In the Cut (2003)

A New York City writing professor has an affair with a police detective, who is investigating the murder of a beautiful young woman in her neighborhood.

Unusual serial killer mystery which gives more focus to the romance than the crime has a good cast, atmosphere and excellent moody photography, but a very uneven plot.

Halliwell*: "An often pedantic take on the serial killer genre, where even the women who don't end up dead are seen as victims of predatory men; Beebe's cinematography captures the seedy anxiety of its setting."

Maltin**1/2: "A daring look at a sexual relationship between two emotionally fragile people...Provocative and doggedly antiromantic, the storytelling is faulty and drawn out, but the atmosphere and performances are first-rate."

Patriots Day (2016)

The story of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the aftermath, which includes the city-wide manhunt to find the terrorists responsible.

Meticulous reconstruction of the actual events, wonderfully managing multiple subplots and a large cast of protagonists, doesn't add anything to the well-known facts.

Apollo 13 (1995)

NASA must devise a strategy to return Apollo 13 to Earth safely after the spacecraft undergoes massive internal damage putting the lives of the three astronauts on board in jeopardy.

Top-notch production (and special effects) and cast guarantee for an entertaining, but not quite original or surprising space adventure.

Halliwell**: "A gripping documentary-style recreation of an averted tragedy, excellently done but one that is an uncritical celebration of the American way and which makes no attempt to put the mission into a wider historical context; it settles for simple patriotism."

Maltin***1/2: "Exhilarating story...A rare instance where special effects actually serve the story and help make it completely credible; perfect 1970s period detail is another asset."

X: First Class (2011)

In 1962, the United States government enlists the help of Mutants with superhuman abilities to stop a malicious dictator who is determined to start World War III.

Typical modern-day superhero extravaganza: great production value and some good bits, but very slow to get started and the heroes' diverse superpowers seem silly and arbitrary.

Maltin**1/2: "Good story tries to cover too much ground and introduces an abundance of characters...but the appeal of Marvel's X-Men remains intact, especially in the solid perforances of McAvoy and Fassbender. Newcomers Lawrence and Hoult score while Bacon seems miscast. A couple of surprise cameos will please series fans."