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 16, Palace 20, Plaza
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 20
BIG TROUBLE (PG-13) -- NOT RATED
A bomb in a suitcase wreaks havoc in the lives of Tim Allen, Rene Russo, Tom Sizemore, Omar Epps, Dennis Farina, Janeane Garofalo, Jason Lee, Andy Richter, Stanley Tucci, Patrick Warburton and others. Barry Sonnenfeld directs this adaption of humorist Dave Barry's debut novel. Palace 12
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. Downtown Joy, Palace 12, Palace 16, Palace 20, Plaza
CHANGING LANES (R) -- B
Roger Michell's urban drama stars Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Affleck as two contemporary New Yorkers who get in a fender bender and then spend a long day in a series of escalating attacks on each other. This seemingly ho-hum flick is a surprisingly apt metaphor for the Middle East (or other places in the world where violence begets violence). (Barton) Chalmette, Palace 12, Palace 16, Palace 20, Prytania
CLOCKSTOPPERS (PG) -- NOT RATED
A scientist tries to undo his own handiwork after developing a 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. Palace 16, Palace 20
DONNIE DARKO (R) -- NOT RATED
The New Orleans Film Festival sponsors this special screening of last year's critically acclaimed debut from writer-director Richard Kelly, who somehow melds teen angst with science fiction. Stars Jake Gyllenhaal, with appearances by executive producer Drew Barrymore, Patrick Swayze, Noah Wyle and others. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Prytania
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) Palace 16
FRAILTY (R) -- NOT RATED
Character actor Bill Paxton makes his directing debut and co-stars in this film about a man (Matthew McConaughey) who recounts his abusive childhood while telling the FBI his brother may be the serial killer they're tracking. Palace 12, Palace 16, Palace 20
HIGH CRIMES (PG-13) -- NOT RATED
Hot-shot San Francisco attorney Ashley Judd turns to retired military lawyer Morgan Freeman to help defend husband James Caviezel in military court. Carl Franklin (One True Thing) directs. Chalmette, Downtown Joy, Palace 12, Palace 16, Palace 20
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 16
JOSHUA (G) -- NOT RATED
Based on the first installment of a popular Christian novel series, this theatrical-release debut from John Purdy stars Tony Goldwyn (Ghost) as a carpenter who moves to a small town and whose seemingly miraculous feats get the townfolk buzzing that he might be the Second Coming. Giancarlo Giannini and F. Murray Abraham co-star. Chalmette, Palace 12, Palace 16, Palace 20
KANDAHAR (NR) -- B
Made before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Mohsen Makhmalbaf's film is a study of the treatment of Afghan women by the Taliban. Narratively slim but emotionally devastating, this film is profoundly sad. How do people justify treating others this way? (Barton) (Reviewed in this issue.) Canal Place through Thursday
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
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
MUMIA ABU-JAMAL BIRTHDAY FILM PROGRAM (NR) -- NOT RATED
A selection of films includes Deathrow Notebook, Be Vigilant! and Police Conspiracy Against Momia in Philadelphia. 8 p.m. Wednesday at Zeitgeist
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
MONSOON WEDDING (R) -- B
Mira Nair's (Mississippi Masala) mostly festive look at an arranged marriage in contemporary Delhi between an otherwise strikingly modern bride and groom is full of energy and joy but only narrowly skirts narrative disaster in a late turn about incest and pedophilia. (Barton) Canal Place
MURDER BY NUMBERS (R) -- B
Director Barbet Schroeder and producer/New Orleans resident Susan Hoffman return to familiar ground with this psychological crime thriller about a detective (Sandra Bullock) tracking a Leopold-Loeb-type pair of killers (Ryan Gosling, Michael Pitt) while battling her demons. This predictably tepid work is at its most effective when exploring the repel-attract relationship between Bullock and Gosling -- a nice pairing of a familiar favorite and a potential rising star. (Simmons) Chalmette, Palace 12, Palace 16, Palace 20
NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VAN WILDER (R) -- NOT RATED
Professional college student Van Wilder (Ryan Reynolds) tries to keep his "job" even after his dad finally cuts him off in his seventh year at school. Co-stars Tara Reid. Palace 16, Palace 20
OFF THE ROAD (NR) -- NOT RATED
This documentary covering Peter Kowald's tour of the U.S. last year (partially shot at Zeitgeist) will screen as part of Zeitgeist's Creative Music Festival. 8 p.m. Sunday at Zeitgeist
THE OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN (PG) -- NOT RATED
Christopher Gorman stars in this fact-based story of Mormon missionary John H. Groberb's work in the Tongan Islands in the 1950s. Anne Hathaway (The Princess Diaries) co-stars. Palace 16
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 a new townhouse, not realizing the room hides the goods the burglars seek. David Fincher (Se7en) directs. Chalmette, Palace 12, Palace 16, Palace 20, Plaza
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 16
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, charming family film. (Carlson) Chalmette, Palace 12, Palace 16, Palace 20
THE SCORPION KING (PG-13) -- F
A worthwhile film franchise goes horribly wrong with this tale of a legendary Akkadian fighter. A poor script, lackluster direction and hammy supporting cast chip away at The Rock, who otherwise shows a moment or two of actual action potential. (Carlson) (Reviewed in this issue.) Chalmette, Downtown Joy, 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 20
SLAMDANCE (ON THE ROAD) (NR) -- NOT RATED
This collection of the top films from this year's Slamdance Festival, which runs concurrently with the Sundance Festival, is presented by Gianna Chachere and sponsored by the New Orleans Video Access Center. 8 p.m. Thursday at Zeitgeist
STATE PROPERTY (R) -- NOT RATED
Gang leader Beanie Sigel tries to become the drug kingpin but clashes with rival Jay-Z in this film directed by first-timer Abdul Malik Abbott, who directs Jay-Z music videos. Plaza
THE SWEETEST THING (R) -- NOT RATED
Cameron Diaz's talents are on full display as she portrays a party girl who tries to settle down after finding her Mr. Right -- who just happens to be engaged. Co-stars Parker Posey, Christina Applegate, Selma Blair and Thomas Jane. Chalmette, Palace 12, Palace 16, Palace 20
TALE OF THE THREE JEWELS (NR) -- NOT RATED
Loyola's Arab Film Festival continues with this first-ever feature film shot in the Gaza Strip. A 12-year-old boy falls in love with a girl while trying to escape the violence of the region. 7 p.m. Thursday at Loyola's Bobet Hall, Room 101
Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN (NR) -- A
Alfonso Cuaron's sexually explicit road "comedy" about two teenaged boys and the 28-year-old runaway wife they take to the beach is really an elaborate allegory about Mexican history and society. Every detail in this picture is important, every image the director puts on screen significant, the edges of the frame as much so as what's in the center. (Barton) Canal Place
