CAPSULE REVIEWS

Capsule reviews are written and rated by Courant film critics:

***** – Classic

**** – Excellent

*** – Good

** – Fair

* – Poor

* – Don’t bother

OPENING THIS WEEK

Bella – Alejandro Gomez Monteverde directs this drama about disparate people whose lives collide one day in New York. Spanish with subtitles, and also in English. PG-13.

Canvas – Joe Pantoliano stars in Joseph Greco’s story about a family coping with mental illness. At Criterion Cinemas in New Haven. PG-13.

Fred Claus – David Dobkin directs Vince Vaughn as a bitter brother of Santa (Paul Giamatti). PG.

I’ll Believe You – West Hartford native David Alan Basche stars in Paul Francis Sullivan’s story about a DJ and his weird callers. At Bow-Tie Palace in Hartford. PG.

Lions for Lambs – Robert Redford directs Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise and himself in a story about two injured soldiers behind enemy lines in Afghanistan. R.

My Kid Could Paint That – Amir Bar-Lev directs documentary about a controversial 4-year-old artist. At Cinema City. PG.

P2 – Franck Khalfoun directs a story about a career woman stalked by a deranged security guard. R.

Romance & Cigarettes – John Turturro directs James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon and Kate Winslet in a musical set in New York City. At Madison Art Cinemas. R.

Saawariya – Sanjay Leela Bhansali directs this Bollywood romantic drama. At Showcase East Windsor. Hindi with subtitles. PG.

This Is England – Shane Meadows directs a drama about a boy who falls in with skinheads after his father dies. Opens Saturday at Real Art Ways. Unrated.

SNEAK PREVIEWS

The Business of Being Born – Abby Epstein’s documentary discusses childbirth as a business. 6:30 p.m. today at Manchester Community College. Free. Unrated.

Darfur Now -Don Cheadle stars in Ted Braun’s documentary about the crisis in the Sudan. Tuesday at Cinema City. Free. Unrated.

NEW FILMS, THIS WEEK ONLY

Buddha’s Lost Children – Mark Verkerk directs a story about a Buddhist monk who helps orphan children. Thai with subtitles. Opens Saturday at Real Art Ways. Unrated.

Everything’s Cool – Daniel B. Gold and Judith Helfand direct a celebration of public awareness of global warming. 7:30 Tuesday at Cinestudio. Unrated.

Garth Brooks Live in Concert – Country music concert, simulcast live from Kansas City. Wednesday at 9 p.m. at Branford 12 and Showcase Buckland in Manchester. Unrated. (See story, Page 26.)

Grbavica: Land of My Dreams – Jasmila Zbanic directs the story of a woman and her daughter after the Balkan War. Wednesday at noon in Room 201 of the Student Center on Western Connecticut State University, 181 White St. in Danbury. Bosnian with subtitles. Free. Unrated.

No Unwounded Solders – Rebecca Abbott, professor at Quinnipiac University, discusses war with several Vietnam vets. 3 p.m. Sunday at the Educational Center for the Arts at 55 Audubon St., New Haven. Free. Unrated.

Our Latin Thing – Musical documentary was filmed in 1971 at the Cheetah, a New York nightclub favored by Latinos. With short The Wannabe. Tuesday at 7 p.m. at La Paloma Sabanera Coffeehouse Bookstore, at Capitol Avenue and Babcock Street in Hartford. Spanish with subtitles. Followed by a Q&A.; Suggested donation: $5. Unrated.

Sailing Down to Rio – on the Queen Mary 2 – The world’s biggest ocean liner goes to Carnaval. Doug Jones directs. Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford. Unrated.

Sand and Sorrow – Paul Freedman directs a documentary about the rise of Darfur’s Arab-dominated government. Narrated by George Clooney. At Bantam Cinema in Litchfield. Unrated.

Shake The World – Jinwei Wang directs a story about the Falun Gong in China. Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Charter Oak Cultural Center in Hartford, followed by discussion. Unrated.

