaked conscience. Director Terry Zwigoff should expect coal in his stocking for assaulting viewers with a nonstop barrage of obscenities and vulgar raunchiness which leave Santa's red suit soiled -- in more ways than one. By taking the "merry" out of Christmas and portraying its sleazy St. Nick stand-in as a foul-mouthed, drunken, chain-smoking, suicidal sexual predator, the film undermines its tacked-on redemptive message. Excessive rough and crude language and profanity, recurring lewd sexual encounters, much crass humor, pervasive alcohol abuse, an attempted suicide and some violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"The Ballad of Jack and Rose" (IFC)
Offbeat, slow-moving film about a nonconformist with a bad heart condition (Daniel Day-Lewis) who lives alone with his teenage daughter (Camilla Belle) on a former island commune "off the East Coast of the United States," but then brings the woman he has been dating into the house (Catherine Keener), along with the woman's two teenage sons, disrupting the delicate balance of their solitary lifestyle, all the while fending off the encroachments of a real estate developer (Beau Bridges). Written and directed by Rebecca (daughter of late playwright Arthur) Miller, the disjointed film features an accomplished performance by her real-life husband, the always watchable Day-Lewis, and Miller has created an atmospheric backdrop for her strange tale, but the vaguely incestuous undertones between father and daughter and a scene where the daughter invites one of the boys to deflower her make for fitfully distasteful viewing. Some rough and crude language, sexual situations and innuendo, a brief incestuous kiss, some talk of suicide, partial nudity, some drug material. 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.

"Balls of Fury" (Rogue)
Exhausting comedy about a washed-up pingpong prodigy (Dan Fogler) who is asked by an FBI agent (George Lopez) to help catch a mysterious crime lord (Christopher Walken). Along the way the former champ turns to a blind pingpong master (James Hong) to regain his skills, falls in love with the master's daughter (Maggie Q) and eventually must play in a tournament with life-or-death stakes. Frequently crude and always preposterous, director and co-writer Ben Garant's film has some flashes of originality and gets in a few good satiric swipes, even as it revels in its own silliness. Much crude language, one instance of profanity, suggestive gestures, gross and scatological jokes, and mild gay-themed humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults (though it's acceptable for older adolescents). The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"The Barbarian Invasions" (Miramax)
Morally hollow drama about an estranged son (Stephane Rousseau) who returns home to Quebec in order to visit his ailing father (Remy Gerard), an unrepentant womanizer dying of cancer, and, in trying to brighten up his final days, organizes a reunion of his father's highbrow hedonistic friends and former mistresses. In this sequel to his 1987 film "Decline of the American Empire," director Denis Arcand revisits familiar themes of sex, love and politics among aging baby boomers, which, while purporting to celebrate la dolce vita, actually presents a depressing nihilistic view of life and interpersonal relationships. Subtitles. A cavalier attitude toward promiscuity and adultery, a condoning depiction of assisted suicide, much sexually explicit language and humor, some rough language and profanity, as well as recurring drug abuse. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Barbershop 2: Back In Business" (MGM)
Raucous and irreverent sequel which finds the owner (Ice Cube) of the titular storefront being squeezed by a slick businessman (Harry Lennix) bent on putting him out of business by opening a trendy super-salon directly across the street. Director Kevin Rodney Sullivan maintains the politically incorrect tone of the original, but if you listen carefully, you can hear a positive message about the importance of community, beneath the shouts and coarse comments of the colorful, though endearing, neighborhood characters (including Cedric the Entertainer). An implied sexual encounter, fleeting drug content, brief violence, and recurring crude language and humor, as well as 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.

"The Battle of Shaker Heights" (Miramax)
Flat coming-of-age dramedy about a high-school WWII buff (Shia LaBeouf) who finds himself emotionally flanked by a strained relationship with his ex-junkie father (William Sadler) and an epic teen-age crush for a friend's older, soon-to-be-wed sister (Amy Smart). Though imparting a sketchy message about family and forgiveness, the movie, which awkwardly hedges drama and comedy, suffers from directors Kyle Rankin and Efram Potelle's inability to channel a profusion of subplots into an emotionally engaging story. Minimal crude language, battlefield re-enactments and some drug references. 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.

"Bee Movie" (DreamWorks)
Generally delightful animated feature about a scrappy bee (voice of Jerry Seinfeld) who decides to sue the human race for stealing the honey manufactured by his hard-working bee brethren and brings the case to court, with the help of a sympathetic florist (Renee Zellweger). An often very funny script (by Seinfeld and others), terrific voice work from a cast including John Goodman, Chris Rock, Kathy Bates, and many more, and ultimately, a valuable ecological lesson, make this film -- directed by Simon J. Smith and Steve Hickner -- above-average family fare. Mild innuendo. 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.

