Love and Other Drugs ***

Anne Hathaway as Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal as Jamie are totally sexy and charming in what seems at first like a fluffy romantic comedy, based on the true story of a Viagra salesman in the '90s. Hard driving, win at any cost drug salesmen, the skewed priorities of the U.S. health industry, and the dot com bubble all come in for attack, but the center of the story is Jamie's pursuit of the free spirited Maggie. Then the movie turns darker as Maggie suffers more and more from her early-onset Parkinson's, and she and Jamie must confront their own fears and demons. I think it's the best romantic comedy of the year, which I know is faint praise, but there are plenty of laughs as well a serious side to this movie, and superb performances from Hathaway and Gyllenhaal. Supporting roles are strong as well, especially Oliver Platt as Jamie's boss and mentor.

Rated R. 112 minutes. Edward Zwick - Director / Writer (screenplay) / Producer, Charles Randolph - Writer (screenplay) / Producer, Marshall Herskovitz - Writer (screenplay) / Producer, Jamie Reidy -Writer (book "Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman"), Pieter Jan Brugge - Producer, Scott Stuber - Producer, Steven Fierberg - Cinematographer, James Newton Howard - Composer, Patti Podesta - Production Designer, Steven Rosenblum - Editor. Distributed by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.

Principal actors: Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Oliver Platt, Hank Azaria, Josh Gad.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 ****

Wisely split into two parts, and not just because it will double Warner's take on the last Harry Potter book, "The Deathly Hallows, Pt. 1" finds Harry, Hermione, and Ron on a lonely, rather adult quest, far from the protective and insular Hogwarts, to find and destroy the scattered hiding places of the Dark Lord's soul. David Yates, who some say saved the franchise with "The Order of the Phoenix" (2007) and continued with "The Half-Blood Prince" (2009), brings his usual magisterial command of the material to the penultimate Harry film. I found it thoroughly enjoyable, with the aging stars not only holding up but growing in artistry along with their characters. If you're a fan, I don't have to say see it. But even if you're not, the experience, especially in IMAX, might prompt a Netflix order (or six).

Rated PG-13. 146 minutes. David Yates - Director, Steve Kloves - Writer (screenplay), J.K. Rowling - Writer (novel "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows") / Producer, David Barron - Producer, David Heyman - Producer, Eduardo Serra - Cinematographer, Alexandre Desplat - Composer, Stuart Craig - Production Designer, Mark Day - Editor. Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Principal actors: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint.

Burlesque **

"Burlesque" delivers some fun songs, a fairy tale new girl makes good story, and nice dose of Cher, whose face does actually move in one scene. Don't expect too much, and you'll be entertained. Christina Aguilera delivers a few knock-out songs, Cher belts out one of her signature solos, and we get a nice save the club from bankruptcy story. This is burlesque re-imagined, so don't expect much skin, but there are plenty of sexy costumes, presided over by the always-solid Stanley Tucci.

Rated PG-13 (See what I mean about no skin?). 119 minutes. Steven Antin - Director / Writer, Donald De Line - Producer, Bojan Bazelli - Cinematographer, Christophe Beck - Composer, Jon Gary Steele - Production Designer, Virginia Katz- Editor. Distributed by Screen Gems.

Principal actors: Cher, Christina Aguilera, Eric Dane, Sam Gigandet, Stanley Tucci.

Fair Game ****

It seems like a dark action thriller, full of intrigue and high stakes games where lives are literally put on the line. But it is, unfortunately, a true story, concerning the time when the Bush administration decided that Valerie Plame (Naomi Watts) was fair game for them to out as a CIA operative because her husband, former ambassador Joe Wilson (Sean Penn), had the temerity to publicize the fact that he did not find any sign in Niger that Saddam Hussein had tried to get uranium from there in the midst of the Bush/Cheney campaign to lead the U.S. into a war that turned out be totally without justification. The depiction of just what Valerie was doing in her job, and well as the strains on their marriage that the scandal produced, forms the heart of the movie. Watts and Penn turn in low key, absolutely believable performances, and the movie gives us a fresh view of the drumbeat of selective interpretation, suppression of evidence, and lies that herded the U.S. Congress into approving the invasion of Iraq.

Rated PG-13. 108 minutes. Doug Liman - Director / Producer / Cinematographer, Jez Butterworth - Writer (screenplay) / Producer, John-Henry Butterworth - Writer (screenplay), Joseph Wilson - Writer (book "The Politics of Truth"), Valierie Plame - Writer (book "Fair Game"), Akiva Goldsman - Producer, William Pohlad - Producer, Janet Zucker - Producer, Jerry Zucker - Producer, John Powell -Composer, Jess Gonchor - Production Designer, Christopher Tellefsen - Editor. Distributed by Summit Entertainment.

