FILM REVIEWS

Brideshead RevisitedBrideshead RevisitedReviewed by Tim Grierson

The timeless theme of the individual’s powerlessness in the face of family, religion, social standing and unrequited love is dusted off in “Brideshead Revisited,” the adaptation of the classic 1945 Evelyn Waugh novel. Impeccable production and costume design are prevalent in every frame, but director Julian Jarrold is not always effective in distinguishing the film’s dramatic concerns from those of previous period literary adaptations.continue >		 Step BrothersStep BrothersReviewed by Gary Dretzka

Director McKay keeps the comedy from straying too far into Adam Sandler territory by limiting overt sentimentality and never letting the melodrama overwhelm the gloriously crass dialogue and intentionally childish behavior of Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly.continue >
The X Files: I Want to BelieveThe X Files: I Want to BelievePart supernatural thriller, part serial killer procedural, part medical expose, and part relationship melodrama, but not satisfying on any of these levels, "The X-Files: I Want to Believe" is a disappointing film that will frustrate avid aficionados of the landmark TV series and may not bring many new recruits to the theaters either.continue > American TeenAmerican TeenOpens July 25

Sundance Film Fest 2008 (Documentary Competition)--Slick and entertaining but shallow, Nanette Burstein's documentary "American Teen" is a disappointing chronicle of a year in the lives of a bunch of high-schoolers. Given that she has spent a lengthy time with her subjects and that it's a personal film, "American Teen" is all the more frustrating, showing that the director opted for facile entertainment values and glossy style at the expense of a poignant look at today's youth—and America's future.continue >

Movie critic Emanuel Levy is known for his stellar Oscar predictions, so be sure to check out the Oscar News section for Levy's latest assessment of this year's awards candidates.