Machuca (2005)

"Though the film would benefit from further cuts, Machuca still manages to convey the frailty of convictions and the difficulties of growing up -- be it a child or a nation."

Mad Love (2001)

"It's López de Ayala's show, and she's relentless in her energy and passion."

Madagascar (2005)

"The latest DreamWorks Animation picture that leaves you jonesing for a little Pixar."

Made (2001)

"Leaves you wishing they hadn't tried so hard to do something different."

Madeinusa (2006)

"The assured debut of 29-year-old writer-director Claudia Llosa operates on several different levels."

The Magdalene Sisters (2003)

"If The Magdalene Sisters occasionally flirts with cartoonishness, the movie is tempered by Mullan's considerable filmmaking skills."

The Majestic (2001)

"A treacly, synthetic and wildly overlong drama that aspires to Frank Capra-style uplift, but winds up suffocating you with its aura of bogus, store-bought nostalgia."

Maléna (2000)

"The cliches in this movie are as ripe and plump and tightly packed as olives in a jar. But the surface is handsome, moving and humorous, and people are going to like it."

The Man (2005)

"I can't imagine how bored you would have to be with your life to find such a movie entertaining."

The Man from Elysian Fields (2002)

"Too many improbabilities and rose-colored situations temper what could've been an impacting film."

Man of the Year (2006)

"The second half of Man of the Year bears practically no relation to the irreverent comedy the movie's trailer sells you -- much like a politician who doesn't keep any of the promises that lured you to vote for him."

Man on the Train (2003)

"Under Leconte's artful direction, a believable bond develops between the men, each envious of the direction the other's life has taken."

The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)

"It's a bit of a mess, the work of bratty geniuses with talent to spare, but unsure of what -- if anything -- they're trying to say."

The Manchurian Candidate (2004)

"Filled with conspiracies, intrigue and the suggestion that modern-day society is purposely designed to drive us a little nuts, The Manchurian Candidate is a paranoid fantasy for our time."

Manito (2003)

"The film shows a capsule of American urban life where few outside the community venture in. Eason hands out an invitation to do so. Accept it willingly."

The Marc Pease Experience (2009)

"This is a slight and unessential picture, but its quirky, compassionate tone seems destined to attract a cult following, and members of high-school drama clubs everywhere will be riveted."

Margot at the Wedding (2007)

"Kidman's performance keeps you transfixed all the way through, because she delves into her character's damaged psyche so fully, you're constantly fascinated to see what biting, acidic thing she will say next."

Marie Antoinette (2006)

"Instead of turning her inside out, Coppola illustrates just how ordinary she was and how her insular world prevented her from understanding the events that eventually would end her life."

Marley & Me (2008)

"It's a film guaranteed to appeal to tender-hearted pet lovers. But the movie, which was largely filmed in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, turns out to be less about dogs than it is about one man's trajectory through adulthood."

Martian Child (2007)

"What if Lloyd Dobler grew up, gave up kickboxing for writing books about space battles and adopted a kid? I don't know about you, but I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)

"It's a ride few movies, if any, have ever been able to offer."

The Matador (2005)

"It's painful to watch as the movie basically destroys itself in the second half, slipping from its elegant thriller setup to tired sitcom shenanigans."

Match Point (2005)

"Match Point has a coiled, taut energy that's unusual for Allen."

The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

"As a piece of razzle-dazzle, shut-your-mouth -and-slap -you-silly eye candy, Reloaded more than delivers. But where's the head candy? Where's the complexity? Where are the goods?"

Max Keeble's Big Move (2001)

"Makes most of the right moves for the older elementary/younger middle school market."