Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story

Though a straightforward life story, this deadly earnest sociopolitical commentary features a bizarre ensemble of Barbie dolls, uncannily assembled by artist Todd Haynes, who sees Karen variously as a toy, a product and a role model for little girls. Who could imagine feeling empathy for Barbie or finding depth in the Carpenters' "Rainy Days and Mondays"? Haynes, a semiologist, achieves both in this postmodern puppet show. Rita Kempley, The Washington Post