The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Miramax)
Inspiring if sobering true story of a French magazine editor (Mathieu Amalric) whose massive stroke left him completely paralyzed but who was able to tap into his imagination to take in the world around him, appreciate the important things in his life, and even dictate his memoirs by blinking his eye for every letter. Julian Schnabel's film begins entirely from the perspective of the paralyzed patient, but gradually expands to a third-person view. Though some may find his situation difficult to watch, the strongly life-affirming way he responded to adversity rather than succumb to despair is praiseworthy beyond measure. In French. Subtitles. References to past adultery, partial-male and upper-female nudity, nongraphic sexual encounter, and some crass words and sexual talk. (A-III, PG-13)

The Mist (MGM/Dimension)
Technically skillful but relentlessly pessimistic horror tale in which an unnatural fog, alive with murderous mutant animals, descends on a small Maine town, leaving a representative sampling of the locals trapped in a grocery store, where a courageous but sensible movie-poster artist (Thomas Jane), accompanied by his son (Nathan Gamble) and aided by the store's plucky manager (Toby Jones), must battle the malevolent critters while also trying to arbitrate between opposing groups led by a religious fanatic (Marcia Gay Harden) and a relentlessly skeptical lawyer (Andre Braugher). Writer-director-producer Frank Darabont's adaptation of Stephen King's novella has the makings of a diverting, old-fashioned monster movie, but -- in addition to being excessively bloody -- it instead becomes talky and meandering as it attempts to analyze social dynamics, religion and the polarities of human nature. Bloody violence and mutilation, mercy killing, pervasive rough and crude language, much crass language and profanity. (L, R)

The Savages (Fox Searchlight)
Strongly acted, perceptive study of middle-age brother and sister (Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney) called upon to care for their emotionally and geographically distant father (Philip Bosco) who has had a stroke. Writer and director Tamara Jenkins accurately etches all the minutiae of dealing with an ailing parent, though the somber situation is leavened with humor and the film ultimately emphasizes the familial bond between the siblings while the conclusion is poignantly life-affirming. Conversational rough language and profanity, adulterous and nonmarital relationships, scatological details, sexual encounters without nudity, drug use and much domestic discord. (L, R)

Office for Film & Broadcasting classifications: A-I -- general patronage; A-II -- adults and adolescents; A-III -- adults; L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling; O -- morally offensive.