Critics Consensus: Darkness Balances On The Edge Of Freshness

Authorities and celebrities were grappling Monday with how to respond to a website that posted what appears to be private financial information about top government officials and stars such as Jay-Z and Mel Gibson.

The American taxpayer may be getting into the movie business. Federal prosecutors have forced a Mexican drug trafficker to turn over his stake in a planned prequel to Mel Gibson's 2004 blockbuster "The Passion of the Christ." It's a real-life case of drugs and extortion that could itself make a pretty good screenplay.

This week at the movies, we've got a brilliant detective (Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law), secret agents (Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, starring Tom Cruise and Simon Pegg), singing rodents (Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, starring Jason Lee and David Cross), and a prodigal daughter (Young Adult, starring Charlize Theron and Patton Oswalt). What do the critics have to say? Purists griped about the first Sherlock Holmes, but audiences didn't seem to mind the famously logical detective in full on action mode. Critics say you'll get more of the same with A Game of Shadows.

This week at the movies brings no new wide releases, but we've still got some strong limiteds, including Shame, starring Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan, and Takeshi Kitano's Outrage. What do the critics have to say? Critics say Shame is an intense, beautifully crafted portrait of a profoundly damaged soul, often painful but powerfully acted. Shame stars Michael Fassbender as a sex addict whose inner demons threaten to spiral out of control when his troubled younger sister (Carey Mulligan) moves into his apartment, bringing her resentments with her. The pundits say the Certified Fresh Shame isn't always easy to watch, but it's visually stunning and features terrific performances from its leads.

This week at the movies, we've got a Muppet caper (The Muppets, starring Jason Segel and Amy Adams), a special delivery (Arthur Christmas, with voice work from James McAvoy and Hugh Laurie), and a cinematic fantasia (Hugo, starring Asa Butterfield and Chloe Moretz). It's been more than a decade since the Muppets were in multiplexes, but critics say it was worth the wait: they find The Muppets to be a joyous musical comedy. The good folks at Aardman have made plenty of delightfully offbeat animated films, and critics say the trend continues with Arthur Christmas. Martin Scorsese made a family movie? In 3D? Yes, he did, and critics say Hugo is a dazzling affair.