Nicole Kidman as a Russian? At first consideration that may seem an unlikely bit of casting, but it’s no more unlikely than Nicole Kidman winning accolades singing and dancing in a rousing romantic musical. In “Birthday Girl,” Kidman dons sleazy costumes, darkens her hair, chain smokes, and speaks with a Russian accent that seems a mixture of Natasha from “Rocky and Bullwinkle” and true Russian. What’s amazing is that despite the fact that you never forget it’s Kidman playing a Russian, she manages to pull off this part without missing a step.

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An FBI agent tracks down and catches a young con artist who successfully impersonated an airline pilot, doctor, assistant attorney general and history professor, cashing more than $2.5 million in fraudulent checks in 26 countries. Written by Anonymous

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Docu-drama based on the life of Ted Bundy, a serial killer who killed at least 19 young women during the 1970’s (though some sources say as many as 30 to 35 were murdered). Set from his college student years, to his first victims, his capture, escape from prison (twice), his final killing spree to his trial, conviction and execution. Written by Anonymous

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“Bringing Down the House” telegraphs every joke before the actor hits the punchline but that’s the least of the movie’s problems. The film has some funny moments, but there are too many jokes that are just plain uncomfortable. Because every ethnic stereotype is used as a source of amusement, the scenes that are supposed to make you laugh are the scenes that actually make you cringe. It’s got cracks about Latinos only being allowed in a rich neighborhood if they have a leaf-blower in their hands, Steve Martin’s character for some strange reason has a pink maid outfit on hand that fits Queen Latifah (where did that come from?), and every person of color speaks slang and it’s up to a white guy to teach them how to speak proper English.

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Seth Gecko and his younger brother Richard are on the lam after a bloody bank robbery in Texas. They escape across the border into Mexico and will be home-free the next morning, when they pay off the local kingpin. They just have to survive ‘from dusk till dawn’ at the rendezvous point, which turns out to be a Hell of a strip joint. Written by Tad Dibbern {DIBBERN_D@a1.mscf.upenn.edu}

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“Bandits” teams two vastly different, though almost equally popular, male stars in a surprisingly hilarious mix of comedy, action, romance, bank robberies, and bad wigs. Macho man Bruce Willis and the talented chameleon Billy Bob Thornton masterfully create two pseudo “bad guys” who capture the hearts of their victims, the general public, and ultimately, the heart of the same woman.

Billy Bob Thornton describes their characters as screwballs of the “Martin and Lewis” variety. That’s a fitting description of the harmlessly endearing fugitives who can’t seem to catch a break, or leave the life of crime behind. Willis is the “Martin” of the group - the brains and the brawn of the operation - with Thornton playing the sidekick role to the hilt, taking it to an all new level with bizarre phobias and a constant string of questions.

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In a place far, far away, illegal genetic experiment #626 is detected: Ruthless scientist Dr. Jumba Jookiba has created a strong, intelligent, nearly indestructible and aggressive being with only one known weakness: The high density of his body makes it impossible for the experiment to swim in water. The scientist is sentenced to jail by the Grand Council of the Galactic Federation. The experiment is supposed to be transported to a prison asteroid, yet manages to escape Captain Gantu, who was supposed to deliver him there. With a stolen police cruiser (the red one), the destructive being races towards a little and already doomed planet: Earth. Stranded on Hawaii, experiment #626 can’t actually do much harm: water all around, no big cities and two well-equipped representatives of the Galactic Federation already following close behind to catch him again. But Dr. Jookiba and the Earth expert Pleakley never could have guessed that earth girl Lilo adopts the experiment as dog, gives him the name Stitch and actually causes an emotional development in the little beast. Her dysfunctional family, consisting only of Lilo and her sister Nani, is about to be ripped apart by social worker Cobra Bubbles. Stitch as the new family member brings quite some action into all their lifes, and after a while, not even Pleakley and Dr. Jookiba can recognize their former target. But how shall they bring the news of failure to the Grand Councilwoman without being punished? Written by Julian Reischl {julianreischl@mac.com}

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‘Toon star Roger is worried that his wife Jessica is playing pattycake with someone else, so the studio hires detective Eddie Valiant to snoop on her. But the stakes are quickly raised when Marvin Acme is found dead and Roger is the prime suspect. Groundbreaking interaction between the live and animated characters, and lots of references to classic animation. Written by Jon Reeves {jreeves@imdb.com}

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When Nick Parsons appears to be murdered his wife Libby is tried and convicted. Six years later Libby is paroled and with the help of Travis Lehman (her parole officer) she sets out to find her son and the truth behind the “murder”. Written by Les MacDonald at {mcmac@mb.sympatico.ca}

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When a promised job for Texan Michael fails to materialise in Wyoming, Mike is mistaken by Wayne to be the hitman he hired to kill his unfaithful wife, Suzanne. Mike takes full advantage of the situation, collects the money and runs. During his getaway, things go wrong, and soon get worse when he runs into the real hitman, Lyle. Written by Rob Hartill