Latest releases reviewed

UNITED 93 *****

Directed by Paul Greengrass. Starring David Alan Basche, Polly Adams, Khalid Abdalla, Jamie Harding, Cheyenne Johnson 15 cert

Greengrass treats the story of the 9/11 flight where the passengers fought back through the form of a dramatised documentary that mixes unknown actors with nonprofessionals playing themselves. He takes material that is widely familiar and injects it with a dramatic urgency that is riveting and ultimately terrifying, even though we know the ending from the beginning. Unmissable.  - Michael Dwyer

ASK THE DUST ***

Directed by Robert Towne. Starring Colin Farrell, Salma Hayek, Donald Sutherland, Eileen Atkins 15 cert

Towne's gorgeously lit film of John Fante's novel features an understated, charismatic Farrell as an aspirant screenwriter falling for a volatile Mexican waitress (Salma Hayek) in 1930s Los Angeles. - Michael Dwyer

DAVE CHAPPELLE'S BLOCK PARTY ****

Directed by Michel Gondry. Starring Dave Chappelle, Kanye West, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, The Fugees, Common, Mos Def, The Roots 15 cert

Organising his own street party in Brooklyn, comedian Chappelle ups the ante all the way, attracting a guest list of hot hip-hop and rap performers and even bringing The Fugees back together after seven years. Chappelle is the perfect host, and the movie coasts along on his easy natural charm and the infectious exuberance of the on-stage talent. Michael Dwyer

LITTLE FISH ***

Directed by Rowan Woods. Starring Cate Blanchett, Sam Neill, Hugo Weaving, Martin Henderson 16 cert

Blanchett's recovering junkie, an employee of a Sydney video store, finds herself undertaking an ill-advised crime caper with her mother's wretched ex-boyfriend (Weaving). Woods's follow-up to The Boys is beautifully made and features fine performances. It is, however, a tad mannered in its direction and obscure in its plotting. - Donald Clarke

P.S. ***

Directed by Dylan Kidd. Starring Laura Linney, Topher Grace, Gabriel Byrne 15 cert

Going directly to DVD here, the second feature from Roger Dodger director Kidd is a rather slight serious comedy, albeit peppered with some punchy dialogue and bolstered by strong performances: Linney as an insecure university admissions officer, Grace as the cocky young student with whom she has an affair, and Byrne as her ex-husband, who admits to a long history of sex addiction. - Michael Dwyer