Movies Listed Alphabetically: A | B | C | D | E-G | H-I | J-K | L | M | N-O | P-R | S | T | U-Z
"The Machinist" (Paramount Classics)
Darkly arresting psychological thriller about a skeletal machine operator (Christian Bale) suffering from chronic insomnia, whose fragile psyche is edged toward madness by the presence of a menacing co-worker (John Sharian), and whose only solace is found in the companionship of a sympathetic coffee-shop waitress (Aitana Sanchez-Gijon) and a comforting call girl (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Director Brad Anderson's grimly stylish meditation on guilt and paranoia is dripping with nightmarish noir atmospherics and bleak moodiness and is highlighted by a mesmerizing performance by Bale, who lost a jaw-dropping 63 pounds for the role. Several instances of violence, including a gruesome amputation, sexual situations with nudity, as well as recurring 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.
"Madagascar" (DreamWorks)
Entertaining animated comedy about a quartet of pampered zoo animals (voiced by Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith) who find themselves shipped back to the wild, where they discover that the jungle is not all its cracked up to be. Directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath and imparting a positive message about friendship, the visually vibrant and at times funny film starts out well (the motley menagerie is a hoot), but its early wit gives way to cartoonish slapstick humor that stresses sight gags more than story. Mildly crass language and humor, cartoon violence, as well as some thematic elements that may be disturbing to very young children. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.
Made of Honor" (Columbia)
A callous playboy (a charming Patrick Dempsey) comes to realize he loves his longtime best friend (Michelle Monaghan) just when she announces she's engaged to a Scottish lord (Kevin McKidd), and he agrees to be her "maid of honor" in the hopes of dissuading her from the marriage. Paul Welland's formulaic but ultimately winning film starts with some highly problematic elements having to do with the playboy's unbridled love life, but settles into a sentimental story about the hero learning the true meaning of love, while generally promoting an acceptable moral worldview. Nongraphic encounters, divorce, alcohol use, innuendo, and some crude words and expressions. 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.
"Madison" (MGM)
Feel-good film set in small-town Indiana which tells the true story of Jim McCormick (Jim Caviezel), a local former boat-racing hero who pulls together and lifts the spirits of his down-on-its-luck town -- which lives and breathes the sport -- when he proposes they make an bid to host an annual championship cup competition. Director William Bindley's winning underdog drama more than makes up for any sentimental shortcomings with heart and a gently nostalgic message about family, wholesome values and the importance of community. Some mildly crude language and scenes of sports peril. 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 Magdalene Sisters" (Miramax)
Fact-based but manipulative melodrama set in a 1964 Dublin Catholic-run Magdalene laundry where young women are sent by parents or guardians to work in atonement for alleged sins of the flesh, overseen by vicious nuns who physically beat and psychologically abuse them. Eschewing narrative or character development in favor of caricature, writer-director Peter Mullan presents an oversimplified, worst-case scenario that lacks meaningful insights about the religious and Irish culture of the time. The result is not greater understanding but a skewed depiction of the church as uniformly evil. An exaggerated theme of abusive nuns, brutal beatings, sexual violence including rape and forced oral sex with a priest, an extended scene of dehumanizing full female nudity, an attempted suicide, sporadic rough language and brief profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
"Malibu's Most Wanted" (Warner Bros.)
An overprivileged, white kid from Malibu who fancies himself as a self-styled hip-hop rapper gets a dose of urban reality in this mindless satire. Directed by John Whitesell, the film, a vapid jumble of mildly amusing comedy sketches, is a misguided attempt to comment on the puzzling sociological phenomenon of silver-spoon youths' fascination with the subculture of gangsta rap. An instance of rough language, recurring obscenities and lewd sexual humor and violence. 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.
"Mambo Italiano" (Samuel Goldwyn)
Strained comedy set in Canada about a young gay man (Luke Kirby) who tries to keep his homosexuality hidden from his traditional Italian-immigrant parents (Ginette Reno, Paul Sorvino), even while he moves in with his childhood friend and now-partner (Peter Miller). Although director Emile Gaudreault's predictable, long-winded film concentrates more on ethnic stereotypes and identity issues than homosexuality, it walks a fine line between approval of the gay lifestyle and acceptance of a person as a much-loved son. A few instances of same-sex kissing and implied sexual encounters with intermittent rough language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-IV -- adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
"A Man Apart" (New Line)
Testosterone-driven crime drama about a Los Angeles DEA agent (Vin Diesel) set on avenging his wife's murder by taking down the powerful Mexican drug cartel responsible for her death. Directed by F. Gary Gray, who cut his teeth in the content-thin world of music videos, the contrived narrative unfortunately follows the all-too-common recipe of: two parts graphic violence, two parts stylish visuals, with dollops of biceps and bare breasts and not more than a pinch of plot thrown in for good measure -- then mix and let sit as the body count rises. Excessive graphic violence, partial nudity, sexually explicit dancing and incessant rough language and profanities. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
"Man of the House" (Columbia)
Dull and unfunny story of a divorced Texas Ranger (Tommy Lee Jones) who goes undercover with five cheerleaders to protect them after they witness a murder, and before long the girls are grooming him for a date with a college professor (Anne Archer), and helping him rescue his semiestranged daughter (Shannon Marie Woodward) from the clutches of a corrupt federal agent. Stephen Herek's film is an uneasy mix of violent -- though not especially exciting -- action, and labored comedy and sentiment, and, the mushy subplot of father and daughter bonding notwithstanding, presents a demeaning view of women, with the cheerleaders distastefully portrayed as aggressive, scantily clad "babes." Crude language, suggestive costuming, lewd posturing, violence. 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.
"Man of the Year" (Universal)
Political satire about an idealistic comedy TV talk-show host (Robin Williams) who runs for president and wins, eventually falling for a software analyst (Laura Linney) on the lam after discovering that the unlikely election results were due to a program glitch in her company's computerized voting machine. Director Barry Levinson never decides what movie he wants to make (a light farce or something darker); while Williams' performance is basically a stand-up routine and the script soft-pedals on issues of personal morality, the film make some valid observations about the increasingly blurred distinction between entertainment and news, and the alarming preference of many to be amused rather than informed. Sexually crass humor, innuendo, a mildly irreligious joke, brief violence, a use of the f-word and some crude 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 inap
propriate for children under 13.
"Man on Fire" (20th Century Fox)
Dark and depraved revenge tale about an ex-soldier of fortune turned professional bodyguard (Denzel Washington), who unleashes his lethal fury on a ring of Mexican kidnappers after they abduct the little girl (Dakota Fanning) he has been hired to protect. As directed by Tony Scott, the film poses interesting questions concerning sin and forgiveness, but its superficial theological pretensions quickly give way to a grisly procession of torture and death, which, though unbearable to watch at times, ends on a redemptive note. Excessive graphic violence, a rationalization of vengeance, much rough and crude language, and a suicide. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
"Man on the Train" (Paramount Classics)
Bittersweet French tale of a world-weary bank robber (Johnny Hallyday) and a retired poetry teacher (Jean Rochefort) who meet by chance and discover they wish they could trade places. Director Patrice Leconte gets wistful, nuanced performances from the twosome and infuses the story with melancholy humor that underscores its themes of longing, loneliness and regrets. Subtitles. An uncritical view of theft, brief violence, a discreetly implied affair and a few crass expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
"The Man Without a Past" (Sony Classics)
Droll Finnish tale in which a man (Markku Peltola) who was mugged stumbles out of a Helsinki hospital without any memory, money or ID to live among kindly poor folk where he meets a prim Salvation Army worker (Kati Outinen) but eventually discovers his unwanted identity. Writer-director Aki Kaurismaki observes his stoic characters with considerable deadpan wit and a gentle compassion that upends the cliche of a man-with-amnesia plot. Brief violence and an off-screen suicide. Subtitles. 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.
"Manic" (IFC)
Provocative exploration of the troubled lives of adolescents in a juvenile mental institution. Though chock full of offensive language and violence, director Jordan Melamed's disturbingly raw film addresses important questions about abuse and alienation among today's youth. Recurring graphic violence and incessant rough and sexually explicit language as well as vulgarities. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-IV -- adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
"Manna From Heaven" (Five Sisters)
Fanciful tale in which a Buffalo nun (Ursula Burton) decides that the found money her family and friends benefited from 30 years earlier must be repaid, so they organize a car raffle and ballroom dancing competition to raise the long-spent cash, and in the process reconnect with what is really important in life. Written by Gabrielle Burton and co-directed by her daughters, Gabrielle C. and Maria Burton, the movie's combination of humor and hope within a Catholic perspective results in a heartwarming film whose marvelous cast and crowd-pleasing elements make its plot contrivances seem amusingly whimsical. A few crude expressions and fleeting sexual innuendo. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.
"Marci X" (Paramount)
Intolerably dreadful comedy about a spoiled Jewish socialite (Lisa Kudrow) who attempts to clean up the act of a notorious gangsta-rap artist (Damon Wayans) in order to appease a right-wing media watchdog bent on destroying her father, the man who owns the rapper's recording company. While director Richard Benjamin aspires to biting social satire about racial politics and First Amendment rights, the result is an unwatchable litany of lewd vulgarities and offensive caricatures strung together by a witless script, as morally objectionable as it is dull. Racial stereotyping, much crude and sexual humor, an implied sexual encounter and recurring rough and vulgar language, as well as an instance of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
"Maria Full of Grace" (Fine Line)
Arresting drama about a young woman from rural Colombia (Catalina Sandino Moreno) who becomes a drug "mule" -- swallowing pellets of heroin to be smuggled into the United States -- in order to support her family. Employing a style of stark realism, writer-director Joshua Marston grafts human drama onto what could have been a conventional crime-thriller premise, resulting in an emotionally affecting film about desperation, determination and hope. Subtitles. Recurring drug content, some disturbing images, as well as 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.