Steal a Pencil for Me – Michele Ohayon makes a documentary about an extramarital flirtation at Bergen-Belsen. Real Art Ways. Unrated.

Talk to Me – Don Cheadle portrays Ralph Waldo “Petey” Greene, an ex-con who became a D.J. in Washington D.C., in Kasi Lemmons’ film. Friday at 2 p.m. at Kent Memorial Library in Suffield. R.

Vientos de Agua, 7 and 8 – Juan Jose Campanella directs two episodes of TV series about a Spaniard’s emigration to Argentina. 7 p.m. Wednesday at Life Sciences Center Auditorium, Trinity College. Presented by professor Tom Harrington. Spanish with subtitles. Free. (Episodes 11 and 12 on Nov. 28; and 13 on Dec. 12.) Unrated.

HARTFORD INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Today through Sunday. Details: capitolcinemacollective.org.

Arlit, Deuxiemme Paris – Idrissou Mora Kpai directs a documentary about a Nigerian uranium mine. French with subtitles. With short Global Focus III: The New Environmentalists, 5 p.m. Friday, Pope Park Rec Center, 30 Pope Park Drive.

Bleeding Green – Short documentary by Kevin Massicotte of South Windsor about the Hartford Whalers’ Booster Club. With short Public Excess. 1 p.m. Sunday at Auerbach Auditorium, University of Hartford. Massicotte will do a Q&A; after.

Chasin’ Gus’ Ghost – Todd and Carol Kwait direct a history of jug-band music. 8 p.m. Saturday, Wilde Auditorium, University of Hartford. The Kwaits will do a Q&A; after.

Henry May Long – Brian Barnhart directs a Victorian-era drama about two friends who reunite. 2 p.m. Sunday at Auerbach Auditorium, followed by the short Another Run Through and feature The Call of Cthulhu, Andrew Leman’s silent horror film, based on a story by H.P. Lovecraft, about a cult and a monster.

High Spirits: Westford Hill Distillers – Andy Blood directs documentary about a distillery. 11:30 a.m. Sunday at Red Rock Tavern, Capitol Avenue and Flower Street.

Killer of Sheep – Charles Burnett directs classic from 1973 about an urban man trying to resist crime. 7:30 p.m. Friday at Wadsworth Atheneum. Followed by discussion by Terri Francis, assistant professor of Film Studies and African American Studies at Yale University

My Brother’s Wedding – Charles Burnett directs this 1983 drama about a best man who dislikes the groom, his brother. 2 p.m. Saturday at Wadsworth Atheneum.

My War, My Story – Andy Blood interviews Iraq vets opposed to the war. 7:30 p.m. tonight at Bow-Tie Palace. Blood will do a Q&A; after.

A Night in the Hill – Matthew Weiss directs a drama about young people on the edge. With short Red Balloon, directed by Justin Liberman, teacher at Sacred Heart University. 4 p.m. Saturday, at Wilde Auditorium. Weiss will do a Q&A; after.

Person of Interest – Christopher Ward directs a thriller about a psychic hired to find missing people. 7:30 p.m. Friday, La Paloma Sabanera, Capitol Avenue and Babcock Street. Ward will do a Q&A; after.

The Shining Trench of Chairman Gonzalo – Jim Finn re-enacts a Peruvian prison in 1989, full of Shining Path members. 11 p.m. Saturday Art Cinema, 255 Franklin Ave. Finn will do a Q&A; after.

Shorts Programs – Program 1 (including A Garota, Life as Nin, Coffee, Black, Bleeding Green, I Just Want to Eat My Sandwich, Global Focus III: The New Environmentalists, and Lost & Found, directed by and starring Mike Lombardi of Newington), Pope Park, Saturday from noon to 3. Program 2 (including Cyn, Ch. XV:12, Who Cares?, Public Excess, I Just Want to Eat My Sandwich, Hiking in Hell’s Heels, and Pretty Dead Flowers by Justin Liberman of Middletown), 11 a.m. Saturday, Art Cinema.

