WanderlustNew U.S. ReleaseThe Judd Apatow school of R-rated comedy, perhaps unavoidably, has begun to produce some "C" students. Brian Lowry2/22/2012 10:00am PT
In the Shadow of a ManBerlinFour Egyptian women from diverse backgrounds and generations talk about their lives and how they were shaped by their gender, in slender, low-budget docu "In the Shadow of a Man," from debuting English-Egyptian helmer Hanan Abdalla.Alissa Simon2/21/2012 7:37pm PT
Oma & BellaBerlinFor everyone who had a Jewish grandmother, or wanted one, there's "Oma & Bella" to help them remember.Jay Weissberg2/21/2012 7:36pm PT
The Oscar-Nominated Short Films 2012: DocumentaryNew U.S. ReleaseOscar's doc short noms seem to be redefining the category as one that measures "best cause," selected less for the strength of execution than perceived legitimacy of the issue at hand.Peter Debruge2/21/2012 6:45pm PT
The Oscar-Nominated Short Films 2012: AnimationNew U.S. ReleaseWhile devoid of instant classics, Oscar's toon shorts noms were clearly selected for concept and originality, making for a delightful survey when viewed together.Peter Debruge2/21/2012 6:45pm PT
The Oscar-Nominated Short Films 2012: Live ActionAll five finalists leave auds wanting more, illustrating that not all stories require 90 or more minutes in order to convey an inspired idea. Peter Debruge2/21/2012 6:45pm PT
Reporting … A RevolutionBerlinThe January-February Egyptian Revolution is seen through the eyes of journalists in Bassam Mortada's absorbing "Reporting … A Revolution."Jay Weissberg2/21/2012 6:23pm PT
Sons of the Clouds: The Last ColonyBerlinJavier Bardem's name will do much to raise the profile of "Sons of the Clouds: The Last Colony," a slick docu on the Western Sahara crisis geared to capture the attention of Western auds.Jay Weissberg2/21/2012 6:17pm PT
BlissBerlinAn alienated punk and a war-refugee hooker prove that their feelings for one another go above and beyond societal constraints in "Bliss."Alissa Simon2/21/2012 6:16pm PT
Deep in the HeartNew U.S. ReleaseObviously sincere but unremarkably bland, "Deep in the Heart" provides only a modest amount of uplift while recounting the true-life story of Richard Wallrath, a Texas businessman and philanthropist who managed to quit drinking and turn his life around only after losing his job and family, and plumbing the lower depths of rock bottom.Joe Leydon2/21/2012 3:34pm PT
Beyond the HillBerlinAn eye-catching parable about scapegoating and the multitude of sins it covers, "Beyond the Hill," from debuting Turkish helmer-writer Emin Alper, is a deliberately paced drama set amid the scenic hills of central Anatolia. Appealing more to the intellect than the emotions, the low-budgeter is most interesting for the way it uses the stunning landscape, at times adopting Western iconography. The powerful visuals as well as a special mention garnered in Berlin's first feature competition, should pique fest programmer interest.Alissa Simon2/21/2012 1:43pm PT
The SummitBerlinA wealth of interviews and archival footage are brought together in "The Summit," Franco Fracassi and Massimo Lauria's thoroughly researched investigation into the 2001 Genoa G8 demonstration debacle. Jay Weissberg2/20/2012 11:03pm PT
KauwboyBerlinThat it sometimes takes one death to accept another is the message of "Kauwboy," an unpretentious kidpic that balances sweet and sour in just the right doses. Jay Weissberg2/20/2012 11:02pm PT
XinguBerlinHandsome, fact-based historical drama "Xingu" from helmer Cao Hamburger ("The Year My Parents Went on Vacation") is a stirring, broad-strokes account of the founding of Brazil's Xingu National Park, a milestone in the recognition of rights for indigenous people, and of the legendary Villas-Boas brothers who made the creation of the park their mission. Alissa Simon2/20/2012 11:01pm PT
Comes a Bright DayBerlinA working-class London lad with big dreams romances an out-of-his-league blonde against the backdrop of a bloody jewelry store heist that escalates into a hostage situation in British indie "Comes a Bright Day."Alissa Simon2/20/2012 11:00pm PT
Anton Corbijn: Inside OutBerlinDutch music-biz shutterbug and occasional helmer Anton Corbijn ("Control," "The American") is asked to lay down on the cinematic equivalent of a shrink's couch in Low-Countries docu "Anton Corbijn: Inside Out." Boyd van Hoeij2/20/2012 10:59pm PT
Ulrike Ottinger -- Nomad From the LakeBerlinFortunately there's enough material within Ulrike Ottinger's continuing body of work for 10 docus, since Brigitte Kramer's "Ulrike Ottinger -- Nomad from the Lake" only skims the surface of the cult helmer's experiences and output. Jay Weissberg2/20/2012 8:03pm PT
HorsesSanta BarbaraA tribute to the kind of quality filmmaking that could have come out of a 19th century novel, Michele Rho's handsome if literal-minded saga "Horses" depicts the travails of two farm-raised brothers spanning the decades. Robert Koehler2/20/2012 7:59pm PT
Night of SilenceBerlinA rural Anatolian spin on the story of Scheherazade, the protag from "1001 Nights" who tries to ward off the impending violence of her new husband, "Night of Silence" is a riveting chamber drama that should further consolidate the reputation of Turkish helmer Reis Celik. Boyd van Hoeij2/20/2012 7:58pm PT
