Our critics recommend...

Identity Thief

See Steven Rea's preview on H2.

John Dies at the End See Steven Rea's preview on H2.

Side Effects See Steven Rea's preview on H2.

Top Gun 3D One of Tom Cruise's early hits, in which he plays a recruit at a naval fighter-pilot school, returns to the big screen in 3D.

West of Memphis This documentary examines the miscarriage of justice that led to the conviction of three teens in a high-profile murder case.

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

Amour Michael Haneke's remarkable and heartbreaking portrait of an elderly Parisian couple stars French New Wave icons Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva. When she falls ill, he must take care of her, throwing the quiet, comfortable lives of these two retired musicians into chaos. A sad and beautiful - and occasionally frightening - masterpiece. PG-13 (adult themes) - S.R.

Rust and Bone Marion Cotillard is a trainer of orca whales, Matthias Schoenaerts is a homeless father of a small boy, and a couple of jolting events throw the two of them together in the south of France in Jacques (A Prophet) Audiard's raw and beautiful melodrama. 2 hrs. R (sex, nudity, violence, profanity, adult themes) - S.R.

The Sessions A beautiful, funny, life-affirming film about the quadriplegic poet and journalist Mark O'Brien, who, at 38, sought a sex surrogate to help him lose his virginity. John Hawkes and Helen Hunt star, brilliantly. 1 hr. 35 R (sex, nudity, profanity, adult themes) - S.R.

Silver Linings Playbook A head-spinning wonder of a movie about love, pain, reinvention, rehabilitation, and the totemic power of an NFL franchise, with Bradley Cooper as a guy dealing with bipolar disorder and heartbreak, Jennifer Lawrence as a young widow with her own troubles, and an amazing supporting cast. From director David O. Russell, based on Matthew Quick's novel, and about as Philly-centric as you can get. 2 hrs. 02 R (profanity, sex, drugs, violence, adult themes) - S.R.

Zero Dark Thirty Kathryn Bigelow's slow-burning and brilliant account of the decade-long Osama bin Laden manhunt, with Jessica Chastain as the CIA officer determined to track down the al-Qaeda figure no matter what. With Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Jennifer Ehle, Joel Edgerton, and Mark Strong. 2 hrs. 37 R (intense violence, profanity, adult themes) - S.R.

Argo Ben Affleck stars in, and directs, the far-fetched but nonetheless factual tale of a CIA plot to extricate six U.S. Embassy workers from Tehran as the 1979 Iran hostage crisis unfolds. With Alan Arkin, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, and crackling humor amid the white-knuckle suspense. 2 hrs. R (violence, profanity, adult themes) - S.R.

Hyde Park on Hudson Bill Murray disappears beneath the pince-nez and the presidential fedora, playing FDR during one fascinating summer weekend in 1939 when he and his wife host the king and queen of England, and when a distant cousin (Laura Linney) falls in love with the polio-hobbled commander-in-chief. A charming, wistful film. 1 hr. 34 R (sex, profanity, adult themes) - S.R.

The Impossible A family caught in the unbelievable carnage of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami - unbelievable, but true - with Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, and the remarkable young actor Tom Holland. A chilling but thrilling account of survival, visceral and inspiring. 1 hr. 54 PG-13 (violence, profanity, adult themes) - S.R.

Lincoln Daniel Day-Lewis in an act of human alchemy, delivering an absolutely extraordinary performance as the 16th president of the United States, campaigning to end the Civil War and abolish slavery. A film about America's unique political process, and the leader trying to bend it to his will. 2 hrs. 29 PG-13 (violence, adult themes) - S.R.

Rise of the Guardians Enchanting animated adaptation of William Joyce's The Guardians of Childhood, featuring Santa, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, Sandman, and Jack Frost as the fantastic five who protect and serve children's imaginations. 1 hr. 29 PG (Animated adventure, gloomy villain. For those 6 and older) - C.R.

Bullet to the Head

Someone is eating his Activia. Sylvester Stallone defies time, playing a deadly hit man in this grim and violent crime thriller. With Sung Kang, Sarah Shahi, and Jason Momoa. 1 hr. 31 R (strong violence, nudity, profanity, substance abuse)

- D.H.

Django Unchained **1/2 Quentin Tarantino homages Mandingo, spaghetti westerns, blaxploitation, Sam Peckinpah, and the Three Stooges in this all-over-the-place antebellum western. Jamie Foxx gets the title role, a slave promised freedom if he helps a bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) track down some mugs. With Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, and Leonardo DiCaprio as a plantation owner twirling his mustache with sinister glee. 2 hrs. 45 R (violence, profanity, adult themes) - S.R.

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters *1/2 Years after the gingerbread incident, siblings Hansel and Gretel are special bounty hunters who hunt witches the world over. 1 hr. 26 PG-13 (violence, profanity) - W.S.

