The following movies have been recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Duplicity (Universal/Relativity)
Sophisticated romantic caper about two intelligence officers (Julia Roberts and Clive Owen) who turn to industrial espionage hoping to exploit the no-holds-barred feud between the CEOs (Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti) of rival pharmaceutical companies. Writer-director Tony Gilroy's tartly clever globe-trotting thriller, which boasts all the complexity of a master chess match, explores the paranoia produced by corporate greed and the redeeming potential of the love between its cynically untrusting lead characters, though their affection is expressed in an intense unwedded affair. Brief, nongraphic, premarital sexual activity; some sexual humor and references; occasional crude and crass language; and at least a dozen profanities. (A-III, PG-13)

The Great Buck Howard (Magnolia)
Charming show biz comedy about a law school dropout (Colin Hanks) who takes a job as road manager for a once-famed but now washed-up mentalist (John Malkovich), eventually bonding with him, despite the performer's egotistical delusions, and falling for his much put-upon publicist (Emily Blunt). Sustained by Malkovich's masterly characterization, writer-director Sean McGinly's gentle spoof offers a valentine to perseverance along with a sendup of celebrity culture, though the central romance becomes sexual after mere acquaintance. A premarital relationship and some mildly sexual humor. (A-III, PG)

Monsters vs. Aliens (Paramount)
Affable animated comedy-adventure in which a trio of kindly monsters (voices of Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie and Will Arnett) led by a once-ordinary woman (voice of Reese Witherspoon) who became a giant after being struck by a meteor, are released from government captivity in the custody of a gung-ho general (voice of Keifer Sutherland) and commissioned by the president (voice of Stephen Colbert) to combat an evil alien (voice of Rainn Wilson) whose schemes threaten humanity. Co-directors Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon create a lavish 3-D homage to 1950s-era sci-fi B-movies that also celebrates friendship, teamwork and the heroic potential of everyday people. Also shown in Imax. Moderate action violence and a bit of vaguely sexual and slightly crude humor. (A-II, PG)

Super Capers (Roadside)
Shoddy comedy in which a would-be superhero (Justin Whalin) joins a crew of crime fighters (Samuel Lloyd, Ryan McPartlin, Ray Griggs and Danielle Harris) endowed with marginal powers to foil the schemes of a corrupt judge (Michael Rooker). In his feature debut, Griggs, who also wrote and directed, creates a well-intentioned, but tediously unfunny genre satire and wastes the potentially intriguing idea that its protagonist's special gift is prayer. Brief sexual and mildly irreverent humor, and about a dozen crass words. (A-III, PG)

More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies.