***** Danny Boyle's breathless, brilliant film is nothing short of magical. Set against a vivid India, it features witty dialogue, memorable cinematography, and heartfelt performances. It's a tragic-comic thrill ride, an emotional rollercoaster, a tale that embraces an old Indian theme--fate. And fate has it that this masterpiece is one of the great films of 2008

***** Dark, hilarious, and touching, this feature debut from playwright Martin McDonagh proves he has a career in film. Here he gives us a gripping dramedy, with deliciously witty dialogue, human characters, and three great performances at the center of it. Everything builds to a satisfying, brutally apposite climax where nothing feels forced. One of the great films of 2008

***** Another Pixar classic. They've gotten their magic back with their best film since 'Finding Nemo.' Writer/director Andrew Stanton crafts a truly great film that plays on sci-fi movie conventions while also making a terrific, heartfelt entertainment for all ages. The story is genius and it isn't preachy. The love story is adorably funny and heart-warming. Just lovely

**** A beautifully crafted period piece. Kiera Knightley continues to mature as a woman and an actress. Supermodel looks aside, this lady can act. And she's not alone. Ralph Fiennes is also perfect. Saul Dibb's gorgeously mounted and detailed film doesn't search for deeper meaning in Georgiana's life, but as a lush and lavish period piece, this film is superb

**** Bill Maher's fearless and provocative documentary. He takes aim at religion, asking questions, probing their tenants. He mocks, is prone to interuptions, and he can be rude. But he's attempting to get at those who use religion to justify intolerance. Maher pleas with fellow rationalists to make their argument heard or they will be enablers. Truly fascinating stuff

**** Sam 'American Beauty' Mendes goes for the 'burbs again with this 1950s period drama. Heart-breaking and perfectly cast, it has a 'Mad Men' milieu that looks gorgeous. Kate Winslet is devastating and Leo DiCaprio is only good. Kathy Bates and Michael Shannon are superb. Mendes' thought-provoking if timeworn tale pulls us in and takes us to some disturbing places

**** Will Smith gives an Oscar-caliber performance in his best film in years. Director Gabriele Muccino delivers a weeper, a cryptic mystery, and a winning romance with a righteous message. Smith has a good supporting cast with Rosario Dawson, in particular, all but stealing the movie from him. It's not perfect but this is one tear-jerker that genuinely earns those tears

**** Thought-provoking and often gripping, this unsettling drama gets by on excellent writing and powerful performances. John Patrick Shanley adapts his own play deftly. The perfect cast features Meryl Streep, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis. The resoltution lacks dramatic thunderclap resonance but this film keeps you pinned to your seat

**** Director Stephen Daldry and writer David Hare bring Bernhard Schlink's novel to poetic life. The film is deliberate and emotionally distant. That only serves to highlight the subtext about generational understanding and guilt. Ralph Fiennes is perfect, and Kate Winslet may win an Oscar. Some may find it unsatisfying, but this is a thought-provoking and emotionally understated film

**** Based on a TV show that was a spin-off of the 2002 film 'City of God,' this film has a story all its own and a different feel to it. It's not the great flashy epic that was 'God.' What plays out here is more melodrama, but the filmmakers keep the same gritty style of 'God' while providing more hope. A terrific, moving second look at the ever-fascinating world of the slums of Rio de Janeiro

**** This slow-burn thriller builds racially-charged tension realistically with a solid cast and director to class up what could have been conventional. Sam is perfect, and Kerry Washington and Patrick Wilson make us care about this couple's frightening dilemma. Director Neil Labute handles the escalating drama with verve. It may be a letdown in the last 10-15 minutes but until then it’s gripping

**** Pot-fueled fun from beginning to end. Sure it's irresponsible, but indie director David Gordon Green proves he can handle mainstream fare. The cinematography and editing give the narrative structure of this Pulp Fiction-on-weed a smooth flow. The actors--Seth Rogen, James Franco, Gary Cole, Rosie Perez, Bill Hader, Craig Robinson, and Danny McBride--are all hilarious. A classic stoner comedy

**** Mark Herman's compact and heart-breaking film is authentically human, if a tiny bit emotionally manipulative. Asa Butterfield has the right blend of wonder, cleverness, and innocence. Vera Farmiga is stunning, letting us see the gears turn in her eyes. It's not great, but this emotional drama will take you on a wrenching journey into history's worst genocide from a new perspective

**** This revival of the iconic 1980s trilogy is a spectacular romp. Harrison Ford is almost the loveable rogue he once was. Shia LaBeouf and Karen Allen have easy chemistry with him. The middle drags a bit, but the chases and brawls are as fun as ever. Sure, it's not as good or fun as any of the originals, but for what it is--a good old-fashioned Indiana Jones movie--it delivers the goods

**** This fierce new Bond film is a more straight-forward actioner than its superior predecessor. Daniel Craig is still the best actor to play Bond and really sells the action. Director Marc Forster gives this a frenetic pace, and Mathieu Amalric makes for a hiss-able villain. Bond may not inspire sympathy in this outing but Craig continues to make him more compelling than he's been in ages

**** A solid thriller in the best Hitchcockian tradition. Director/co-writer Brad Anderson thoroughly keeps us engrossed and on the edge of our seat for most of the time. Emily Mortimer is very good, Woody Harrelson shows why he deserves better work, and Ben Kingsley is superb as always. It isn't the most surprising thriller, but Anderson and his cast keep the tension on high

**** Smart, slick, and movie-savvy in the extreme. Director Barry Levinson and writer Art Linson give us a realistic Hollywood story. Robert De Niro plays his producer as unflappable, but shows what it takes to keep the panic at bay. Bruce Willis and Sean Penn amusingly riff on their superstar personas. It's not original or great, but this will have you chuckling at the reality of showbiz

**** Danny McBride ('Pineapple Express' and 'Tropic Thunder') finally gets to prove his leading man capabilities with this superb indie comedy. It's a showcase for what McBride does best--the comically clueless goof. Rude, profane, and deadpan in the extreme, it has huge painful laughs and a redeemable heart. If you like your comedy laced with profanity and rudeness, this indie delight is for you