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Friday Feb. 5, 2010 10:37 AM ET
Return to sender: 'Dear John' a special-delivery dud
Lasse Hallström pulls out all the stops to send us running for our hankies in "Dear John." But, this hit-and-miss romance leaves moviegoers crying for something more. Full Story
Travolta's spy flick sullies the City of Love
A predictable spy movie lacking in thrills, "From Paris With Love" litters the streets with corpses, all the way from the Eiffel Tower to the Bois de Boulogne.
'Saint John of Las Vegas' no divine comedy
As a portrait of one man's journey toward dignity, "Saint John" isn't bad enough to create its own special circle of hell. As a comedy, though, it's anything but divine.
Mad Mel still a lethal weapon in 'Edge of Darkness'
Mel Gibson makes his big-screen comeback in "Edge of Darkness." But are fans ready to forgive and forget the off-screen troubles that transformed this box office hero into a tarnished Hollywood has-been?
'When in Rome' a poor coming-out party for Kristen Bell
Of all the pretty faces and talented comedians to populate "When in Rome," the funniest co-star is the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.
Dead end: 'Extraordinary Measures' flatlines
For all its good intentions "Extraordinary Measures" misses the mark.
'Creation' gives glimpse into Darwin the man
I always imagined Charles Darwin as an old, bearded man, holed up in a science lab and self-assured in his findings that would call into question the entire theory of creation.
'Tooth Fairy' full of smiles, cliches
Just weeks after something dubbed a "squeakquel," we have a movie advertised with the tagline: "You can't handle the tooth." One quakes for the marketing that awaits us for "Marmaduke."
'Last Station' depicts Tolstoy's chaotic final days
When the young Tolstoy disciple Valentin Bulgakov arrives at the great Russian writer's country estate, he has no idea of the pitched battle he's descending into.
Death becomes her: young star glows in 'Lovely Bones'
Fifteen-year-old Saoirse Ronan steals the show in "The Lovely Bones," the latest thriller from "Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson. A walk through hell turns into a heavenly screen time.
Jeff Bridges is badass brilliant in 'Crazy Heart'
As disgraced country singer Bad Blake, Jeff Bridges picks up the pieces of boozed-up, burned-out life in "Crazy Heart." Singing the blues so well should give Bridges a shot at Oscar gold.
Denzel saves the world in 'Book of Eli'
Religion cloaks the true nature of the Hughes brothers first film in nine years : A shoot-em-up Western.
Jackie Chan should be evicted as 'Spy Next Door'
Jackie Chan. Boring pen salesman named Bob Ho. But really an ace CIA agent who's retiring. You buying any of this? Neither are we.
Cera's sweet-geek era sours in 'Youth in Revolt'
Michael Cera tests his bad side in the new teen comedy "Youth in Revolt." But, this funnyman is a long way from being the baddest boy on Hollywood's block.
Vampire horror-action film 'Daybreakers' dead on arrival
The only lesson to take away from Ethan Hawke's horror-action tale "Daybreakers" is that vampires cannot run the world's affairs any better than we tasty humans can.
Charming stars and Irish scenery carry 'Leap Year'
The romantic-comedy "Leap Year" gets by, barely, on the charms of its stars and the beauty of its Irish scenery.
Robert Downey Jr. rocks Sherlock in sleuth update
Guy Ritchie's youthful, exuberant "Sherlock Holmes" shakes the dust off 19th-century London's celebrated sleuth and turns him into an action hero that kicks some ass.
'It's Complicated' a sunny take on love after divorce
Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin star in a touching, funny tale of midlife love gone wrong in "It's Complicated."
Daniel Day-Lewis is not so fine in 'Nine'
Rob Marshall's "Nine" earns the dubious honour of starring the Daniel Day-Lewis in the worst role of his brilliant career.
'Doctor Parnassus' is more than just an odd coda for Heath Ledger
Terry Gilliam's "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" is more than a peculiar coda for Heath Ledger. It's not just a trivia answer -- though that may well be its fate.
Laboured 'Squeakquel' offers twice the chipmunks, half the fun
"Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" offers exactly two big laughs for its kiddo target audience -- one involves passing gas, the other a shot to the crotch.
Awesome effects, so-so story in epic film 'Avatar'
James Cameron is the king of the world once more thanks to the state-of-the-art spectacle he creates in "Avatar."
'The Young Victoria' plays royalty for romance
Emily Blunt plays Queen Victoria as a young, romantic woman, a role that's already earned her a Golden Globe nomination and might even lead to an Oscar nod as well.
Parker and Grant: Winners in love, losers in romcom
Despite the charms of Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker, "Did You Hear About the Morgans?" raises the ghosts of a thousand other romantic comedies done far better.
