Movie Minis

OPENING

• Even Money (2007) (PG-13). A saga of compulsive gamblers, written by Robert Tannen and directed by Mark Rydell, who attracted an intriguing cast: Forest Whitaker, Ray Liotta, Kim Basinger, Danny De Vito, Carla Gugino, Nick Cannon, Kelsey Grammer and Jay Mohr.

• Gracie (2007) (PG-13). An inspirational sports tearjerker set in the late 1970s and said to be a semi-autobiographical memoir from the girlhood of actress Elisabeth Shue, who portrays the mother of the title character, a New Jersey teenager. Gracie (Carly Schroeder) crusades to join a boys’ high school soccer team after the accidental death of her older brother, a star player. Also a family affair behind the scenes, the movie was directed by Miss Shue’s husband, Davis Guggenheim, and co-produced by her actor brother, Andrew Shue. The cast includes Dermot Mulroney as Gracie’s father.

• Killer of Sheep (1977) (No MPAA rating: Adult subject matter). A 30th-anniversary revival of Charles Burnett’s slice-of-life feature about the struggles of a Watts family man (Henry Gayle Sanders) whose despondent moods owe something to an allegorically dead-end job at a slaughterhouse. Made on a shoestring budget, the movie never attracted a theatrical distributor but slowly built a reputation among critical and festival admirers. Exclusively at the Landmark E Street Cinema.

• Knocked Up (2007) (R: Adult language, sexual situations, drug use and mature themes). Writer-director Judd Apatow (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin”) strikes again with this very adult comedy. A mismatched pair (Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl) hook up one drunken night and later learn they’re going to be parents.

• Mr. Brooks (2007) (R: Strong violence, sexuality, gore, nudity and adult language). Kevin Costner is Mr. Brooks, a mild-mannered businessman by day, reluctant serial killer by night. William Hurt plays Mr. Brooks’ murderous id, the voice in his head that implores him to kill. Demi Moore makes a rare screen appearance as a detective hot on the murderer’s trail.

• Severance (2007) (R: Strong violence, gore, nudity, adult language and drug use). This British horror/comedy follows a group of defense contractors who travel to Hungary for some team bonding exercises. Turns out the locals don’t like how the company’s weapons have impacted their lives, and it’s time for a bit of revenge.

NOW SHOWING

• Aqua Teen Hunger Force (2007) (R: Crude and sexual humor, violent animated images and language) — ***. Based on the successful television series that’s part of Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim animation block, “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” follows Master Shake, Frylock and Meatwad as the fast-food items try to save their neighbor Carl. The surreal cartoon isn’t for everyone, but those who appreciate this kind of humor will find an easy transition from the small to the big screen. — Kelly Jane Torrance

• Away From Her (2007) (PG-13: Some sexual references) — ***1/2. A deeply intelligent film about the burdens of marriage and memory. Julie Christie, in a bravura performance, stars as Fiona, who moves into a nursing home and seemingly forgets her husband after she’s diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Her husband Grant (Gordon Pinsent) has to watch his wife form an attachment to another man. Actress Sarah Polley directed and adapted the screenplay from an Alice Munro short story in a stunningly accomplished debut. — Kelly Jane Torrance

• Black Book — (2007) (R: Some strong violence, graphic nudity, sexuality and language) — ***1/2. Paul Verhoeven’s (“Total Recall,” “Basic Instinct”) first Dutch film in 20 years is a marvelous blend of American style and European morals. Carice van Houten and Sebastian Koch star as a Jewish member of the Dutch Resistance and her Nazi lover in this thriller that shows war is hell and so is the cleanup. — Kelly Jane Torrance

• Blades of Glory (2007) (PG-13: Language, some crude and sexual jokes and mild violence) — *. Will Ferrell fans will put up with a lot, but this ice-skating parody may test their commitment to the famous funnyman. He stars as a competitive skater alongside “Napoleon Dynamite’s” Jon Heder, but when a post-competition brawl disqualifies them from the sport indefinitely, their only hope for future gold lies in a loophole: They can team up and enter the pairs division, where they’ll show audiences just how audacious and sexually suggestive it is for two men to embrace each other on the ice. — Jenny Mayo

• Bug (2007) (R:Strong violence, sexuality, nudity, language and drug use) — **1/2. Ashley Judd stars as a divorced woman who begins dating a new man who believes he has bugs living in his body. “Bug” begins as an earnest character study but devolves into gory psycho-horror. It’s still riveting along the way, even if the payoff is a bust. — Christian Toto

• Disturbia (2007) (PG-13: Some violent scenes and sensuality) — ***. This suspenseful thriller swiftly draws viewers into its current, then picks up speed slowly before finally leaving its audience to gasp on the other side of the finale’s ripping rapids. After his father’s death leads him down a troubled path, Kale (the talented young Shia LaBeouf) finds himself under house arrest, where he learns to amuse himself with what’s outside his windows — particularly his creepy and possibly serial-killer next-door neighbor, Mr. Turner (David Morse). — Jenny Mayo

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