Movies

Amelia See Steven Rea's capsule preview on H4.

Art & Copy This documentary looks at some of the most creative and influential artists and writers in the history of advertising.

Astro Boy A scientist creates a child robot with superpowers in this animated family feature. Voiced by Nicolas Cage, Kristen Bell, and Samuel L. Jackson, among others.

Bronson A felon who has spent 30 years in solitary loses his personality and morphs into his alter ego, action star Charles Bronson.

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant A teen's (Chris Massoglia) ordinary life takes a mysterious turn when a man (John C. Reilly) he meets at a freak show turns him into a vampire. From the book series.

The Damned United Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon) stars as Brian Clough, an outspoken soccer coach whose '70s reign with British powerhouse Leeds United led to controversy.

An Education See Steven Rea's capsule preview on H4.

Good Hair See Steven Rea's capsule preview on H4.

Ong Bak 2 A young Thai fighter uses deadly skills to avenge the murder of his parents. Thai with subtitles.

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas 3-D Reissue of the delightful stop-motion animation feature that looses Burton's weird and wonderful imagination.

Saw VI Agent Strahm is dead and Det. Hoffman has taken over Jigsaw's legacy. Gore ensues.

Excellent (****)

Reviewed by critics Carrie Rickey (C.R.), Steven Rea (S.R.), David Hiltbrand (D.H.), and Tirdad Derakhshani (T.D.). W.S. denotes a wire-service review.

Bright Star Intimate as a whisper, immediate as a blush, and universal as first love, Jane Campion's PG film about the love affair between poet John Keats and his muse, Fanny Brawne, positively palpitates with the sensual and spiritual. Superb performances from Ben Whishaw as Keats, Abbie Cornish as Brawne. PG (chaste, but erotic) - C.R.

Very Good (***1/2)

Black Dynamite A seriously funny send-up of '70s blaxploitation fare, Michael Jai White and Scott Sanders' multilayered spoof is also an affectionate homage - and a crazy condensed cinema studies course. But even if you've never seen Shaft, this delivers the goods, and the laughs. 1 hr. 30 R (violence, nudity, drugs, adult themes) - S.R.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs In this animated feature, a scientist's effort to end world hunger brings unintended consequences as food starts to fall from the sky. From the beloved children's book. 1 hr. 21 PG (brief mild profanity) - W.S.

Julie & Julia Like Nora Ephron's captivating film about Julia Child and her influence, Meryl Streep's performance is cuisine disguised as comfort food, a complex preparation yielding effects both broadly entertaining and subtly moving. Amy Adams plays Julie Powell, the cook-blogger besotted with Julia. With Stanley Tucci and Chris Messina. 2 hrs. 03 PG-13 (profanity, implied sex) - C.R.

More Than a Game A remarkable documentary about a close-knit group of young basketball players from Akron, Ohio, a team that spawned superstar LeBron James. 1 hr. 42 PG (profanity) - D.H.