"Cabin Fever" (Lions Gate)
Campy gorefest about five oversexed college slackers trapped in a remote woodland cabin who find themselves pitted against each other when some of their number become infected with a virulent flesh-eating virus. Playing on viewers' growing unease over biological pathogens, director Eli Roth raises thought-provoking questions about the way we treat those ostracized by society, but any serious discussion is cut short by the film's formulaic premise and predictable reliance on blood, beer and babes. Excessive gory violence, sexual encounters with nudity, recurring drug abuse, as well as pervasive rough and crude sexual language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Calendar Girls" (Touchstone)
Amusing comedy in which a group of prim-and-proper English matrons (including Helen Mirren and Julie Walters) pose naked for a calendar to raise money for medical research after the husband of one of the women dies of leukemia. Although the anemic premise is stretched to its limit, Nigel Cole's mostly forgettable film does have a few entertaining moments and likable characters, with a healthy dose of the maxim to accept one's body throughout the natural aging process. A flash of nudity with several scenes suggestive of nudity, a few instances of crass language and brief drug content. 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.

"Callas Forever" (Regent Releasing)
Fictitious but true-in-spirit story of self-obsessed opera diva Maria Callas' lonely last years in Paris after she had lost her voice, wherein a gay former manager (Jeremy Irons) persuades her she can have a second career by making film versions of her most notable operas while lip-syncing to her old recordings. French accent notwithstanding, Fanny Ardant succeeds to a remarkable degree in capturing the Greek-American soprano's temperament and physical appearance, while director Franco Zeffirelli -- a close friend and colleague of Callas -- directs with the expected authority and brings special flair to the "Carmen" sequences, though the specialized subject matter will be of most interest to Callas fans and opera buffs. A few instances of rough and crude language and a couple of mild sexual situations. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Capturing the Friedmans" (Magnolia)
Unusual documentary chronicling the destruction of a Long Island family in the late 1980s after the teacher-father and his teen-age son are accused of child molestation and the mother and two other sons take sides. Filmmaker Andrew Jarecki interviews law enforcement personnel and surviving family members but it is the Friedmans' own obsessive taping of their furious arguments at the time that speaks volumes about this intensely dysfunctional family and their wavering versions of the truth. Sexual references, specifically pedophilia, and much rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Carandiru" (Sony Classic)
Raw and rambling prison drama about life in an explosively overcrowded Latin American penitentiary as seen through the eyes of a humanitarian-minded doctor (Luis Carlos Vasconcelos) brought in to implement an AIDS-prevention program. Based on actual events which occurred at Brazil's notorious Sao Paulo House of Detention, the film, directed by Hector Babenco, conveys an almost palpable sense of confinement and tinderbox volatility, but falls short of compelling, in large part due to an unfocused, episodic script, and, despite an underlying theme of redemption, the doctor's nonjudgmental acceptance of the inmates' aberrant behavior. Strong bloody violence including an intense riot sequence, several sexual encounters with partial nudity, a casual attitude toward homosexuality, recurring drug content and much 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.

"Casa de Los Babys" (IFC)
Poignant drama about six American women (including Daryl Hannah, Marcia Gay Harden and Lili Taylor) entrenched in a South American motel waiting out government bureaucracy to adopt children from a local orphanage. Though weighed down at times by a talky script, the film, directed by John Sayles, poses important questions about the thorny cultural and political issues involved in foreign adoptions, painting a bittersweet portrait of maternity which ultimately celebrates the joy of motherhood. Sporadic rough and crude language, as well as an instance of drug abuse involving young children. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"The Cat in the Hat" (Universal)
Overwrought live-action version of Theodore Geisel's classic rhyming kid's tale about a brother (Spenser Breslin) and sister (Dakota Fanning) whose home is turned upside down by a mischievous talking cat (Mike Myers) in a red-and-white striped stovepipe hat while their mother (Kelly Preston) is at work. While true to the spirit of the book, director Bo Welch has added story lines to flesh out the story to feature length, resulting in a bloated, visually assaulting film weighed down by tedious special-effects sequences and Myers' hyper-frenetic performance. Minimal mildly crude humor and innuendo. 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.

