"Choke" (R). Sam Rockwell plays a troubled guy whose scam is to fake choking nearly to death in restaurants so that good samaritans will come to his rescue and even financially help him out. His pathetic life owes a lot to his upbringing by a criminal mother (Anjelica Huston). The film is marred by forced humor and murky biographical details. Grade: C Opens Friday, Sept. 26.

"Eagle Eye" (PG-13). Not reviewed. Shia LaBeouf stars in this dramatic thriller as a man forced to carry out the plans of a mysterious woman who is spying on him. D.J. Caruso directs. Opens Friday, Sept. 26.

"Miracle at St. Anna" (R). Not reviewed. Spike Lee and Michael Pinckney direct this fact-based drama about the struggles of four World War II soldiers from the army's Negro 92nd Division. Opens Friday, Sept. 26.

"Nights in Rodanthe" (PG-13). Not reviewed. This romantic drama stars Richard Gere and Diane Lane as a pair of unhappy strangers who fall into a romance at a seaside inn. George Wolfe directs. Opens Friday, Sept. 26.

NOW PLAYING

"Burn After Reading" (R). This complexly plotted espionage comedy is silly without being very funny. The writer-director Coen brothers treat it as a live-action cartoon. Helping animate it in a more enjoyable way are Frances McDormand, George Clooney, John Malkovitch, Tilda Swinton, Brad Pitt, Richard Jenkins and J.K. Simmons. Grade: C+Snowden Square 14, AMC Columbia Mall 14, Muvico Egyptian 24

"The Dark Knight" (PG-13). Dark, violent and seemingly endless, this latest "Batman" movie takes awhile to build any narrative momentum. Also, the late Heath Ledger as the volatile Joker basically steals the movie from its star, Christian Bale as a brooding Bruce Wayne/Batman. With Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Morgan Freeman. Grade: B- Snowden Square 14, AMC Columbia Mall 14, Muvico Egyptian 24

"Fly Me to the Moon" (G). This summer we've already had "Space Chimps" blasting into orbit, and now here's an animated 3-D movie about three juvenile, Florida-dwelling flies that sneak aboard the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. Small kids will like the ride. Grade: B- Muvico Egyptian 24

"Ghost Town" (PG-13). Lively screwball comedy in which a misanthropic New York dentist (Ricky Gervais) develops the ability to see and hear ghosts. This proves to be a major hassle when a persistent ghost (Greg Kinnear) implores the dentist to stop the ghost's widow (Tea Leoni) from marrying again. Smart dialogue and pacing make it a pleasure to watch. Grade: B Snowden Square 14, AMC Columbia Mall 14, Muvico Egyptian 24

"The House Bunny" (PG-13). Thrown out of the Playboy Mansion, bunny Anna Faris takes a new job as house mother for a sorority. This sweet and silly comedy makes no great claims on the intellect. Grade: C+ Snowden Square 14, AMC Columbia Mall 14, Muvico Egyptian 24

"Igor" (PG). This animated comedy riffs on the "Frankenstein" story. Although it has a busy plot, it lacks much identity of its own. Voices include John Cusack, Steve Buscemi and Eddie Izzard. Grade: C Snowden Square 14, AMC Columbia Mall 14, Muvico Egyptian 24

"Lakeview Terrace" (PG-13). Samuel L. Jackson's intense performance as a Los Angeles cop isn't quite enough to carry this thriller about the cop's hostile response to the interracial couple (Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington) who buy the house next to his. Grade: B- Snowden Square 14, AMC Columbia Mall 14, Muvico Egyptian 24

"My Best Friend's Girl" (R). Alleged comedy about a scam artist (Dane Cook) whose best friend (Jason Biggs) has been dumped by a girlfriend (Kate Hudson). These guys scheme to have Cook take Hudson on such a dreadful date that she'll run back to Biggs. The crude humor is relentless. Grade: C- Snowden Square 14, AMC Columbia Mall 14, Muvico Egyptian 24

"Star Wars: The Clone Wars" (PG). George Lucas cashes in with this so-so animated feature. Familiar "Star Wars" characters engage in so many battles in the fast-paced story that at least the fan base will be satisfied. Grade: B- Muvico Egyptian 24

"Traitor" (R). Terrorism is the nervously topical subject of a political thriller about a Sudanese-born, American-raised Muslim (Don Cheadle) whose loyalty is questioned by both the American government and Islamic terrorists. Unfortunately, this munition expert's motives seem to baffle the filmmakers as much as their characters. Insight is lacking just when it's needed most. Grade: B- Snowden Square 14, AMC Columbia Mall 14, Muvico Egyptian 24

"Tropic Thunder" (R). This boisterous movie industry satire about a jungle shoot that goes way out of control definitely gets your attention. However, it becomes desperately zany and even mildly grating. With Ben Stiller (who also directed and co-scripted), Robert Downey Jr., Brandon T. Jackson, Jack Black, Steve Coogan, Nick Nolte, Matthew McConaughey and Tom Cruise. Grade: B Snowden Square 14, AMC Columbia Mall 14, Muvico Egyptian 24

"Tyler Perry's The Family that Preys" (PG-13). Another comic melodrama from Tyler Perry in which the lapses in script logic are matched by crowd-pleasing elements that can't be denied. With Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodard (a wonderful actor who elevates any movie she's in), Cole Hauser, Tyler Perry, Sanaa Lathan, Rockmond Dunbar, Taraji P. Henson, Robin Givens, Kadee Strickland and Sebastian Siegel. Grade: C+ Snowden Square 14, AMC Columbia Mall 14, Muvico Egyptian 24

"Vicky Cristina Barcelona" (PG-13). The usual jazz score is replaced with a seductive Spanish guitar in Woody Allen's charming romantic comedy about American tourists Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall becoming involved with Spanish painter Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz as the painter's volatile ex-wife. Grade: B+ Snowden Square 14

"The Women" (PG-13). This glossy remake of the 1939 movie has such a starry cast that it's fun getting immersed in its light-hearted feminist update of a melodramatic story. With Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, Candice Bergen, Bette Midler, Cloris Leachman, Carrie Fisher and Debi Mazar. Grade: B Snowden Square 14, AMC Columbia Mall 14, Muvico Egyptian 24

All capsule reviews and grades are by Mike Giuliano unless otherwise noted. For showtimes and to confirm listings, call the phone-in number in Screen Scene.

SCREEN SCENE

AMC Columbia Mall 14
Columbia Town Center, Columbia,
410-423-0520

Snowden Square Stadium 14
9161 Commerce Center Drive, Columbia,
410-872-0670

Charles Theatre
1711 N. Charles St., Baltimore,
410-727-FILM

Maryland Science Center IMAX Theater
601 Light St., Baltimore,
410-685-5225

Muvico Egyptian 24
Arundel Mills Boulevard at Route 100, Hanover,
443-755-8992

West Nursery 14
1591 W. Nursery Road, Linthicum,
410-850-8999

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