OLIVER TWIST ★★½

(Starz on Comcast) An expertly made, extremely watchable version of the Dickens classic that lacks any lasting impact, and since the director is Roman Polanski, that has to be considered a disappointment. Barney Clark makes a suitably sympathetic Oliver while Ben Kingsley softens Fagin’s ruinous edges while still giving the character immediacy. It’s a tale well told but told with little personality. (PG-13; runs through Sept. 27)

BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE ★★★½

(Comcast Free Movies) At two mentally and emotionally exhausting hours, Michael Moore’s third documentary has the heft of a saga. The film attempts to understand why America is such a uniquely violent country, and it’s a crazy, enthralling mess of hypotheses, accusations, and head-scratching flights of folly. It’s bold and there to be wrestled. (R; runs through Oct. 10)

DESPERADO ★★

(Starz on Comcast) Slick visuals, but not much more as Robert Rodriguez revisits his low-budget hit, “El Mariachi.” As the guitar-strumming musician who hits a dusty Mexican town with vengeance on his mind, Antonio Banderas executes his action hero assignment smoothly, but this film is about the choreography of its shootouts, not much more. (R; runs through Sept. 13)