GOOGOOSH: IRAN’S DAUGHTER [NR]
With Iran once again so frequently in the headlines, Farhad Zamani’s just-released documentary, made in 2000, is most relevant at this particular moment. He provides us a wonderful opportunity to begin to grasp the complexity of Persian history and identity through an in-depth analysis of the work and times of the most popular cultural icon of pre-revolutionary Iran, a rare creature — who transformed herself in more ways than Madonna ever dreamed of — by the name of Googoosh. As such, it is an interesting example of the little practiced art of attempting to convey heaven through a grain of sand; in other words, if you like to learn a semester’s worth of political history and religion while being entertained, here’s your chance. Interviews with various artists and intellectuals are interspersed with vintage footings of Googoosh’s musical and film performances, which are used to underscore the various themes under discussion; her words and lyrics are made to literally speak for larger political and cultural events. Although a bit too stylistically ambitious, this is a documentary that deserves a lot of credit for giving a fair and insightful account of a modern tragedy – a nation/woman poised at a breathtaking height and sophistication that was suddenly silenced in the name of God. –Tamara Parvizi

THE PRISONER OR: HOW I PLANNED TO KILL TONY BLAIR [PG-13]
The folly of the War on Terrorâ„¢ reaches new heights in Michael Tucker’s and Petra Epperlein’s documentary detailing the story of Yunis Abbas, an Iraqi journalist erroneously implicated in a plot to kill British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Tucker and Epperlein, who first encountered Abbas while shooting 2004’s Gunner Palace, highlight the farcical nature of the whole affair by framing his tale with Epperlein’s comic book-style subtitles and cutaways, much like Ang Lee did in Hulk. Here, though, the gimmick works, and coupled with footage shot by embedded press and Abbas’s own home movies, the duo pulls depicts concisely the unintentional seeding of freedom that Abbas’s ordeal brought about. And his story is fascinating, from his chronicling of his deplorable mistreatment written on his boxer shorts and on cigarette foil to the touching perspective of the American guard he bonded with at the second-tier detainment facility, Camp Ganci. It’s a shame that there is a need for this kind of dark comedy, but at least it is honest and straightforward, and not the kind of blustery, smoke-and-mirrors kind of so-called documentary that the Michael Moores of the world have woefully misinformed a war-panicked public with. –Robert Newton

FIRED! [NR]
The comedy that NPR staple Annabelle Gurwitch wrote, produced and stars in (based on her book) may not be much more than an extended satirical essay, but at least it is an amusing one. The sassy, perpetually cute little pixie wrangles some funny folks like Andy Borowitz, David Cross and Sarah Silverman and explores the harshest reality of the working world as she makes lemonade out of her own experience of being fired by Woody Allen from a play. The tone is pretty genial, even if it is a little too highbrow for the average viewer, and the interviews with a number of familiar faces help make it feel like less of a one-woman show, all the while staying true to Gurwitch’s own voice. –Elizabeth Meyer

THE HAWK IS DYING [R]
While Paul Giamatti made it easy for audiences to get behind his furious turn in Sideways, he does not quite connect in Julian Goldberger’s scattershot drama. Giamatti plays George Gattling, a Florida auto upholsterer who becomes obsessed with training a sick, red-tailed hawk, risking his own health to do so. It is easy to see where Goldberger is trying to go with the visual and thematic threads, except all the elements do not come together. As George’s autistic nephew, Michael Pitt (The Village) is shorted, as is Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain) as a stoner psych student, whose friendship with George is not made clear enough. Anyone looking for a primer on falconry, though, will find a detailed how-to here, even if Goldberger focuses too much on it without finishing the jigsaw puzzle that is his film. –Robert Newton

GHOSTS OF ABU GHRAIB [NR]
A great companion to The Prisoner (which is reviewed on this page), HBO’s hard-hitting documentary focuses on the prisoner abuse scandal that broke out in Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison in 2003.

HURRICANE ON THE BAYOU [NR]
While it was far more effective on the IMAX screens it was originally produced for, the makers of the hit doc Everest explore the majesty of Louisana, before and after Katrina.

I’M BORICUA, JUST SO YOU KNOW! [NR]
Actor Rosie Perez’s first film as a director shines a proud light on New York’s annual Puerto Rican Day Parade and showcases what fuels Puerto Rican culture.

THE MESSENGERS [PG-13]
Sullen teen Kristen Stewart sees dead people and tries to warn the silly grown-ups in this ghost story by Hong Kong’s Pang Brothers, though it is an unfortunate of style over substance.

NORBIT [PG-13]
Eddie Murphy times three may not have registered too highly with critics, but audiences have given this comedy about a mild-mannered schmo an overwhelming stamp of approval, because really, it’s just funny.