ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMINS (R) -- NOT RATED Kevin Bray, who developed his cinematic vision shooting videos for *NSync and Whitney Houston, directs Ice Cube and Mike Epps in this whimsical adventure about a bounty hunter who teams with his former prey for a diamond heist. Downtown Joy, Palace 12, Palace 16, Palace 20, Plaza
THE ANIMATION STATE (NR) -- NOT RATED
Local filmmaker and artist Paul DEO (as he spells it) offers what Zeitgeist describes as a "full-frontal assault that expands the visual politics of hip hop." 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday at Zeitgeist
A BEAUTIFUL MIND (PG-13) -- B
Ron Howard's drama profiles a genius mathematician who struggles with mental illness. The picture offers another brilliant performance by Russell Crowe and fine supporting work by Jennifer Connelly and Ed Harris. Winner of four Oscars. (Barton) Palace 16, Palace 20, Prytania
BLADE II (R) -- NOT RATED
Wesley Snipes is back as the action-packed vampire hunter who this time must form an uneasy alliance with the blood-suckers in order to defeat viral-infected monsters that can suck blood with the touch of a hand. Chalmette, Downtown Joy, Palace 12, Palace 16, Palace 20, Plaza
CLOCKSTOPPERS (PG) -- NOT RATED
A scientist tries to undo his own handiwork after developing mechanism that speeds up anything it hits -- including his own kids. Jonathan Frakes (Star Trek's Insurrection and First Contact) directs; Robin Thomas, Michael Biehn, Julia Sweeney and French Stewart co-star. Chalmette, Palace 16, Palace 20
DEATH TO SMOOCHY (R) -- NOT RATED
Danny DeVito directed and co-stars in this dark comedy about fired kids-TV star Robin Williams seeking revenge against his Barney-esque replacements (Edward Norton). Supporting cast includes Jon Stewart, Catherine Keener, Hank Azaria, Harvey Fierstein and Salma Hayek. Chalmette, Palace 12, Palace 16, Palace 20
E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL: THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY (PG) -- B+
Steven Spielberg (Jaws) was already a hot ticket in 1982 when he directed this phenomenally popular, manipulative escapist fantasy about a lovable (and marketable) alien who lands in suburbia and immediately tries to "phone home." Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace Stone and a pre-rehab Drew Barrymore co-star. And yes, Debra Winger provided the voice for E.T. (Simmons) Chalmette, Palace 12, Palace 16, Palace 20
GOSFORD PARK (R) -- A-
Robert Altman craftily recasts Jean Renoir's 1939 classic Rules of the Game as an Agatha Christie murder mystery with greater emphasis on social-class conflict. Julian Fellowes won an Oscar for his original script. (Simmons) Canal Place
ICE AGE (PG) -- NOT RATED
A woolly mammoth and other Ice Age animals help a human infant get back to his family in this animated film starring the voices of Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo and others. Chalmette, Palace 12, Palace 16, Palace 20, Plaza
JOHN Q. (PG-13) -- NOT RATED
Protective dad Denzel Washington takes a hospital hostage until his kid gets a life-saving operation. Now that's health care reform! Palace 12, Palace 16, Palace 20, Plaza
KISSING JESSICA STEIN (R) -- B+
Jennifer Westfeldt and Heather Juergensen co-wrote and co-star as two straight women who meet through a personals ad and develop an awkward romance in this smart, witty comedy directed by Charles Herman-Wurmfeld. There is an undeniable charm and chemistry between the two leads as the film looks at the fluidity of love between and among the sexes. (Simmons) Canal Place, Palace 20
LANTANA (R) -- NOT RATED
Anthony LaPaglia, Geoffrey Rush, Barbara Hershey and Kerry Armstrong co-star in this ensemble mystery about how the discovery of a murdered woman affects four couples living in Australia. Canal Place
LAST ORDERS (R) -- A
Fred Schepisi's adaptation of the Booker Prize-winning novel by Graham Swift is the story of a working-class circle of friends who savor the memory of a deceased pal. A melancholy but brilliant study of love and friendship, this film offers a terrific ensemble of performances by Michael Caine, Bob Hoskins, Helen Mirren, Ray Winstone, David Hemmings and Tom Courtenay. Opens Friday at Canal Place
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (PG-13) -- A
This first Lord of the Rings movie is better than fans of the books possibly could have imagined. Peter Jackson's masterful direction and devotion to Tolkien's tale create an epic of the highest order. Winner of four Oscars. (Carlson) Palace 20
