Our critics recommend...

These movies open Friday unless noted.

Evening A dying mother reveals a long-kept secret about her one true love to her adult daughters. Vanessa Redgrave, Meryl Streep, Toni Collette, Claire Danes and Natasha Richardson star.

Live Free or Die Hard Bruce Willis returns to the Die Hard series. This time around he takes on a terrorist organization bent on shutting down the United States via the Internet. Opens Wednesday

Manufactured Landscapes This documentary looks at how industry has changed landscapes around the world.

Ratatouille A French rat with high-class taste buds follows his unlikely dream of becoming a chef in one of Paris' top restaurants in this animated family feature.

Sicko Michael Moore is back with another documentary. This time his target is the health-care industry.

Reviewed by critics Carrie Rickey (C.R.), Steven Rea (S.R.) and Tirdad Derakhshani (T.D.). W.S. is a wire-service review.

La Vie en Rose Marion Cotillard stars as Edith Piaf in this brilliant account of the life of the famous French songbird, born of the streets and the brothels, who became a cultural icon for a nation. For Piaf fans, this is a must-see. For fans yet to be, it's rich with discovery. 2 hrs. 20 PG-13 (drugs, sex, nudity, profanity, adult themes) - S.R.

Away From Her

A couple who have been married for 40 years (Julie Christie, Gordon Pinsent) find themselves having to deal with the reality of Alzheimer's disease. 1 hr. 50

PG-13

(sexual references, adult situations) -

C.R.

The Golden Door Gorgeous, whimsically surreal saga of a poor Italian immigrant clan making its way to America in the early part of the 20th century. Like the Zen saying "it's the journey, not the destination," this dazzling film offers an extraordinary journey of its own. 1 hr. 58 PG-13 (adult themes)

- S.R.

Paprika Eye-popping, mind-blowing and prodigiously potent anime from the gifted Japanese director Satoshi Kon about a psychologist and a cop investigating the theft of a device that allows doctors to jack into their patients' dreams. 1 hr. 30 R (sexual violence, animated nudity) - C.R.

The Wind That Shakes the Barley Cillian Murphy stars as a young Irishman who sacrifices a promising medical career and joins with friends and family to fight occupying British forces in Ken Loach's close-up look at the Irish revolt of 1920. Powerful, heartbreaking stuff. 2 hrs. 04 No MPAA rating (violence, profanity, adult themes) - S.R.

Evan Almighty **

Steve Carell stars in this pious slapstick

Bruce Almighty

spinoff, in which God (Morgan Freeman) tells the news-anchor-turned-freshman congressman that he has to build an ark, a la Noah, and file the animals in, two by two. Evan's wife and kids think he's nuts. Hijinks and biblical text ensue. 1 hr. 35

PG

(crude humor, mayhem, adult themes) -

S.R.

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer ** The brooding intergalactic loner, the Silver Surfer, comes to town to ruin Reed Richards' and Sue Storm's wedding, and then destroy Earth, in this effects-laden, but witless, superhero sequel. It's lackluster stuff, even by comparison to the lackluster Spider-Man 3. 1 hr. 32 PG (comic-book violence, adult themes) - S.R.

1408 *** John Cusack stars as a cynical scribe who authors guidebooks to haunted inns and hotels. He checks into one legendary spot - a room in a New York hotel - and gets scared silly. Samuel L. Jackson costars as the hotel manager, and Stephen King wrote the story this hairy affair comes from. 1 hr. 34 PG-13 (violence, gore, creepy-crawly stuff, adult themes) - S.R.

Knocked Up *** Bad timing equals good comedy in Judd Apatow's observational comedy about a hookup that potentially could upgrade into a high-speed connection. Seth Rogen, who looks like a miniature poodle and barks like a Great Dane, and Katherine Heigl, a double-dip of praline with caramel, costar in the one about the potty-mouthed pothead and the goddess. With Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd. 2 hrs. 12 R (drugs, profanity, nudity, sex, childbirth)

- C.R.

Ocean's Thirteen *** A flashy vehicle fueled by the star power of George Clooney and Brad Pitt smiles brighter than all the neon in Vegas. Danny Ocean and his merry men return to the Strip to take down a swindling casino operator (Al Pacino) and breach his high-tech fortress. The movie does a winning job of demonstrating that wit trumps technology every time. PG-13 (profanity, heavy petting) 2 hrs. 02 - C.R.