Surviving ProgressSanta BarbaraTying together problems of overpopulation, pollution, consumption, global warming, industrial development and more, "Surviving Progress" offers a cinematic wakeup call so cogent and non-didactic even Tea Partiers would be hard-pressed to shrug it off. Dennis Harvey2/20/2012 7:57pm PT
GlickmanSanta BarbaraThe life of a sports broadcasting pioneer is memorialized in "Glickman." Dennis Harvey2/20/2012 7:56pm PT
Being FlynnNew U.S. ReleaseInspired by the poetic memoir "Another Bullshit Night in Suck City," writer-director Paul Weitz's moving, if somewhat maudlin adaptation takes interesting stylistic chances suggested by the virtuosity of its source.Peter Debruge2/20/2012 12:00am PT
The Best Exotic Marigold HotelNew U.S. ReleaseIndia is the new Italy for retirees seeking a hot climate to renew their lust for life, based on the evidence of this frequently droll and likable if thoroughly predictable comedy-drama.Leslie Felperin2/18/2012 10:00am PT
The WallBerlinA tale of a femme Robinson Crusoe with evergreens instead of palms and mountain peaks instead of sandy beaches, "The Wall" reps another showcase for the mesmerizing face of thesp Martina Gedeck.Boyd van Hoeij2/18/2012 2:00am PT
The ConvoyBerlinAn account of a Russian soldier trying to retrieve some stolen money, helmer Alexei Mizgiriov's turgid "The Convoy" reps a serious disappointment after "Buben Baraban."Leslie Felperin2/18/2012 1:59am PT
Ghost Rider: Spirit of VengeanceNew U.S. Release "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" reps a marginal improvement on the series' first installment and contains enough idiosyncrasies to launch it ahead of the moribund "Season of the Witch."Andrew Barker2/17/2012 6:49pm PT
Bel AmiBerlinDisplaying little in the way of wily self-assurance, charisma or gravitas, the "Twilight Saga" heartthrob doesn't exactly invigorate this flailing English-language adaptation of Guy de Maupassant's much-filmed novel.Justin Chang2/17/2012 12:15pm PT
War WitchBerlinAn account of a girl soldier struggling to survive in a conflict-torn central African state, "War Witch" offers the sort of harrowing experience one would expect given its abominable subject matter. Leslie Felperin2/17/2012 9:01am PT
Re:GenerationEngaging docu "Re:Gen-eration" charts an experiment conducted under the Grammys' auspices that matched leading producer-DJs in the electronica and hip-hop realms with talent in other musical genres to create collaborative tracks. Dennis Harvey2/16/2012 9:28pm PT
CherryBerlinOn one level, "Cherry" is just another story about a girl from the sticks who comes to the big city and becomes a star, except that here the chosen field of endeavor is porn.Leslie Felperin2/16/2012 7:07pm PT
White Deer PlainBerlinAs somber as a funeral procession, "White Deer Plain" is a plodding 175-minute family saga that offers a microcosm of the collapse of the agrarian feudal system in turn-of-the-century China. Maggie Lee2/16/2012 7:04pm PT
MercyBerlin"Mercy" is a forbiddingly austere title for German helmer Matthias Glasner's polished, accessible moral melodrama, which is less about the eponymous virtue than assorted states of guilt.Guy Lodge2/16/2012 6:25pm PT
A Royal AffairBerlinHelmer Nikolaj Arcel reaches back to 18th-century Denmark to spin a real-life tale of intrigue, power, money, sex, love and betrayal in the handsome, character-driven historical drama "A Royal Affair."Alissa Simon2/16/2012 6:02pm PT
Just the WindBerlinInspired by real events, Magyar auteur Bence Fliegauf's spare, naturalistic drama puts a human face on the victims of racially motivated violence.Alissa Simon2/16/2012 10:00am PT
ArcadiaBerlinDebutante writer-helmer Olivia Silver's "Arcadia" features a dysfunctional family taking a road trip and stars John Hawkes: In every respect, it feels like a typical Sundance film, except that it wasn't actually there this year (although the short it's based on, "Little Canyon," played Park City in 2009).Leslie Felperin2/15/2012 4:53pm PT
Calm at SeaBerlinNew German Cinema vet Volker Schloendorff broke out in 1979 with "The Tin Drum," a formally brazen metaphorical vision of WWII horrors.Guy Lodge2/15/2012 4:52pm PT
Maori Boy GeniusBerlinLow-key pic is an inspiring look at the education and training of charismatic, articulate 16-year-old Ngaa Rauuira Pumanawawhiti, pegged since birth as a future leader. Alissa Simon2/15/2012 11:09am PT
Postcards From the ZooBerlinA languid, dreamlike study of an abandoned naif taking a few tentative steps outside the wild-animal park that has been her lifelong home and refuge. Justin Chang2/15/2012 9:10am PT
Side by SideBerlinLikely to prove utterly irresistible to geeks of all descriptions, "Side by Side" examines the impact of digital technology on film. Leslie Felperin2/15/2012 7:40am PT
The ParadeBerlinBilled as the first pan-Yugoslav feature (minus Bosnia) since the country's break-up, "The Parade" sees itself as a genial satire, but Srdjan Dragojevic's tired and tiresome caricatures are just embarrassing.Jay Weissberg2/14/2012 12:50pm PT