"Be Cool" (MGM)
Flat follow-up to the 1994 comedy "Get Shorty" in which mobster-turned-movie producer Chili Palmer (John Travolta) -- having grown disenchanted with the film industry -- sets his streetwise sights on the music business, and agrees to manage a promising young singer (Christina Milian) who is tied in with shady record producers (Harvey Keitel and Vince Vaughn). Based on the Elmore Leonard novel and directed by F. Gary Gray, the stale sequel lacks the sharpness and satirical edge of the far superior "Shorty," resulting in a film that, despite a charismatic, if retread, performance by Travolta, is contrary to its title only lukewarm. The movie contains recurring violence, an implied sexual encounter, images of smoking, drug content, some vulgar gestures, and much rough and crude language and humor. 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 PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Be Kind Rewind" (New Line/Partizan)
Zany, warmhearted comedy about a New Jersey video store worker (Mos Def) who comes up with a scheme to create amateur video versions of classic films when his bungling friend (Jack Black) accidentally erases all the tapes after the manager (Danny Glover) leaves town to investigate saving the building from demolition. Despite its intentionally rough-hewn, indie ambience, a wildly improbable plotline, and too much low-comedy schtick, writer-director Michel Gondry's valentine to filmmaking ultimately delivers a touching story of friendship, with a strong affirmation of community and good fellowship, as the townspeople rally to the aid of the threatened business. Some vulgar humor, brief sexual references and mild comic violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Beauty Shop" (MGM)
Amiable comedy about a widowed mother (Queen Latifah) working as a hairdresser who, after a falling-out with the shop's owner, flamboyant Jorge (scene-stealing Kevin Bacon), opens her own establishment in the ghetto and, thanks to her styling prowess and warm-hearted people skills, overcomes myriad obstacles to succeed. Bille Woodruff's engaging film is a perfect showcase for the likable Latifah, the eclectic ensemble cast (including Alfre Woodard, Alicia Silverstone, Djimon Hounsou and Andie MacDowell) makes for interesting watching, and despite some salty street language and salon sex chatter the movie imparts solid messages about loyalty, friendship, and parenting. Some profanity, crude language and crass expressions, sexual innuendo and suggestive dancing. 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.

"Because I Said So" (Universal/Gold Circle)
Mediocre and unfunny comedy about an overbearing mother (Diane Keaton) who tries to match up her single daughter (Mandy Moore) with a shallow architect (Tom Everett Scott), while the daughter is more sensibly drawn to a decent single father (Gabriel Macht), but nonetheless engages in a sexual relationship with both. Director Michael Lehmann's appalling chick flick pushes the contemporary acceptance of premarital sex to new lows, as the permissive Keaton character and her three daughters blithely discuss their sexual experiences at every opportunity. Keaton's comic prowess, appealing performances from Moore, Macht and Stephen Collins, the absence of graphic sex, minimal expletives, and a reasonably moral tie-up fail to balance a script that is morally -- and dramatically -- askew at every turn. Several nongraphic sexual encounters, permissive sexual mores, much sexual banter, innuendo and other questionable elements, casual acceptance of porn and an instance of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Because of Winn-Dixie" (20th Century Fox)
A lonely girl in a new town befriends a stray dog, the ramifications bring the town’s outcasts together in this wonderful family film. After her preacher father (Jeff Daniels) moves them to Naomi, Fla., Opal (AnnaSophia Robb) and her new canine friend explore the town, befriending shy pet store worker Otis (musician Dave Matthews), reclusive recovering alcoholic Gloria Dump (Cicely Tyson), and lonely librarian Miss Franny (Eva Marie Saint). There are plenty of cutesy moments for the kids, but adults will also be touched by the messages of forgiveness, friendship and letting go of painful pasts. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. (Bill Howard)

Becoming Jane" (Miramax)
Interesting speculative drama, based on only a few known facts, about the bittersweet romance between writer Jane Austen (Anne Hathaway) and an Irish lawyer (James McAvoy), and how the experience might have influenced her writings. Julian Jarrold directs with an authentic 18th-century feel, performances are good (with American Hathaway holding her own reasonably well among such British acting pros as Maggie Smith, Julie Walters and Ian Richardson) and though the film is somehow not entirely satisfying it nonetheless holds your interest up to its bittersweet ending. Though possibly acceptable for older teens, this film contains a couple of boxing sequences, a frisky but nongraphic husband and wife encounter, some prostitutes, an implied premarital encounter, mild innuendo and brief sexual allusions. 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.