"Catch a Fire" (Focus)
Intelligent if unevenly compelling drama set in apartheid-era South Africa that tells the real-life story of Patrick Chamusso (Derek Luke), a husband and father who abandons his apolitical stance and becomes a militant rebel fighter after he and his wife (Bonnie Henna) are wrongfully arrested and tortured by white police investigators (headed by Tim Robbins) in connection with an explosion at the oil refinery where he works. Despite all the right ingredients -- a solid cast, a worthy story, taut pacing and an accomplished director in Phillip Noyce -- the tale never ignites from an emotional standpoint. However, in exploring themes of racism and the timely issue of using violence as a means of political protest, the film ultimately advocates forgiveness as imperative in healing the wounds caused by hatred. Some violence, images of torture, an instance of rough language and a few crude expressions and racial slurs. 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.

"Catch and Release" (Columbia)
Dour, slow-moving romantic comedy about a woman (Jennifer Garner) whose fiancee is killed shortly before their wedding who learns that he fathered a child with an out-of-town massage therapist (Juliette Lewis) who eventually comes to town with the child in tow moving in with her and her fiance's buddies (Kevin Smith, Sam Jaeger and Timothy Olyphant) with ensuing romantic complications. Writer-director Susannah Grant's formulaic chick flick strains for credibility, the acting is bland (especially Olyphant as her principal love interest), and is unredeemed by the overall message of forgiveness and a reasonably moral wrap-up. Permissive sexual mores, intimate encounters (one intense but fully clothed, the other gauzily photographed with no actual nudity), sexual banter and innuendo, some crude language and expressions and profanity, a suicide attempt 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.

"Catch That Kid" (20th Century Fox)
Cleverly conceived but morally misguided kiddie caper about a 12-year-old girl (Kristen Stewart) and her two best friends, rival suitors (Max Thieriot and Corbin Bleu) who decide to break into a high-security bank in order to steal enough money to pay for her dad's costly, life-saving surgery. Despite a smart script and a fresh-faced cast that gives the flick's shopworn heist plot a youthful twist, director Bart Freundlich uses an end-justifies-the-means attitude to rationalize his improbable premise, which, though ultimately discredited, makes it difficult to wholeheartedly applaud this otherwise entertaining movie. An ambiguous attitude toward larceny, minimal mildly-crude humor and some action violence. 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.

"Catwoman" (Warner Bros.)
Slick but soon-to-be-forgotten tale, loosely inspired by the comic-book character, about a mousy graphic artist (Halle Berry) working for a cosmetic conglomerate (headed by Lambert Wilson and Sharon Stone), who is killed for happening upon a corporate cover-up, only to be reborn with superpowers, including catlike agility and stealth, which she uses to unleash her feline fury on her murderers. As directed by Pitof, neither slick visual effects nor Berry strutting her stuff in revealing skintight shredded leather can distract viewers from the film's shallow characterizations, clumsy dialogue and moral ambiguities. Recurring stylized violence 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 Cave of the Yellow Dog" (Tartan)
Gentle tale that chronicles the daily life of a family of nomadic Mongolian sheepherders and centers on a young girl's efforts to conceal a stray puppy she found, defying her father's orders forbidding her from keeping the dog. Once again using indigenous, nonprofessional actors (all are real nomads), director Byambasuren Davaa blends documentary and narrative storytelling less successfully than in her previous effort, "The Story of the Weeping Camel." Despite virtually no plot, she nevertheless manages to craft a simple yet lovely and gracefully shot fable that explores themes of family bonds and modernity's encroachment into traditional ways of life. Though underpinned by a cyclical Buddhist spirituality -- particularly its central belief in reincarnation -- the story and its affirmation of the supreme value of human life should resonate with Catholic viewers. Subtitles. The scene of a dead sheep being skinned may upset very young children. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Cellular" (New Line)
Somewhat satisfying fast-paced thriller about a kidnapped woman (Kim Basinger) whose life -- along with that of her young son -- hangs on the tenuous connection to a stranger's (Chris Evans) cell phone. Giving the old damsel-in-distress formula a wireless twist, director David R. Ellis' slim story about a good Samaritan slacker trying to save a woman he has never met is full of predictable popcorn thrills -- including high-octane car chases -- which, taken as a whole, add up to more than the sum of its B-movie parts. Recurring violence, some gore and terror situations, an instance of rough language, a crude gesture and some sexual humor, as well as crass 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 are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin" (MK2)
Fascinating documentary chronicles Chaplin's career as an actor, director, producer and composer as well as offering details on his often controversial personal life, which included eyebrow-raising love affairs and persecution by the FBI. Making ample use of film footage from some of Chaplin's most memorable movies and shorts, writer-producer-director Richard Schickel illuminates the genius of the Little Tramp while capturing his remarkable impact on cinema and his influence on subsequent cinematic success stories in all areas of film. References to Chaplin's romantic entanglements. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" (Columbia)
Lively action flick in which three gorgeous gumshoes (Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu) investigate the theft of a witness protection program database after several people on the list turn up dead. A campy script and slick, big-budget action scenes make director McG's sequel entertaining, effervescent escapism with empowered women in heels drop-kicking the bad guys; yet the film is almost a carbon copy of the original, with several flirty scenes meant to show off the stars' tight bodies in slightly risque outfits. Intermittent stylized violence, fleeting crass language and profanity, a live-in relationship and some mild sexual innuendo. 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.

