“Away From Her” — It’s an intriguing paradox: In quiet, understated ways, this film marks the debut of a powerfully talented new director.

Sarah Polley, the 28-year-old Canadian actress best known for roles in “Go” and “The Sweet Hereafter,” steps behind the camera for her first feature with the confidence and precision of a seasoned veteran. Polley also wrote the script, based on an Alice Munro short story, about a woman’s slow descent into the hazy abyss of Alzheimer’s disease, and the surprising way her husband of 44 years responds. Julie Christie stars as Fiona, and after all this time still possesses a beauty that’s startling in its clarity. Gordon Pinsent plays her husband, Grant, with subtle sweetness, and their scenes together are increasingly heartbreaking. It’s not all agony, though. Thankfully, there are some moments of dark humor, courtesy of Olympia Dukakis as the no-nonsense wife of a patient at the nursing home where Fiona is being treated — a man with whom Fiona becomes inordinately fixated. PG-13 for some strong language. 100 min. HHH1⁄2

“Lucky You” — Eric Bana has a decent poker face, and he uses it to excess in this romantic drama in which he blandly rambles through the world of competitive card-playing while trying to convince object of desire Drew Barrymore he’s more than just a compulsive gambler. The film from director Curtis Hanson crackles with life here and there from the occasional pleasant interchange between Bana and Barrymore and a few energetic moments from Robert Duvall. But it’s a curiously ordinary and uninvolving tale from the filmmaker behind such insightful character pieces as “Wonder Boys” and “L.A. Confidential.” Bana’s a Vegas poker master incessantly undone by rash emotion, who’s angling to compete in the World Series of Poker, whose players include his estranged dad (Duvall), a two-time champ quick to point out his progeny’s shortcomings. Barrymore’s an angelic innocent new to Vegas whose unlikely opposites-attract romance with Bana never rings true. PG-13 for some language and sexual humor. 123 min. HH

“Spider-Man 3” — Forgiveness is on the minds of many characters this time. They ponder if they’re capable of offering it, worthy of receiving it, and whether it will ultimately prove divine. In that spirit, audiences may want to forgive director and co-writer Sam Raimi for creating a bloated, uneven behemoth with his third installment in the hugely successful comic-book franchise. (The film is so feverishly anticipated, however, and the entire series is so revered, that any critic’s opinion is irrelevant at the box office. Nevertheless, let’s press on.) Spidey the Third seems like an even greater letdown following Spidey Part Deux, which was the rare sequel that surpassed the original and, in retrospect, is looking better all the time. “Spider-Man 2” was driven by a strong story and compelling character development, and didn’t just feel the need to dazzle us with elaborate effects sequences. Here, Raimi overloads us with more — more villains, more supporting characters and more plot lines, spread out across more time. Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) must battle human foes Flint Marko (Thomas Haden Church) and Eddie Brock (Topher Grace) and their alter egos, the Sandman and Venom. He’s still at odds with old best pal Harry (James Franco) as well as Harry’s souped-up super self, the New Goblin. And Peter, as Spider-Man, must fight his own dark urges when a pesky black goop attaches itself onto him of all people — what are the odds? — bringing out his worst tendencies. PG-13 for sequences of intense action violence. 140 min. HH

“Waitress” — Adrienne Shelly would have been tickled by the warm words of praise her film so deservedly has received. Shelly, who wrote, directed and costarred in this rich little dramedy, was killed in her Manhattan apartment just before its Sundance premiere; knowing her fate makes watching the movie feel even more bittersweet. Keri Russell is absolutely radiant in this rare lead role, and she gets to show the kind of dramatic depth we haven’t seen in a while from TV’s “Felicity.” Russell stars as Jenna, a small-town Southern waitress famous for making the best pies around, with inventive ingredients and names inspired by whatever is going on in her life. Lately, there’s plenty. Jenna is miserably married to her pig of a husband (Jeremy Sisto, whose character is drawn a bit too two-dimensionally) and has been stashing away money with secret plans to leave him. Then she realizes she’s carrying his child — the result of an unusual drunken romp — and in no time begins an ill-advised affair with her OB/GYN (Nathan Fillion). Cheryl Hines and Shelly co-star as her loyal diner co-workers. PG-13 for sexual content, language and thematic elements. 104 min. HHH