A Skin Too Few : The Days of Nick Drake – Jeroen Berkvens directs a documentary about the musician. 7 p.m. Saturday, Wilde Auditorium.

Special Circumstances – Marianne Teleki directs a documentary about Hector Salgado, a Chilean arrested and tortured by Pinochet’s forces. With short Coffee, Black. 7 p.m. Saturday, La Paloma Sabanera.

Thieves and Liars – Three Puerto Rican families are entwined in the cocaine trade. Spanish with subtitles. 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Cinestudio, 300 Summit St. Director Ricardo Mendez Matta will do a Q&A; after.

EROS FILM FESTIVAL

Encouraging Respect of Sexualities film series begins Sunday. All screenings at Cinestudio.

The Laramie Project – Moises Kaufman’s 2002 docudrama studies the murder of Matthew Shepard. Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Free. Unrated.

Boy I Am – Sam Feder and Julie Hollar direct this documentary about female-to-male transsexuals. Monday at 7:30 p.m. Unrated.

Tick Tock Lullaby – Lisa Gornick directs a story about “a search for sperm in London.” Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Unrated.

STEPHEN GYLLENHAAL FESTIVAL

At Cinestudio. Gyllenhaal, director of all the films, will attend all screenings.

Homegrown – Billy Bob Thornton, Hank Azaria and Ryan Phillippe play dope-growers in 1998 comic thriller. 2:30 p.m. Saturday. R.

A Killing in a Small Town – Barbara Hershey stars in a story about an ax murderer. 7:30 p.m. today. Unrated.

Paris Trout – Dennis Hopper portrays a bigoted Southern bully in this drama. 7:30 p.m. Friday. R.

Waterland – Jeremy Irons stars as a high school teacher with emotional problems in this drama. 7:30 p.m. Saturday. R.

8 FILMS TO DIE FOR: AFTER-DARK HORRORFEST

Friday to Sunday at Loews Plainville, 220 New Britain Road;and Marquee Springfield Plaza 16, 1250 St. James Ave., Springfield. Details: horrorfestonline.com.

Borderland – A blood cult looks for new victims.

Crazy Eights – Something grisly is found in a time capsule.

The Deaths of Ian Stone – A man is murdered many times.

Lake Dead – Teens find a cabin full of psychos.

Mulberry Street – New Yorkers begin turning into rats.

Nightmare Man – A woman sees a scary man and runs into the woods. R.

Tooth and Nail – People hole up in a hospital to hide from cannibals.

Unearthed – Archaeological dig finds something scary.

QUEER AVANT-GARDE FILM SERIES

Part of continuing weekly program by the Yale Research Initiative on the History of Sexualities. This week’s program is themed “Ken Jacobs, Politics, Aesthetics, Jack Smith.” Jacobs will be present. Sunday at 7 p.m. at Whitney Humanities Center Auditorium in New Haven. Free.

Baud’larian Capers

Whirled

Star Spangled to Death

RECENTLY RELEASED

30 Days of Night ** – An Alaskan town that has uninterrupted darkness for an entire month is beset by vampires. Josh Hartnett stars in David Slade’s thriller. It’s a cut above most modern gore fests, but the premise and gimmicks grow monotonous. R.

Across the Universe **** – Julie Taymor directs a ’60s-set musical starring Evan Rachel Wood, with many Beatles songs. It fails, magnificently. PG-13.

American Gangster **** – Russell Crowe and director Ridley Scott tell the story of the rise of a drug kingpin (Denzel Washington). It’s a fascinating look at amoral opportunists.R.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford *** – Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck star in Andrew Dominick’s drama. This isn’t the best James Gang drama, but its view of the West beyond the myth is worth enduring. R.

Bee Movie **** – Jerry Seinfeld and Renee Zellweger lend their voices to Steve Hickner and Simon J. Smith’s insect adventure about bees suing humans who eat honey. It’s a wry, animated lark. PG.

Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead **** – Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke star in Sidney Lumet’s drama about a jewelry store robbery. Sidney Lumet is at the top of his game, and except for Hawke, the cast is terrific. R.

The Comebacks (not reviewed) – In a parody of inspirational sports movies, Tom Brady (not the football star) directs this story about a college football team. PG-13.

Dan in Real Life ****- Peter Hedges directs Steve Carell as a man who falls for Juliette Binoche, who’s dating his brother. It’s cliched, but charming. PG-13.

The Darjeeling Limited *** – Three brothers go on a journey after their father dies. Wes Anderson directs a cast that includes Owen Wilson and Adrien Brody. It’s arch and eccentric. R.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age ** – Cate Blanchett revisits the role of Queen Elizabeth I in this follow-up film to “Elizabeth.” It’s a kitschy, amateurish failure. PG-13.

For the Bible Tells Me So *** – Documentary about how the religious right has stigmatized homosexuality. Daniel G. Karslake makes a convincing case, but he may be preaching to the choir. Unrated.

Gone Baby Gone ***** – Ben Affleck makes his directoral debut. Casey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan play detectives solving a kidnapping. It oozes with atmosphere and rich characters, and a plot that keeps on surprising. R.

Lars and the Real Girl ****- Ryan Gosling plays a man who buys a blow-up doll and thinks it’s a real person. Craig Gillespie directs a touching, oddly sweet story. PG-13.

Lust, Caution *** – Ang Lee tells a story about intrigue set in Shanghai during World War II. A beautifully constructed film, but the central performances lack fire. NC-17.

Martian Child ** – John Cusack takes in a boy who claims to be from Mars, in Menno Meyjes’ film. Cusack is too remote to engage us. PG.

Michael Clayton ***** – George Clooney stars in Tony Gilroy’s story about corporate malfeasance. Tom Wilkinson deserves an Oscar for his performance. R.

Om Shanti Om (not reviewed) – Farah Khan directs this Bollywood fantasy about a reincarnated man who investigates his own killing. At Showcase East Windsor. Hindi with subtitles. Unrated.

Rendition ** – Gavin Hood directs Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal and Meryl Streep in a story about clandestine methods of interrogation. Everything is black and white here, a disservice considering the issue’s complexity. R.

Saw IV * – The latest installment of the franchise is directed by Darren Lynn Bousman. It’s disgusting, deplorable and demoralizing. R.

Things We Lost in the Fire **** – Susanne Bier directs the story of a woman whose husband dies and who grows close to his troubled best friend. It’s a romantic melodrama filled with humanity and a tour de force for Halle Berry and Benecio Del Toro. R.

We Own the Night *** – Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Wahlberg are brothers dealing with the Russian Mafia in James Gray’s drama. The film is good, but when Phoenix isn’t in the scene, it drags. R.

Why Did I Get Married? ** – Tyler Perry directs a story about variations on marital discord. It’s unsubtle and the acting isn’t good, but there are some big laughs, and useful tips. PG-13.

Wristcutters: A Love Story *** – Goran Dukic directs a fantasy that takes place in a holding pen in heaven, where suicides must prove their worthiness. It’s funny and sweet and cute, but not quite enough of any of these. R.

STILL RUNNING

3:10 to Yuma *** – Russell Crowe is a desperado being escorted to prison by good-guy rancher Christian Bale. James Mangold’s movie starts out well, but shoots itself in the foot. R.

The Bourne Ultimatum **** – Paul Greengrass directs a breathless, thrilling finale to the “Bourne” trilogy. Matt Damon stars. PG-13.

Feel the Noise ** – Giancarlo Esposito stars in Alejandro Chomski’s drama about a man who wants to be a rapper. It’s a solid story. PG-13.

The Game Plan *** – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson plays a football hero who finds out he has a daughter. Andy Fickman directs. Nothing original, but very well done. PG.

