Siberia

Slow but intelligent, moody, and mature, this thriller isn't exactly thrilling, yet it's hypnotic in the way it zooms in on little messy, unexpected human behaviors. It's all about the gray areas. Written by the talented Scott B. Smith (A Simple Plan, The Ruins), Siberia has the advantage of plunking viewers right in the middle of a story that's been going on for a while; in that way, it's a little like spy movies from the 1960s and '70s. Lucas Hill -- played by Reeves at his reassuring, man-of-few-words best -- is a longtime veteran, an expert at his job. As he deftly handles guns or assembles untraceable, disposable phones, his blank expression could mean anything. It's fascinating to watch him to find out more.

Moreover, the character of Katya is more than just a tacked-on romantic interest. Her relationship with Lucas is deliberately weighted with danger and guilt and feeds directly into the story. Director Matthew Ross uses the same patient, thoughtful approach he brought to his fine Frank & Lola; he's more interested in what makes these characters tick than in who gets the diamonds or wins the shoot-out. As in that movie, Ross seems drawn to interactions between two characters in foreign spaces. The Russian locales are especially effective, with St. Petersburg as the grayish, modern half of the story and Siberia as the freezing wilderness. A snowy climax in the woods has the power to leave viewers chilled to the bone.