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  EW reviews: Sexy and vibrant 'Gardener'Also: Southern-fried 'Junebug,' filthy 'Arisocrats'By Michael Endelman  YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS(Entertainment Weekly) -- A love story hidden inside a piece of agitprop buried inside a global murder mystery, the narrative of "The Constant Gardener" is, at its core, a buttoned-up John le Carre diplomatic thriller that's seemingly ripped from the pages of The Economist. In the hands of Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles ("City of God"), however, the film of le Carre's novel is supercharged with a passionate Third World perspective, lush colors, and a cinema verite feel that turns a wonky subject (the corruption of pharmaceutical companies) into a sexy, vibrant film. EXTRAS The deleted and extended scenes are only mildly interesting, but the three brief making-of docs help flesh out the interesting production backstory. The best is "Embracing Africa: Filming in Kenya," which illuminates Meirelles' documentary style: Instead of shooting in a more established movie location like South Africa, he chose an actual Nairobi shantytown, and used handheld cameras and nonprofessional actors from the region, lending the film an authentic and improvisational mood. EW Grade: A- 'Junebug'Reviewed by Melissa Rose Bernardo The southern-fried "Junebug" could have been way too precious: the wide-eyed, nine-months-pregnant naif (an incandescent Amy Adams), her sullen, chain-smoking mother-in-law (Celia Weston, who does more with a stare than some actors do with a soliloquy), the quirky paintings obsessed with floating male genitalia (created for the film by Brooklyn artist Ann Wood). But director Phil Morrison finds drama in the downbeats, reveling in Chekhovian silences and transforming mundane moments -- like the inflation of an air mattress -- into exhilarating events. EXTRAS An art gallery spotlights more than 30 works by Wood, and 10 deleted scenes offer additional insight into the motley crew of characters. (What were the girls gabbing about during the baby shower? OutKast, of course.) Casting sessions seem superfluous -- we love Adams, but 14 minutes of her running the same lines over and over? -- and a set of five behind-the-scenes mini-docs is skippable ("Meerkats Gone Wild" is not nearly as Animal Kingdom as we'd hoped). Meanwhile, Adams and Embeth Davidtz's giggly commentary track manages to be both too much and not enough. Example: "This was the day where my stomach started making noises." EW Grade: A- 'The Aristocrats'Reviewed by Michael Endelman The titular joke of "The Arisocrats" may not be the funniest ever told, but it's undoubtedly one of the filthiest. Tracing the jazz-like evolution of a sick vaudeville-era wisecrack, this hit documentary is a fascinating journey into the depraved minds of more than 100 of America's best comedians, including Sarah Silverman, Whoopi Goldberg, George Carlin, Robin Williams, Fred Willard, and Drew Carey. By the end, all the obscene one-upmanship grows tiring, but those who can stomach the trip will find comedy gold. EXTRAS Uncut riffs on the joke by 21 celebrities (some not featured in the film) shine a spotlight on raw comedic talent, whether it's Kevin Pollak's jaw-dropping imitation of Albert Brooks or Pat Cooper berating director (and fellow comedian) Paul Provenza for making a documentary about the "worst joke that was ever written. ... It's a disgrace to the American culture." And yes, if you want to hear all 11 nauseating minutes of Bob Saget's version, they're here. EW Grade: B+ Click Here 
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