Here are the Mini Reviews from Cineman Syndicate for four movies opening the week of December 8, 2008:

THE READER. 2008's Atonement, this problematic prestige picture is based on Bernhard Schlink's novel about a fifteen-year-old German (David Kross) who, in 1958, has an affair with a much-older woman (Winslet) later accused of crimes committed while a Nazi concentration camp guard. Director Daldry and screenwriter David Hare are faithful to the book, so the film is laced with eroticism and propelled by moral ambivalence. Overlooking atrocious make-up and peculiar flourishes by Ralph Fiennes as the grown-up teen, the major flaw is that we aren't made to care about either character's fate. Ethical questions are abstracted as though the point is to distance the viewer emotionally. (R) FAIR DRAMA. Director - Stephen Daldry;  Lead - Kate Winslet; Running Time - 123  minutes. Capsule Review by John P. McCarthy. (Opens December 10) 

DELGO. You'd think a romantic-fantasy-adventure about sinister winged creatures plotting war against their peaceful reptilian rivals would have no trouble standing apart from the crowd. Why, then, is Delgo so familiar? Must be because the co-directors borrow so heavily from past storytellers it's tough to classify their cartoon as original. They visualize a world that's part George Lucas, part Dr. Seuss, part Wolfgang Petersen's The Neverending Story and a heaping helping of Dungeons & Dragons. Still, the vocal casting is inspired. Anne Bancroft, Malcolm McDowell and Louis Gossett, Jr. share screen time with Chris Kattan, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. (PG) FAIR ANIMATED ADVENTURE . Directors - Marc Adler & Jason Maurer; Lead - Freddie Prinze Jr.; Running Time - 90 minutes. Capsule Review by Sean O'Connell. (Opens December 12)

DOUBT. With John Patrick Shanley committing his Pulitzer Prize-winning play to film, more people can watch a shrewd nun (Meryl Streep) confront the progressive young priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) she suspects of interfering with a student at her Bronx elementary school circa 1964. A must-see for Catholics, the battle of wills between Sister Aloysius and Father Flynn provides a snapshot of an institution at a particular point in time but also directly pertains to the recent clergy abuse scandals. Those interested in the concept of due process and the ethics of discovering the truth shouldn't miss it either. Ditto for anyone who savors award-worthy acting. (PG-13) GREAT DRAMA. Director - John Patrick Shanley; Lead - Meryl Streep;  Running Time - 104 minutes.  Capsule Review by John P. McCarthy. (Opens December 12)

NOTHING LIKE THE HOLIDAYS. The recipe for an entertaining celluloid Christmas is followed to the letter as members of a Puerto Rican family gather to celebrate in the Chicago neighborhood of Humboldt Park. Tucked under the tree are angst-ridden affairs of the heart, sibling strife, a revelation or two, and three days of Latin-flavored ribbing. Shining lights in the talented ensemble include John Leguizamo as a lawyer with a career-minded wife (Debra Messing), Freddy Rodriguez as a soldier fresh from Iraq, Vanessa Ferlito as a struggling actress, and Juan Guzman as cousin Johnny. Don't worry if mom (Elizabeth Pena) announces she's divorcing dad (Molina). Felice Navidad! (PG-13) GOOD COMEDY-DRAMA. Director - Alfredo DeVilla; Lead - Alfred Molina; Running Time - 99 minutes. Capsule Review by John P. McCarthy. (Opens December 12)

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