Ray Pride

2 Fast 2 Furious

"Boyz in the Hood" auteur continues his slide into corporate middle-age, following up the "Shaft" remake with a sequel to a film by... Rob Cohen? Set in Miami, Paul Walker repeats in this story of ex-cop and ex-con zooming the city streets, minus Vin Diesel's gutter, guttural charms. With Tyrese Gibson, Eva Mendes, Cole Hauser

28 Days Later

Or, "SARS: The Prequel." "Trainspotting"'s Danny Boyle finds his way out of the BBC hinterlands with this pretty terrifying and painfully topical shot-on-DV thriller about a virus that kills most of London's population after a few fits of homicidal rage. With Christopher Eccleston, Megan Burns, Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris.

Alex & Emma

Rob Reiner returns from his political pursuits to attempt a modestly-budgeted lovely story about a novelist with gambling debts (Luke Wilson) whose imagination is sparked by his new stenographer (Kate Hudson). Create or die? From the director of "North" and "The Story of Us"; shot under the title, "Loosely Based on a True Love Story," which would have been that of Dostoevsky. (Co-screenwriter Jeremy Leven, responsible for "Don Juan de Marco," wrote an adaptation of "The Gambler" that's never been produced.) With Sophie Marceau, David Paymer.

Bollywood/Hollywood

Likable Canadian comedy/musical from Deepa Mehta about yet another Big Fat Indian Wedding.

Capturing the Friedmans

Andrew Jarecki's portrait of a Long Island family's increasingly dark lives and public persecution may be the most concerted documentary examination of the nature of truth and testimony since "The Thin Blue Line."

Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle

What the hell are those deliriously, deliciously nutty coming attractions all about? And are those tears in my eyes from awe or from shock? McG repeats his action-comedy ways with Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu, adding Bernie Mac as Bill Murray's brother-from-another-mother. From the writer of "Go."

Dumb & Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd

Wouldn't it be funny if this turned out to be funny? Troy Miller was a director of "Mr. Show;" the prequel puts young lunkheads Eric Christian Olsen and Derek Richardson in high school and in the roles originated by Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels. The supporting cast is reasonably auspicious: Eugene Levy, Luis Guzman, Mimi Rogers and Cheri Oteri.

The Eye

Thai brothers Oxide and Danny Pang write and direct a creepy, soon-to-be-remade horror entry about the aftereffects of corneal transplants

Friday Night

Claire Denis' latest, "Vendredi Soir," is a daydreamy mood piece about female desire that evokes the photographic work of Nan Goldin in every patch of the frame. Lush and luscious.

From Justin to Kelly

"American Idol" hits the big screen, from Robert Iscove, the director of "Um, Well, This, That, You're All Something Or That Or Other," or some other teen-marketed offal that sounds just like other forgettable teen-marketed offal.

Gigantic

Doc follows the deadpan musical duo who are "They Might Be Giants." (Music Box, June 20)

Hollywood Homicide

Ron Shelton's second L.A. cops tale this year (after "Dark Blue"). Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett are mismatched cops who moonlight and bicker. With Lena Olin, Bruce Greenwood, Lolita Davidovich.

The Hulk

"Sense and Sensibility," indeed. Ang Lee and James Schamus pour on the empathy in yet another Marvel superhero adaptation. This had better be swell. With Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly, Sam Elliott, Josh Lucas, Cara Buono and Nick Nolte as dear old Dad.

Jet Lag

Layover turns into lay at the Paris airport. With Juliette Binoche, Jean Reno, Sergi Lopez.

The Man Without A Past

Lustrous tragicomedy from Finland's Aki Kaurismaki. One of my two or three favorite movies I previewed in 2002, and I was sorely tempted to put it high on those lists I dearly don't like to compile. It's strange, timeless, hopeful and beautiful. Plus, as always in Kaurismaki's comedies, there's a great dog. (Music Box, June 27)

Prozac Nation

Elizabeth Wurtzel's bio, long-delayed after her untimely remarks after September 11. With Christina Ricci as the notorious literary pill, Jessica Lange.

Rugrats Go Wild

With Bruce Willis as Spike the Dog. You go wild, leave me out of it.

Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas

DreamWorks' seafaring animation, voiced by Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michelle Pfeiffer, Joseph Fiennes

Sweet Sixteen

Ken Loach's latest social drama is a touching story of a smart Scots kid who tumbles into the crime world because of the usual Loachian misfortunes. Beautiful and profane. (Music Box, June 13)

Valentin

1960s Argentine coming-of age drama from Alejandro Agresti.

Whale Rider

Can a teenage girl become the latest leader of a Maori tribe? Magical, lovely.

(2003-05-21)

Also by Ray Pride

Quibbles and bits
We are talking up the matrix and "The Matrix Unloaded" and how not to talk about it while talking about it.
(2003-05-14)

Tip of the Week
Chris Hegedus and D. A. Pennebaker take a look at life after Stax Records for several 1960s Memphis music stars.
(2003-05-07)

Short Runs
This week's limited screenings
(2003-05-07)

Members only
After Neil LaBute's detour into post-Tarantino comic brutality ("Nurse Betty") and then tony literary adaptation ("Possession"), he's back to plumbing his vein of deepest inspiration: theatrically derived misanthropy that masquerades as romping misogyny.
(2003-05-07)

Innocence unprotected
(2003-05-07)

Tip of the Week
(2003-04-30)

Short Runs
(2003-04-30)

X appeal
(2003-04-30)

Terror's isms
(2003-04-30)

Tip of the Week
(2003-04-22)

Short Runs
(2003-04-22)

For Peet's sake
(2003-04-22)

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