Fall Movies

Despite having only two previous, supporting feature film roles to her name ('Pride & Predjudice' and 'When Did You Last See Your Father?') before landing the lead in tjhe coming-of-age drama 'An Education,' the spry 24-yr-old Carey Mulligan has become an odds-on favorite to pick up an Oscar nod in the Best Actress category when the nominations are announced on the morning of Feb 2.

After making a splash at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival with her astute portrayal of the naively precocious schoolgirl Jenny, Mulligan has ignited a frenzy of Oscar talk, with critics noting her stand-out performance as "remarkably nuanced" and "star-making." Roger Ebert wrote in his review, "You're pretty sure this is the birth of a star.

Editor's note: Moviefone is excited to feature the writing of several dedicated 'Twilight' fan bloggers to our readers. Amanda Bell, blogger for the Twilight Examiner, has already seen 'New Moon' numerous times -- and that's before it opened. Here she names her 10 favorite things about 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon.' Come back in the coming weeks for more of Amanda's insights into 'Twilight' and to find lots of cool original 'Twilight' content from her and her fellow Twihards.

Since 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' is based closely on Stephenie Meyer's book, there are few big surprises in the plot. That doesn't mean that there aren't moments in the film that will impress or surprise even the most knowledgeable fan of the 'Twilight' series (um ... like me, for example).

Here are my 10 favorite things about the film -- but you don't have to be a 'Twilight' devotee to appreciate them; there's something here for everyone from the casual fan to the super-fan.

Either you're a huge fan of the 'Twilight' series or you're not: Based on critics' reviews, the new film, 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon,' is unlikely to convert any non-believers. Not when critics like Roger Ebert groan, "Sitting through this experience is like driving a pickup in low gear though a sullen sea of Brylcreem." Ouch!

Director Chris Weitz takes the reins from 'Twilight' director Catherine Hardwicke; Without the passion for her characters and her more indie approach, many critics feel that the sequel simply falls flat. Some, however, prefer Weitz's more-polished style ... and then there are those who simply hated both films and probably can't tell the difference.

Non-fans cite the slow-pace ("The uninitiated might find that the film's deliberately unhurried 130-minute running time feels like a Cullen clan eternity," says the Hollywood Reporter). But most agree that the addition of werewolves to the saga livens up the proceedings. Whether you think endless shots of Taylor Lautner's bare torso are sigh-worthy or just silly probably depends on whether you count yourself a member of Team Jacob.

But hey, who needs critics, right? If what those grumpy Guses say matters to you, check out their reviews after the jump.

On the heels of Spike Jonze's adaptation of 'Where the Wild Things Are,' another hipster director, Wes Anderson, takes on another beloved children's book: Roald Dahl's 'Fantastic Mr Fox.' Unlike Jonze's blend of live-action and CGI, Anderson's film details the life of its titular character using super-retro handmade stop-motion animation, and the result is as uniquely folksy as it is stunning.

But the film isn't just impressive visually, it also features a formidable cast of talent that includes George Clooney as Mr. Fox, Meryl Streep as his Mrs., and Jason Schwartzman as their son Ash, as well as supporting work from Anderson regulars Bill Murray and Owen Wilson. Like Anderson's previous work, 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' deals with matters both profound and absurd. Early critical response is overwhelmingly favorable, with most critics noting that the kitschy puppets are a perfect match for Anderson's signature style of quirky storytelling.

Mo'Nique's come a long way since 'Phat Girlz.'

The amiable actor-comedian-talk show host (and yes, headliner of that infamous 2006 bomb) is the talk of Tinsletown these days thanks to her harrowing dramatic turn in the Oscar favorite 'Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire.' The indie has steadily gained steam since winning big at Sundance in January, subsequently winning the endorsement of media heavies Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, who signed on as producers.

'Precious' features the year's most unlikely heroine -- Clareece "Precious" Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), an obese Harlem teen twice impregnated by her father. For her portrayal of Mary, the girl's callous, abusive mother, Mo'Nique is a virtual lock for an Academy Award nomination.

No, you're not in a hemp-induced hallucination; Woody Harrelson has been around a lot lately.

He slayed the undead last month in 'Zombieland' and this weekend will try to survive the end of the world in Roland Emmerich's latest disaster flick '2012.' But the Texan had a more serious subject on his mind when we met up with him this week in Manhattan; namely, his other film opening this weekend, 'The Messenger.'

A war film that focuses more on the home front than the battlefield -- in the vein of Hal Ashby's 'Coming Home' or 'The Last Detail' -- Harrelson and Ben Foster ('Pandorum') play two Army officers who have the agonizing responsibility of reporting the death of soldiers to their next of kin. In the process the two build an indelible friendship while battling their own personal demons.

Oscar-nominated filmmaker Wes Anderson burst onto the film scene in the mid-'90s with the boldly eccentric 'Bottle Rocket' and 'Rushmore,' captivating moviegoers with his oddball characters, vintage flare and unique take on dysfunctional family, all set to great tunes.

Next up: bringing Roald Dahl's cherished children's book 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' to life. Utilizing stop-motion animation, Anderson captures the picaresque misadventures of the wily, chicken-thieving Mr. Fox, voiced by a boisterous George Clooney.

With his first wholly animated film, we caught up with Anderson to discuss the difficulties of crafting a stop-motion feature and his love of Dahl's stories.

The big-budget animated version of 'A Christmas Carol' made the most money at the box office this weekend, but the low-budget 'Precious' made the biggest statement.

Playing in only 18 theaters in four American cities (New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago), the grim tale about a sexually abused Harlem teenager grossed $1.8 million, for an astonishing per-theater average of about $100,000. It is fair to say that in one weekend, 'Precious' was transformed from a critics' and film festival favorite to an odds-on Best Picture Oscar contender.

If Oscar buzz were directly proportional to the length of a film's title, then the success of 'Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire' would be a foregone conclusion. Of course awards season predictions are never quite that simple, and it's a good thing, too. If the winners were that foreseeable, what would become of our office Oscar pools?

In fact, the film's onerous title is one of the few flaws many critics have found with 'Precious'. After wowing the festival circuit earlier this year -- receiving a standing ovation at Cannes and winning the Audience awards at both Sundance and Toronto, (the first film ever to win both) -- 'Precious' is garnering raves again as it opens this week in theaters nationwide.