Mama *** An intensely spooky ghost story, with two deeply traumatized young girls discovered in the woods and taken to live with their uncle and aunt (Jessica Chastain) - a move the wraithlike title character is hardly happy about. 1 hr. 40 PG-13 (intense scares, children in jeopardy, adult themes) - S.R.

Movie 43 *1/2 Numerous tales are intertwined in this ensemble comedy starring Emma Stone, Gerard Butler, Kristen Bell, Hugh Jackman, and Kate Winslet. 1 hr. 39 R (strong pervasive crude and sexual content including dialogue, graphic nudity, language, some violence, and drug use) - W.S.

Parker **1/2 Jason Statham is Donald E. Westlake's famous "heister" in Taylor Hackford's hard-knuckle crime thriller, chasing down a gang of doublecrossers with an assist from Jennifer Lopez. R (violence, profanity, nudity, adult themes) - S.R.

Stand Up Guys ** Al Pacino hambones up a storm as a veteran crook just released from prison and longing to drink and party and wave his hands around in the air. Christopher Walken is his old friend and partner in crime, and Alan Arkin shows up, too, as another former colleague, now in a retirement home. A joy ride in a stolen car ensues. 1 hr. 34 R (profanity, violence, sex, adult themes) - S.R.

Warm Bodies *** An enjoyably clever and appropriately gory rom-zom-com, about a sensitive walking dead dude who saves a flesh-and-blood girl from being eaten, and finds himself falling in love with her. Jonathan (50/50) Levine directs, adapting the Isaac Marion novel. PG-13 (violence, gore, profanity, adult themes) -S.R.

Reviewed by Wendy Rosenfield (W.R.), Jim Rutter (J.R.), Howard Shapiro (H.S.), David Patrick Stearns (D.P.S.), and Toby Zinman (T.Z.)

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Bad Dates

(Montgomery Theater) A single mother trying to make a new life for herself (and her shoes). Previews Wednesday and Thursday, opens Friday.

Infinite Ache (Theatre Horizon) Two young people, parting company, flash through a future together. In previews, opens Friday.

My Romantic History (Inis Nua) Young office workers - but already nostalgic for first love. Preview Tuesday, opens Wednesday.

Strictly Platonic (Hedgerow Theatre) A thirtysomething male chauvinist finds love eye-opening. Preview Thursday, opens Friday.

The Amish Project

(Simpatico Theatre Project) In this seven-character, one-woman show about the Nickel Mines shootings, a community confronts horror with compassion. Ends Sunday.

An Ideal Husband (Walnut Street Theatre) Not an ideal production of Oscar Wilde's play, but then the play's message is that nothing is perfect. Through March 3. - D.P.S.

Around the World in Eighty Days (Walnut Indepdendence Studio) This cabinet of curiosities opens up a world of wonder in a fun, madcap, gorgeously costumed production. Ends Sunday. - W.R.

Assassin (InterAct Theatre Company) A rare and powerful look at moral consequences in sports, based on a real gridiron tragedy. Through next Sunday. - J.R.

Assistance (Wilma Theater) Like a very timely sitcom onstage, this study in mindless ambition among the young and cruel boasts six outstanding performances. Ends Sunday. - T.Z.

The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Lantern Theatre Company) Magnificent production of Martin McDonagh's moving, shocking play about a mother and daughter. Not to be missed! Through next Sunday. - T.Z.

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Plays & Players) Dull rather than outrageous, this hipster history about the seventh president of the U.S. (check your $20 bills) is disappointing and much too long. Through next Sunday. - T.Z.

Boeing Boeing (Delaware Theatre Company) ) Onstage turbulence = smooth flight for the audience at this '60s-era farce Francais. Through next Sunday.- W.R.

Cooking With the Calamari Sisters (Society Hill Playhouse) Mamma Mia! Two guys portray behavior-challenged adult Italian sisters in a laugh-filled spoof of cooking shows that gets wilder as it progresses. Extended through March 10. - H.S.

Endgame (Arden Theatre) ) Purists will cringe as director Ed Sobel tosses out Beckett's famous stage instructions and goes for grim. Through March 10. - W.R.

Equus (Curio Theatre) Curio finds a fresh perspective on Peter Shaffer's 40-year-old psychiatric thriller. Through Feb. 16. - J.R.

Lungs (Luna Theater Company) ) To breed or not to breed? You've seen it before, but these performances make it all worth watching. Through next Sunday. - W.R.

The Mountaintop (Philadelphia Theatre Company) Katori Hall's prizewinning reimagining of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s last night. Through Feb. 17.

With a Song in My Heart (Hedgerow Theatre) This John Smitherman revue features favorites from Porter, Kern, Berlin and Gershwin. Ends Sunday.