Playing at local movie theaters

ATL —** — This film fails to find the middle ground between its competing dramatic and comic elements. Running time: 105 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity, violence, drugs, racial epithets, brief sex, nude photos).

BASIC INSTINCT 2 —* — The sequel to the inexplicable 1992 hit is laughably awful. Running time: 113 minutes. R (sex, vulgarity, profanity, nudity, drugs, violence, brief gore).

CSA: THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA —** — This film, which imagines U.S. life if the Confederate Army might had won the Civil War, would have been better as a full-on "mockumentary." Running time: 89 minutes. Not rated, probable PG-13 (racial epithets, violence, brief drugs).

EVIL —*** — This Swedish import does have its chilling moments. With subtitles. Running time: 113 minutes. Not rated, probable R (violence, profanity, gore, vulgarity, ethnic slurs, torture, brief sex).

FIND ME GUILTY —** 1/2 — If you didn't know you were watching Vin Diesel in this courtroom comedy-drama you wouldn't know you were watching Vin Diesel. And that's a compliment. Running time: 124 minutes. R (profanity, violence).— Christy Lemire, Associated Press

GOING SHOPPING —** — This talky comedy-drama is exactly what its title suggests. Running time: 106 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity, brief drugs).

ICE AGE: THE MELTDOWN —** 1/2 — This sequel is less funny, more frantic and cruder. Running time: 90 minutes. PG (violence, vulgarity, mild profanity).

SLITHER —*** — A clever, maniacally paced twist on B-movie slimefests. Running time: 96 minutes. R (violence, gore, profanity).— David Germain, Associated Press

TSOTSI —*** 1/2 — This year's Oscar winner for best foreign-language film says a lot, even when it appears to be saying nothing. With subtitles. Running time: 94 minutes. R (profanity, violence, vulgarity, brief gore, brief partial nudity).

WINTER PASSING —** — This too-dour film can't decide whether it wants to be a comedy or a drama. Running time: 98 minutes. R (profanity, drugs, sex, violence, brief partial nudity).

SNEAK PREVIEW