"Chasing Liberty" (Warner Bros.)
Conventional teenage romantic comedy about the president's daughter (Mandy Moore), who, frustrated that her every move is monitored, ditches her Secret Service handlers while traveling abroad with her father (Mark Harmon) and embarks on an impromptu European adventure, aided and abetted by a dashing Brit (Matthew Goode) with a secret of his own. While giving parent-teen angst a presidential twist, there is little to hail about director Andy Cadiff's touching on issues of independence and parental trust while seemingly equating personal freedom with irresponsible behavior. An implied sexual encounter, some sexual humor, brief rear nudity, and minimal mildly 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.

"Cheaper by the Dozen" (20th Century Fox)
Fitfully amusing comedy about a family with 12 children veering out of control when Mom (Bonnie Hunt) must go on a national book tour leaving Dad (Steve Martin) to hold down the very rebellious fort while the demands of his university football coaching job allow scant time for his unhappy youngsters. The family-first message follows director Shawn Levy's predictable parade of pranks, pratfalls and parenting problems, including dismay over their 22-year-old daughter moving in with her boyfriend. A discreetly implied affair, occasional toilet humor and brief slapstick violence. 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.

"Children of Men" (Universal)
Bleak futuristic political thriller in which a mysterious infertility has stopped the birth of babies, and a disillusioned London bureaucrat (an excellent Clive Owen) races to carry the world's only pregnant woman (Clare-Hope Ashitey) to safety, while dodging refugee terrorists, the authorities, explosions and bullets at every turn. Director Alfonso Cuaron's adaptation of a P.D. James novel is intentionally dark and disturbing, if exciting in its chase sequences, and though the first-rate cast includes Michael Caine, Julianne Moore, Chiwetel Ejiofor and more, some appearances are virtual cameos. The somber palette and relentlessly downbeat milieu may not be for every taste, though some may discern biblical parallels in the "miraculous" birth of the child. Pervasive rough and crude language and some mild profanity, crude expressions, heavy but not graphic violence including explosions and shootings, a childbirth sequence, brief partial nudity and 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. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Chorus (Les Choristes)" (Miramax)
Glossily sentimental and heart-tugging French film about a failed musician (Gerard Jugnot) who takes a teaching job at a boarding school for troubled boys in the late 1940s, and helps them overcome their delinquent and violent ways by forming a choir, under the disapproving eye of the school's autocratic principal (Francois Berleand). Christophe Barratier's film about the healing power of music features first-rate performances, and heavenly singing by the boys -- once they get going -- making this a surefire audience pleaser even as the setup is transparently manipulative. Some crude language, a brief verbal suggestion of sexual impropriety and a few violent episodes. 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.

"Christmas With the Kranks" (Columbia)
Delightful yuletide comedy about a Chicago couple (Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis) who boycott Christmas after their daughter leaves home to join the Peace Corps, sparking unforeseen reactions from their militantly merry neighbors (led by Dan Aykroyd). The film is based on the novella "Skipping Christmas" by John Grisham. Director Joe Roth delivers a dose of holly-jolly fun that is, by turns, extremely funny and poignantly tender, and its warmhearted message of selflessness, family and coming together as a community clearly embodies the truest spirit of the season. Some suggestive humor, comic violence and 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.