You Kill Me *** Ben Kingsley is Frank, an alcoholic mob hit man from Buffalo, in this hilarious satire by John Dahl of The Last Seduction fame. Ordered to dry out or die by his boss, Frank moves to San Francisco, joins A.A., finds himself, and falls in love with Laurel (Téa Leoni). The couple's amazing chemistry alone makes this a must-see. 1 hr. 30 R (language, adult themes, profanity, violence) - T.D.

Reviewed by critics Wendy Rosenfield (W.R.), Howard Shapiro (H.S.), and Toby Zinman (T.Z.).

Amadeus

(Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival) Peter Schaffer's drama about Mozart and his rival Antonio Salieri. Through July 8.

Carousel (Walnut Street Theatre) The Walnut gives the iconic American musical the treatment it deserves: Fine voices for the great songs and talented dancers for this version's challenging choreography. A full-scale production. Through July 15. - H.S.

Chicago (New Candlelight Theatre in Ardentown, Del.) A surprisingly strong production of the Kander-Ebb-Fosse classic about murderous molls in the Jazz Age. Through July 15. - W.R.

Hair (Prince Music Theatre) Geezer nostalgia alert: It's been 40 years. Will the Age of Aquarius dawn again? Probably not, but the "tribal love-rock musical" is revived with a talented young cast. Ends today.

- T.Z.

Heart and Music: An Evening With William Finn (Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Theatre Festival at the Arcadia Stage at the Arden) Songs from the composer of Falsettos and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Ends Saturday.

Humble Boy (People's Light & Theatre Company) Charlotte Jones contemporary comedy about astrophysics, beekeeping and Hamlet. Major local cast. Through July 15.

The Importance of Being Earnest (Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Theatre Festival at Walnut Street Theatre Studio 5). Oscar Wilde's delectable comedy in a gender-bending production. Ends Friday

Iron Kisses (Gay and Lesbian Theatre Festival at the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre) James Still's nuclear family struggles to connect in this sensitive portrayal of the complicated relationships between spouses, parents, children and siblings. Ends Friday. - W.R.

Menopause: The Musical (Society Hill Playhouse) New cast in this long-running, popular show about The Change. Open-ended run.

Romeo and Juliet (Second Stage at the Adrienne) Vagabond Acting Troupe's version of the star-crossed lovers features a grunge setting and a strong first act, but becomes progressively weaker as the bodies pile up. Ends today. - W.R.

Rounding Third (Montgomery Theater) A Little League diamond is the setting for a larger look at how we should raise our children. Through July 14.

Side by Side by Sondheim (Walnut Studio) An entertaining revue of lots of terrific Sondheim songs. The production errs on the side of cheerfulness, missing the witty ironies that are part of Stephen Sondheim's genius. Great voices. Ends next Sunday. - T.Z.

Skin in Flames (InterAct) A grim drama about the mass-marketing of war and the ambiguous role of photojournalists covering the horror show. Impressively acted, despite the script's challenges of explicit naked sex in a small theater; long, blatantly anti-American speeches; and endless contemplative pauses. Ends today. - T.Z.

Theatre District (Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Theatre Festival, Arcadia Stage at the Arden) Fifteen-year-old Wesley has questions about sexual identity and choice. Ends Saturday.

Winnie the Pooh (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival) Children's show adapted from the beloved book. Through Aug. 4.

The Winter's Tale (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival) Fine stagecraft and a talented cast make for an excellent production of Shakespeare's play that is really two plays melded at the end, about a king who believes his own false accusation. At DeSales University, Center Valley, Pa. Ends next Sunday.

Pride **

An "inspired by a true story" inspirational sports drama, about Philadelphia Dept. of Recreation swim coach Jim Ellis and his against-the-odds program training inner city kids to compete in major swim meets. Terrence Howard stars as Ellis, with Bernie Mac and Kimberly Elise also on board. The talent pool isn't shallow, but the film is. 1 hr. 48

PG

(profanity, violence, adult themes) -

S.R.