Our critics recommend...

Battle in Seattle

Charlize Theron, Woody Harrelson and Ray Liotta star in this dramatic look at the 1999 Seattle protests against the World Trade Organization that turned into a full-scale riot.

Choke

Sam Rockwell stars as a sex-addicted con man who pays for the health care of his mother (Anjelica Huston) by scamming wealthy patrons at upscale restaurants. From the novel by Chuck Palahniuk.

The Duchess

Keira Knightley stars as the 18th- century aristocrat Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire, who falls for a young politician while being trapped in a triangle with her husband and his mistress.

Eagle Eye

Two strangers race to stop a mysterious woman from having them killed. Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson and Billy Bob Thornton star.

Fireproof

A firefighter (Kirk Cameron) whose marriage is on the brink of collapsing takes one last shot at saving it.

Flow

This documentary looks at what's causing the world's most vital resource to drop to dangerous levels.

The Lucky Ones

Three soldiers coming home from the Iraq war embark on a journey of emotional discovery. Tim Robbins, Rachel McAdams and Michael Peña star.

Miracle at St. Anna

Four African American soldiers get caught behind enemy lines during World War II and get unexpected help in a Tuscan village. Spike Lee directs.

Mister Foe

A troubled Scottish teen obsessed with his mother's death becomes an expert voyeur as he wanders the roofs of Edinburgh.

Nights in Rodanthe

Richard Gere stars in this romance as a doctor who finds sparks with an unhappily married woman (Diane Lane) at a North Carolina inn.

Reviewed by critics Carrie Rickey (C.R.), and Steven Rea (S.R.). W.S. denotes a wire-service review.

Frozen River

Melissa Leo and Misty Upham costar in this urgent and incomparably moving first feature from Courtney Hunt about the survival, fortitude, and unexpected deliverance of two single mothers. 1 hr. 37

R

(language) -

C.R.

A Girl Cut In Two

A cool study of erotic longing, misguided love and class warfare in the civilized spheres of French society, from the nimble master of suspense, director Claude Chabrol. 1 hr. 54 No

MPAA rating

(sex, violence, adult themes) -

S.R.

Towelhead

A 13-year-old Arab American girl (Summer Bishil) copes with raging hormones and new surroundings when her mother sends her to live with her strict, traditional father in Texas. 1 hr. 56

R

(for strong disturbing sexual content and abuse involving a young teen, and profanity) -

C.R.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Woody Allen's rectangular tale of love and longing, friendship and art stars Javier Bardem as a Spanish artist intent on seducing a pair of young Americans - played by Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson - and dealing with his crazy, explosive ex (Penelope Cruz) in the process. It's a rich romantic reverie. 1 hr. 37

PG-13

(sex, profanity, adult themes) -

S.R.

Burn After Reading ***

George Clooney, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt and Tilda Swinton star in the Coen Brothers' ricocheting spy spoof/sex farce/midlife crisis comedy, set in Washington's cloak-and-dagger world - and also in a fitness club, where a top secret CIA document turns up. Extortion, and Internet dating, ensues. 1 hr. 36

R

(violence, sex, profanity, adult themes) -

S.R.

The Family That Preys ***

Defiantly old-school, undeniably entertaining. Tyler Perry's sudser is a shiny, two-timing throwback to 1950s melodramas such as Giant and stars Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard as Atlanta matriarchs and friends. 1 hr. 51

PG-13

(mature themes) -

C.R.

Ghost Town **

Ricky Gervais stars as a cranky New York dentist who suddenly has the ability to see dead people - one of whom (Greg Kinnear) wants him to romance his widow (Téa Leoni). It's ostensibly a comedy, but one in which the (normally) brilliantly funny Gervais is more dull than he is droll. 1 hr. 42

PG-13

(profanity, adult themes) -

S.R.

Igor **

This animated family feature has John Cusack providing the voice for a lab assistant who dreams of becoming an evil scientist. 1 hr. 27

PG

(some thematic elements, scary images, action and mild profanity) -

W.S.

Lakeview Terrace **

Samuel L. Jackson stars as a bigot cop who can't abide the interracial couple that has moved in next door in this neighbor-from-Hell thriller painted over with Crash-like social commentary. 1 hr. 50

PG-13

(violence, sex, profanity, adult themes) -

S.R.

Righteous Kill **

Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, titans of American acting, together again (after

Heat

) as NYPD cops who may be vigilante killers. With 50 Cent, Carla Gugino and Brian Dennehy. 1 hr. 40

R

(violence, profanity, sex, drugs) -

C.R.

Reviewed by critic Howard Shapiro (H.S.) and Toby Zinman (T.Z.).

Anna Bella Eema

(Gas & Electric Arts) A compelling story about madness and maternal love. Previews tonight and Tuesday, opens Wednesday.

Driving Miss Daisy

(Hedgerow Theatre) Pulitzer-winning play about an unorthodox friendship. Preview today, opens Friday.

Expecting Isabel

(Temple Theaters) Temple tests the Center City waters, opening this comedy at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre. Previews Thursday, Friday, opens Saturday.

Long Day's Journey Into Night

(Villanova) A family unravels. Preview Tuesday, opens Wednesday.

The Persians

(People's Light & Theatre Co.) How the mighty are fallen. Previews Wednesday, Thursday, opens Friday.

Rock 'n' Roll

(Wilma) Stoppard's meditation on love, politics and music. Previews tonight, Tuesday, opens Wednesday.

She Loves You

(Society Hill Playhouse) Yeah yeah yeah. Opens Wednesday.

The Spitfire Grill

(Bristol Riverside) Small town and a wanderer find each other. Previews Tuesday, Wednesday, opens Thursday.

Candide

(Arden Theatre) Director Terrence J. Nolan has made this notoriously recalcitrant garden grow into a gorgeous evening. A first-rate cast in a cleverly staged production. Through Oct. 19.

- T.Z.

Herringbone

(McCarter Theatre) BD Wong's turn as a psychiatrist on

Law and Order: SVU

won't prepare you for his tour-de-force performance in this intense, dark musical: He sings, he dances, he plays a dozen characters. Through Oct. 12.

- T.Z.

The Hothouse

(Lantern Theatre) This early Pinter, set in an asylum, is an assault on bureaucracy. It's funny, weird and in the hands of fine actors with unassailable interpretations. Through Oct. 12.

- H.S.

Reefer Madness

(Montgomery Theater) Produced by Montgomery and 11th Hour Theatre Company; a talented cast does the musical version of the 1936 movie about marijuana. Through Oct. 4, then moves to Center City's Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival Theater, Oct. 9-Nov. 2.

- H.S.

State Fair

(Walnut Street Theatre) A corny, heart-warming musical with good songs ("It's a Grand Night for Singing"). Easy on the nerves, easy on the eyes, a solid evening of entertainment. Through Oct. 19.

- T.Z.

Pathology

*** Med-school students devise a game in which the winner commits the perfect crime. Even squeamish viewers are apt to be captivated by the tight, credible scripting. 1 hr. 33 R (disturbing and perverse behavior, violence, gruesome images, sex, nudity, drugs, profanity) -

W.S.