"Being Julia" (Sony Classics)
A few bright spots in an otherwise tedious adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's novel, "Theatre," about a larger-than-life English stage actress (Annette Bening) who has an open marriage with her producer husband (Jeremy Irons), and takes up with an earnest young American accountant (Shaun Evans) in her husband's employ. Hungarian director Istvan Szabo is no stranger to period drama, having succeeded brilliantly with films like "Mephisto" and "Sunshine," but was perhaps the wrong choice for a film that doesn't quite ring true in its depiction of the 1938 period or very English locale (it was shot mainly in Budapest). Nor is American Bening completely convincing either, in spite of some effective moments. Evans as the young man is far too contemporary in his demeanor, though otherwise the blue chip cast -- including Juliet Stevenson, Bruce Greenwood, Michael Gambon, Rosemary Harris and Rita Tushingham -- is fine. A few instances of crude language, casual depiction of extramarital sex and an instance of rear nudity. 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.

"Bend It Like Beckham" (Fox Searchlight)
Spirited cross-cultural comedy in which an Anglo-Indian girl (Parminder Nagra) plays on an amateur girls' soccer team and finds herself drawn to its young Irish coach (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) despite the strong objections her traditional Sikh parents. Director Gurinder Chadha's winning coming-of-age tale treats its characters with appealing generosity while saluting themes of family, friendship, tolerance and teamwork. A discreet sexual situation and references, fleeting drunkenness, minimal profanity and a crass expression. 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.

"Benji Off the Leash!" (Mulberry Square)
Family-friendly drama which finds the eponymous mutt teaming up with a shaggy stray and a young boy (Nick Whitaker) to save an ailing dog from a squalid backyard puppy mill run by a greedy breeder (Chris Kendrick). As directed by "Benji" creator Joe Camp, neither the film's heartwarming message nor its adorably scruffy stars can hide the doggone awful script and acting -- four-legged performers excluded. Some mildly crude expressions, implied spousal abuse and images of animal cruelty. 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.

"Bewitched" (Columbia)
Amiable retread of the 1960s sitcom, as a washed-up movie actor (Will Ferrell) decides to revive the series (and his career), casting an unknown (Nicole Kidman) to play his wife, not realizing she's an actual witch, leading to romantic complications. Writer-director Nora Ephron's comedy is more pleasantly amusing than outright hilarious, but the mercurial Kidman is a total delight, Ferrell has some bright moments, and there are felicitous turns by Michael Caine, Shirley MacLaine and Carole Shelley, as well as a positive message about honesty and friendship. Some crude expressions, sexual humor and innuendo, cartoonish witchcraft elements and partial blurred nudity make this best for adults and perhaps older adolescents. 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.

"Beyond Borders" (Paramount)
Hollow melodrama about a sheltered American (Angelina Jolie) living in London with her socialite husband (Linus Roache), who has her eyes opened to the suffering of the wider world when she becomes romantically involved with a renegade doctor (Clive Owen) passionately committed to relief efforts in war-torn countries. Despite the sincerity of its humanitarian message, the film, directed by Martin Campbell, suffers from severe narrative malnutrition with characters less fleshed out than the famine victims they champion, and a story that seesaws awkwardly between a globetrotting soap-opera romance and a UNICEF travelogue. Some war violence, several disturbing images of famine and disease-ravaged victims, an implied sexual encounter, recurring rough and crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Beyond the Gates" (IFC)
Gripping dramatization about the 1994 siege of a Rwandan secondary school at the height of the genocide, as a dedicated Catholic priest (John Hurt) and an idealistic young British teacher (Hugh Dancy) -- both fictional characters -- attempt to protect some 2,500 Tutsi citizens from the machete-wielding Hutus hovering just outside the school gates. Director Michael Caton-Jones has filmed this powerful film at the actual locations of the horrific events with survivors among the cast and crew. This important film is acceptable for mature teens. Much disturbing if discreetly handled violence, description of atrocities, images of dead and wounded, some rough language and mild profanity uttered under duress, a childbirth scene. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Beyond the Sea" (Lions Gate)
Entertaining -- if dramatically uneven -- biopic about Bobby Darin (Kevin Spacey, who also directed) which traces the singer's life from sickly child in the Bronx, where his bout with rheumatic fever had doctors predicting he wouldn't make it to his 15th birthday, through his early rise to fame, marriage to actress Sandra Dee, and triumphs in nightclubs, film and recording. He did all this while racing the clock with a bad heart, a condition that would fell him at the young age of 36, and coping with a devastating revelation about his parentage. Spacey's singing of the Darin hits is phenomenally good, and even if he looks a mite mature for the role, he pulls it off, and though the flashback framing device is initially awkward, once the story gets going the film is absorbing with several touching scenes. Some rough and profane language and one nonexplicit sexual encounter. 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 Big Bounce" (Warner Bros.)
Insipid caper comedy about a petty thief (Owen Wilson) who is lured by a well-connected judge (Morgan Freeman) and a sultry island seductress (Sara Foster) into robbing a wealthy Hawaiian real estate developer, but his payday turns sour when the scam leads to double-crossings and murder. The film is based on a pulp crime novel by Elmore Leonard and directed by George Armitage; pretty scenery is about all this black comedy has going for it, thanks to a script shakier than a hula-dancer's hips, flat-line performances that not even Leonard's sharp dialogue can resuscitate and a disconcerting assertion that crime not only pays, but pays quite well. A few sexual encounters with partial nudity, a casual attitude toward murder and larceny, an implied homosexual situation, recurring violence, some crude humor and language, as well as racial slurs. 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 PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Big Fish" (Columbia)
Enchanting fable about an estranged son (Billy Crudup) who returns home to reconnect with his dying father (Albert Finney), a compulsive storyteller, and discovers that the tall tales he was told as a youngster hold the key to unlocking his father's elusive past. Blending fantasy and reality, director Tim Burton's delightful fish story is sure to reel viewers in by suggesting that life is not a problem to be solved but an adventure and a mystery to be embraced with a childlike sense of wonder. Brief violence, an instance of rear nudity and minimal mildly crude humor and language. 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.