"Marie Antoinette" (Sony)
Visually sumptuous but dramatically inert biography of France's most celebrated queen (Kirsten Dunst), her arranged marriage to the future King Louis XVI (Jason Schwartzman), the lengthy period it took them to consummate their marriage and produce an heir, and her heedless spending and pleasure-seeking, which would infuriate the masses and help lead to the downfall of the monarchy. Director Sofia Coppola has impressively recreated the 18th-century period (albeit with some contemporary flourishes), and for the most part adheres to the historical facts, but rather disappointingly ends with the royal family's arrest and only hints at the queen's maturing transformation. The performances are sound, though the flat American accents of the leads are a detriment, as is the uninspired dialogue. Much speculation about the royal conjugal dilemma, brief partial nudity, an adulterous sexual encounter and innuendo restrict viewing to adults and older adolescents. 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.
"The Marine" (20th Century Fox)
Empty action adventure about a Marine (wrestler John Cena) fresh from battle in the Middle East whose homecoming gets off to a rough start when he must track down the gang of cold-blooded felons (lead by Robert Patrick) who are holding his wife (Kelly Carlson) hostage. Director John Bonito piles on the explosions, chases and ammo rounds, all strung together with a B-movie script. Intense action violence, sexual situations, as well as some rough and crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
"Martian Child" (New Line)
Delicate, highly unusual story about widowed science fiction writer (John Cusack) who adopts a strange little boy (a perfectly cast Bobby Coleman) who insists he's come from Mars. Director Menno Meyjes sustains a slightly surreal tone throughout which keeps you guessing whether the child is simply delusional or actually an extraterrestrial being, while an outstanding Cusack's fervent sincerity helps makes the premise all the more plausible, as the poignant script underscores themes of nonconformity, loss, and the power of love. Mild profanity, innuendo, some peril. 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.
"Masked and Anonymous" (Sony Classics)
Anesthetizing drama set in a war-torn, Third World country under dictatorial rule in which a concert promoter (John Goodman) springs a has-been musician (Bob Dylan) from jail to perform at a benefit concert. With pretentious and self-consciously cute dialogue, director Larry Charles' film lacks cohesion as the ensemble cast meanders through an incoherent script that purports to make a sociopolitical statement, but instead bores with its meaningless platitudes and diatribes. Brief violence, minimal crass language and an instance of profanity and 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.
"Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" (20th Century Fox)
Lavish high-seas adventure, based on Patrick O'Brian's popular maritime novels, about an intrepid British naval captain (Russell Crowe) who must hunt down and destroy a superior French frigate during the Napoleonic wars. Combining grand swashbuckling spectacle with painstaking attention to detail, director Peter Weir weaves a salty yarn about honor, duty and friendship, which, while steering clear of the dehumanizing reefs of gratuitous violence, proves effective as both an engaging historical drama and entertaining escapist fare. Naval battle violence with related gory images, a suicide and minimum 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.
"Matchstick Men" (Warner Bros.)
Clever shell-game drama about an obsessive-compulsive small-time con artist (Nicolas Cage) whose neurotically routine life unravels when he learns he has a teen-age daughter (Alison Lohman) with a gift for the grift, complicating a potentially lucrative scheme to fleece a heavy-hitting millionaire. Full of triple-dealings and exploiting viewers' fascination for confidence games, the film, directed by Ridley Scott, while morally glossing over its protagonist's dishonest actions, ultimately imparts a message that crime burns you in the end. A benign attitude toward larceny, some violence, a scene in a strip club with partial nudity, an instance of fleeting rear nudity and rough language, as well as recurring 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 are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
"The Matrix Revolutions" (Warner Bros.)
Bloated third installment of the sci-fi trilogy which finds Neo (Keanu Reeves), the computer hacker turned messiah, venturing into the heart of Machine City in order to stave off an assault on humanity's last stronghold by an army of killer droids bent on the extinction of mankind. While full of mind-blowing effects set against a moody Orwellian backdrop, writer-directors Larry and Andy Wachowski prove that the third time is not a charm, completing their cyber-noir cycle with this joyless orgy of visual pomposity, its metaphysical musings mired in a maelstrom of noise and stylized violence, none of which is attached to characters we care about, making its banality all the more obvious. Much sci-fi violence as well as recurring profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-IV -- adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
"Mean Girls" (Paramount)
Catty teen comedy about an insecure 15-year-old (Lindsay Lohan), home-schooled for most of her life and raised in the African bush, who gets a crash course in the law of the social jungle when she is thrust into a public high school and gets stung by its reigning queen bee (Rachel McAdams). Directed by Mark Waters, the film explores the psychological minefields navigated by many young girls and imparts a positive self-esteem message, but its hard-edged sexual references make it unsuitable for the 'tween and teen audience it seems aimed at. Recurring crude language and humor, some drug references and implied underage drinking. 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.
"Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns" (Lionsgate)
Listless romantic comedy about a struggling inner-city Chicago single mother (Angela Bassett) who falls for her son's (Lance Gross) generous basketball trainer (Rick Fox) while also getting to know her long-absent, recently deceased father's other children (Jenifer Lewis and David Mann, among others). Writer-director Perry's screen adaptation of his own play interweaves predictable dramatic developments with broad, sometimes off-color humor. Some sexual and scatological jokes, occasional crude and crass language, a brief scene of drug use, and an abortion reference. 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.
