1. Mystic River - Three childhood pals (Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon) are uneasily reunited by the murder of one friend's daughter. Directed with taut style by Clint Eastwood.
2. The Human Stain - A disgraced professor (Anthony Hopkins) begins an affair with a younger woman (Nicole Kidman) leading to the revelation of a lifelong secret. Based on the novel by Philip Roth.
3. Lost in Translation - Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson deserve Oscar nominations in Sofia Coppola's bittersweet, funny tale of strangers spending time together in Tokyo.
4. Runaway Jury - A wrongful death suit against a gun manufacturer gets manipulated, first legally by a jury consultant (Gene Hackman) then illegally by a juror (John Cusack).
5. Kill Bill, Volume 1 - The return of Quentin Tarantino is marked by preposterous violence and undeniable affection for schlock. Manic, messy and grisly fun.
Upcoming releases
Wed.: The Matrix Revolutions
Nov. 7: Elf; The Gospel of John; Love Actually; Girls Will Be Girls; Pieces of April; Sylvia
Nov. 14: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World; Looney Tunes Back in Action; The Holy Land; Mambo Italiano
Nov. 21: Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat; The Singing Detective; Shattered Glass; Gothika
Nov. 26: The Haunted Mansion; Timeline; The Missing
Dec. 5: The Last Samurai; My Life Without Me; Highwaymen; Honey
Dec. 12: Stuck on You; Something's Gotta Give; Love Don't Cost a Thing
Dec. 17: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Dec. 19: Mona Lisa Smile; The Cooler
Dec. 25: The Alamo; Cheaper by the Dozen; Peter Pan; Bad Santa; Cold Mountain; Paycheck; In America
