'Frozen River'What It's About: Hard up for cash after her no-good husband ditches her (and with their money for a new trailer home!), a gun-toting, retail-working mother of two (Melissa Leo) begins moonlighting as an immigrant smuggler.
Awards & Nominations: Leo has been racking up accolades since the indie drama debuted at Sundance a year ago, and is now an Academy Award nominee for Best Actress. The film is also up for Best Original Screenplay.
What We Say: Courtney Hunt's indie drama is without a doubt the unflashiest movie contending for Oscars this year (call it the anti-'Iron Man'). Steered by a quietly devastating performance by Leo, its power lies in its deft storytelling and unflinching realism.
Add to Netflix queue | Buy from Amazon | Oscar Movies Made Easy
'W.'What It's About: A charismatic and hard-partying frat guy (Josh Brolin, in an impressive turn) with serious daddy issues and difficulty holding onto a day job quits booze, finds God, and becomes the 43rd president of the United States. Based on a true story.
What We Say: Oliver Stone isn't nearly as hard on George W. Bush as most expected he'd be, instead painting a partly sympathetic, mostly tragicomedic portrait of the now ex-prez. At the very least it was one of 2008's most intriguing movie experiments (but for a funnier, more stinging portrayal, see Will Ferrell on stage in 'You're Welcome America.')
Where It Ranks: 'W.' placed #44 on our list of 2008's 50 best movies.
Add to Netflix queue | Buy from Amazon | Watch Brolin-Banks Unscripted
'Miracle at St. Anna'What It's About: The story of four African-American soldiers (Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso and Omar Benson Miller) trapped in small Tuscan town during WWII -- inexplicably framed around a modern-day crime investigation.
What We Say: Spike Lee follows up his most commercially successful film yet ('Inside Man') ... with his career's biggest head-scratcher. A war drama-comedy-fantasy-buddy movie-heartwarmer (?), worst of all it's 160 minutes of boring.
On the Other Hand: E!'s Ben Lyons thought it was "One of the year's best," according to the DVD packaging. (The film scored a mere 33 percent approval rating on RottenTomatoes, however.)
Add to Netflix queue | Buy from Amazon | Watch the trailer
Other New Releases This Week:
'Nights in Rodanthe'
'Soul Men'
'Blindness'
'Chocolate'
'My Name Is Bruce'
'The Lodger'
Special Editions:
'Back to the Future'
'Back to the Future II'
'Back to the Future III'
'Street Fighter'
'The Skulls' Trilogy
Recent DVD Recommendations
'Pineapple Express'
Release Date: Jan. 6
What It's About: A stoner (Seth Rogen) and his pot dealer (James Franco) attempt to stay sober enough to run for their lives after one witnesses a murder.
What We Say: You don't actually have to be stoned stupid to find yourself giggling non-stop at this endearing bromantic comedy that builds up to an outrageously violent (but hilarious!) climax.
Add to Netflix queue | Watch Rogen-Franco Unscripted
Sony
'The Wackenss'
Release Date: Jan. 6
What It's About: A pot-dealing teen ((Josh Peck) who trades weed for therapy ((Sir Ben Kingsley plays the bong-smoking shrink) comes of age in NYC, 1994.
What We Say: Those who grew up on hip-hop, namely the "Golden Era" sounds of Notorious B.I.G., A Tribe Called Quest and the likes, will revel in the nostalgia of this funny and sincere flick.
Add to Netflix queue | Read Olivia Thirlby Q&A
Sony Classics
'The Duchess'
Release Date: Dec. 28
What It's About: Keira Knightley plays Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, a socialite who was like the Paris Hilton of 18th Century England (only charming, talented and likable).
What We Say: Like many Oscar bait dramas this year, this one is noteworthy for its performances above anything, but it's still a stirring historical soap opera.
Add to Netflix queue | Watch trailer & clip
Paramount Vantage
'Burn After Reading'
Release Date: Dec. 21
What It's About: Two bumbling gym employees (Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand) attempt to blackmail a bumbling ex-spy (John Malkovich) when they find a lost disc. A bumbling George Clooney co-stars.
What We Say: As far as the Coen brothers oeuvre goes, it falls smack dab in the middle of 'Fargo' (being their best) and 'Ladykillers' (their worst).
Add to Netflix queue | Read Coen brothers Q&A
Focus Features
'American Teen'
Release Date: Dec. 21
What It's About: Documentarian Nanette Burnstein follows five Indiana high school seniors -- and each fits perfectly into a classic stereotype.
What We Say: It's an amusing, heartfelt, incredibly entertaining portrait of Middle America High, complete with heroes (we love you, Hannah!) and villains (damn you, Megan Krizmanich).
Add to Netflix queue | Watch exclusive DVD clip
Paramount Vantage
'The Dark Knight'
Release Date: Dec. 9
What It's About: You already know. But for fun: A vigilante dresses up like a flying rodent (Christian Bale) and battles a man even crazier, the Joker (Heath Ledger).
What We Say: There's a reason this baby made $530 million at the box office, second only to 'Titanic' all time: It rocks. Now bring on the posthumous Oscar for Heath.
Add to Netflix queue | Watch exclusive DVD clip
Warner Bros.
'Horton Hears a Who!'
Release Date: Dec. 9
What It's About: The unlikely relationship between an elephant (voiced by Jim Carrey) and the specks of dust on his back.
What We Say: Thank you Hollywood for finally animating Dr. Seuss! (Anyone else still suffer bad 'Cat in the Hat' flashbacks?). 'Horton' is sweet, charming and a treat to watch.
Add to Netflix queue | Watch exclusive DVD clip
Fox
'Man on Wire'
Release Date: Dec. 9
What It's About: The amazing story of Frenchman Philippe Petit, who tightrope-walked between World Trade Center towers in 1974.
What We Say: The best-reviewed film of all time, according to RottenTomatoes.com, this doc combines interviews and actual footage with impressively non-corny reenactments, and is 100% breathtaking.
Add to Netflix queue | Watch trailer & clips
Magnolia
'Wanted'
Release Date: Dec. 2
What It's About: An everyday Joe (James McAvoy) is recruited by a secret society of assassins who kill to orchestrate fate ... which is determined by a loom.
What We Say: It's all style, no brains (see Loom of Fate); both ridiculously cool and just-plain ridiculous. Those with a low threshold for nonsensical plots be warned. The rest of us can just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Add to Netflix queue | Read James McAvoy Q&A
Universal
'Step Brothers'
Release Date: Dec. 2
What It's About: Two 40-something man-children (Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly) become siblings first, enemies second, and finally, BFFs.
What We Say: This proudly vulgar comedy doesn't always work, but there are enough moments of hilarity to recommend a DVD viewing. (Warning: Contains disturbing images of Will Ferrell's bits.)
Add to Netflix queue | Watch Ferrell-Reilly Unscripted
Sony
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