"Birth" (New Line)
Unconventional love story about a New York widow (Nicole Kidman) who comes to believe that her dead husband has been reincarnated as a 10-year-old boy (Cameron Bright), much to the dismay of her new fiance (Danny Huston). Director Jonathan Glazer has crafted an elegiac meditation on love, loss and mortality, buttressed by exceptional performances from the assembled ensemble, hauntingly evocative visuals and a disquietingly plaintive score, but the film contains several controversial scenes between Kidman and Bright -- including one in a bathtub -- that many viewers may find extremely troubling. Suggestive situations involving an adult and a minor, and an explicit sexual encounter between adults with nudity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Blades of Glory" (Paramount/DreamWorks)
Fitfully amusing buddy comedy about rival skating champions -- a macho ladies' man (Will Ferrell) and a former child prodigy (Jon Heder) -- banned from the world championships after fighting on the ice, who reluctantly become a team when they learn it's the only way they'll be allowed back to compete, while a jealous brother-sister act (Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) attempt to sabotage the duo. Will Speck and Josh Gordon direct the sophomoric proceedings capably, the skating stunts are well handled, the leads are well paired, and there are apt satirical barbs at the skating industry. The pervasive low humor and vulgarity preclude the younger viewers who would most appreciate the humor, even as predictable affirmations of friendship and good sportsmanship eventually prevail. Crude language, crass expressions, mild profanity, a couple of brief nongraphic sexual encounters, innuendo, comic violence and mayhem, including a decapitation, brief comic suggestion of incest and drug use. 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.

"Blade: Trinity" (New Line)
Violent and vacuous fantasy action sequel, based on the titular Marvel Comics' character, a brooding half-mortal, half-vampire slayer (Wesley Snipes), who in this third go-round must join forces with a team of vampire-hunters (Jessica Biel and Ryan Reynolds) and battle an army of bloodsuckers (led by Parker Posey) bent on resurrecting the granddaddy of all undead, Dracula (Dominic Purcell) -- here re-imagined as an ancient Sumerian demon -- to spawn a vampiric master race. Directed by David S. Goyer, this bloodfest dishes out the same tedious gore and cheesy dialogue as the first two installments, and hopefully this one will drive a stake through any future films in this forgettable franchise. Excessive violence, much profanity and rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi"(Miramax)
Stylish but gory revenge tale set in 19th-century Japan about a wandering, blind blade-master (Beat Takeshi) who uses his lethal sword skills to rid a small farming village of a gang of ruthless bandits. Incorporating cross-genre elements as diverse as vaudevillian slapstick and hip-hop dance, Takeshi -- who also wrote and directed the film under the name Takeshi Kitano -- gives the classic samurai tale a jazzy makeover, which, though chock full of blood-splattered swordfights, is not without moments of beauty, emotion and humor. Stylized action violence with associated gore, brief suggestion of child prostitution, a suicide, cross-dressing references and some crude language and humor. Subtitles. 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.

