Toronto based Indian Writer/director Deepa Mehta’s (WATER, EARTH, FIRE) most serious fiction film works well primarily for the mystic ambiguities present in her tale of abused bride, Chand (Preity Zinta).  In her desperation for love and happiness, Chand uses a Jamaican witch’s potion to entice her husband, Rocky (Vansh Bhardwaj).  Mehta’s frequent ponderous style works well here to actually create more audience anticipation. 

TROUBLE THE WATER is a cinema verite styled documentary that follows the experiences of a husband and wife team as they survive the Katrina hurricane in New Orleans.  Kim films with her video camera and both provide their points of view.

Based on a video game, the new Mark Wahlberg vehicle MAX PAYNE returns him to the role of the anti-hero, this time in the form of Max Payne.  Director John Moore (responsible for THE OMEN and FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX remakes) ventures again into dark territory.

Life for 14-year old Lily Owens (Dakota Fanning) is no bed of roses.  She lives under the guilt of having shot her mother (shown in flashback).  Her abusive father (Paul Bettany) causes her to run away with her black friend Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson).  They are taken in by a family of female bee-keepers led by August Boatwright (Queen Latifah).  Needless to say, Prince-Bythewood’s script offers many metaphors of the characters’ lives with the behavior of the bees.  The film is based on the 2002 best seller of the same name by Sue Monk Kidd.

The ads advertise W. as a film on the chronicle on the life and presidency of George W. Bush (James Brolin).  But more accurately, W. is a film on the chronicle on the life and presidency of George W. Bush according to Oliver Stone.