Hairspray *** – Film version of the theatrical musical inspired by John Waters’ 1988 film. It’s appealing, but on stage it was better. PG.

Halloween * – The time-honored horror franchise, taken over by Rob Zombie, has more gore, but little suspense. R.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ***- David Yates directs an installment that’s all fury and no fun. PG-13.

The Heartbreak Kid *** – The Farrelly Brothers direct Ben Stiller as a man who meets the woman of his dreams while on his honeymoon. This remake is equal parts fearless and desperate. R.

Into the Wild ***** – Emile Hirsch stars in Sean Penn’s story adaptation of the book by Jon Krakauer, about a man who goes to live in the Alaskan wilderness. It’s a gorgeous, self-assured epic. R.

The Kingdom **** – Peter Berg tells the story of an attack on Americans in the Middle East. Jamie Foxx and Chris Cooper star in a movie whose history is questionable, but is exciting anyway. R.

Mr. Bean’s Holiday *** – Rowan Atkinson is back as the beloved doofus Mr. Bean. It’s child-friendly and adorably childish. PG.

Ratatouille *** – Brad Bird and Jan Pinkava tell the story about a rat who wants to be a gourmet chef. Excess dialogue, story and themes smother the dish. G.

Resident Evil: Extinction * – Milla Jovovich stars in Russell Mulcahy’s threequel based on the video game. The script is ridiculous, but the girls look hot. R.

Underdog * -A dog named Shoeshine develops superpowers in Frederic Du Chau’s film. It’s a harmless bore. PG.

REVIVALS

Belle Starr – Irving Cummings directs Gene Tierney in a highly glamorized portrait of the legendary female outlaw, from 1941. Monday at 1 p.m. at Showcase Buckland and Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Showcase Southington. Unrated.

Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure -Stephen Herek directs this 1989 bonehead mini-classic about time-traveling dim-bulbs, including Keanu Reeves. Friday and Saturday at Criterion Cinemas in New Haven. PG.

The City – Ralph Steiner and Willard Van Dyke direct a short documentary about urban planning, commissioned for the 1939 World’s Fair. Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Goldsmith Family Cinema at Wesleyan University in Middletown. The Wesleyan University Orchestra will play Aaron Copland’s original score live. Unrated. (See story, Page 27.)

Only Angels Have Wings – Cary Grant and Jean Arthur star in Howard Hawks’ 1939 romance. Also starring Rita Hayworth. Today at 2 p.m. at Farmington Library, 6 Monteith Drive. To register, call 860-673-6791. Unrated.

Moliere – Laurent Tirard directs a biopic of the famed playwright. Today, Saturday and Sunday at Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford. French with subtitles. PG-13.

My Little Pony: A Very Minty Christmas – Kids’ film 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at Showcase Buckland and West Springfield. G.

The Pirate – Vincente Minnelli directs his wife, Judy Garland, and Gene Kelly in this 1949 musical about a dashing pirate and the innocent lass he enchants. Sunday at 11 a.m. at Criterion Cinemas in New Haven. Unrated.

Star Trek: The Original Series – Season 1 episodes “The Menagerie” Parts 1 and 2. Will include an introduction by creator Gene Roddenberry’s son, Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry. Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Brass Mill Waterbury, Branford 12 and Stratford Square 14. For details and tickets, visit www.fathomevents.com. Unrated.

The Woman in Red – Gene Wilder directs and stars in this 1984 comedy about a married man, a beautiful woman and a lot of chaos. Monday at Avon Theatre in Stamford. Wilder will be present. PG-13.

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas – Another new incarnation of Tim Burton’s holiday classic about the pumpkin king trying to take over the holiday. In 3-D. PG.

To have your film screening listed, e-mail Susan Dunne at sdunne@courant.com no later than the Monday of the week of publication. Screenings must be open to the public and not sold out. Listings will be edited as space permits. Include film title and brief description, day, time, location, address, admission price (if any) and contact phone number.