It's 70 years since Nazi Germany invaded Czechoslovakia - for some reason expecting the Czech populace to be grateful. A cartoonist of that era depicted Adolf Hitler motoring into downtown Prague, the ever-faithful Joseph Goebbels at his side. "Surely mein Fuehrer is pleased that the people throw flowers to us," Goebbels gurgles. "Ja," Hitler replies. "And even more pleased if the flowers were first removed from their pots!" Times change, and today's would-be conquerors may ... [full story]

It's probably too early in the year to brand a film the most anything of 2008. But "Snow Angels," based on the book by Stewart O'Nan and written and directed by David Gordon Green, gets a head start in the race for most depressing movie of the year. This, or any year.   'SNOW ANGELS' - Sam Rockwell and Kate Beckinsale star in the drama 'Snow Angels.' CNS Photo courtesy of Chris Reardon.  RATINGS 4 STARS - ... [full story]

In "Flawless," a pair of amateur crooks tries to snaffle a fortune by raiding an obscenely rich British institution. So far, so familiar. But near the film's unthrilling climax, we finally see something new: a 70-something janitor (Michael Caine) chasing a 40-something executive (Demi Moore) through London's sewers.   'FLAWLESS' - Michael Caine and Demi Moore star in the crime drama 'Flawless.' CNS Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.  RATINGS 4 STARS - Excellent. 3 STARS - Worthy. ... [full story]

Its title sounds like an open invitation for a "more excruciating than root canal" joke. But no need to grasp for cheap laughs, even if that's what "Drillbit Taylor" spends a good chunk of its 102 minutes doing. If anything, the movie - in which a parade of people gets their teeth knocked in - is more likely to make your molars ache with a case of the cutes.   'DRILLBIT TAYLOR' - Owen Wilson stars ... [full story]

Director Gus Van Sant is a voyeur, hovering cinematically over the lives and lithe bodies of adolescent boys. In "Paranoid Park," it was just a matter of time until the teenage skater at the center of the story (a long way from the rock star of Avril Lavigne's "Sk8ter Boi") would end up in the shower. In this case, the scene is less blatant than the two deadly Columbine-like high schoolers in "Elephant," who hop ... [full story]

"Under the Same Moon" tells the story of Rosario, a single mother who leaves her native Mexico. Her 9-year-old son, Carlitos, left behind with his grandmother, eagerly awaits her telephone calls every Sunday at the same time.   'UNDER THE SAME MOON' - Adrian Alonso stars as Carlitos in the touching film 'Under the Same Moon.' CNS Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight.  Carlitos decides to go in search of his mother in Los Angeles after his grandmother ... [full story]

The essential message in "Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!" is respect. Horton's respect for the inhabitants of Whoville, whose world happens to be on a speck of dust.   'DR. SEUSS' HORTON HEARS A WHO!' - Protecting the inhabitants of Whoville with his trunk, Horton ventures to cross a rickety brdge in the humorous film 'Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!' CNS Photo courtesy of Blue Sky Studios.  RATINGS 4 STARS - Excellent. 3 STARS - ... [full story]

With Congress failing to enact meaningful immigration reform, a lot of states are trying to take it on. But they're bound to find out just how difficult that job really is. After all, if it was that easy to fix a broken immigration system - in a way that honors both the rule of law and our country's immigrant tradition, while balancing labor needs with border security - don't you think Congress would have done ... [full story]

There were many legal cross-currents involved in the U.S. Supreme Court's decision this week to side with Texas against the Bush administration and the International Court of Justice in a case involving a Mexican national on death row. Jose Medellin was not allowed to consult with diplomats from his home country after his arrest in a 1993 murder-rape investigation, in violation of the Vienna Convention - an international treaty dealing with the treatment of foreigners ... [full story]

American Airlines grounded 325 aircraft on Wednesday, stranding passengers across the country because of a safety inspection lapse. The problem was revealed by a new audit program imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration. We'd like to think that this demonstrates the FAA now is on the ball when it comes to airliner safety, but there is reason to doubt it. The doubt arises mainly from troubling news about Southwest Airlines and evidence suggesting that some ... [full story]