Our critics recommend...

Drive Angry 3D

Nicolas Cage stars as an eternally condemned felon who escapes from Hades to rain revenge on the cult that killed his daughter.

The Grace Card A cop (Michael Joiner) bitter at life and God over the death of his son is partnered with a pastor (Mike Higgenbottom) who moonlights as a police officer.

Hall Pass See Steven Rea's preview on H2.

Shelter See Steven Rea's preview on H2.

Vanishing on 7th Street See Steven Rea's preview on H2.

Reviewed by critics Carrie Rickey (C.R.) and Steven Rea (S.R.).

W.S. denotes a wire-service review.

Black Swan Natalie Portman in the performance of her career as a fiercely disciplined prima ballerina struggling with the dual roles of Swan Lake and a newly recruited dancer (Mila Kunis) who threatens to steal her part. Vincent Cassell, Barbara Hershey, and Winona Ryder are on board for this thrilling, nutty psychodrama from The Wrestler's Darren Aronofsky. 1 hr. 43 R (sex, nudity, drugs, physical torment, profanity, adult themes) - S.R.

The Illusionist Full of bittersweet whimsy and gorgeous hand-drawn animated tableaux, this gem from the director of the Oscar-nominated The Triplets of Belleville follows an aging magician as he ekes out a living and runs into an innocent girl who changes his life, and he hers. Inspired by Jacques Tati and adapted from the French comedy great's unproduced screenplay. 1 hr. 20 PG (adult themes) - S.R.

The King's Speech Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush star in this rousing odd-couple comedy, drawn from real life, about King George VI, a stutterer, and his speech therapist. 1 hr. 51 R (profanity, but otherwise family-friendly for those 12 and older) - C.R.

Another Year

Mike Leigh's meditation on why some people chase happiness and others radiate it takes the form of four seasons in the life of a couple for all seasons, shaggily played by Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen. 2 hrs. 09

PG-13

(profanity) -

C.R.

Biutiful Javier Bardem in the (rightly) Oscar-nominated role of a Barcelona street criminal trying to put his life in order, take care of his kids, and make peace with the world, and himself, in his final days. Haunting, powerful stuff from the director of Amores perrons, 21 Grams, and Babel. 2 hrs. 28 R (disturbing images, violence, profanity, drugs, sex, nudity,

adult themes) - S.R.

The Fighter Based on the real-life career, and comeback, of welterweight champ "Irish" Micky Ward and his relationship with his wacko half-brother, erstwhile prizefighter Dicky Eklund, this roiling, colorful film is great in the ring, and great outside the ring, too. Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale are the pugilist sibs, Melissa Leo their mom; Amy Adams is Micky's bare-knuckle barkeep girlfriend. 1 hr. 55 R (violence, profanity, drugs, sex, adult themes) - S.R.

127 Hours Gripping true story of a mountain climber (James Franco) who is trapped for five days under a boulder in a Utah canyon before taking drastic steps to survive. 1 hr. 37 R (profanity, disturbing violent content, bloody images) - C.R.

True Grit The Coen Brothers adapt Charles Portis' novel about a plucky girl who hires a bounty hunter to collect her father's killer and rides on the hunt herself, determined to see things set right. With Jeff Bridges as the one-eyed, boozy gunslinger Rooster Cogburn, Matt Damon as a comically fussy Texas Ranger, Josh Brolin as the villain, and newcomer Hailee Steinfeld as the impossibly composed and gumptious 14-year-old heroine. 1 hr. 50 PG-13 (violence, cussing, adult themes) - S.R.

Cedar Rapids ***

Human cork Ed Helms bobs to the surface of the river of raunch in this gentle, gross-out comedy that tickles laughs from the misadventures of a small-town innocent at large in a midsize, Midwestern burg With Anne Heche and John C. Reilly. 1 hr. 27

R

(profanity, drugs, alcohol, sexual candor) -

C.R.

Gnomeo & Juliet ** A clever concept - Shakespeare's tragic romance with garden gnomes - gets bungled every which way in this CG-animated bore, full of second-rate puns, hackneyed scenarios, and an overdose of Elton John tunes. The voices of James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Michael Caine, and Maggie Smith are put to no good use. 1 hr. 24 G (cartoon mayhem, domestic discord) - S.R.

Just Go With It ** A perfect storm (although perfect is definitely the wrong word) of potty jokes, sex jokes, breast-implant jokes, bratty-kid jokes, and sheep-CPR jokes, starring Adam Sandler as a womanizing plastic surgeon, Jennifer Aniston as his longtime assistant, and Brooklyn Decker as the hottie he thinks he's fallen for. Cheap laughs and Hawaiian backdrops. 1 hr. 56 PG-13 (sex, profanity, adult themes) - S.R.

