"An Education"
Star Carey Mulligan earns her Oscar buzz in screenwriter Nick Hornby's excellent adaptation of British journalist Lynn Barber's coming-of-age memoir. Grade: A-
"Antichrist"
Lars von Trier's portrait of shattering grief is thoroughly remarkable for the first two-thirds, before giving in to flat-out, graphically violent, stomach-churning insanity. Tread carefully. Grade: B-
"The Blind Side"
An inspirational true sports story becomes a Sandra Bullock vehicle that's both shamelessly manipulative and disturbingly simplistic in its view of race relations. Grade: D
"Everybody's Fine"
In this dysfunctional family saga disingenuously marketed as a holiday movie, Robert De Niro and an all-star supporting cast go through a cycle of emotional separation, comforting lies and related guilt, experiences that some can get just fine from their own relatives. Grade: C
"Fantastic Mr. Fox"
Working in stop-motion animation for the first time, and from a book by Roald Dahl, Wes Anderson makes a family-friendly film that's distinctly and beautifully his own, and likely to leave a wide smile on your face. Grade: A
"Ninja Assassin"
Fans of the blood-soaked side of the martial arts genre should get a kick out of James McTeigue's well-choreographed action epic, despite its afterthought of a plot. Grade: C
"Old Dogs"
If you snicker at jokes surrounding the excretory systems of humans and animals, then Robin Williams, John Travolta and the director of Wild Hogs have got a movie for you. Grade: C-
"Precious"
Good intentions don't entirely redeem Lee Daniels' blunt-trauma approach to Sapphire's novel about a horribly troubled teen. It's a good thing star Gabourey Sidibe and Oscar nominee-to-be Mo'Nique back him up with genuine performances. Grade: B-
"The Room"
This cult hit from low-budget auteur Tommy Wiseau is so uniquely, passionately awful, you really have to experience it for yourself. (Drexel) Grade: B+
"The Twilight Saga: New Moon"
You could open a liquor store with all the six-packs on display, but for those not sent into a prolonged swoon by the Tiger Beat softcore of shirtless supernatural teens, the second part of the Twilight saga is a really long, occasionally laughable night at the movies. Grade: C