Ben Kingsley skips his usual scenery-chewing for a mesmerizing, restrained turn as a college professor confronting his mortality who falls hard for student Penélope Cruz (also divine). A splendid drama based on Philip Roth's short novel The Dying Animal. (R)
THE LONGSHOTS
In this trite family comedy based on a true story, Ice Cube is a jobless ex-jock who coaches his preteen niece (Akeelah and the Bee's Keke Palmer) into a star Pop Warner football quarterback. You'll leave the theater saturated with schmaltz. (PG)
