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The Plot: A professional man (Smith) who is close to suicide for his role in an auto accident that claimed the lives of seven people finds a reason to live, and to atone, when he falls for a woman (Dawson) who wants to help him deal with his grief.

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THE BUZZ: Prepare to feel depressed, then uplifted, for a second time by Will Smith and his Pursuit of Happyness director Gabriele Muccino. Just like in Hancock, a hidden story angle that will reveal itself in time; equally concealed -- make that non-existent -- are any early-bird nominations for Smith's performance, which has been tipped for his third Best-Actor nomination.

There must have been tremendous pressure on greenish screenwriter Grant Nieporte to deliver, and I've seen plenty of support for his script. I thought Happyness' screenplay was wispy, but that didn't prevent it from international success, so I have to surmise that Smith's bulletproof career is in no danger of taking a dent this holiday season, even if he made a few enemies in LA this time around.

Message Boards: doubt - old woman at the hospital??  |  man this movie could have been really awesome(spoilers)

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The Plot: With his battle scars and failing heart, retired professional wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Rourke) jumps back into the squared cirle, climbing his way up the independent-circuit ladder, with his eyes on a showdown with his longtime rival.

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THE BUZZ: I could come up with a dozen wrestling metaphors to describe Darren Aronofsky's triumphant return to scrappy, independent, award-winning filmmaking, while I join the circle of whisperers who are guessing that Mickey Rourke will be up for Oscar glory here, but I'm, still hesitant. Though Aronofsky defied certain odds to get the movie made (eventually finding funding from the French foreign sales company who also backed Soderbergh's four-hour Che Guevera biography), I feel as though The Wrestler is being groomed for Juno-like victory, and I'm just wondering if audiences will embrace the film. In fact, I know there are plenty of insiders who just sorta rolled their eyes at this one. However, I really hope I eat my own words, because I'm pro-Aronofsky, provided The Fountain can be ignored. (Which apparently it can't, since Aronofsky is looking to remake that picture!)

Message Boards: so what would be the point of this movie?  |  Deli boss: A**hole but great lines!!!

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The Plot: Reporter Rachel Armstrong (Beckinsale) is handed a jail sentence for refusing to name her source, a covert CIA operative, for her article on a American missile attack against Venezuela.

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THE BUZZ: Writer-director Rod Lurie (Resurrecting the Champ) apparently distorts the Judith Miller/Valerie Plame affair to a humorous extent, but at least one reviewer has wondered aloud if the filmmaker intended to create a comic melodrama, or a more hard-hitting awards contender. No real matter, since it's being positioned for a Best Actress nomination for Beckinsale and can potentially serve as a bitter/sweet note in a season of perhaps-too-earnest dramas of the war variety, and otherwise. (And also a tearful, potential goodbye to distributor Yari Film Group, who has filed for bankruptcy.) Meanwhile, it's not like Kate B. needed a career makeover or anything, but I'm glad to see she's getting some grit under her fingernails, instead of more gore.

Message Boards: Selfish and Stupid Movie...  |  What ruined the movie for me was the obvious ending. Anyone else agree?

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