"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" (Disney)

Captivating live-action fantasy adventure based on C.S. Lewis' beloved children's classic set in World War II-era England about four siblings (Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley and Anna Popplewell), who, having been evacuated from London to the home of an eccentric professor (Jim Broadbent), stumble through a magical wardrobe into the enchanted realm of Narnia, where they help the wise and noble lion Aslan (voiced by Liam Neeson) defeat the evil White Witch (Tilda Swinton), who holds the land under an icy spell of eternal winter. Seeded with Christian symbolism and subtext, director Andrew Adamson's faithful adaptation balances spectacle with storytelling while exploring themes of good and evil to capture the childlike wonder that underscores Lewis' tale. Some battlefield violence, intense scenes of child peril and menace, 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.

"The Chronicles of Riddick" (Universal)
Bloated sci-fi tale in which an escaped convict (Vin Diesel) is called upon to save what's left of humanity from a ruthless megalomaniac (Colm Feore) and his virtually indestructible army of former-humans-turned-robots. Aside from an impressive production design, writer-director David Twohy's special-effects-laden actioner remains grounded by its murky narrative, dull characters and leaden pacing. Recurring stylized violence, minimal profanity and an instance of rough 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.

"Cinderella Man" (Universal)
Moving true-life story of Depression-era boxer Jimmy Braddock (Russell Crowe in top form) who -- after several years out of the ring, working on the docks -- took up fighting again to support his loving wife (Renee Zellweger) and their three young children, and against all odds made a tremendous comeback, eventually going up against the notorious Max Baer (Craig Bierko). Director Ron Howard has made an absorbing film with first-rate performances (including that of Paul Giamatti as his manager) and authentic period flavor; though the boxing sequences are strong they're far less graphic than similarly themed films, and the human story of Jimmy's devotion to his family is paramount. Much period profanity, some crude language, ring violence with blood. 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.

"A Cinderella Story" (Warner Bros.)
Light but lackluster teen romantic comedy set in Southern California about a slaving high school senior (Hilary Duff) whose hopes of happily-ever-aftering it with a quarterback Prince Charming (Chad Michael Murray) are stymied by her wicked stepmom (Jennifer Coolidge). Director Mark Rosman gives the familiar fairy tale a contemporary makeover, stripping it of its fantasy elements, while retaining its sweet sense of storybook romance. Some mildly crude language, humor and innuendo. 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.

"City of God" (Miramax)
Gritty, documentary-style drama set in a Rio de Janeiro slum from the 1960s to the '80s following interlocking stories of young boys who take divergent paths to manhood, mostly fueled by the deadly gang violence and drug dealing that engulfs them. Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles' command of technique is as impressive as his ultraviolent imagery of casual brutality and murder, inspired by a fact-based novel and using a mostly amateur cast, is repelling. The film's tone, however, deplores the escalating violence as it explores the societal and personal consequences of rampant crime. Subtitles. Much gang-related violence, fleeting sexual situations with full nudity, intermittent drug abuse and recurring rough 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.

"The Clearing" (Fox Searchlight)
Lukewarm thriller about a wealthy businessman (Robert Redford) kidnapped by a stranger (Willem Dafoe) and held for ransom, who, during a forced march to a secluded woodland cabin, begins to contemplate the mistakes he made, including cheating on his wife (Helen Mirren), during his rise to the top. Despite a first-rate cast and complex characters, director Pieter Jan Brugge's emotionally uninvolving film keeps the suspense thinly spread, but manages to impart a message that love is more important than worldly success. Brief violence and sporadic rough and crude language, as well as profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Closer" (Columbia)
Talky, occasionally sluggish adaptation of Patrick Marber's West End and Broadway stage hit about the shifting romantic and amoral entanglements among two couples (Jude Law and Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts and Clive Owen) in London. Over-the-years narrative explores the foibles of human relationships, and how love evolves from the excitement of first meeting to myriad lies and betrayals, with first-rate performances and direction (by Mike Nichols) though none of the characters are particularly likable, and while there is virtually no sexual activity, except for risque gyrating by Portman's skimpily dressed character (an ex-stripper), the sex talk is as graphic and shocking in its bluntness as it was onstage. Much gratuitously rough and sexually explicit language, a suggestive striptease, partial nudity, freewheeling attitude towards sex. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Code 46" (United Artists)
Bleak futuristic story about a married insurance investigator (Tim Robbins) solving a case of forged passports and falling in love with the perpetrator (Samantha Morton), told with elements of film noir and sci-fi while grappling pretentiously with heavyweight issues such as human cloning and even Oedipal attraction. A morally muddled story line glamorizes the investigator's adulterous affair, and proves only fitfully interesting. An explicit extramarital sexual encounter with full frontal nudity and perverse undertones. 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.

