“Far Side of the Moon”

A quiet film by French-Canadian Robert Lepage (creator of Cirque du Soleil’s hit “Ka” production), “Far Side of the Moon” is a thoughtful look at a middle-aged man who is lonely, underemployed, and respected by no one–not even his twin brother. Lepage plays the dual roles of outcast Phillippe, a fortysomething telemarketer trying to earn his doctorate, and Andre, a selfish and lazy weatherman.

“I Love Your Work”

Filmed like an art-house project, “I Love Your Work” offers thoughtful insight to fame from both the celebrity’s and the fan’s points of view. When you’re a celebrity, every fan is a potential stalker. Or at least that’s how movie star Gray Evans (Giovanni Ribisi) sees it. An A-list actor married to a sex symbol, Gray wants to see things clearly in black and white. But his world is a cloudy haze of gray.

“Claire Dolan”

A bittersweet film about an Irish immigrant working as a mid-level prostitute in Manhattan, Claire Dolan tells a darkly intriguing story that is less about sex than trying to attain love. Dolan–portrayed with subtle melancholy by Katrin Cartlidge (who died in 2002 from complications of pneumonia and blood poisoning)–is too pragmatic to think she could ever fall in love with one of her clients. They are merely business transactions.

“Unknown”

Taking a cue from “Memento,” “Unknown” uses flashbacks to tell its story, which is full of intrigue. A group of seemingly unrelated men (played by Greg Kinnear, Joe Pantoliano, Jim Caviezel, Berry Pepper, and Jeremy Sisto) find themselves in an abandoned warehouse, and each one claims he is suffering from amnesia.

“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”

Believe it or not, the extended DVD version of “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”–which clocks in at a solid 4 hours and 10 minutes — doesn’t feel any longer than the film everybody saw at the multiplex. In stores today, the DVD includes 50 extra minutes of never-before-seen footage added into the original theatrical release, which won 11 Academy Awards.

Lori Petty’s shirts shout truth and beauty

Lawd knows Lori Petty’s a busy woman. She’s an actress, painter, director and writer. But that hasn’t stopped the quirky actress from adding designer to her list of credits. Best known for her work in “A League of Their Own” and “Point Break,” Petty has a year-old line of casual wear called Lawd Knows that reflects her inspirational side.

“Woman, Thou Art Loosed”

Filmgoers are taken into the mournful world of a woman who never had a chance in “Woman, Thou Art Loosed.” Michelle Jordan’s God-fearing mother resented her for being around, while her “Uncle” Reggie enjoyed having her around all too much, making life at home even seedier than the strip club in which she would later work. As she later tells a childhood friend, “That ain’t my home. It’s just a place where part of me is buried.”