John Powers

The new Japanese film "Kokuho" set box office records in its home country. It's now playing in theaters here. The movie, which received an Oscar nomination for hair and makeup, tells the story of a gangster's son who dreams of being a star in Japan's famously rigorous Kabuki theater. Our critic-at-large John Powers says "Kokuho" carried him away into a fascinating subculture whose demands are at once familiar and unfamiliar.

The new thriller "Crime 101" stars Chris Hemsworth as an LA jewel thief who gets involved with a police detective and a high-end insurance agent. The movie also stars Halle Berry and Mark Ruffalo. Our critic-at-large John Powers says the movie is a deliberate throwback, and he had a swell time watching it.

In the new film "Islands" out this week, a washed-up tennis pro gives lessons at a fancy hotel in the Canary Islands. But when he meets an elegant woman with an unlikable husband, things take a noir-ish turn. Our critic at large, John Powers, says the plot may sound familiar, but "Islands" takes you places you don't expect.