"Code Name: The Cleaner" (New Line)
Forgettable comedy about a janitor (Cedric the Entertainer) who wakes up in a hotel room with total memory loss and, believing he's really a secret agent, sets out to piece together his past with the help of his waitress girlfriend (Lucy Liu). All the while, he's targeted by a siren (Nicollette Sheridan) who claims to be his wife but works for a high tech company whose shady CEO (Mark Dacascos) thinks the amnesiac has proof of his criminal activities. Saddled with such vacuous material, Cedric provides only modest laughs, and director Les Mayfield's unfunny, at times lewd, shenanigans could have been cleaner. Crude and sexual humor, including erotic comic interplay, and recurring crass language. 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.

"Coffee and Cigarettes" (United Artists)
Motley mosaic of 11 short films, each involving a pair of actors (including Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett, Roberto Benigni and Steve Buscemi) sitting around, drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes while conversing on such eclectic subjects as the use of nicotine as an insecticide and Elvis conspiracies. Shot in black-and-white over the past 17 years by maverick director Jim Jarmusch, the smoky slice-of-life minimovies unspool, apart from a few clever vignettes, as exercises in artsy absurdity which, despite the amount of caffeine consumed, provide little stimulation and percolate less interest. Some 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.

"Cold Creek Manor" (Touchstone)
Banal thriller in which a psychotic ex-con (Stephen Dorff) sets out to reclaim the house he lost while in jail from its new owners (Dennis Quaid and Sharon Stone) by insinuating himself into their lives. Director Mike Figgis telegraphs plot points in advance while mostly routine performances and flat dialogue further confine the film to B-movie status. A brief sexual encounter, sporadic violence, female topless photos, instances of substance abuse, minimal profanity and recurring rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-IV -- adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Cold Mountain" (Miramax)
Rapturously shot Civil War romance about a young Confederate deserter (Jude Law) who must hoof his way across the war-torn South in the hopes of reuniting with the woman he loves (Nicole Kidman), a southern belle enduring her own behind-the-lines hardships. In the film, based on Charles Frazier's 1997 novel, director Anthony Minghella chooses an epic historical canvas on which to paint an intimate story about love and the loss war engenders, but the episodic nature of the narrative and the tenuousness of the central love affair results in a film that, while visually elegant in its condemnation of war, is less than emotionally satisfying. Recurring graphic battlefield and associated violence, several explicit sexual situations with partial nudity, an attempted rape, as well as some 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 R -- restricted.

"Collateral" (DreamWorks)
Sleek and stylish crime thriller set in Los Angeles about a cab driver (Jamie Foxx) forced to drive a contract killer (Tom Cruise) on his appointed rounds to assassinate five federal witnesses in the span of one night. Returning to familiar genre terrain, director Michael Mann crafts a tautly paced, multilayered film oozing with L.A. noir moodiness and hardboiled menace, by turns violent and reflective in tone, featuring knockout performances by Cruise and Foxx. Recurring intense violence, autopsy gore and much rough 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.

"College Road Trip" (Disney)
Unobjectionable, though uninspired, family comedy in which a wildly overprotective father (Martin Lawrence), despite the misgivings of his sensible wife (Kym E. Whitley), insists on accompanying his 17-year-old daughter (Raven-Symone) on a visit to a distant university she's considering, meanwhile trying to convince her to attend a college much closer to home and discovering along the way that his small but precocious son (Eshaya Draper) has stowed away for the ride, accompanied by his pet pig. Director Roger Kumble's film is generally pleasant and conveys good messages about parental concern and the need for trust, but most of the humor is too implausible to really work. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

