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

Bangkok Dangerous (Lionsgate)
Grim shoot-'em-up about a solitary hit man (Nicolas Cage) who travels to the titular city to carry out four contract killings for a local crime boss (Nirattisai Kaljareuk), but finds his emotional isolation thawed by his friendship with the petty thief (Shahkrit Yamnarm) he hires as an assistant and his feelings for a pretty pharmacy clerk (Charlie Young). As directed by the Pang brothers, this remake of their 1999 Thai film features considerable violence and muddled moral values, with its hero instructing his protege in the art of killing even while ostensibly reassessing his own viciousness. Brief graphic sexual activity, upper female nudity, intense action violence with gore, a suicide, and occasional rough and crude language. (L, R)

Burn After Reading (Focus)
Witty dark caper comedy about hapless Washington-based gym employees (Frances McDormand and Brad Pitt) who find the memoirs of a fired CIA analyst (John Malkovich) on a computer disc and believe they're in possession of classified information they can sell to the Russians. Joel and Ethan Coen have written an extremely clever script, directed with assured timing, and their film showcases a top-flight cast including George Clooney, Tilda Swinton and Richard Jenkins, all of whom reveal surprising comic chops. Overt sex and violence are minimal, but many will be disturbed by the strong language. Pervasive use of the F-word and some profanity; two brief instances of violence, one gruesome; implied nonmarital sexual activity; and a sexual sight gag. (L, R)

Righteous Kill (Overture)
Ludicrous police drama involving longtime partner cops (Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino) who, amid growing suspicion that the killer may be someone within the force, are on the trail of a serial killer who's bumping off felons who have eluded just punishment. Fans of the charismatic stars may welcome this chance to see them working in tandem, and they are both in characteristic form, but Jon Avnet's flashy but muddled direction, the wildly implausible plot, uninspired dialogue, intentionally choppy editing and an easy-to-guess denouement are serious detriments. Much rough language and crude talk, some profanity, moderately strong violence and sexual content, vigilante justice, reference to a pedophile priest, and brief drug use. (L, R)

Towelhead (Warner Independent)
Sensitively handled if extremely disquieting coming-of-age story of an alienated 13-year-old Arab-American girl (played by 18-year-old Summer Bishil) living with her divorced Lebanese father (Peter Macdissi) in Texas, who succumbs to a pedophiliac Army reservist (Aaron Eckhart) whose son she baby-sits, until an empathetic neighbor (Toni Collette) interferes. Writer-director Alan Ball's astute adaptation of Alicia Erian's novel is a sober-minded exploration of racism, politics and sexual confusion, impeccably acted by all, including Maria Bello as the father's ex-wife. Its weighty subjects are presented with requisite gravity and touching compassion for its flawed characters, but its redemptive ending involves an implicit endorsement of adolescent sexual activity. Strong sexual content including central pedophilia theme, upper female nudity, rough language and brief profanity, and strong domestic violence. (O, 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.