Principal actors: Naomi Watts, Sean Penn.

Inside Job ****

"Inside Job" manages to be a riveting documentary about the financial bubble that led to the crisis of 2008, despite its talking head format. Extremely well researched, written, and produced, and narrated by Matt Damon, this film takes us through the steps that led to the incredible leveraging that produced the Great Depression. If you're not mad as hell now, you will be after you see "Inside Job."

Rated PG-13. 120 minutes. Charles Ferguson - Director / Producer, Chad Beck - Writer / Editor, Adam Bolt - Writer / Editor, Audrey Marrs - Producer, Svetlana Cvetko - Cinematographer, Kalyanee Mam -Cinematographer, Alex Heffes - Composer.

Principal cast: Matt Damon.

Morning Glory ***

Better than expected behind the scenes story about a spunky producer (Rachel McAdams) who struggles to save a major network morning show starring a former beauty queen (Diane Keaton) and a serious news icon (Harrison Ford), who she pulls from well-remunerated semi-retirement. While admittedly totally predictable in its story arc, the three principals turn in engaging performances in this gentle send-up of morning show fluff. I thought it was lots more than tolerable, and Harrison makes a great curmudgeon.

Rated PG-13. 107 minutes. Roger Michell - Director, Aline Brosh McKenna - Writer, J.J. Abrams - Producer, Bryan Burk - Producer, Alwin H. Kuchler - Cinematographer, David Arnold - Composer, Mark Friedberg - Production Designer, Daniel Farrell - Editor, Nick Moore - Editor, Steven Weisberg - Editor. Distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Principal actors: Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton.

Megamind IMAX 3D ***

What do you do if you're the top villain and you've finally defeated your hero nemesis? Megamind (voiced by Will Ferrell) finds himself in such a bind after vanquishing Metro Man (Brad Pitt). He finally decides he needs to replace Metro Man, but things don't work out as planned. The animation has a sleek look, there are enough adult jokes to keep the parents amused, and twists and turns to keep it lively. All the principal voices, including also Tina Fey and Jonah Hill are fine. It's not so good as "Toy Story 3," and may remind you of "Despicable Me," but it's a welcome and pleasant diversion, especially in 3D, and even better in IMAX 3D.

Rated PG. 95 minutes. Tom McGrath - Director, alan Schoolcraft - Writer, Brent Simons - Writer, Lara Breav - Producer, Denise Nolan Cascino - Producer, Lorne Balfe - Composer, Hans Zimmer -Composer, David James - Production Designer, Michael Andrews - Editor. Production Company - Dreamworks Animation. Distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Principal voices: Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, David Cross, Ben Stiller.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest ***

The final movie of the Stieg Larsson Millenium trilogy, shot in sequence and starring the same actors as the first two, brings an appropriately final but also tentative and unsatisfying end to this unlikely story of one of the most original characters in modern popular literature. Once again Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander dominates the movie. The courtroom scenes are riveting (and interesting for an American audience to see the differences in Swedish procedures). I found the unfolding story well told cinematically, and well rid of the tech details of the book. Can the upcoming American version (reportedly to be shot in Sweden) live up to the home-grown version?

Rated R. 147 minutes. In Swedish with English subtitles. Daniel Alfredson - Director, Stieg Larsson - Writer (novel), Ulf Rydberg - Writer (screenplay), Soren Staermose - Producer, Peter Mokrosinski - Cinematographer, Jacob Groth -Composer, Hakan Karlsson - Editor. Produced by Norkisk Film. Distributed in the U.S. by Music Box Films.

Principal actors: Noomi Rapace, Michael Nyqvist, Lena Endre, Annika Hallin, Jacob Ericksson.

Hereafter ***

Is there life after death? Can anyone really communicate with those on "the other side"? It's odd to see Clint Eastwood, lately such a realist, but who is, admittedly, 80 years old, tackle such a subject. In the case of George Lonegan (Matt Damon), there is no question. There is life after death, and he can communicate with their spirits. This movie is about what it's like to be George. It's a tormented and disturbing life, draining and isolating not only from those who want his help, but from those he would like to know on a more mundane and personal level. Given these parameters, the movie gives us a kind of romantic (on several levels) resolution to George's dilemma. I found it an interesting, if totally unconvincing, exercise. See it if you want to have some heavy discussions afterward.

Rated PG-13. 129 minutes. Clint Eastwood - Director / Producer / Composer, Peter Morgan - Writer, Kathleen Kennedy - Producer, Robert Lorenz - Producer, Tom Stern - Cinematographer, James J. Murakami - Production Designer, Joel Cox - Editor, Gary Roach - Editor. Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Principal actors: Matt Damon, Bryce Dallas Howard, Cecile De France.