127 Hours ****

Trapped by a boulder, a lone hiker who told no one where he was going faces a grim choice: certain death, or a chance at life but without one arm. The true story of Aron Ralston's ordeal powerfully depicts his isolation, but this is not a claustrophobic movie. Flashbacks, dreams, hallucinations, ultra close-up angles, even x-ray views populate this remarkable film. From the teeming slums of Mumbai to the solitary challenge of a trapped hiker is quite a leap, but director/writer Danny Boyle transitions from "Slumdog Millionaire" to "127 Hours" with grace and concentration on his subject. James Franco give an Oscar-caliber performance, and A.R. Rahman produces a score that is equally stellar. Don't fear the subject, for it is ultimately an affirmation of life, and you can easily close your eyes in the few sequences that might disturb the squeamish.

Rated R. 94 minutes. Danny Boyle - Director / Writer (screenplay) / Producer, Simon Beaufoy - Writer (screenplay), Aron Ralston - Writer (book "Between a Rock and a Hard Place"), Christian Colson- Producer, John Smithson - Producer, Enrique Chediak - Cinematographer, Anthony Dod Mantle - Cinematographer, A.R, Rahman - Composer, Suttirat Larlarb - Production Designer, Jon Harris - Editor. Distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures.

Principal actors: James Franco, Amber Tamblyn, Kate Mara.

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.