2001: A Space Odyssey
See Film, pg. 41. Northwest Film Center's Whitsell Auditorium.

Bars in Memory
A documentary about "the concentration camps and prisons Franco created in the 1930s." Northwest Film Center's Whitsell Auditorium.

Becoming Jane
Based on the early life of Jane Austen, this charming, inoffensive little movie stars a surprisingly likeable Anne Hathaway as the headstrong young Austen. The film's highlight, though, is hottie James McAvoy, who is perfectly cast as Tom Lefroy (Austen's love interest and the inspiration for everyone's favorite literary crush, Pride and Prejudice's Mr. Darcy). ALISON HALLETT Century 16 Cedar Hills Crossing.

The Bourne Ultimatum
See review this issue. Various Theaters.

Bratz
A kind way to describe Bratz, the 110-minute long advertisement for the doll line of the same name, would be as a fourth-rate Mean Girls. A more accurate way to describe it would be as Lolita 2007. The plot, a tedious yarn about four "BFFs" driven apart by the oh-so-mean daughter of the principal, exists to string together disturbingly lewd montages of the film's adolescent cast to the relentless pop soundtrack. This disconcerting undercurrent is reinforced by the presence of Jon Voight, AKA Angelina Jolie's creepy father, who plays—SURPRISE—a creepy father. If you must watch one toy-based film with Jon Voight this year, go to Transformers instead. THOMAS LUNDBY Various Theaters.

Brooklyn Rules
A mob drama written by Terence Winter (The Sopranos), set in Brooklyn in 1985, "against the backdrop of John Gotti's rise to power." Which sounds good, right? But hold on a sec: It stars Freddie Prinze Jr. Consider yourself warned. Hollywood Theatre.

El Cantante
While the plot goes through the familiar motions of every other rise-and-fall star biopic, the music of El Cantante, based on the life of Hector Lavoe, is fantastic. Starring the husband and wife team of the naturally cast Jennifer Lopez and a perfectly competent Marc Anthony, the film provides plenty of eye candy in the wardrobes and scenery, which, coupled with the infectious music of the "king of salsa," makes the film enjoyable enough. That the plot is predictable is a tricky criticism of such films, which tend to stay true to people's lives—either people need to start living more originally, or the film industry needs to invent new ways of capturing their stories. MARJORIE SKINNER Various Theaters.

Goya's Ghosts
See review this issue. Fox Tower 10.

Helvetica
Yep, it's a documentary about a font. But it's also one of the most buzzed-about documentaries of the year, and is reportedly getting graphic designers laid in record numbers. (Seriously, would you sleep with somebody who preferred Arial?) Helvetica is playing at damn near every film fest in the world right now, so catch this one-night screening while you can. CHAS BOWIE Hollywood Theatre.

Heroic Trio
Johnny To's girl-centric martial arts flick from 1993, featuring Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Cheung, and some third chick. Northwest Film Center's Whitsell Auditorium.

Hot Rod
See review this issue. Various Theaters.

The House of Cunt: Together and Alone
A documentary about "Portland's premier avant-garde performance troupe." Not screened for critics. House of Cunt members in attendance for a Q&A following the film. Clinton Street Theater.

I Don't Want to Sleep Alone
The story of three people in Kuala Lumpur. Not screened in time for press; hit portlandmercury.com on Friday, August 3, for our film short. Living Room Theaters.

I Know Who Killed Me
It is only with great reluctance and deliberation that I venture to speak in definitive extremes like "this is the worst film I have ever reviewed," as such absolutes are inherently cheap and alarmist, and rarely serve critical purpose. So though my initial reaction was to clock Lindsay Lohan's I Know Who Killed Me with this dubious distinction, I think it's only fair to compile a brief list of movies I've reviewed in my illustrious career that might potentially compete: Boat Trip, The Haunted Mansion, Herbie Fully Loaded, Freddy vs. Jason, Are We There Yet?, Nicolas Cage's The Wicker Man remake, Rugrats Go Wild... I could go on. And you know what? In spite of that rather stiff competition, I can say with clear conscience that I Know Who Killed Me is unequivocally the worst film I've ever reviewed. ZAC PENNINGTON Various Theaters.

Interview
See review this issue. Cinema 21.

The Method
Seven job applicants battle each other for a position. Not screened in time for press; hit portlandmercury.com on Friday, August 3, for our film short. Living Room Theaters.

Paths of Glory
See Film, pg. 41. Northwest Film Center's Whitsell Auditorium.

Screen 360: Films for Children of the World
A program that promotes "tolerance, understanding, and gentle curiosity through making the world's languages, cultures, and stories accessible to children and youth through international cinema." Huh. Something tells me the children of the world would rather have an Xbox 360. Hollywood Theatre.

Spartacus
See Film, pg. 41. Northwest Film Center's Whitsell Auditorium.

Summer of Love Film Festival
Local film historian Dennis Nyback presents a look back at 1967 with a whole slew of films from the era. Friday has "The Hippie Temptation: A CBS Special Report with Harry Reasoner" and a program of "LSD Flashback and Drug Scare Films"; Saturday has "The 1967 Psychelelic and Rock and Roll Film Show" (featuring performances from Creedence, Janis, Jimi, Sly, and a bunch of other acts your parents groove to in their SUVs); and Sunday features Wild in the Streets, a 1968 film about a rock star who becomes president and forces everyone to take LSD. More info: clintonsttheater.com. Clinton Street Theater.

Them
This French horror film set in Romania claims to be based on real events, in which a French language teacher and her lover are stalked and violently invaded in their home. Them goes through some classic paces, with chilling noises, shadowy figures, creepy phone calls, chases through the forest, etc. The intention is heavy suspense, but the film's encumbered by relentless cliché. MARJORIE SKINNER Hollywood Theatre.

Towncraft
See review this issue. Clinton Street Theater.

Underdog
Jason Lee voices a CG version of Underdog. Wait. When did he start taking career advice from Eddie Murphy? Various Theaters.

Vitus
The slow-moving Swiss film Vitus is the story of a child prodigy (The Bad Seed-esque Teo Gheorghiu) who longs to be normal, but he's just too smart for his own good. Increasing demands from his mother and a distracted father lead Vitus to rely upon his kindly grandfather to maintain his sense of self—and it's their relationship that makes this film steer clear of normal coming-of-age sap. It's a good old-fashioned workhorse of a film with some great performances. Plus that spooky little kid playing Vitus really is a wunderkind pianist—I wonder if his middle name is Damien? COURTNEY FERGUSON Fox Tower 10.

Walking to Werner
Inspired by Werner Herzog's legendary walk from Munich to Paris in 1974 to see his dying friend Lotte Eisner, filmmaker Linas Phillips undertakes a journey from Seattle to Los Angeles, seeking to meet Herzog himself. While the film's concept piques interest, Phillips is just too annoying for words (and I pride myself on having words for everything). LANCE CHESS Hollywood Theatre.