'Broken Embraces' weaves Almodovar's spell but falls short
In the most indelible scene of "Broken Embraces" ("Los abrazos rotos"), Pedro Almodovar's latest vivid melodrama, Penelope Cruz plays dress-up.
Colin Firth is flawless in 'A Single Man'
Fashion designer Tom Ford turned "A Single Man," his directorial debut, into a buzz film on 2009's festival circuit. It's sumptuous. It's bittersweet. It's also Colin Firth's ticket to a long-overdue Oscar.
'Invictus' more imitation than inspiration
Morgan Freeman steps into Nelson Mandela's shoes in Clint Eastwood's new sports drama, "Invictus." But for all its stellar qualities and rugby-game action, it takes too long to stir our blood.
'Princess' restores hearty hop to Disney hand-drawn animation
The spirit of animation maestro Walt Disney lives on. The studio has gone back to its roots with a fresh, funny retelling of a classic fairy tale
'Me and Orson Welles' has snappy wryness but not heft of Welles
As an icon prone to caricature, Orson Welles ranks right up there with Truman Capote and Ray Charles. But in "Me and Orson Welles," our view is only a sideways glance.
Clooney flies high in 'Up in the Air'
Don't let the trailers for "Up in the Air" fool you - the latest George Clooney flick is far from a romantic comedy.
Tobey Maguire rages for sanity in war pic 'Brothers'
Tobey Maguire, Natalie Portman and Jake Gyllenhaal flex some serious acting muscles in Jim Sheridan's powerful new war drama, "Brothers." Eye candy aside, this trio puts a touching, modern face to today's war on terror.
De Niro delivers in 'Everybody's Fine'
Kirk Jones' Americanized remake of Giuseppe Tornatore's Italian classic puts Robert De Niro's intense acting chops back on the market - and get's his acting career out of "Meet the Fockers" hell.
John Woo's 'Red Cliff' milks action, lapses on drama
John Woo's Hollywood movies never quite captured the grace and gutsiness of his Hong Kong action films.
'The Road' a hard drive through tragedy and triumph
Viggo Mortensen's emotionally-devastating turn in the apocalyptic epic "The Road" gives new meaning to fatherly love.
'Fantastic Mr. Fox' is mighty fine, if not quite fantastic
It may not merit the adjective in its title, yet the animated yarn "Fantastic Mr. Fox" offers some of the most goofy fun you'll have at a theatre this season.
'Old Dogs' a mangy mongrel of a comedy
In case anyone in the audience isn't sure when to cackle, coo, snicker or sigh, the makers of "Old Dogs" have provided a handy on-screen prompt.
Dark genre reboot 'Ninja Assassin' cuts with a very dull blade
When considering the meagre merits of the blood-splattered "Ninja Assassin," it's best to remember the words of John Goodman's character in "The Big Lebowski."
'Big Fan' offers a portrait of guy mired in sports geekdom
Jim Rome urges his listeners (or "clones," as he so lovingly calls them) to have solid takes, to bring it, when they dial into his sports talk radio show.
'New York, I Love You' has more misses than hits
The title is "New York, I Love You," and it's a collection of shorts intended as one big love letter to the city and all the romance it has to offer.
Love bites, leaving no pulse in 'New Moon'
Dealing with the undying love of the undead can be a killer, especially in "New Moon," the troubled second chapter in the "Twilight" film series.
'Precious' offers a journey from despair to hope
Lee Daniels goes for the emotional jugular in "Precious," a tough, inspiring tale about one Harlem teen's journey from despair to hope.
'Bad Lieutenant' returns in a sequel with original's wildness intact
It's post-Katrina New Orleans and there are snakes in the water -- none bigger than Terence McDonagh, a corrupt detective, who slinks through town snorting coke, smoking heroin, harassing women and brandishing a .44 Magnum.
True-story sports flick 'The Blind Side' focuses on the feel-good
The redemption-minded sports flick "The Blind Side" serves its inspiration straight-up with no twist.
New animated sci-fi comedy 'Planet 51' proves unable to support life
It's been a big year for animation, with a great variety of styles. The best you can say of the sci-fi comedy "Planet 51" is that, it too is animated.
'2012' best excess ever in doomsday disaster
Roland Emmerich, Hollywood's master of disaster, pulls out all the stops for his end-of-days epic "2012." Ancient prophecies, volcanic eruptions, deadly tidal waves... and doomsday never looked so good.
'Antichrist' a hellish, pretentious tale of guilt
Lars von Trier's bloody, tortured "Antichrist" might make some call him the king of arthouse cinema. The rest of us just have to ask, "Lars? Have you lost your mind?"
