Wide Awake

When his beloved grandfather passes away, fifth-grade Catholic schoolboy Joshua (Joseph Cross) has a crisis of faith. He asks both the nuns and his parents (Denis Leary and Dana Delany) difficult questions as he sets out on a mission: to find God and make sure his grandfather is OK. As if that weren't enough, he also has to contend with schoolyard bullies, the sudden appeal of girls, needy schoolmates, and the recklessness of his best friend David (Timothy Reifsnyder). Though the precociousness of the children is a little hard to believe, there's a genuine feeling and a surprising complexity of thought about faith that makes Wide Awake unexpectedly affecting. Despite the largeness of the theme, the movie is made up of small images and gentle humor, which keep it grounded in reality and consistently engaging. The strong supporting cast includes Julia Stiles (10 Things I Hate About You), Camryn Mannheim (Happiness, TV's The Practice), and Rosie O'Donnell (A League of Their Own, The Flintstones, Harriet the Spy), as a nun who explains the Bible with sports metaphors. A pleasantly subtle comedy from M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense). --Bret Fetzer