Babel (2006)

"At its best, Babel expresses the emotions that link of all of us, even if we have no way to share them. I just wish it did a better job of communicating them."

Bad Company (2002)

"Anthony Hopkins ... phones in another money-grubbing performance as CIA operative Gaylord Oakes. He never moves any part of his face until the finale, when he smiles with relief that the movie's over."

Baghead (2008)

"Jay and Mark Duplass -- the brothers who wrote, directed and produced this bauble -- take literally two-thirds of the film to come to a very small point."

Ballets Russes (2005)

"... Ballets Russes should give nearly unadulterated pleasure to balletomanes .."

Bamboozled (2000)

"Fueled mostly by Lee's anger at racial stereotypes, but it can't run smoothly for 140 minutes on rage alone."

The Banger Sisters (2002)

"Dolman ambles toward the obvious ending like an old mare returning to a barn in anticipation of oats, and no feathers get ruffled."

Baran (2002)

"[Majidi] makes us think twice about immigrants we see around us every day."

Basic Instinct 2 (2006)

"Praising her [Stone] for flaunting herself is like applauding George Foreman for climbing into another ring or TV commercial whenever someone holds out a paycheck."

Battle of Algiers (1966)

"What makes this Charlotte Film Society entry remarkable is that the Italian director sympathizes with both sides."

Be Cool (2005)

"Writer Peter Steinfeld and director F. Gary Gray have created a pale, blurry copy of the first picture, peopled with supporting characters who amount to nothing and a choppy scenario that drags on 20 minutes too long."

The Beach (2000)

"If you scrutinize the story, holes appear."

A Beautiful Mind (2001)

"Director Ron Howard and writer Akiva Goldsman have reached the apex of their careers with Mind."

Because I Said So (2007)

"Lehmann must've hoped Keaton's appealing daffiness would offset the character's repulsive behavior, but it doesn't."

Becoming Jane (2007)

"Hathaway delivers a fine British accent and high spirits as Austen."

Before Night Falls (2000)

"Oscar-nominated Javier Bardem gives one of the year's best performances as Arenas."

Behind Enemy Lines (2001)

"Has a crassness remarkable even for Hollywood."

Beloved (1998)

"A first-rate adaptation!"

Beowulf (2007)

"If you're going to Beowulf to experience the sweeping passions that only real eyes can convey, you're missing the point."

Better Luck Tomorrow (2003)

"It springs from such a good idea that it can be forgiven many faults."

Bewitched (2005)

"I was bewitched by the first third of Nora Ephron's new film, bothered by some unnecessary flab in the middle, then bewildered by a finale in which a guy who exists only in a character's mind drives an auto around Los Angeles."

Bicentennial Man (1999)

"But I'll be darned if, by the end, my heart didn't reach out a bit to Andrew as he tried to understand the workings of his own."

Big Fat Liar (2002)

"Any reasonably creative eighth-grader could have written a more credible script, though with the same number of continuity errors."

Big Momma's House (2000)

"Yet the dialogue is funny (mostly punny) in unexpected ways."

Billy Elliot (2000)

"The story of Billy Elliot is as old as the coal buried in England's hills, and it's as new as the voyage of self-discovery that some teen-ager somewhere has to make every day."

Birthday Girl (2002)

"The movie runs out of steam before its finish, but [Kdman] doesn't."