CATFISH - C+

Documentary
Despite a decent build-up, this “reality thriller” about a Facebook romance gone fishy sends off a surprising number of false notes for a supposed documentary. Unfortunately, that nagging sensation ends up overwhelming the film, especially after the surprise is out of the bag.

CASINO JACK - C+

Kevin Spacey, Barry Pepper, Kelly Preston
Spacey has the right combo of venom and charisma for this look at the downfall of former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, but the rest of the film is far too muddled, with wild shifts in tone from somber drama to easy-going comedy (a smarmy turn by former SNLer Jon Lovitz doesn’t help).

BLUE VALENTINE - A-

Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, Mike Vogel
This raw drama from director Derek Cianfrance skips back and forth from the first blossoms of love to the brutal explosion of a relationship. It’s deliberately paced and acted with such brutal honesty that it hits you emotionally like a sucker punch. Not an easy film, but a fantastic one.

BIUTIFUL - B-

Javier Bardem, Maricel Alvarez, Hanaa Bouchaib
Javier Bardem suffers mightily in Biutiful and indeed it is a staggering depiction of emotional and physical pain. But ultimately, that’s all there really is to Biutiful – a depressing film that lays on the agony so thick that there isn’t room for any other characters or the film itself to come to life. (2010)

ANOTHER YEAR - B+

Jim Broadbent, Ruth Sheen, Lesley Manville
The act of aging is graceful, humiliating, bittersweet and melancholic in this thoughtful look at a slightly bohemian couple happily settling into retirement age. Marked by stellar performances, this is one of his quietest and most thoughtful films of writer-director Mike Leigh’s career.

ALL GOOD THINGS - C

Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst, Frank Langella
All Good Things may star the always compelling Ryan Gosling, but this love story / mystery – based on a notorious unsolved murder case – is vague and clichéd, with major structural issues. Director Andrew Jarecki places far too much reliance on the intrusive score, ultimately dulling any suspence.

LIFE AS WE KNOW IT - C-

Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel, Melissa McCarthy
Someday, Katherine Heigl may star in another romantic comedy that isn’t groan-inducing (her last decent one being Knocked Up), but this awful and woefully predictable effort – centered on an ridiculous story about irresponsible parents - certainly isn’t it. It’s as painful as teething.