'Changeling'What It's About: A plump-lipped dame (Angelina Jolie) in 1920s Los Angeles comes home to discover her young son has disappeared. Somehow the highly corrupt LAPD figures she's dumb enough to accept an impostor in his place.
What We Say: The first in Clint Eastwood's '08 directorial double bill, this period drama is at points fierce and affecting, but ultimately disappointing and overly long (are we supposed to share Jolie's angst ... for an ending to finally come?).
Awards Watch: 'Changeling' is still very much worth the watch for Jolie's nuanced turn in a very un-Angelina character (aside from the obvious motherly stuff). She's up for Best Actress at Sunday's Oscars, but a win over Kate Winslet or Meryl Streep is about as likely her finally dumping Brad for me.
Add to Netflix queue | Buy from Amazon | Why You Should See 'Changeling'
'Body of Lies'What It's About: A baby-faced CIA operative (Leonardo DiCaprio) inches closer to taking down a terrorist mastermind in Jordan while under the watch of a stay-at-home superior (Russell Crowe).
What We Say: Generally considered one of 2008's biggest disappointments, 'Lies' honestly isn't a bad movie. It's never dull, and a nice refresher in world geography. But can the war on terror really be so simplified to a goateed CIA agent and pot-bellied soccer dad playing puppeteers?
It's Kind of Like: 'Syriana' minus realism + 'Rendition'
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'High School Musical 3: Senior Year'What It's About: A high school in Albuquerque, New Mexico where no science class, assembly or basketball game is safe from the threat of a song-and-dance explosion.
Critical Consensus: Some reviewers would rather watch Zac Efron's hair gel dry; others found it harmless. But all agreed: Their 10-year-old daughters will absolutely love it. (For the record, the movie scored a not-too-shabby 68 percent approval rating on RottenTomatoes.)
Special Features? A two-disc special edition also includes an extended edition, sing-along, three featurettes, deleted scenes and bloopers (could an Efron voice crack be on the menu?).
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'Choke'What It's About: Victor Mancini (Sam Rockwell) is all but one of these things: a) con artist whose scam invokes choking in public places b) Renaissance Fair actor c) sex addict d) the half-clone son of Jesus Christ; and e) a very nice guy, deep down.
What We Say: Based on the book by Chuck Palahniuk ('Fight Club'), this is an oddly toned indie that will divide viewers. But it pays off in the end, and any film with Rockwell in the lead is worth the chance.
Star to Watch: Brad William Henke, who plays Victor's forgiving BFF, shines with regularity in Sundance fare (see also 'Me and You and Everyone We Know' and 'Sherrybaby').
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Other New Releases This Week:
'Religulous'
'Quarantine'
'Flash of Genius'
'How to Lose Friends and Alienate People'
'Midnight Meat Train'
'I Served the King of England'
New DVD Recommendations
'Frozen River'
Release Date: Feb. 10
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.
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Oscars Movies Made Easy
Sony Classics
'W.'
Release Date: Feb. 10
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.
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Watch Brolin-Banks Unscripted
Lionsgate
'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa'
Release Date: Feb. 6
What It's About: A lion (Ben Stiller), hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith), giraffe (David Schwimmer) and zebra (Chris Rock) who like to move it, move it... New voices include Alec Baldwin and the late Bernie Mac.
Critical Consensus: The animated sequel scored better overall reviews than the first, 2005's 'Madagascar,' with 63 percent approval rating on RottenTomatoes (vs. 55 percent the first time around).
Special Features? The DVD comes served in a two-pack along with a disc including two installments of the Nickelodeon series 'The Penguins of Madagascar' (think the opposite of 'Animal Planet').
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Read Jada Pinkett-Smith Q&A
DreamWorks
'Zack and Miri Make a Porno'
Release Date: Feb. 3
What It's About: Platonic friends Zack (Seth Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) do what anyone would do when they're so broke they can't afford to pay the bills: porn.
What We Say: This is Kevin Smith in Judd Apatow mode, with many of the latter's regular troops (Rogen, Banks, Craig Robinson) butting heads (among other parts) with Smith players (Jason Mewes, Jeff Anderson) and porn stars (Katie Morgan, Traci Lords). Raunchy to the extreme, it's Smith's best work in a decade.
Recommended If You Liked: 'Superbad,' 'Chasing Amy,' 'Orgazmo'
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Read Kevin Smith Q&A
Weinstein Company
'Vicky Cristina Barcelona'
Release Date: Jan. 27
What It's About: When vacationing Yanks Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall meet Spanish lothario Javier Bardem (and his beautifully psychotic ex Penelope Cruz), it's mix-and-match-lovers time.
What We Say: Woody Allen ditches the Euro-thriller ('Match Point,' 'Cassandra's Dream') for the Euro-romance, and it's a surprising treat, equal parts sexy and funny. (You guessed it – Woody does not appear.)
Awards & Nominations: Along with Heath Ledger, Cruz became the first certified Oscar contender of '08 this past summer for her electric turn as a Spanglish-speaking firebrand liable to kill in the heat of passion. Rightly so, she earned her second nod last week.
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Oscars Movies Made Easy
Weinstein Company
'The Express'
Release Date: Jan. 20
What It's About: The life-affirming yet tragic story of Ernie Davis (Rob Brown), the nation's first black Heisman Trophy winner, and his tumultuous relationship with his Syracuse coach, Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid).
What We Say: Well played, Universal, releasing this winner on the day of the inauguration of the nation's first black president. You typically know exactly what to expect with an "inspirational sports drama," and this one doesn't disappoint, though it requires a few more tissues than most.
Recommended If You Liked: 'Remember the Titans,' 'Glory Road,' 'Brian's Song'
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Universal
'Appaloosa'
Release Date: Jan. 13
What It's About: Viggo Mortensen and Ed Harris (who also directed) play lawmen trying to clean up the dusty streets of an Old Western town; Renee Zellweger is a mysterious widow new in town who they both have at "howdy."
What We Say: The Western may be the most consistently strong genre in Hollywood: 'Appaloosa' falls right in line with '3:10 to Yuma' and 'Jesse James.'
Best of 2008: We reckon 'Appaloosa' is #40 on our list of the year's 50 best movies.
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New Line
'Pineapple Express'
Release Date: Jan. 6
What It's About: A stoner (Seth Rogen) and his pot-dealing new BFF (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.
Recommended If You Liked: 'Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle,' 'Half Baked,''Superbad,' 'Midnight Run'
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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.
Where It Ranks: 'The Wackness' placed #27 on our list of the year's 50 best movies. Dope!
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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).
Awards & Nominations: He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named Ralph Fiennes earned a Golden Globe Best Supporting Actor nod for his convincing turn as Georgiana's crude husband.
What We Say: Like too many Oscar bait dramas this year, this one is more noteworthy for its performances than anything, but it's a stirring historical soap opera in the same vein as 'The Tudors.'
Where It Ranks: 'Duchess' is #41 on our list of the year's 50 best movies.
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Paramount Vantage
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