"The Company" (Sony Classics)
Unhurried look at the arduous rehearsals of young dancers with Chicago's Joffrey Ballet Company, focusing on an emerging star (Neve Campbell) who is trying to balance her art with romantic involvement with a local chef (James Franco). Director Robert Altman's valentine to classical ballet, breathtaking in the dance sequences but much less so when it delves behind the scenes, makes narrative and characterizations incidental to the ballet performances. Benign treatment of casual sex, brief nudity, sexual references and an instance of rough 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 Condemned" (Lionsgate)
In this punishing action movie produced by World Wrestling Entertainment and starring "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, a television producer (Robert Mammone) stages a reality event for the Internet during which 10 criminals fight to the death on a tropical island. Director and co-writer Scott Wiper tries to have it both ways by showcasing extreme violence and depraved behavior while simultaneously criticizing those who peddle such objectionable material. Pervasive brutal violence and degrading situations, including torture and rape, pervasive rough and crude language and some profanity. 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.

"Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen" (Touchstone)
Fun but formulaic adolescent soap opera about an eccentric 16-year-old (Lindsay Lohan) transplanted by her single mom from New York City to suburban New Jersey where she becomes easy prey for her new high school's reigning queen of mean (Megan Fox). Directed by Sara Sugarman, the film probes the perils of pubescence with charm and warmth, touching on questions of conformity, peer approval, and maintaining one's self-identity, and at times is laced with a kids-know-better-than-parents bias, but overall imparts a positive message about dreaming boldly and believing in oneself. Thematic elements and brief, mildly crass expressions. 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.

"Confidence" (Lions Gate)
Slick, shallow caper in which a tight-knit group of con men (led by Ed Burns) rips off a crime lord (Dustin Hoffman) so must agree to pull off a very dicey scam as repayment, despite a federal agent (Andy Garcia) closing in on them. Director James Foley's smug movie, with its crime-definitely-pays perspective, admires its brutal characters and seems most impressed with its own cleverness and cynical worldview. Some violence, brief nudity, seamy sexual situations, recurring profanities and constant rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Connie and Carla" (Universal)
Breezy and brassy comedy about two struggling Chicago-based lounge singers (Nia Vardalos and Toni Collette), who, after witnessing a gangland execution, hightail it to Los Angeles to hide out, disguising themselves as drag queens and who wind up becoming overnight sensations, headlining in a cross-dressing cabaret show. Director Michael Lembeck's film strikes a palatable, though at times preachy, tone, poking fun at the flamboyant female impersonators while stressing their humanity. A sympathetic portrayal of the gay lifestyle, recurring sexual humor, a sacrilegious comment, an instance of same-sex kissing, intermittent crude language and a few drug references. 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.

"Conspiracy of Silence" (Watch Entertainment)
Insipid thriller set in modern-day Ireland about a muckraking reporter (Jason Barry) who, while investigating the connections between two seemingly unrelated events -- the suicide of a local priest and the expulsion of a young, idealistic seminarian (Jonathan Forbes) -- uncovers a secret incriminating those in the highest ranks of the church. With little in the way of plausible suspense, director John Deery uses the film's slim story line as a rod on which to hang his grievances, including the church's stands on homosexuality and celibacy, employing caricature and distortion to position the hierarchy as one-dimensionally corrupt. A manipulative and sinister portrayal of the institutional church, including anti-clerical characterizations, a suicide, a sexual encounter with shadowy nudity, a shower scene with rear nudity, brief violence, and recurring rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"The Constant Gardener" (Focus)
 Complex political thriller about an African-based British diplomat (Ralph Fiennes, in top form) who sets out to uncover the mystery behind the murder of his apparently unfaithful activist wife (Rachel Weisz), and uncovers a web of intrigue involving conspiracies, government corruption and betrayal at the highest levels of power and the pharmaceutical industry. Director Fernando Meirelles' adaptation of a John le Carre novel is a long, but generally absorbing, suspense story and a condemnation of drug testing on unsuspecting Third World people, with solid performances and flavorful location shooting in Kenya. Brief rear and partial nudity, scattered profanity, rough language and crude expressions, a restrained premarital bedroom scene, quick blurry shots of violence including lynching, and a gruesome description of death. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

