'Milk'What It's About: Sean Penn is Harvey Milk, the iconic San Francisco politician who became the first openly gay man elected to office in the U.S. in 1977. Josh Brolin is the jerk who assassinates him.
What We Say: Gus Van Sant's biopic of the slain leader is much more conventional than you might expect, but not any less affecting or inspiring. Penn's performance is a triumph. And given the recent passage of Prop 8 in California, the film is as topical as they come.
Awards & Nominations: Penn prevailed in the closest major race at last month's Oscars, edging out Comeback King Mickey Rourke ('The Wrestler') for Best Actor. The film also won Best Original Screenplay (Dustin Lance Black), but lost pretty much anywhere it was up against 'Slumdog.'
Where It Ranks: 'Milk' placed #9 on our list of 2008's 50 best films.
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'Role Models'What It's About: Sentenced to community service after an energy drink-fueled rampage, "big brothers" Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott teach their "littles" how to stare at breasts without getting caught, plus more valuable life lessons.
It's Kind of Like: 'Old School' meets 'Cop and a Half'
What We Say: 'Tropic Thunder,' 'Pineapple Express' and 'Sarah Marshall' may have gotten more play, but 'Role Models' was the funniest comedy of 2008. Both brilliantly sophomoric and sneakily witty (thanks to Rudd's handprints on the script), it's a must-see, and even better on repeat.
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'Rachel Getting Married'What It's About: Released from rehab for a weekend to attend her sister's wedding, Anne Hathaway's bundle of nerves Kym tries her hardest not to ruin the bohemian-flavored celebration for all.
What We Say: Moviegoers were generally divided over this indie drama from Jonathan Demme. Fans praised its intimacy and realism. Count me in the camp that appreciated it, but found it comparable to watching someone's home video of the best.wedding.ever.
Awards & Nominations: If there's one reason to see 'Rachel,' it's Hathaway's stunning Academy Award-nominated performance (she was even an early favorite to win). It should be enough to make you forgive her for 'Bride Wars.'
Add to Netflix queue | Buy from Amazon | Why You Should See 'Rachel'
'Let the Right One In'What It's About: In a small and wintry Swedish town, a young boy becomes BFFs with the new girl next door, who, it turns out, is a vampire starving for blood.
What We Say: It's 'Twilight' for the arthouse crowd. Subtle but thoroughly chilling, this acclaimed import is one of the most sympathetic portraits of vampires you'll see. Eli (Lina Leandersson) may be deadly, but she's pretty damn adorable (and tortured), too.
Where It Ranks: 'Let the Right One In' placed #29 on our list of 2008's 50 best movies.
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Other New Releases This Week:
'Transporter 3'
'The Boy in the Striped Pajamas'
'Synecdoche, New York'
'Happy-Go-Lucky'
'Cadillac Records'
'Nobel Son'
'Battle in Seattle'
Special Editions:
'Pinocchio'
'Howard the Duck'
'Primal Fear'
'Escape to Witch Mountain'
'Return to Witch Mountain'
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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