"Blood and Chocolate" (MGM)
Disposable tale about an American comic book artist (Hugh Dancy) researching folklore in Romania where he romances an alluring expatriate chocolatier (Agnes Bruckner) who turns out to be a werewolf, provoking the ire of her shape-shifting clan, especially her insolent cousin (Bryan Dick) and the feral leader of the pack (Olivier Martinez) to whom she is promised. While relatively restrained in terms of sex and violence, director Katja von Garnier's film doesn't work as a love story or a thriller, and despite its nocturnal Bucharest backdrop and some modestly stylish sequences the overall effect is bland. Some violence, a few bloody images, erotically suggestive dancing, fleeting glimpse of a nude photograph, drug references and sexual innuendo, as well as sporadic mildly crude language and profanity. 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.

"Blood Diamond" (Warner Bros.)
Compelling action-adventure set in Africa's Sierra Leone as a mercenary (a superb Leonardo DiCaprio), a crusading U.S. reporter (Jennifer Connelly) and a frantic African fisherman (Djimon Hounsou) who's been separated from his family join forces against a backdrop of bloody civil war and plundering of the country's natural resources. Director Edward Zwick masterfully balances the action sequences with the more intimate ones. The film, though overly long, delivers on entertainment value, while imparting a worthy message about the immoral origin of conflict diamonds and the exploitation of child soldiers, and delivers a strong affirmation of family, while the DiCaprio-Connelly romance is refreshingly devoid of overt sexual elements. Much violence and bloodshed though admirably restrained in its presentation, murder, rough language and profanity, crude expressions, threat of rape, underage drinking and smoking. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Blue Car" (Miramax)
Emotionally complex drama about a gifted high school student (Agnes Bruckner) who becomes involved in an increasingly problematic relationship with her poetry teacher (David Strathairn). Directed by Karen Moncrieff, the textured narrative, echoing Nabokov's "Lolita" and buttressed by strong performances, explores people's hunger for authentic love and its unavoidable obstruction by the frailties of human nature. A sexual encounter and recurring rough language and vulgarities. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-IV -- adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Bollywood/Hollywood" (Magnolia)
Strained tale of a westernized Indian Canadian (Rahul Khanna) under pressure to present a traditional Indian woman as his fiancee so he hires someone he believes is Spanish (Lisa Ray) to pass as Indian, with budding romance complicating matters. Writer-director Deepa Mehta colorfully satirizes Bollywood-genre films but stereotypical characters, some hammy acting and bogus melodrama undercut any intended humor and charm. Musical numbers in Hindi. An implied affair, fleeting strip-club shot of pole dancers and some 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.

"Bonhoeffer" (First Run)
Compelling documentary about the conflicted life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the courageous Lutheran theologian executed by the Nazis for his involvement in plots to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Interlacing archival footage and personal photos with interviews of surviving family and former students, filmmaker Martin Doblmeier's textured portrait of the martyred churchman speaks eloquently of one man's heroic witness in standing up to unspeakable evil. Some emotionally disturbing content. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Boogeyman" (Screen Gems)
Hokey horror flick about a young man (Barry Watson) who has been haunted all his by memories of a traumatic incident he "witnessed" in his bedroom as a boy -- he is convinced the eponymous evil specter snatched his father -- and who is advised by his psychologist that in order to salvage his sanity, he must prove that the fearful episode was nothing more than a figment of his troubled imagination by spending a night alone in his creepy childhood home. Though not without some mild suspense and popcorn-tossing jolts, the movie, directed by Stephen Kay, is a muddled mess of failed frights, horror-movie cliches and backend-heavy special effects pieced together by a mostly incoherent script. Several sequences of menace, which involve horror-style violence as well as some sexually suggestive scenes, one which contains partial nudity. 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.

"Borat! Cultural Learning of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" (20th Century Fox)
Juvenile mock documentary about a clueless journalist (Sacha Baron Cohen) from Kazakhstan who travels to the United States to report on the American way of life and embarks on a cross-country odyssey to meet actress Pamela Anderson with whom he becomes infatuated after seeing her on television. Some of the outrageous pranks -- many involving real people not in on the joke -- are, admittedly, funny, but mostly the film wallows in vulgarity, with Cohen and director Larry Charles more often going for shock laughs over wit in satirizing American culture and politics. Pervasive coarse sexual and scatological humor, crass sight gags, masturbation, nudity, some irreverent remarks, and excessive rough and crude language, as well as some ethnic stereotypes. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Bourne Supremacy" (Universal)
Frenetic follow-up to "The Bourne Identity," about Jason Bourne the CIA amnesiac assassin (Matt Damon), pursued around Europe by CIA operatives and a Russian hit man, while struggling with disturbing memories of a violent incident in which he may have played a part. Fine performances by Damon and a supporting cast including Joan Allen and Brian Cox, though extremely fast editing and episodic storytelling take this a couple of notches below the excellence of the first film. Scenes of intense action violence and a brief instance of crude language. 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 Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal)
This lightning-paced, globe-trotting follow-up to "The Bourne Identity" and "The Bourne Supremacy" wraps up Bourne's (Matt Damon) quest to discover his true name and history even as CIA project head (David Strathairn) orders his immediate termination, but is continually stymied by Bourne's lethal skills at evasion and unexpected help from female CIA operatives (Joan Allen and Julia Stiles). Director Paul Greengrass orchestrates sustained and eye-popping action-excitement throughout while a top-notch cast (including a climactic appearance by Albert Finney) manages to flesh out their characters, resulting in a satisfying if somewhat exhausting thriller. Much intense and fierce violence and intermittent profanity. 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.