"Meet the Fockers" (Universal)
Glossy, good-natured, often intentionally tasteless sequel to "Meet the Parents" as Gaylord Focker (Ben Stiller) and his soon-to-be bride, Pam (Teri Polo), and in-laws (Robert DeNiro and Blythe Danner) drive to Florida to meet his gregarious, unconventional parents (Barbra Streisand and Dustin Hoffman) with predictably farcical results. The chief pleasure of director Jay Roach's fitfully funny film is watching the stars go through their anything-for-a-laugh paces so gamely, but though the film ultimately espouses good family values, much of the humor, language and setups are on the crude side. Sexual situations and innuendo, coarse language and brief 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 PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
"Melinda and Melinda" (Fox Searchlight)
Only fitfully interesting interwoven stories -- one tragic, one comic -- of a distraught divorcee (Radha Mitchell in both versions) who shows up unannounced at a dinner party, disrupting the lives of the couple and their friends (Will Ferrell, Amanda Peet, Chloe Sevigny and Jonny Lee Miller), and the men with whom she becomes involved (Chiwetel Ejiofor, Daniel Sunjata and Josh Brolin). Among the myriad problems with Woody Allen's latest disappointing film is that the comedic portions are scarcely funnier than the more dramatic ones, the dialogue is perplexingly artificial, and the back and forth between the two versions is frequently confusing, despite good performances and picturesque New York location shooting. Casual acceptance of adultery, sexual innuendo and brief sexual situations, some profanity and crude language, alcohol and drug use, and attempted 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 PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
"Memoirs of a Geisha" (Sony/Columbia)
Beautifully filmed and finely acted adaptation of Arthur Golden's best-seller about a girl (Ziyi Zhang) sold by her family into being a geisha in pre-World War II Japan, and her over-the-years love for a businessman (Ken Watanabe) who bought her ice cream as a child. Director Rob Marshall has crafted what is basically an unrequited romance of the kind Hollywood used to make, though one must make cultural allowances for the concept of a geisha -- strictly speaking, a woman trained to converse with and entertain men with dance and music -- but there is a discreetly portrayed sexual component to the story as related here. Some sexual banter and discreetly filmed sexual situations, including a sexual assault, and a couple of violent episodes. 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 Merchant of Venice" (Sony Pictures Classics)
Visually rich, if overly somber, adaptation by director Michael Radford of Shakespeare's classic play about Shylock (Al Pacino), a Jewish moneylender in the 16th century who lends the merchant Antonio (Jeremy Irons) a sum of money, and then insists on the contractual "pound of (Antonio's) flesh" when the money cannot be repaid by the promised date. Pacino is in good form and, as in most modern stage productions of the piece, makes Shylock as sympathetic as possible, showing him as deserving of his desired revenge after years of mistreatment by the Christians, while Irons, Joseph Fiennes as the merchant's young friend, Bassanio, for whom the money was really borrowed, and Lynn Collins as Portia, Bassanio's betrothed, who impersonates a male barrister to plead Antonio's case, provide solid support. Some nudity, sexual innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)
Potent legal drama focusing on a few days in the complicated life of the title character (George Clooney), a "fixer" for a high-powered law firm whose managing partner (Sydney Pollack) dispatches him to deal with the apparent nervous breakdown of the firm's top litigator (Tom Wilkinson) and with its effects on a multimillion-dollar, class-action lawsuit against an agrochemical company whose chief counsel (Tilda Swinton) is prepared to protect her company's interests by whatever means necessary. Writer-director Tony Gilroy's masterfully absorbing film begins at a gallop and the pace -- driven forward by uniformly intense performances -- never slackens. Much rough and crude and some crass language, frequent use of profanity, one scene of a female character in clinging underwear. 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.
"Milk & Honey" (Wellspring)
Low-budget drama which takes place over the course of one night about a middle-aged Manhattan couple -- both guilty of infidelity -- whose strained marriage is tested when an argument sparked by an embarrassing episode during a cocktail party drives the husband (Clint Jordan), an emotionally troubled stockbroker recovering from a recent mental meltdown, on an after-dark odyssey of soul-searching through the streets of New York, and his wife (Kirstin Russell) into the arms -- and eventually, the bed -- of a young performance artist who reminds her of a dead past love. Director Joe Maggio's meditation on human frailty illustrates how past sins can have ruinous effects in the present, but ends on a subtly hopeful note that seems to affirm the resilience of love. Several instances of full-frontal or partial nudity, including one adulterous sexual encounter, brief violence 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. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.
"Million Dollar Baby" (Warner Bros.)
