Opinions are by Los Angeles Times reviewers. Ratings by the Motion Picture Association of America are: (G) for general audiences; (PG) parental guidance urged because of material possibly unsuitable for children; (PG-13) parents are strongly cautioned to give guidance for attendance of children younger than 13; (R) restricted, younger than 17 admitted only with parent or adult guardian; (NC-17) no one younger than 17 admitted.
The Big Lebowski - The latest effort from brothers Joel and Ethan Coen is both irritating and amusing. Its incoherent, disjointed plot about a proto slacker (Jeff Bridges) who's confused with a wealthy man is mostly irritating, but some engaging riffs do make for sporadic laughter. (R, for pervasive strong language, drug content, sexuality and brief violence.)
The Borrowers - This film, based on Mary Norton's popular children's books, does a superb job of creating a scaled environment for its Lilliputian characters, but neither the characters nor the story matches the innovation of the design. (PG, for mild peril and some crude humor.)
Caught Up - Ex-con Daryl, on a run of bad luck, gets mixed up with a Tarot-reading vamp, a dubious car service and a whole lot of trouble in a movie about as muddled as Daryl. Bokeem Woodbine and Cynda Williams star. Directed by Darin Scott. (R, for strong sexuality, violence and language.)
Chairman of the Board - Comedian Carrot Top makes his film debut as an inventor-surfer who inherits a big business. Little Richard and Raquel Welch are among the supporting cast. (PG-13, for crude and sex-related humor and language.)
Dangerous Beauty - Based on the biography of a 16th-century Venice courtesan, this film is all of the following: a "Tom Jones"-styled period sex romp; a bordello version of "Romeo and Juliet" set against war, plague, political collapse and the Inquisition; a costume drama; a peep show; and a rousing call for women's lib from the Joan of Arc of post-Medieval call girls. (R, for some scenes of strong sexuality, and for nudity and language.)
Dark City - From the director of "The Crow,'' an atmospheric melange of styles and substance about aliens, night and unspeakable acts. Interesting, but more than a bit addled. William Hurt, Rufus Sewell and Kiefer Sutherland star. (R, for violent images and some sexuality.)
4 Faces of Eve - A showcase for Hong Kong actress-comedian Sandra Ng composed of four sketches that in substance are fairly conventional but here are given a surreal razzle-dazzle style. The result is sometimes fun, sometimes poignant and sometimes just perplexing and wearying. (Unrated: strong violence, language, some sex.)
Hush - Not a slasher film, as it's being sold, but a dim descendant of gothic romances like "Rebecca.'' A supposed suspense film in which every twist of plot is laboriously telegraphed. Jessica Lange is a social-climbing smother-mother who takes an instant dislike to her son's new girlfriend (Gwyneth Paltrow). Thrill seekers should keep on seeking. (PG-13 for some violence, sensuality and brief strong language.)
Kissing a Fool - A slight, contrived romantic comedy involving the eternal triangle - an obnoxious TV sportscaster (David Schwimmer); his best pal (Jason Lee), a struggling novelist; and Lee's stunning editor (Mili Avital). A good showcase for Lee and Avital, if nothing else. With Bonnie Hunt. (R, for strong language.)
Krippendorf's Tribe - A truly terrible, tasteless, unfunny farrago about an anthropology professor (Richard Dreyfuss) who invents a heretofore "lost'' New Guinea tribe. With Jenna Elfman and Lily Tomlin. (PG-13, for sexual humor.)
The Man in the Iron Mask - "Braveheart'' screenwriter Randall Wallace's directorial debut is a new telling of Dumas' classic starring Leonardo DiCaprio and including the Three Musketeers (Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich and Grard Depardieu). (PG-13, for sequences of violence and some sensuality-nudity.)
Men With Guns - In John Sayles' latest, a doctor's journey into the Latin American countryside brings him into contact with harsh political realities. (R, for language and some violent images.)
Senseless - The protean Marlon Wayans as an ambitious college economics major so financially strapped he becomes a human guinea pig for a sense-heightening experimental drug. Broad comedy incorporates scathing social satire and slapstick near-tragedy under Penelope Spheeris' astute direction. David Spade co-stars. (R, for language and sexual content.)
Twilight - Paul Newman has aged better than any star in the business but even his fine work as a retired private eye helping out married movie stars Gene Hackman and Susan Sarandon can't provide the energy this example of geezer noir truly needs. Some nice moments, but not enough of them. (R, for violence and some sexuality.)
U.S. Marshals - Remake, uh, we mean sequel to "The Fugitive,'' featuring Tommy Lee Jones as the miserable Fed with the heart of gold, and a whole lotta stuff that goes boom. Wesley Snipes and Robert Downey Jr. co-star. (PG-13, for some scenes of violence and brief language.)
The Wedding Singer - A sparkling romantic comedy in which Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore turn on the charm full force. Adding to the fizz are Allen Covert as Sandler's pal, Steve Buscemi and Jon Lovitz (in hilarious unbilled cameos) and none other than Billy Idol. (PG-13, for sex-related material and language.)