Playing at local movie theaters

CONTROL — *** — A bleak but well-acted biography of late Joy Division singer Ian Curtis that will probably be of interest to the band's fans. Black and white, running time: 121 minutes, R (profanity, drugs, vulgarity, brief sex, violence)

FINISHING THE GAME — ** — This poor-taste, martial-arts "mockumentary" offers a couple of chuckles ... mostly the guilty kind. Running time: 84 minutes, not rated, probable R (profanity, vulgarity, violence, drugs, nudity, slurs, brief sex)

FRED CLAUS — ** — Your enjoyment of this so-so yule comedy may depend on how you feel about motor-mouthed Vince Vaughn. Running time: 114 minutes, PG (violence, vulgarity, mild profanity)

LAKE OF FIRE — *** — Tony Kaye's even-handed, 2 1/2-hour-long documentary about the abortion debate is not an easy film to watch. Black and white, running time: 152 minutes, not rated, probable R (violence, gore, profanity, drugs, slurs, partial nudity)

LIONS FOR LAMBS — ** — Robert Redford's talk-heavy, Iraq war screed has a terrific cast (which includes Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise), but is preaching to the converted. Running time: 88 minutes, R (violence, profanity, brief gore, vulgarity, slurs, brief drugs)

P2 — * — A thriller so graphic and bloody that it's an endurance test for anyone with even a shred of taste. Running time: 98 minutes, R (violence, gore, profanity, brief drugs, brief sex, vulgarity)

RERELEASES

BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT — *** — Probably the definitive version of the 1982 science-fiction thriller starring Harrison Ford. Running time: 117 minutes, R (violence, gore, vulgarity, brief nudity, profanity, slurs, brief drugs)

TIM BURTON'S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS — *** 1/2 — Wonderfully bizarre 1993 animated fantasy-musical. Shown in the 3-D format, running time: 76 minutes, PG (animated violence, disturbing imagery)

MIDNIGHT MOVIE

JOHN CARPENTER'S ESCAPE FROM L.A. — ** — Kurt Russell is the only redeeming aspect of filmmaker Carpenter's lame 1996 sequel. Running time: 101 minutes, R (violence, gore, profanity, drugs, vulgarity) (Tonight, Saturday and Wednesday: Tower)

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

AFTER DARK HORRORFEST — A national festival spotlighting eight independently produced horror movies. A schedule is available at www.horrorfestonline.com. (Through Thursday: Century South Salt Lake, Jordan Landing)