» Opens today at area theaters; rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving sexuality, and smoking; 96 minutes.

In Woody Allen's latest comedy of manners, passion sweeps up two New York pals - strait-laced post-grad candidate Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and frustrated artist Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) - during a summer in Barcelona when they meet a smoldering hot painter, Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem). Cristina gets into a heavy relationship with Juan Antonio and his unstable ex-wife, María Elena (Penélope Cruz), but it's the engaged Vicky who gets really hot and bothered. For all the much-publicized sparks among Johansson, Bardem and Cruz, it's the comparatively unknown Hall ("Starter for 10," "The Prestige") who engages us most as Vicky dithers between her safe fiancé (Chris Messina) and the dangerous Juan Antonio. And who knew a Spanish accent could make Woody's familiar neurotic dialogue sound fresh?

American Teen

» Opens today at the Broadcast Centre Cinemas; rated PG-13 for some strong language, sexual material, some drinking and brief smoking - all involving teens; 95 minutes.

If MTV's "The Real World" were really real, it might look like Nanette Burstein's slice-of-life documentary following four Indiana high-school students through their senior year. Though it starts with the usual stereotypes - the jock, the nasty rich girl, the band nerd and the "in between" art girl - Burstein's intimate portraits deepen into a detailed description of teen trials and triumphs. One might wish for a bit more variety among the profiled students, or that the students themselves didn't seem influenced by "The Hills" and other quasi-reality TV, but Burstein gets a lot out of what she has.

Henry Poole Is Here

» Opens today at area theaters; rated PG for thematic elements and some language; 100 minutes.

Issues of faith and doubt permeate this well-acted melodrama starring Luke Wilson as the title character, a loner who buys a house where a perky neighbor, Esperanza ("Babel's" Adriana Barraza), sees the image of Jesus in a stucco water stain. After a few "miracles," the whole neighborhood is abuzz - all except Henry, for reasons he eventually reveals to Dawn (Radha Mitchell), the single mom next door. Director Mark Pellington ("Arlington Road," "U2 3D") neatly underplays the more maudlin touches of rookie Albert Torres' script and draws a richly complex performance from the usually bland Wilson.

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