Dark-edged drama about an ornery old-school trainer and manager (Clint Eastwood) who finds personal redemption in molding a scrappy but determined female boxer (Hilary Swank) into a contender, only to have his efforts implode in tragedy. What starts out as a formulaic, Rockyesque fight film takes a disturbingly downbeat turn, becoming a somber meditation on assisted suicide with a morally problematic ending which, despite knockout performances by Eastwood (who also directed), Swank and Morgan Freeman as a grizzled ring rat, will leave Catholic viewers emotionally against the ropes. A guilt-wracked, but ultimately permissive, depiction of euthanasia, much bloody boxing violence, some 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 PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
"Millions" (Fox Searchlight)
Disarming fable about 7-year-old Damian (Alex Etel), enthralled by the lives of the saints, who finds a stash of stolen money and, believing it is from God, tries to do good with it by giving it to the poor with the help of 9-year-old brother Anthony (Lewis McGibbon), all the while keeping it a secret from their widowed father (James Nesbitt), and being hounded by the criminal (Christopher Fulford) who stole the money in the first place. Danny ("Trainspotting") Boyle's quirky little charmer features good performances all around, especially by the adorable Etel, delightful vignettes with the saints, and dramatizes its themes of the corrupting influence of money, faith in people's basic decency, and the need for societal philanthropy, without being heavy-handed, making this ideal entertainment for older adolescents and up. A couple of mildly crude expressions, some intense episodes of menace, a momentary sexual situation, religious stereotyping, slight irreverence, and a brief scene where the brothers look, with boyish curiosity, at a Web site for women's bras on a computer. 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 Last Mimzy" (New Line)
Mostly engaging science-fiction fantasy about a young brother and sister (Chris O'Neil and Rhiannon Leigh Wryn) who find a mysterious box filled with strange objects (including the titular toy rabbit) sent from the future that gradually sets them on a path that will save humanity, while their parents (Joely Richardson and Timothy Hutton) and science teacher (Rainn Wilson) marvel at the kids' newly found intelligence as well as the strange cosmic happenings that start to occur. New Line Cinema founder Bob Shaye returns to his filmmaking roots for the first time since 1990 and proves a capable director, though the narrative -- adapted from Lewis Padgett's short story -- is an odd blend of New Age mysticism and Eastern mumbo jumbo -- albeit with an admirable pro-environment message -- but will hold the interest of kids and even their parents. A single use of a crude word, some mildly crass expressions, mild innuendo and an implied premarital situation. 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.
"Mindhunters" (Miramax)
Ludicrous thriller about FBI profilers-in-training (Jonny Lee Miller, Kathryn Morris, Christian Slater, Will Kemp, Eion Bailey and Patricia Velasquez among them) and a Philadelphia cop (LL Cool J) along for the ride, on a desolate island where they are to participate in an exercise concocted by their borderline sadistic supervisor (Val Kilmer), only to find themselves being killed off one by one for real, as in Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians." Director Renny Harlin's blood-splattered shocker has some isolated moments of suspense, and a few surprising jolts, but any elements of this being a respectable whodunit are undermined by the sheer improbability of the proceedings, the unrelenting violence, and the lame dialogue. Much profanity, crude language, intense menace, violence with blood and gore, decapitation, rear nudity, and a brief sexual encounter. 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.
"Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous"
Likable follow-up to the original "Miss Congeniality" (2000) with FBI agent Gracie Hart (Sandra Bullock), this time teamed with a hostile and reluctant partner, Sam Fuller (Regina King), sidestepping her new role as celebrity front person for the agency and going back into action to discover the whereabouts of her pal, Miss United States (Heather Burns), and master of ceremonies Stan (William Shatner), both of whom have been kidnapped in Las Vegas, while Nevada agent Collins (Treat Williams) jealously attempts to block her efforts. Director John Pasquin succeeds in mixing the laughs and the action, and Bullock and King make appealing sparring partners and register genuine humanity underneath the slapstick. There's a solid message about friendship throughout. Some crass expressions, mild profanity, comedic action violence, gender cross-dressing and sexual innuendo. 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.
"Mona Lisa Smile" (Columbia)
Problematic drama set in 1953 about a free-spirited Berkeley grad (Julia Roberts) who lands a position teaching art history at a conservative all-girls New England college where she locks horns with the rigid faculty over her unorthodox methods, while empowering her students (including Kirsten Dunst and Julia Stiles) to free themselves from the future yoke of domesticity. Directed by Mike Newell, the film eschews character for caricature, advancing a misguided strain of feminism which, rather than fostering a deeper respect for women's dignity, promotes a view of marriage and motherhood as slave-state stumbling blocks to self-fulfillment. An antagonistic attitude toward traditional morality, an implied sexual encounter, as well as minimal crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
"My Life Without Me" (Sony Classics)
A 23-year-old terminally ill wife and mother (Sarah Polley) examines her life when faced with only a few short months to live, secretly preparing her family for her absence while realizing unfulfilled dreams. Writer-director Isabel Coixet's three-hankie tearjerker takes an unflinching look at young life and the prospect of death, but the bleak film suffers from diminishing returns as it grows progressively sadder and, in the absence of faith, mortality is seen solely as a dismal end, not a beginning. An extramarital affair and sporadic rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
"The Matrix Reloaded" (Warner Bros.)
Pretentious sci-fi tale set in the 22nd century about a messianic computer hacker (Keanu Reeves) who leads a band of rebels (including Laurence Fishburne and Carrie-Anne Moss) against the artificial intelligence which has enslaved humans in a virtual-reality world, generated by evil computers bent on destroying mankind. While raising intriguing metaphysical questions and boasting mind-blowing special effects, the Wachowski brothers' sequel of their 1999 box-office hit is mired by a convoluted plot, wooden performances and a jumble of mythological-religious allusions made less palatable by the film's glamorized, video game-like violence. Fantasy-style violence, a shadowy sexual encounter and some profanities. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-IV -- adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
"Mean Creek" (Paramount Classics)
Involving drama set in rural Oregon about a group of teenage friends (including Rory Culkin and Scott Mechlowicz), whose plot to teach a schoolyard bully (Josh Beck) a lesson while boating down a river ends in tragedy when their prank springs unintended leaks. Director Jacob Aaron Estes elicits strong performances from his young cast, crafting a modest but engaging morality tale about revenge and remorse. A disturbing boating accident, fleeting rear nudity, underage drinking while driving and smoking marijuana, as well as some rough language and lewd humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
"The Medallion" (TriStar)
Pointless martial-arts comedy about a Hong Kong cop (Jackie Chan) who is endowed with superhuman powers by a sacred amulet in order to protect its young guardian from a madman bent on using the talisman's powers for his own evil designs. Failing to satisfy viewers' adrenal glands or funny bones, this kung-fu clunker, directed by Gordan Chan, hangs a series of increasingly tedious chopsocky fight sequences on a threadbare narrative, which, despite Jackie Chan's gravity-defying feats, offers few thrills. Action violence and some crass humor and double entendres. 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.
"Meet Dave" (20th Century Fox/Regency)
Whimsical comedy in which the tiny captain (Eddie Murphy) of a human-shaped alien spaceship (also Murphy) gains the help of a kindhearted young New York widow (Elizabeth Banks) and her bullied 11-year-old son (Austyn Lynd Myers) in his quest to save his home planet. Director Brian Robbins' film relies entirely on the single joke of Murphy's abject social awkwardness, but along the way celebrates generosity, human decency and the heroic potential of seemingly ordinary people. Some mild scatological humor, a sexual reference and a brief profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
"Meet the Robinsons" (Disney)
Animated feature adapted from a William Joyce children's book about a futuristically fanciful family, here decked out with a time-travel plot and a comical villain. Director and co-writer Stephen Anderson and six other screenwriters take certain elements from the book and create a yarn about a kid-genius orphan (voiced by Daniel Hansen and Jordan Fry) searching for a family. But Joyce's whimsical absurdity seems a bit silly and doesn't quite gel when forced into a feature-length narrative. Some harmless explosions, a food fight with a dinosaur and a boy thrown off a building to land harmlessly on an invisible platform. 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 Messengers" (Columbia)
Supernatural thriller about a husband (Dylan McDermott) and his wife (Penelope Ann Miller) who relocate their family from Chicago to a creepy North Dakota farmhouse haunted by ghosts of its murdered former residents visible only to the couple's toddler son and teenage daughter (Kristen Stewart), who tries to unravel the property's violent past. Directing brothers Oxide and Danny Pang bring their less-is-more Asian horror sensibilities to the standard haunted house genre, but while adroit at creating eerie visuals, they fail to generate much sustained suspense, mustering only modest chills as they navigate a predictable plot capped by a ludicrous climax. Horror images, violence, sequences of terror and menace with blood, including a disturbing but nongraphic scene of murder, an instance of mild sexual innuendo, as well as some 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.
"A Mighty Wind" (Warner Bros.)
Modest, mock-documentary-style comedy about three washed-up folk groups whose aging members are reunited after decades for a hootenanny concert to commemorate the man who shepherded them to near stardom. Director Christopher Guest plays impresario to a hilariously talented ensemble, including Bob Balaban, Eugene Levy, Michael McKean and Catherine O'Hara, proving that funny bones need not be offended to be tickled. Some sex-related humor. 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 that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
"Millions" (Fox Searchlight)
Disarming fable about 7-year-old Damian (Alex Etel), enthralled by the lives of the saints, who finds a stash of stolen money and, believing it is from God, tries to do good with it by giving it to the poor with the help of 9-year-old brother Anthony (Lewis McGibbon), all the while keeping it a secret from their widowed father (James Nesbitt), and being hounded by the criminal (Christopher Fulford) who stole the money in the first place. Danny ("Trainspotting") Boyle's quirky little charmer features good performances all around, especially by the adorable Etel, delightful vignettes with the saints, and dramatizes its themes of the corrupting influence of money, faith in people's basic decency, and the need for societal philanthropy, without being heavy-handed, making this ideal entertainment for older adolescents and up. A couple of mildly crude expressions, some intense episodes of menace, a momentary sexual situation, religious stereotyping, slight irreverence, and a brief scene where the brothers look, with boyish curiosity, at a Web site for women's bras on a computer. 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.
