MOVIES

Review | Precious: Based on the novel Push by Sapphire (R) ***

Desperate to overcome desperation

MOVIES

Review | Planet 51 (PG) **

Out of this world? Not exactly

MOVIES

Review | The Blind Side (PG-13) ***

Sure it's schmaltzy, but it scores big

MOVIES

Review | Earth Days (Unrated) **½

This story ignores a world of trouble

MOVIES

Review | 2012 (PG-13) **

The world can't end fast enough, despite visual thrills

MOVIES

Review | Pirate Radio (R) ***

Out to sea with a merry band of rock 'n' rollers

MOVIES

Review | (Untitled) (R) **

It may speak to to all of us -- but is it art?

MOVIES

Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival schedule

Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival: The 24th annual event moves into its final week of new features, documentaries and shorts from around the globe plus parties, seminars and films for kids. Filmmakers are featured at many of the events; through Nov. 11; Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE Sixth St., Fort Lauderdale (unless otherwise noted); $10, $8 seniors and students, $6 FLIFF members (unless otherwise noted) A $25 donation is suggested at some of the screenings and is tax deductible. See website for details and to confirm schedule. 954-525-3456 or www.fliff.com:

SCREEN GEMS

Coming this week at the movies and on TV

BIG SCREEN The Fantastic Mr. Fox (PG) -- The always-eclectic Wes Anderson (The Royal Tenenbaums, Rushmore), whose movies often flirt with the fantastical, takes the plunge with this stop-motion animation adaptation of the Roald Dahl story about a fox (voiced by George Clooney) who must protect his wife (Meryl Streep) and kids from three mean farmers. Anderson regulars Bill Murray, Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman round out the voice cast. The animation looks old-school wonderful.

CELEBRITY Q&A

Nikki Reed's growing role will eclipse 'New Moon'

Nikki Reed patiently awaits her turn in the Twilight scheme of things. Her character, teen vampire Rosalie Hale, is a minor movie character until Stephenie Meyer's third book in the series, Eclipse, becomes a movie in 2010.

MOVIES

Scarlett's sis remembers the making of a legend

Seventy years later, actress Ann Rutherford still gives a damn about Gone with the Wind. Rutherford, 89, is among the few surviving principal cast members of the Clark Gable-Vivien Leigh Civil War epic, which arrives this week on a new special-edition DVD set and also marks its Blu-ray debut.

'Precious' director pushes worst aspects of child abuse to screen

The first movie Lee Daniels directed, the 2005 drama Shadowboxer about a terminally ill assassin and her unusual relationship with her partner in crime, was largely derided by critics and virtually ignored by audiences, grossing less than $1 million worldwide.

SCREEN GEMS

A look at the week ahead in the movies and TV

BIG SCREEN (PG-13) -- Sandra Bullock sets aside the ditzy romantic-comedy act for this drama based on Michael Lewis' nonfiction bestseller The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, about a homeless African-American teenager (Quinton Aaron) who is taken in by a wealthy white couple (Bullock and Tim McGraw) as part of a college-football recruitment program.