MOVIES OUT FRIDAY

Dec 17 2006 By Mickey Mconagle

FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS (15)

Clint Eastwood's epic examination of the spin doctoring of modern day warfare is a timely one. It follows six soldiers who raised the US flag at Iwo Jima and the manipulation of the three survivors by politicians looking for PR. Brilliant.

Rating: *****

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM (PG)

Ben Stiller (above left) is a love or hate star but I think he's great. Here, he does what he does best - playing a hapless, put-upon, everyman loser who finds the exhibits in the museum where he works come to life after dark.

Rating: *****

THE WIZARD OF OZ(U)

The sort of film you expect to sit through on Christmas Day but this year you can see it at the cinema. It has been remastered and polished up so it looks more colourful - but I'm not sure that's enough to warrant rescreenings.

Rating: ***

SHORTBUS(18)

A bizarre and pointless film which fails on every count - other than achieving its key goal of attracting controversy. An extremely sexually explicit - to the point of pornography - film featuring genuine sex and a meandering plot.

Rating: *

THE UPSIDE OF ANGER (15)

It sounds like an unappealing, heavyweight emotional drama but is actually a witty, well-played and stunningly-scripted film. Kevin Costner (above right) is on career-best form as a boozer who falls for mum-of-four Joan Allen.

Rating: * **