On the screen

NEW FILMS FRIDAY

CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR — ***— A mostly amusing film that features smart performances and even-smarter dialogue. Tom Hanks stars. Running time: 97 minutes, R (profanity, violence, nudity, drugs, vulgarity, brief sex, slurs, brief gore)

THE KITE RUNNER — **— A cinematic CliffsNotes version of Khaled Hosseini's best-selling book. With subtitles, running time: 122 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity, rape, slurs, vulgarity, brief gore)

MARGOT AT THE WEDDING — ** 1/2 — An at-times grueling, dysfunctional family comedy-drama. Nicole Kidman stars. Running time: 92 minutes, R (profanity, vulgarity, brief sex, brief nudity, violence)

NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS — **— Not without a few goofy thrills, but we've seen most — if not all — of this done better before. Running time: 124 minutes, PG (violence, vulgarity, mild profanity)

P.S. I LOVE YOU — **— Hilary Swank seems out of sorts in this two-hour sitcom. Running time: 126 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, brief sex, brief partial nudity, slapstick violence, slurs, brief drugs)

STEEP — Utah athletes are among those profiled in this extreme-skiing documentary. To be reviewed next week, running time: 92 minutes, PG (violence, profanity)

SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET — *** 1/2— Tim Burton's sometimes gory adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim musical is bloody good fun. Johnny Depp stars. Running time: 116 minutes, R (violence, gore, profanity, vulgarity, nude art)

WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY — ** 1/2— There are some laugh-out-loud moments in this musical biography spoof, but it's very R-rated. Running time: 95 minutes, R (vulgarity, drugs, nudity, profanity, violence, sex, slurs, brief gore)

NEW FILMS TUESDAY

ALIENS VS. PREDATOR: REQUIEM — The two extraterrestrial life-forms try to settle their war on Earth in this sequel. To be reviewed when it opens next week, running time: 86 minutes, R (violence, gore, profanity)

THE GREAT DEBATERS — Denzel Washington directed and stars in this fact-based drama about a college debate program. To be reviewed when it opens next week, running time: 123 minutes, PG-13 (violence, slurs, profanity, brief sex, vulgarity)