"Mind the Gap" (Sky Island Films)
Patchwork drama involving the intertwined stories of five strangers -- a crotchety Jewish widower (Alan King in his final film) on a personal quest, a single dad (Eric Schaeffer) dealing with his mortality, a street performer (Jill Sobule) with a heart condition, a North Carolina woman (Elizabeth Reaser) taking care of her dying mother, and a suicidal Arizona accountant (Charles Parnell) -- all of whose pained lives ultimately converge in New York City. Directed by Schaeffer, the film's meandering, multipronged plot starts off slow, with several of the situations shallowly developed, but, in spite of its improbable ending, the film pays some minor dividends, imparting a life-affirming message about forgiveness and the interconnectedness of all humanity. An attempted suicide, an arson, mature themes including a subplot involving artificial conception, and some rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.
"Miracle" (Disney)
Inspirational crowd-pleaser which tells the real-life Cinderella story of the U.S. Olympic hockey team's against-all-odds victory over their much-vaunted Russian rivals at the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid, N.Y., and the coach (Kurt Russell) whose uncompromisingly winning attitude helped lift the sagging patriotism of a nation and give it something to believe in. Director Gavin O'Connor scores a cinematic hat trick, with good writing, good acting and good direction, resulting in a movie that transcends sports and should take home box-office gold. Minimal mildly crude language and some rough sports action. 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 Missing" (Columbia)
In this film set in New Mexico Territory in 1885, a prairie healer (Cate Blanchett) must enlist the help of her estranged father (Tommy Lee Jones), who abandoned his family to live among Apaches, in order to rescue her daughter from a band of desperadoes led by a vicious Indian witch doctor. Despite full stunning big-sky vistas, director Ron Howard crafts a bleak tale weighed down by unnecessary brutality which, while imparting a message of forgiveness and redemption through self-sacrifice, blurs religious distinctions resulting in a hodgepodge of Christianity and Native American shamanism. Recurring graphic violence, an implied sexual encounter, a suicide, as well as sporadic 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.
"Mr. 3000" (Touchstone)
Crowd-pleasing baseball comedy about an aging, self-absorbed all-star (Bernie Mac) who comes out of retirement after nine years when an error discovered in the recordkeeping shows he is three base hits shy of 3,000, a career milestone without which he won't get into the Hall of Fame. Director Charles Stone III swings for the feel-good fences but comes up short of a home run; his movie's positive, but predictable, message about self-sacrifice, teamwork and second chances is weighed down by unnecessary crudeness. An implied sexual encounter, fleeting partial rear nudity and recurring coarse 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.
"Mr. Brooks" (MGM)
Sleekly shot thriller in which a daytime executive/nighttime serial killer (a subtle Kevin Costner), being blackmailed by a blood-lusting photographer (Dane Cook), suspects his own daughter (Danielle Panabaker) of homicidal tendencies while a gritty police detective (Demi Moore) doggedly seeks to nail the guilty party. Co-writer and director Bruce A. Evans fashions a trashy but chilling melodrama enhanced by William Hurt's sly performance as the serial killer's satanic alter ego, determined to control the conscience-stricken killer. A repeated sex scene with full female nudity, some gory violence, suicide, occasional profanity 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. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
"Mondays in the Sun" (Lions Gate)
Complex character study of five dock workers (including Javier Bardem) who, after being laid off, cling to each other's friendship as they try desperately to hold onto their dignity while looking for employment. Director Fernando Leon de Aranoa's moving tale explores the complicated relationship among men, work and identity with a commendable script, genuine dialogue and believable relationships. Subtitles. An implied sexual encounter and much rough language. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.
"Monsieur Ibrahim" (Sony Classics)
Tender tale set in Paris in the early 1960s about a motherless young Jewish boy (Pierre Boulanger) abandoned by his father, who finds an unlikely surrogate in a kindhearted, elderly Muslim grocer (Omar Sharif). Buttressed by nuanced performances from both ends of the life spectrum, director Francois Dupeyron's beautifully crafted film is a poignant, though minor, fairy tale about love, loss, friendship and tolerance. Subtitles. A few sexual encounters involving the teen protagonist and a prostitute, as well as sporadic crude expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
"Monster" (Newmarket)
Fictionalized drama about real-life serial murderer Aileen Wuornos (Charlize Theron), executed in Florida in 2002 for the death of six men, and her dysfunctional love affair with a young lesbian (Christina Ricci). In sympathetically portraying Wuornos, first-time writer-director Patty Jenkins walks a fine line between telling a fact-based story and justifying her horrific acts by painting her as a victim, but this unexceptional film is really about Theron's exceptional performance, which captures both Wuornos' inner turmoil and outer mannerisms, packing 30 pounds onto her frame for the role. A few lesbian sexual encounters with partial nudity, recurring violence including a rape, stereotyping of conservative Christians, as well as pervasive 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.
