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Trailers are an under-appreciated art form insofar that many times they’re seen as vehicles for showing footage, explaining films away, or showing their hand about what moviegoers can expect. Foreign, domestic, independent, big budget: I celebrate all levels of trailers and hopefully this column will satisfactorily give you a baseline of what beta wave I’m operating on, because what better way to hone your skills as a thoughtful moviegoer than by deconstructing these little pieces of advertising? Some of the best authors will tell you that writing a short story is a lot harder than writing a long one, that you have to weigh every sentence. What better medium to see how this theory plays itself out beyond that than with movie trailers? The Guard Trailer I don't know if it got any better for me in 2008 with regard to unexpected gems than In Bruges. Brendan Gleeson has a certain style,...

Heartbeats (15)

(Xavier Dolan, 2010, Can) Xavier Dolan, Monia Chokri, Niels Schnieder, Anne Dorval. 101 mins.

He's young (22), talented, he directs, writes, produces and acts: don't you hate Xavier Dolan already? Those green with envy will find plenty to object to about the French-Canadian's second movie, not least the fact that it's rather good. It's a love triangle for our times: at its apex a charming Adonis who becomes the covert object of desire for two friends, a guy and a girl. Like its characters, it's not quite as sophisticated as it wants to be, but it's honest, accomplished and recklessly romantic.

The Hangover Part II (15)

(Todd Phillips, 2011, Us) Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms. 102 mins.

The location is different (Bangkok – or at least the movie version) but this sequel to the hit amnesiac prenuptial buddy comedy takes no risks with formula or cast (even Mr Chow is back). The adult humour, though,...

Berlin -- Rob Marshall's musical "Nine," Jo Baier's period epic "Henry of Navarre" and "L'Illusionist," the new animated film by French director Sylvain Chomet ("The Triplets of Belleville") will get the red carpet treatment at the 2010 Berlin International Film Festival as part of the event's special screenings program.

The non-competitive sidebar will also feature the world premieres of Doris Doerrie's new romantic comedy, "The Hairdresser," Silvio Soldini's "What More Do I Want" and "Boxhagener Platz," a German-language mystery from director Matti Geschonneck.

Several documentaries will be included in program, among them "How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster?" a Spanish-British doc on star architect Lord Foster and "Dancing Dreams" from German filmmakers Anne Linsel and Rainer Hoffmann on legendary choreographer Pina Bausch.

But the can't-miss highlight of this year's program is the newly restored, and finally complete, version of Fritz Lang's "Metropolis," which will have its world premiere on Feb.