"Constantine" (Warner Bros.)
Intensely violent action film, based on the "Hellblazer" graphic novels, about a world-weary, chain-smoking exorcist (Keanu Reeves) fighting lung cancer and demonic forces with the help of a police detective (Rachel Weisz), whose twin sister either committed suicide or was murdered and is now consigned to the fires of hell. Though gussied up with all sorts of religious mumbo jumbo -- the powers of good versus the forces of evil, self-sacrifice, redemption, a Gabriel character (Tilda Swinton), and a "sword of destiny" (aka the weapon used to pierce Christ on the cross) -- Francis Lawrence's film is basically another formulaic action film -- think "The Exorcist," "Alien" and "The Matrix" rolled into one -- that's only fitfully interesting, when the gory bits aren't positively wince-inducing. Graphic violence with attendant gore, some rough and crude language, and some sacrilegious imagery. 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.

"The Cookout" (Lions Gate)
Forgettable comedy about a young basketball player (Storm P) who, after striking it rich as the NBA's No. 1 draft pick, decides to throw a family barbeque at his palatial new home in an exclusive white suburban community, policed by an overzealous security guard (Queen Latifah). Mayhem ensues when the cookout turns into a tug-of-war between his eccentric relatives, who want to make sure that his newfound success doesn't go to his head, and his gold-digger girlfriend (Meagan Good), who's just after his money. While imparting a message that family is more important than fame, much of Lance Rivera's unfunny directorial debut only serves to reinforce many of the African-American stereotypes it purports to discredit. Some crass sexual and racial humor, drug content and recurring 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 Cooler" (Lions Gate)
Wrenching drama in which a Vegas loser (William H. Macy) finally finds transforming love with a cocktail waitress (Maria Bello), but standing squarely in their way is their vicious casino boss (Alec Baldwin). While overly graphic and violent, director Wayne Kramer's probing characterizations explore themes of accountability, renewal and redemption with a raw honesty. A few intense sexual encounters with full nudity, some brutal violence, brief drug abuse, much rough language and intermittent 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.

"Corpse Bride" (Warner Bros.)
Darkly enchanting animated love story based on a Russian folk tale about a timid groom (voiced by Johnny Depp) whose arranged marriage to the shy daughter (voiced by Emily Watson) of stuffy aristocrats, is derailed the night before they are to wed when, practicing his vows alone in the woods, he finds himself betrothed to a dead girl (voiced by Helena Bonham Carter) he inadvertently reanimates. Though a bit morose for young children, co-directors Tim Burton and Mike Johnson have crafted a delightfully macabre fable that imparts a gentle message of selfless love which should warm most hearts -- beating or not. Mature thematic elements, a villainous clerical character and folkloric fantasy content. 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.

"Crank" (Lions Gate)

Noisy and endlessly unpleasant action film about a Los Angeles hit man (Jason Statham) who must keep in perpetual motion after he finds out that a rival thug (Jose Pablo Cantillo) has poisoned him with a substance designed to kill him within seconds if his heart rate drops. Co-writers and directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor load on the bloody video-game-style action in an empty and mindless exercise. Excessive and graphic violence and gore, lewd sexual content, vulgar humor, recurring partial nudity, drug use and pervasive rough and crude language and profanity. 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.

"Criminal" (Warner Independent Pictures)
Smartly crafted scam movie about a veteran con man (John C. Reilly) who takes a young street hustler (Diego Luna) under his wing in order to swindle a wealthy collector (Peter Mullan) into buying a forged, extremely rare currency note. Director Gregory Jacobs' beat-for-beat remake of the 2002 Argentinian film "Nine Queens" fails to match the sharpness of the original, but its clever shell-game narrative still provides enough double-dealing plot twists to keep viewers guessing. However, the movie follows the original's morally muddy lead in suggesting that duplicity pays off. An implied sexual encounter and recurring rough 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.

"Cursed" (Dimension)
Banefully bad horror flick about a young television producer (Christina Ricci) and her geeky teenage brother (Jesse Eisenberg), who find themselves in increasingly hairy situations after being bitten by a werewolf-at-large in their Los Angeles neighborhood. Clumsily grafting themes of high school angst, homophobia and sexually transmitted diseases onto its B-movie script, this campy clunker directed by Wes Craven is all bark and no fright, and should have viewers howling for their money back. Recurring horror violence and gore, two instances of fleeting rear nudity, mild innuendo, scattered 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.