"Monster-in-Law" (New Line)
Lightweight comedy about a bride-to-be (Jennifer Lopez) who locks horns with her prospective mother-in-law (played intentionally over-the-top by Jane Fonda) after finding out that the latter is trying to derail her upcoming wedding to the woman's doctor-son (Michael Vartan). Directed by Robert Luketic, the film marks the first acting appearance by Fonda in 15 years, but apart from Fonda and a witty turn by Wanda Sykes as her sassy assistant, the bland acting, combined with a weak script and, at times, mean-spirited humor, makes Fonda's return trip hardly worth the wait. Sexual situations and humor, including several crude gestures, some comic violence, and sporadic 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.
"The Motorcycle Diaries" (Focus)
Compelling but hagiographic drama set in 1952 South America chronicling the continent-crossing odyssey of Ernesto "Che" Guevara (Gael Garcia Bernal), then a 23-year-old medical student, and his best friend (Rodrigo de la Serna), during which they witness the poverty of the indigenous people, awakening in Guevara a social conscience which would inform his later radical politics. Though the film is beautifully acted and crafted by director Walter Salles, some viewers may find it difficult to reconcile the road movie's idealistic -- almost saintly -- portrayal of Guevara with the fiery revolutionary of later years who advocated violence as a political tool. Subtitles. An implied sexual encounter, some crass humor and recurring rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
"Mr. Bean's Holiday" (Universal)
The perennially pleasing Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson) wins a trip to the French Riviera, but before reaching the beach he manages to complicate the lives of a Russian film critic (Karel Roden), the critic's young son (Max Baldry), a self-obsessed movie director (Willem Dafoe) and a charming French actress (Emma de Caunes). As directed by Steve Bendelack, the film is an unmitigated delight: gentle, ingenious and equally appealing to children and adults. Some mild scatological humor and a few slightly frightening scenes that might upset very young children. 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.
"Music and Lyrics" (Warner Bros.)
Likable, if featherweight, romantic comedy about a has-been 1980s pop star (Hugh Grant) commissioned to write a song for a reigning pop diva (Haley Bennett) and discovers that his plant lady (Drew Barrymore) has a talent for lyrics, so he enlists her help, and they fall in love in the process. The two leads are effortlessly charming; there's a refreshing absence of romantic conflict and nice message about real values and believing in oneself, but for all that and despite some funny barbs about the music business, the film could have used a bit more wit. Apart from a single implied premarital encounter, writer-director Marc Lawrence's film is mostly devoid of objectionable elements making this acceptable for older adolescents. Aforementioned tryst, some skimpy costuming and gyrating moves from the pop star, brief physical scuffle, mild sexual banter and innuendo. 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.
"My Boss's Daughter" (Dimension)
Train wreck of a comedy about a milquetoast office worker (Ashton Kutcher), who, in order to ingratiate himself with his despotic boss' daughter (Tara Reid), volunteers to housesit their home for a night, during which everything that could go wrong does. Full of forced, lewd humor, this pointless and witless affair, directed by David Zucker, regrettably subscribes to the if-it-offends-it's-funny school of filmmaking, resulting in a tasteless pastiche of stale sex and toilet jokes which prove its PG-13 rating extremely misleading. Pervasive crude and sex-related humor, including a scene with partial rear nudity, recurring drug abuse and much vulgar language, as well as an instance of rough language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
"My Baby's Daddy" (Miramax)
Standard male-incompetence comedy about three lifelong buddies (Eddie Griffin, Anthony Anderson and Michael Imperioli) from the streets of South Philly, whose girlfriends all announce that they are pregnant at the same time, forcing them to give up their hard-partying bachelor ways and become responsible adults. Directed by Cheryl Dunye, the film's heart is in the right place, but its crude sexual humor considerably coarsens the story's otherwise entertaining, though shopworn, men-and-dirty-diapers premise. But the narrative's ultimate affirmation of fatherhood and its encompassing responsibilities prevents the film's lewd tone from being outright offensive. A few sexual encounters, much crass humor and language, a minor lesbian subplot including a same-sex kiss, some drug references and ethnic stereotyping. 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.
"Mysterious Skin" (Tartan)
Powerful, at times graphic, story of how being sexually abused as youngsters altered the lives of two teenagers: one (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) becoming a hardened male hustler, the other (Brady Corbet), with no specific memory of his abuse, so traumatized he believes he may have been abducted by aliens as a child. Gregg Araki's uncompromising film -- based on a novel by Scott Heim -- is a searing indictment of the dreadful and lasting effects of child abuse, is sensitively handled, and features good performances including that of Michelle Trachtenberg as the platonic friend of one of the boys. But the sexual content is so raw, that many will find the film repellant and difficult to sit through. Rough and crude language, rear nudity, sordid sexual situations including violent rape, prostitution and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.
"Mystic River" (Warner Bros.)
Provocative, morally ambiguous tale of three former childhood pals contentiously thrown together after the daughter of one (Sean Penn) is murdered, the second (Tim Robbins) becomes a suspect and the third (Kevin Bacon) is the homicide detective on the case. Directed by Clint Eastwood from Dennis Lehane's best seller, the intense drama points to the shattering consequences of an incident of childhood sexual abuse that comes full circle years later with deadly repercussions. Brief but intense violence, much rough language and occasional profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
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