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October 10, 2008 | Movie Preview

'Body of Lies'

Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe are dependably good in Ridley Scott's thrilling film about the war on terror, making a sometimes obvious story compelling. Mark Strong is outstanding as a Jordanian intelligence chief. (R - 128 minutes) P, V.

'Lies' puts DiCaprio out of comfort zone

Leonardo DiCaprio didn't realize he was in over his head until it was too late.

'The Duchess'

Keira Knightley gives a captivating performance as Georgiana Spencer, who captivated the British people centuries before her relative, Princess Diana, did. But it's Ralph Fiennes' performance as the self-centered Duke of Devonshire, Georgiana's husband, that is especially fascinating. (PG-13 - 110 minutes) S.

'City of Ember'

A society crumbles while its leaders insisted all is well. Sound familiar? Bill Murray has a grand time as the squirrelly Mayor of Ember, an underground city whose time is running out. Saoirse Ronan and Harry Treadaway are both quite good as two kids out to find the truth - and perhaps a way to save the city. (PG - 95 minutes) V.

'The Express'

True story of Ernie Davis, who battled racism to become the first Black player to win the Heisman Trophy only to die at age 23. Understated film avoids piling on the sentimentality and unfolds with grace and intelligence.

'Fireproof'

(Orlando Sentinel) "Fireproof" is the latest film from that cinematic congregation of Sherwood Baptist Church of Albany, Ga., the folks (preacher-director Alex Kendrick and Co.) who gave us the Christian football drama "Facing the Giants." The movie sports a tad more polish and Hollywood sophistication. It's still preachy, overwrought emotionally and dully scripted. But they're growing, getting better, and the sermon is somewhat more subtle. Think of these folks as Tyler Perry without the cross-dressing. (PG-13 - 137 minutes).

Masterson quietly plies her trade

We continue our take on the ever-popular where-are-they-now update.

Where Is She Now? M.S. Masterson

'Wonderful's' Watts works in front of and behind the camera. P2

Bill Murray looks for renewal

NEW YORK - The deadpan and depressed characters Bill Murray has specialized in portraying in recent years have always stood in contrast to the life-of-the-party guy he is in real life - whether on a golf course or shuttling people around downtown Stockholm in a golf cart, as he did last year.