"Boy A" (Weinstein)
Achingly sad and touching story of a sensitive young man (stunning work by Andrew Garfield) -- released from prison after 14 years for a dreadful crime in which he took part as a child -- who, with the help of a concerned caseworker (Peter Mullan), tries to start anew with an assumed name working at a delivery company where he bonds with one co-worker (Shaun Evans) and falls in love with another (Katie Lyons). Director John Crowley's adaptation of John Trigell's novel is bleak, heart-wrenching, morally complex and thought-provoking in its themes of forgiveness, redemption, the negative influence of the media and the human tendency to judge without knowing the facts. Rough language and profanity, crude expressions, nongraphic sexual situations and frank discussion, fleeting upper female nudity, bodily violence, off-screen murder, suicide and brief drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Brave One" (Warner Bros.)
Finely wrought but ultimately troubling tale of a radio personality (Jodie Foster) who gradually becomes a vigilante after her fiance (Naveen Andrews) is killed and she herself grievously wounded in an attack in New York's Central Park, and of her complex relationship with a police detective (Terrence Howard) who is determined to hunt down the vigilante. An unsettling meditation on the effects of fear -- and of its absence -- director Neil Jordan's film has virtually every element of a great work of art -- except, ultimately, a steadfast commitment to humane values. Brutal violence with blood and gore, some graphic sexual activity, rear and upper female nudity, outbursts of extremely rough language, and frequent crude and crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Bratz" (Lionsgate)
The sleazily dressed Bratz line of fashion dolls come to life in a fluffy, live-action movie about four empowered Southern California high-schoolers who are good to their parents and classmates, do well in school, follow their dreams, and stand up to the rigid and authority-abusing student body president, all while dressed like professional escorts or trashy music-video girls. Director Sean McNamara swerves from naturalistic drama to cartoon antics, and for all the girls' good works and admirable camaraderie, the Bratz (as they name their singing-dancing girl group) are insufferably self-satisfied hyperconsumers. Much tight and skimpy costuming, two brawls and two instances of crude physical humor. 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.

"Breach" (Universal)
Interesting though, by its nature, downbeat dramatization about the case of FBI agent Robert Hanssen (a compelling Chris Cooper) who was revealed to be a spy for the Russians, called the worst breach in the history of U.S. intelligence, and how he was entrapped by young undercover agent Eric O'Neill (Ryan Phillippe), assigned to work with him. Writer-director Billy Ray's gray-toned film is deliberately paced, but ultimately delivers on suspense. There is secondary interest for Catholic viewers in Hanssen's commitment to Catholicism, though given the unsavory aspects of his personality (not only treasonous, but an alleged sexual deviant as well), the connection is more unfortunate than not. Candid discussion of sexual matters, some crude language and profanity, a brief image of a pornographic video, domestic discord and mild violence. 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.

"Breakin' All the Rules" (Screen Gems)
Lukewarm romantic comedy about a magazine executive (Jamie Foxx) who writes a best-selling guide to breaking up after getting dumped by his fiancee, only to wind up in an awkward affair with his cousin's (Morris Chestnut) girlfriend (Gabrielle Union). Fueled by moldy mistaken-identity plot twists, the formulaic farce directed by Daniel Taplitz offers a mixed-bag message which, while espousing commitment, places little value on chastity. A recreational view of sex, several implied sexual encounters, recurring crude language and humor. 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.

"Bride & Prejudice" (Miramax)
Daffy, but likable, updated subversion of "Pride & Prejudice" -- with leading man Darcy (Martin Henderson) now an American hotel magnate, and the Bennet girls now the Bakshis, a genteel lower middle-class Indian clan -- but most of the Jane Austen plot elements are more or less intact, including the duplicitous Wickham (Daniel Gillies). Gurinder ("Bend it Like Beckham") Chadha's retread is also a garish musical in the Bollywood tradition, and though much of it is -- intentionally -- way over the top, the central romance between Darcy and the beautiful Lalita (Austen's "Elizabeth") (Aishwarya Rai) comes through appealingly. Some off-color remarks, a fistfight, provocative dancing, and some thematic material make this best for older adolescents on up. 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.

"Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" (Universal)
Retread sequel to 2001's "Bridget Jones' Diary," which finds the plump, romantically challenged Brit once again navigating a minefield of jealousies and insecurities, while waffling between sincere affection for her dashing but strait-laced lawyer boyfriend (Colin Firth) and the temptation of her caddish ex-boss and former lover (Hugh Grant). It may be a new diary entry for Bridget but, as directed by Beeban Kidron, the story pretty much feels recycled from the first go-round, though Zellweger, Firth and Grant are at the top of their game. Several implied sexual encounters, a lesbian subplot, as well as an instance of rough language and recurring crude sexual language and humor. 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.

"Bridge to Terabithia" (Disney) 
Coming-of-age fantasy based on Katherine Paterson's children's novel about a young loner (Josh Hutcherson) who befriends a new girl in school (AnnaSophia Robb), who's also an outcast, and together they create a magical world -- Terabithia -- where they can escape their real-life troubles. The young leads are charming and the sweet story gently imparts worthy messages about friendship, family and the power of imagination, but director Gabor Csupo's faithful adaptation is a bit underwhelming, as the anticipated fantastical elements are minimal. Still, despite a plot twist that may upset sensitive young children, the movie is family-friendly. Mature thematic elements, including the death of a child, some minor peril and a few mildly crude language. 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.


"Bright Young Things" (ThinkFilm)
Overly frenetic but generally successful adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's "Vile Bodies," a morality tale about hedonistic Jazz Age sophisticates who party their lives away in wild abandon until they're caught short by reality. Actor-writer Stephen Fry, making his directorial debut, shows an overfondness for rapid camera pans, and lays on the Twenties soundtrack pretty heavily, but he elicits fine performances from a stellar cast, and as the story takes a serious turn the film slows down to a thoughtful pace as well. Recreational drug and alcohol use, implied promiscuity, generalized decadence, amoral behavior and a suicide. 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.

"Broken Flowers" (Focus)
 World-weary womanizer (Bill Murray), deserted by his latest amour (Julie Delpy), receives an anonymous letter from a long-ago flame informing him he has a 19-year-old son, leading his neighbor (Jeffrey Wright) to suggest he look up ex-girlfriends (Sharon Stone, Frances Conroy, Tilda Swinton, Jessica Lange) and determine which one might have sent the letter. Writer-director Jim Jarmusch's quirky film is a telling commentary on relationships and human interconnection, the performances are fine, and Murray is effortlessly luminous. Scattered uses of rough language, brief full-frontal female nudity, implied premarital sex, underage drinking and brief drug use. 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.

"Brother Bear" (Disney)
Delightful animated fable set in the prehistoric Pacific Northwest about a Native American warrior (voiced by Joaquin Phoenix) who vows to hunt down the bear responsible for killing his older brother but, after slaying the animal, is transformed into a bear himself in order to learn about the interconnectedness of all living things. Directors Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker combine timeless themes with stunning scenery to craft an allegorical tale about love, forgiveness and man's fellowship with nature. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences.

"The Brothers Grimm" (MGM)
Visually inventive, highly atmospheric adult fantasy that presents the fairy-tale authors -- Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm (Matt Damon and Heath Ledger, with credible English accents) -- as con-artist characters in a story as fantastical as anything they might have written, incorporating familiar elements of many of their stories, as an autocratic French occupier (Jonathan Pryce) orders them to get to the bottom of strange happenings in a German forest involving missing children. Director Terry Gilliam gets high marks for creating an evocative, 19th-century world, and whipping up a good deal of excitement as the story races to its conclusion, but the film is marred by a slow start and an uneven screenplay by Ehren Krueger. Intense action violence, frightening images, many involving insects, torture scenes, scattered profanity and crude language, brief sexual situations, and brief irreligiousness. 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 Brothers Solomon" (Screen Gems)
Excruciatingly dull comedy in the clueless-protagonist vein, in which two brothers (Will Forte, who scripted, and Will Arnett) must become fathers to come into an inheritance from comatose father Lee Majors, and they pay a woman they've met online (Kristin Wiig) to be artificially inseminated. Director Bob Odenkirk's slow pacing fails to propel the lifeless gags. Pregnancy out of wedlock; artificial insemination; rough, crude and crass language; one reference to pornography; and some mild sexual banter. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Bruce Almighty" (Universal)
Be-careful-what-you-wish-for comedy about a frustrated TV news correspondent (Jim Carrey) whose life is changed when God (Morgan Freeman) entrusts him with divine power after the reporter angrily accuses the Almighty of being asleep at the wheel. Despite its lighthearted irreverence, director Tom Shadyac uses humor to explore such issues as free will, and offers a positive image of personal faith rare in Hollywood flicks. An instance of rough language, minimal profanities, some crass humor and an implied sexual encounter. 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 Bucket List" (Warner Bros.)
Unremarkable, formulaic, only mildly entertaining story of two cancer patients -- a wealthy, womanizing tycoon (Jack Nicholson) and a middle-class garage mechanic (Morgan Freeman) -- who decide to hit the road and experience all their wildest dreams in the time they have left, that is, until they "kick the bucket." We've seen all this before, and except for seeing the two stars in standard reliable form, director Rob Reiner's film is predictably routine, though some problematic elements aside, imparting a positive message about finding the joy in life and bringing joy to others. An instance of the f-word; some crude expletives, crass expressions and scattered profanity; a vulgar gesture; an implied nonmarital sexual encounter; sexual references and innuendo; and domestic discord. 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.

