Barbarella--Roger Vadim's very public salute to Jane Fonda; more or less what you'd expect. At the CIRCLE, Cleveland Circle, Brookline (566-4040).

The Boston Strangler -- Believe your worst suspicions. At the MUSIC HALL, Tremont St. near Stuart (423-3300).

Coogan's Bluff--One of Donald Siegel's ("Invasion of the Body Snatchers," "Madigan") finest films, its pleasantly mechanical script completely transcended by the honesty and directness of Siegel's style and a moral concern for the fate of his characters. Clint Eastwood is fabulous, and the Siegel stock company (Susan Clark, Don Stroud) again proves a group of Hollywood's most capable new actors. Marred only by an unfortunately pedestrian last 60 seconds. At the ORPHEUM, Washington St. (542-5557).

The Dove--See left. At the CHARLES CINEMA, 195 Cambridge St. (227-2832).

Faces--Played at a fever pitch with sustained dramatic intensity, John Cassavetes' attack on middle-class fun-and-games is nonetheless not a very good film. The camerawork is frenetic but uninventive and stifling, the sound poor, and the subject treated too superficially for its two-hour running time. Still, an emotional tour de force, with acting that occasionally approaches greatness. Starting next Wednesday at the CINEMA KENMORE SQ., in Kenmore Sq. (262-3700).

Finian's Rainbow -- A heavyhanded, poorly acted film version of the musical, with nothing but the splendid score and the magnificent Fred Astaire to recommend it. The director, Francis Fred Coppola, has a bad habit of chopping people's hands and feet off; stars Petula Clark and Tommy Steele ought to act their age. At the SAXON, Tremont and Stuart (542-4600).

Firemen's Ball and Oratorio for Prague--Two first rate, if lightweight, Czech films which run amuck. In Milos (Loves of a Blonde) Forman's comedy, the dramatic action edges toward the consequential and finally becomes downright grisly, with no let-up in the constant low-key joking. In Jan Nemec's documentary, reality gets out of hand as the appearance of Russian tanks drastically alter what had been intended as a cheerful film about the liberalized Dubcek regime. At the EXETER, Exeter St. between Commonwealth & Newbury (536-7067).

The Graduate--Mike Nichols' film about where Joe DiMaggio went. Too big for its britches. At the PARK SQUARE CINEMA, 31 St. James Ave. (542-2220). Flea in Her Ear--The Georges Feydeau farce, butchered in this Jacques Charon film. Rex Harrison, Rosemary Harris, Rachel Roberts and Louis Jourdan are stuck in it. At the CINEMA KENMORE SQUARE (262-3799).

Funny Girl--If you like Barbra Streisand, there is no getting around the fact that this movie works. The score, the screenplay, and even Omar Sharif are fine. The photography, on the other hand, is unfortunate, as is the editing. At the CHERI 2, Dalton St. in Prudential Center (536-2870).

Heart is a Lonely Hunter--Pretty weighty stuff from the Carson McCulers novel, with Alan Arkin as a sensitive deaf mute. At the SYMPHONY I, Huntington at Mass. Ave. (262-8837).

Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush --Dirty without being erotic, vulgar without being exuberant. In a word, embarrassing. At the BRATTLE (864-4226) through Saturday.

Hot Millions--Peter Ustinov and Maggie Smith are just fine in this gentle suspense-comedy written by Ustinov and Ira Wallach. At the ASTOR, Tremont St. near Boylston (542-5030).

In the Heat of the Night--Norman Jewison contemplates race relations, aided by Stirling Silliphant's teleplay and Sidney Poitier's smile. At the PARAMOUNT, Washington St., Boston (482-4820).

Lady in Cement--Frank Sinatra in a film that should have been buried in cement. At the CHERI I, Dalton St. in Prudential Center (536-2870).

The Lion in Winter--Pretension unleashed, most notably that of Anthony Harvey, the director, who seems bent on doing everything as conspicuously as he can. Neither Peter O'Toole nor Katharine Hepburn gives much of a performance in this cumbersomely filmed version of James Goldman's play, which was unconvincing to start with. At the PARIS CINEMA, 841 Boylston (267-8181).