Drama
Rod Lott
Mathieu Demy's Americano opens with a little death, followed immediately by a big one, as Frenchmen Martin (Demy) receives one of those middle-of-the-night phone calls that deliver the worst of bad news: His mother has died.

Soundtrack
Rod Lott
With each new James Bond film, it seems as if another CD compilation of 007 movie music is released. Because it is.

Action
Rod Lott
Compared to its 2000 big-budget remake, H.B. Halicki's Gone in 60 Seconds is deficient in slickness, star power, performances, plotting and humor. Yet the 1974 indie original decimates the Hollywood version as an all-around entertainment. Why? Two simple reasons, boiled down to numbers: some 500 vehicles wrecked and a 40-minute chase scene.

Thriller
Rod Lott
For very different reasons, I'll watch any movie with Vincent Price, Bill Murray, Jackie Chan or Carla Gugino. Falling into the first category is 1962's Confessions of an Opium Eater, a rare Price vehicle rare no more, thanks to a DVD debut from Warner Archive.

Horror
Rod Lott
Despite being unleashed from Twisted Pictures, those people who brought us all those Saws, The Tortured has sat in the shelf now for about two years, skipping a wide release on its way to DVD. It's easy to see why: It's strong, sick stuff that delights in punching and kicking its audience as its vengeful characters do their prey.

Horror
Rod Lott
Famously, tragedy plus time equals comedy. Do they also equal horror? Up to you, but Chernobyl Diaries goes for it anyway.

Thriller
Rod Lott
247˚F is as compelling as you'd think about a movie set almost entirely in a sauna would be: not at all, once you think about it. I'm all for films set in single and/or small spaces, but this one has nowhere to go.

Drama
Rod Lott
Sienna Miller looks every bit the Hitchcock blonde she plays in The Girl, an HBO original film about the relationship between actress Tippi Hedren and the director who gave her not only her big break, but big trouble.

Sci-Fi
Rod Lott
Prepare to have your mind violated. Beyond the Black Rainbow hardly represents conventional storytelling, but the film is an absolute visual feast. Expect sensuous rather than sense, and open-minded movie lovers will be well-rewarded.

Horror
Rod Lott
Although horror movies rarely scare me, I love them. The most I can hope for is to be creeped out sufficiently, and Sinister satisfies that bill.

Horror
Rod Lott
If I thought of AnnaLynne McCord at all, it was as a rail-thin starlet known more for being a paparazzi magnet than for her role on Fox's ill-fated 90210 reboot. Now, after watching her in Excision, I won't be able to think of her without picturing the awkward, near-Neanderthal teenage misfit she plays so ably, willingly and impressively here.

Performing Arts
Rod Lott
Batman Live
7 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 11:30 a.m. Saturday, 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday
Chesapeake Energy Arena
100 W. Reno
chesapeakearena.com
800-745-3000
$19.50-$69.50

Comedy
Rod Lott
In the opening scene of Rock of Ages, the lead character of Sherrie (Julianna Hough, Footloose) leaves Oklahoma for California, and quite frankly, we're better off without her. Good riddance, girl.

Children's
Rod Lott
One imagines Frankenweenie is the movie director Tim Burton has been waiting to make his entire life.

Horror
Rod Lott
This being the Halloween season, odds are many a found-footage film will be watched over the next several weeks. How to choose between so many? Allow me to help ever so slightly: Steer clear of Back from Hell.