MONSTER'S BALL (R) -- B-
Marc Forster's drama about a racist prison guard (Billy Bob Thornton) who falls for a black waitress (Halle Berry) offers an Oscar-winning lead performance by Berry and a convincing depiction of the way family members of criminals are among crime's victims. (Barton) Plaza
NO MAN'S LAND (R) -- NOT RATED
Danis Tanovic's dark comedy about a Bosnian soldier and a Serbian soldier trapped on a land mine that will detonate if either moves won both the Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film. In Bosnian with English subtitles. Through Thursday at Canal Place
PANIC ROOM (R) -- NOT RATED
Single mom Jodie Foster and her daughter hide out from burglars Forest Whitaker, Dwight Yoakam and Jared Leto in the supposedly secure room of new townhouse, not realizing the room hides the goods the burglars seek. David Fincher (Se7en) directs. Chalmette, Downtown Joy, Palace 12, Palace 16, Palace 20, Plaza
THE QUEEN OF THE DAMNED (R) -- C+
Another adaptation of New Orleans' own Anne Rice's work suffers in its journey to the big screen. While Interview With the Vampire suffered from a poorly chosen all-star cast, this film is "damned" by a poorly chosen no-star cast and scattered direction. (Simmons) Palace 20
RESIDENT EVIL (R) -- NOT RATED
The popular video game (and the books it inspired) comes to the big screen with the help of Milla Jovovich, Eric Mabius, and Michelle Rodriguez. Paul Anderson (not to be confused with Paul Thomas Anderson) directs. Palace 12, Palace 16, Palace 20, Plaza
THE ROOKIE (G) -- B+
Director John Lee Hancock and star Dennis Quaid prove that baseball diamonds are a movie-going girl's best friend in this big league, based-on-a-true-story family film. (Carlson) (Reviewed in this issue.) Chalmette, Palace 12, Palace 16, Palace 20
THE SCOUNDREL'S WIFE (R) -- B
Glen Pitre (Belizaire the Cajun) directed and co-wrote with wife Michelle Benoit this tale of romance amid suspicion and paranoia during World War II in Pitre's south Louisiana hometown of Cut Off. While Pitre breathes life and warmth into his familiar surroundings and tries to capture the complexities of time and place, limited dramatic tension and a mixed-bag performance by lead actress Tatum O'Neal hold the film back a bit. Still, Scoundrel is a unique history lesson and a love letter to a region rarely captured on the big screen. (Simmons) Palace 16, Palace 20
SHOWTIME (PG-13) -- NOT RATED
Two cops -- grizzled veteran Robert De Niro and frustrated actor Eddie Murphy -- are recruited to join a reality-based TV cop show in this action comedy by Tom Dey (Shanghai Noon). Think The Hard Way meets 48 Hours, the latter of which starred Murphy, which makes you wonder about Murphy's career. Chalmette, Palace 12, Palace 16, Palace 20, Plaza
SORORITY BOYS (R) -- NOT RATED
Three college seniors get kicked out of their frat and wind up dressing in drag to enter a sorority that serves as a refuge for unattractive co-eds. And then the guys learn a little life lesson about true beauty. Chalmette, Palace 12, Palace 16, Palace 20
THE TIME MACHINE (PG-13) -- NOT RATED
Simon Wells (The Prince of Egypt) makes his live-action debut by directing a remake of the 1960 film based on the science-fiction classic written by his great-grandfather, H.G. Wells. Guy Pearce, Jeremy Irons and Orlando Jones co-star. Palace 12, Palace 16, Palace 20
UMM KULTHUM: A VOICE LIKE EGYPT (NR) -- NOT RATED
This critically acclaimed documentary of the equally acclaimed Egyptian singer, and narrated by Omar Sharif, kicks off Loyola's Arab Film Festival. The series runs through May 2. 7 p.m. Thursday at Loyola's Bobet Hall, room 101
V.I. LENIN (NR) -- NOT RATED
Documentary about the controversial communist leader in Russia will be followed by a panel discussion, "Aspects of Marxist-Leninist Thought." 6 p.m. Sunday at Zeitgeist
WE WERE SOLDIERS (R) -- B+
Randall Wallace's depiction of the men who fought America's first big battle in Vietnam gets off to a shaky and cliched start. Once the fighting starts, however, the picture finds its rhythm and its heart. Mel Gibson is at his best as the field commander. The picture properly honors the courage of our soldiers, all the while subtly illustrating the astonishing corruption of those who allowed the war to happen. (Barton) (Reviewed in this issue.) Palace 12, Palace 16, Palace 20