"Buffalo Soldiers" (Miramax)
Pitch-black satire about a sly Army supply clerk (Joaquin Phoenix) who runs scams on a U.S. Army base in West Germany until he gets a taste of his own medicine when a new officer (Scott Glenn) arrives to clean house. Director Gregor Jordan misfires with this skewed take on military honor, lacing the film with a toxic cynicism that undercuts its otherwise darkly humorous satirizing of American capitalism. A benign attitude toward felony, some sexual situations, recurring violence and drug abuse, as well as much rough language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Bug" (Lionsgate)
Intense and ultimately repelling tale of a depressed cocktail waitress (Ashley Judd) who takes in an apparently gentle drifter (Michael Shannon) to her motel room while living in fear of her ex-con former husband (Harry Connick Jr.) and is soon persuaded by the stranger's increasingly hysterical conviction that their room is teeming with bugs as part of a widespread government conspiracy against them. Director William Friedkin's stage-bound adaptation of Tracy Letts' off-Broadway play is initially promising as a psychological study of vulnerable lost souls but eventually disintegrates into an ugly and unconvincing horror flick. Excessive gore and violence, constant rough language and profanity, a casual sex scene, full male and female nudity, recreational drug and alcohol abuse, same-sex kissing and suicidal behavior. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Bulletproof Monk" (MGM)
Superpowered martial artist (Chow Yun-Fat) and his young apprentice (Seann William Scott) battle an army of evil neo-Nazis who are searching for an ancient scroll which they have sworn to protect in director Paul Hunter's high-flying, but flawed chopsocky actioner. While boasting impressive acrobatics, the script is so hackneyed at times that better writing has been found in fortune cookies. Recurring violence, minimal profanities 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-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Burn After Reading" (Focus)
Witty dark caper comedy about hapless Washington-based gym employees (Frances McDormand and Brad Pitt) who find the memoirs of a fired CIA analyst (John Malkovich) on a computer disc and believe they're in possession of classified information they can sell to the Russians. Joel and Ethan Coen have written an extremely clever script, directed with assured timing, and their film showcases a top-flight cast including George Clooney, Tilda Swinton and Richard Jenkins, all of whom reveal surprising comic chops. Overt sex and violence are minimal, but many will be disturbed by the strong language. Pervasive use of the F-word and some profanity; two brief instances of violence, one gruesome; implied nonmarital sexual activity; and a sexual sight gag. 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.

"The Butterfly" (First Run)
Entrancing French tale of a neglected 8-year-old Parisian (Claire Bouanich) who hides in the car of her crusty elderly neighbor (Michel Serrault) headed to the Alps in search of a rare butterfly, a trip which brings the lonely twosome unexpected emotional dividends. Writer-director Philippe Muyl delicately explores the discovery of nature through a child's eyes as the old man reluctantly, then with genuine caring, embraces the role of grandfather figure. Subtitles. Brief sexual references and occasional profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"The Butterfly Effect" (New Line)
Self-inflated thriller about a psychology major (Ashton Kutcher) who learns that the daily journals he has been keeping since an early age hold the key to unlocking repressed memories of traumatic boyhood events, as well as opening the door to the past, allowing him to travel back in time and rewrite a happy ending for the tragic lives of his childhood friends. Rather than exploring the poisonous fruits of child abuse and hubris involved in trying to play God, directors Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber craft an elaborate, though hollow, narrative which quickly implodes into a laughable stew of overwrought confusion and unnecessary vulgarity -- as increasingly ludicrous as it is tedious. Several sexual encounters, brief full-frontal nudity, implied child pornography, homosexual allusions, sporadic graphic violence, a few instances of drug abuse, recurring rough language, profanity and racial slurs. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.