Justin Bieber: Never Say Never *** The Justin Bieber story: One part backstage biography, one part concert film charting the roots and meteoric rise of Justin II, successor to that supernova surnamed Timberlake. 1 hr. 45 G (nothing unsuitable for children) - C.R.

Unknown *** Liam Neeson is the victim of an elaborate identity-theft scheme in this tricky thriller, set in a gray, wintry Berlin and costarring January Jones, Diane Kruger, Aidan Quinn, Bruno Ganz, and Frank Langella. Lots of Hitchcockian huggermugger, fights, and chases. The ending isn't as satisfying as it could be, but still lots to recommend. PG-13 (violence, action, adult themes) - S.R.

Reviewed by critics Wendy Rosenfield (W.R.), Howard Shapiro (H.S.), and Toby Zinman (T.Z.).

The Lieutenant of Inishmore

(Theatre Exile) Martin McDonagh: Bloody funny. Now in previews, opens Wednesday.

The Ugly One (Walnut Street Theatre's Independence Studio) Plastic surgery changes a man's life. Previews Tuesday and Wednesday, opens Thursday.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

(People's Light & Theatre) A boy's life. Through March 13.

Amadeus (Walnut Street Theatre) Music, envy, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, in an altogether classy production of Peter Shaffer's drama about obsession and genius. Through March 6. - H.S.

Artaud Unbound (EgoPo Classic Theater) Four playlets based on work by the founder of the Theater of Cruelty are nicely staged, but are either bland tales or banal rants. Through Sunday. - H.S.

Blasted (Luna Theatre Company) Raw, violent, and even gross, Sarah Kane's bloody play on the potential for violence on all scales sticks with you, partly because its three actors are so bizarre but real. Ends Saturday. - H.S.

Don Juan (Quintessence Theatre Group) Moliere poses the question: Can the world's greatest lover get away with it? Through March 13.

Empire Builders (Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium) An absurdist tragicomedy by the almost forgotten Boris Vian gets a strong production here - an arcane collector's item. Through next Sunday. - T.Z.

The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Montgomery Theater) This coproduction with 11th Hour Theatre Company is trashy and classy at the same time, an over-the-top musical with a cast that mines it for every little stereotyped gem. Through March 5. - H.W.

Great Expectations (Curio Theatre Company) Jared Reed directs his wonderful new adaptation of Dickens' classic with a sterling cast, all pummeled by the horrible acoustics of their West Philly venue. Through March 4. - H.S.

Heeere's Tony! (Act II Playhouse) Philly fave Tony Braithwaite hosts his own talk show just for a live audience, with a different guest every night, a spirited sense of fun, and a healthy nod to Johnny Carson. Ends Sunday.

- H.S.

The Last 5 Years (Media Theatre) ) Jennie Eisenhower adds much-needed buoyancy to this musical two-hander about falling in and out love. Through next Sunday. - W.R.

Nocturne (Flashpoint Theatre Company) Kevin Meehan's performance is an emotionally intense theatrical tour de force that makes much of Adam Rapp's essentially nontheatrical vehicle. Through Saturday. - T.Z.

Parenting 101 (Kimmel Center's Innovation Studio) This fun musical revue fully covers parenting, through the traumas and joys, with clever lyrics put to pop and show tunes. Through March 6. - H.S.

Plaza Suite (Hedgerow Theatre) Neil Simon's comedy about mid-life marriage features Hedgerow's artistic director and her husband in a sweet idea, fitfully executed. Through

March 5. - W.R.

Race (Philadelphia Theatre Company) A fine and fierce production of David Mamet's provocative courtroom drama about race relations in America. Ends Sunday. - T.Z.

Stomp (Merriam Theater) Nothing brings together a crowd like laughter and rhythm, and this show has been bringing both for years. Ends Sunday. - W.R.

Terminus (Annenberg) Abbey Theatre of Dublin's astonishing production of O'Rowe's play - grotesque in content and beautiful in language. Ends Sunday. - T.Z.

Waiting for Lefty (South Camden Theatre Company) They take time to rev up, but once the actors are in full throttle, they pump this old Odets play set in a union hall with meaning that relates to today. Ends Sunday. - H.S.

Due Date **1/2

More like a Dude Date, this odd-couple odyssey stars Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis as an expectant father and a boyish man traveling cross country after being booted from a plane. A rude road trip that takes many turnoffs from the highway of funny-ha-ha to the dirt roads of funny-ouch. 1 hr. 35

R

(marijuana, profanity, sexual content) -

C.R.