The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Jindabyne (Sony Classics)
Meaty morality play, based on a Raymond Carver short story, reset in the visually stunning Australian Smoky Mountains about a weekend fisherman (Gabriel Byrne) and his three buddies who find the body of a murdered young women but fail to report the discovery immediately, leading to ostracism by his wife (Laura Linney) and community, forcing him to re-evaluate his good Samaritan duties. Beautifully realistic performances allow director Ray Lawrence to grittily explore the divide between the sexes, and unflinchingly examine the responsibility owed those outside one's own nuclear, religious and ethnic families. Murder (not shown), several disturbing images of a female cadaver with upper nudity, realistic fistfight with blood, a dead pet, rough and crude language and profanity, sexual language and groping, breast-feeding, discussion of abortion, discreetly depicted urination, alcohol use and domestic discord. (A-III, R)

The Condemned (Lionsgate)
In this punishing action movie produced by World Wrestling Entertainment and starring "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, a television producer (Robert Mammone) stages a reality event for the Internet during which 10 criminals fight to the death on a tropical island. Director and co-writer Scott Wiper tries to have it both ways by showcasing extreme violence and depraved behavior while simultaneously criticizing those who peddle such objectionable material. Pervasive brutal violence and degrading situations, including torture and rape, pervasive rough and crude language and some profanity. (O, R)

Diggers (Magnolia)
Mostly downbeat comedy-drama about the life and loves of Long Island clam diggers (Paul Rudd, Ken Marino, Josh Hamilton and Ron Eldard) played out against the encroachment of a big fishing corporation wreaking havoc on their traditional way of life. Katherine Diekmann directs Marino's script capably, and there are good performances --- including those of Lauren Ambrose and Maura Tierney --- but the only mildly involving and sometimes sordid plot and the high quotient of expletives are detriments. Pervasive rough and crude language and profanity, drug and contraception references, rear male nudity, sexual encounters without overt nudity and sexual references, premarital situations, brief pornography images, domestic violence and gratuitous bathroom scenes. (L, R)

In the Land of Women (Warner Bros.)
Well-intentioned, sometimes touching, drama about a sensitive screenwriter (Adam Brody) of soft porn, who takes time off to care for his dying grandmother (Olympia Dukakis) and finds himself drawn into the lives of her unhappy neighbor (Meg Ryan) and the latter's daughter (Kristen Stewart). Writer-director Jon Kasdan's directorial debut is a gently paced version of the old formula of a big-city guy finding the real meaning of life around "ordinary people." Crude language, an instance of the f-word, a couple of crass expressions, some chemotherapy-related sickness, a brief violent scuffle, and pornography and adultery references. (L, PG-13)

Next (Paramount)
Taut, atmospheric thriller about a Las Vegas magician (Nicolas Cage), with the power of seeing into the near future, who flees both a hard-nosed FBI agent (Julianne Moore) who wants to use his precognitive power to detect where a nuclear weapon is about to be deployed, as well as the would-be perpetrators who want him killed, all the while trying to keep the young teacher (Jessica Biel) with whom he's in love out of harm's way. Director Lee Tamahori's adaptation of a Philip K. Dick sci-fi story requires some suspension of disbelief, but the likable leads, along with stylish design, special effects and cinematography are compelling with relatively little objectionable content. Action violence with shootings and killings, a premarital situation, some crude words and profanity, mild innuendo and a fistfight. (A-III, PG-13)

---CNS

The Office for Film & Broadcasting classifications of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops rates movies on the basis of moral suitability. The classifications are: A-I --- general patronage; A-II --- adults and adolescents; A-III --- adults; L --- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling; O --- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America ratings are: G --- general audiences. All ages admitted; PG --- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children; PG-13 --- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13; R --- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.