Coco Before Chanel ***

How did orphan dance hall singer Coco become Chanel? Through talent, independence, and the connections of her upper-class lover, who introduced her to women who liked her hats. Well acted and sumptuously costumed, this interesting period piece is as much about the society and mores of the twenties in France as it is about Chanel. I found it involving and entertaining.

Rated PG-13. 105 minutes. Anne Fontaine - Director / Writer (writer), Edmonde Charles-Roux - Writer (book), Camile Fontaine - Writer (writer), Caroline Benjo - Producer, Philippe Carcassonne - Producer, Carole Scotta - Producer, Christophe Beaucarne - Cinematographer, Alexandre Desplat - Composer. Produced by Haur et Cour. Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics. In French with English subtitles.

Principal actors: Audrey Tautou, Benoit Poelvoorde, Alessandro Nivola, Marie Gillain, and Emmanuelle Devos.

Where the Wild Things Are ****

A movie as much for adults who remember being a kid, or who are raising kids, as it is for kids, this screen adaptation of Maurice Sendak's slim book creates a rough, scary natural world inhabited by fearsome creatures who also have the same issues of acceptance, hierarcy, and trouble controlling their destructive impulses that Max, the boy hero, has. Some say very young children will be frightened, but the youngsters at the showing I attended seemed to handle it just fine. It was the adults who seemed a bit emotional. Spike Jonze has done a fantastic job creating this world, which was done with Sendak's cooperation. Don't be afraid, see it.

Rated PG. 101 minutes. Spike Jonze - Director / Writer (screenplay), Dave Eggers - Writer (screenplay), Maurice Sendak - Writer (book) / Producer, John B. Carls - Producer, Gary Goetzman - Producer, Tom Hanks - Producer, Vincent landay - Producer, Lance Acord - Cinematographer, Carter Burwell - Composer, Karen O.- Composer, K.K. Barrett - Production Designer, James Haygood -Editor, Eric Zumbrunnen - Editor. Produced and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Principal actors and voices: Catherine Keener, Max Records, Mark Ruffalo, Lauren Ambrose, James Gandolfini, Catherine O'Hara, Forest Whitaker.

The September Issue ***

"September Issue" chronicles preparations leading up to the September 2007 issue of U.S. "Vogue," reportedly one of the largest issues of a magazine ever published. Looking back over the calamity of the past two years, it does have some interest as a cultural artifact. Would the business of high fashion ever seem so alluring again?

The camera is just sort of there, hanging around with no apparent opinion about the goings on as it follows editor in chief Anna Wintour and creative director Grace Coddington over eight months of planning, writing, and photographing. Both former models themselves (for the U.K. "Vogue"), these powerful women are studies in discipline.

The real-life model for Miranda Priestly in "The Devil Wears Prada," Wintour is even colder, more distant, and opinionated than Meryl Streep's character. And it's the opinions of Wintour that have made "Vogue" such a success. Coddington, it's clear, is the creative engine in this team, ultimately producing most of the spreads in the issue, but she does it without fireworks, and with the calculations that come from a long association with her boss.

The mechanics of the shoots, the edits, the disagreements that go into the magazine are laid out clearly, but don't expect much at all in the way of drama or personal stories. The camera seems as controlled as these two women, seldom venturing into private lives or delving deeper into a story. It's like a factory tour, with no real heat or emotion.

We detect a hint of disappointment when we see Wintour's daughter plunging into a legal career, not at all interested in following her mother down the runway. And there's a touch of rue when Wintour talks about her high-powered siblings' attitude toward her chosen profession. But mostly the documentary sticks to what it takes to make the sausage. It has its fascination, but if you want life and emotion, see "Coco Before Chanel" or rent "The Devil Wears Prada."

Rated PG-13. 90 minutes. R.J. Cutler - Director / Producer, Eliza Hindmarch - Producer, Sadia Shepard - Producer, Robert Richman - Cinematographer, Craig Richey - Composer, Azin Samari - Editor.

Principal subjects: Anna Wintour, Grace Coddington, Andre Leon Talley, Patrick Demarchelier, and Oscar De La Renta.

The Invention of Lying ***

Like the one-eyed man in the land of the blind, in a world where everyone tells the truth all the time, a prevaricator can be, if not king, at least a prince. That is what happens to Mark Bellison, who in a moment of extreme duress, finds the ability to lie, a talent that takes him far in a world that is truth-telling to a fault. It's a world where lying is so unknown, there's no word for it, and anything he says is believed.

It's a brilliant premise, and star/writer/director/producer Ricky Gervais ("Ghost Town" and co-creator of the original "Office" in Britain) runs with it, and creates many truly funny moments. He explores what it means to court a beautiful woman (a credulous Jennifer Garner) with this awesome power. And he takes a broad swipe at the unthinking acceptance of the most preposterous claims that characterize religion in our poor believing world.

But the whole thing is a bit underdone development-wise, and has a bit of a slapdash look about it. "The Invention of Lying" is an interesting exercise, and has a subversive message I can only applaud, but falls short of brilliant film making. Nevertheless, it does have the distinction of having an idea behind it (and when did you last hear that?), and may spark a spirited discussion.

Rated PG-13. 100 minutes. Ricky Gervais - Director / Writer / Producer, Matthew Robinson - Director / Writer, Dan Lin - Producer, Lynda Obst - Producer, Oly Obst - Producer, Tim Suhrstedt - Cinematographer, Tim Atack - Composer, Alec Hammond - Production Designer, Chris Gill - Editor. Produced by Lin Pictures. Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Principal actors: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Louis C.K., Jeffrey Tambor, Fionnula Flanagan, Rob Lowe, and Tina Fey (plus several uncredited appearances by well-known actors and comedians).

Capitalism: A Love Story ***

Michael Moore's latest documentary, "Capitalism: A Love Story," takes a look at a recurrent theme in his work: the devastating effects that U.S. corporations have on the lives of everyday Americans. At times unfocused and at times a bit too reminiscent of his earlier work, there is nevertheless much important material here, and an often searing indictment of how wrong things have gone as more and more wealth has concentrated in the top 1% of Americans, who now control more than the bottom 95% combined.

In such a world it is the titans of industry, and especially Wall Street, who push the levers of power, who go enriched and unpunished as they grind ordinary people into debt and homelessness with their unregulated schemes. And when they miscalculate and suffer huge losses, who gets the bailout, them or the ordinary people who were led into their traps? I think you know.

"Capitalism" is a strong indictment of the "plutonomy" that serves the very rich, and tries to keep the rest of us in line with the hope of one day joining their ranks. In the end, though, what would it be worth to sit on top of such a fetid pile?

Rated R. 127 minutes. Michael Moore - Director / Writer / Producer, Anne Moore - Producer, Daniel Marracino - Cinematographer, Jayme Roy - Cinematographer, Jeff Gibbs - Composer, Jessica Brunetto - Editor, Alex Meillier - Editor, Tanya Ager Meillier - Editor, Conor O'Neill - Editor, Pablo Proenza - Editor, Todd Woody Richman - Editor, John W. Walter - Editor.

Cast: Many politicians, businessmen, and workers, many well-known, some seen for the first time.