THE PRESTIGE — ** 1/2 — This period thriller's cinematic cat-and-mouse routine becomes wearying, though the performances are solid. Running time: 135 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, brief gore, nude artwork)

THE QUEEN — **** — Helen Mirren is an early Oscar contender for her performance as Queen Elizabeth II. Running time: 97 minutes, PG-13 (profanity, violence, brief drugs)

THE RETURN — ** 1/2 — Sarah Michelle Gellar stars in this simple ghost story that is , for all its faults, elegantly told and compellingly acted. Running time: 85 minutes, PG-13 (violence) —Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel

RUNNING WITH SCISSORS — ** — The deliberate quirkiness and weirdness of this adaptation of Augusten Burroughs' questionable memoir feels forced. Annette Bening stars. Running time: 116 minutes, R (profanity, vulgarity, drugs, sex, violence)

THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE — * 1/2 — Star Tim Allen looks silly, tired and bored this time in the fat suit and beard. Martin Short co-stars as Jack Frost. Running time: 90 minutes, G (nothing offensive)—David Germain, Associated Press

SAW III — * 1/2 —The third movie is closer to the wincing discomfort of the original. Running time: 107 minutes, R (violence, gore, torture, nudity, profanity) —Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel

SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS — ** — The first half of this dark comedy starring Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Heder is surprisingly watchable, but then it falls apart. Running time: 100 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, nude artwork, brief drugs)

THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP— *** — Director Michel Gondry's examination of dysfunctional relationships is as entrancing as it is bizarre, absurd and whimsical. French with subtitles, running time: 105 minutes, R (vulgarity, profanity, violence, brief sex, brief nudity, brief drugs)

SHORTBUS — * 1/2 — Once its shock value wears off, this sexually explicit ensemble piece becomes a snore. Running time: 101 minutes, not rated, probable NC-17 (nudity, sex, profanity, vulgarity, drugs, violence)