Grace is Gone stars John Cusack as an ex-Army house husband whose wife is still fighting the good fight in Iraq. That leaves hubby in charge of twelve and eight-years old daughters. One more sentence from us would spoil the thin as tissue paper story. This is strictly for the arthouse and not of much interest there, either -- no complaints about our politics either folks. If this film doesn't bore you silly, then you're reading the wrong site.

Lions for Lambs features "Professor" Robert Redford talking about Afghanistan and Reporter Meryl Streep talking to Senator Tom Cruise about his no-fail plan for solving the war in Afghanistan and a lot of others talking and talking and talking and talking while two soldiers actually in Afghanistan take it on the chin. Even director Redford, who we had the privilege of meeting, admits there is too much talk. If you're politically aware, there's probably nothing here you don't know. If you want to be taught, here you go. OTT zzz

Lust, Caution from director Ang Lee is an NC-17 rated (that means XXX hardcore sex), Chinese language (meaning subtitles) story of a plot to undermine WWII Japanese collaborators in Shanghai. Our heroine (Tang Wei) is to seduce the collaborator but the plan fails. Three years later, events put everything into motion again. Overly long. Overly explicit. Pass.

Margot at the Wedding stars Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Jack Black. It screened once for Academy and Guild members -- we all shifted painfully in our seats and ran lick the dickens for the elevator as end credits rolled -- but not for press folks. This is a major stinker folks. You are warned.

Anyone remember a stinker called The Fog from  two three decades back? You know -- big fog rolls in, people die yadda yadda. Well Stephen King's The Mist is just a synonym and a bit of branding away from the same kind of thing with one minor exception. Short of this being the very, very, very first King scare story you may have ever ever seen, the film can be properly summarized in one word: "zzz."

Mr. Woodcock stars Billy Bob Thornton. We feared all the funny would be left in the title yet this simple dateflick (meaning it ain't great and it doesn't suck) pits grown up Sean William Scott against the abusive PE teacher of his youth when said teacher courts mommy Susan Sarandon. Funny enough to rent but better suited to younger daters who need something to do between dinner and making out.

A number of years ago journalist Daniel Pearl (Dan Futterman) was kidnapped in Pakistan, held hostage and later murdered. Angelina Jolie stars as Pearl's wife Mariane in a recreation of those events and it's Bombs Away for A Mighty Heart. Jolie is in full WATCH ME ACT mode -- the rest of the film is a lot more interesting. But not enough to spend first run cash. Cineastes only.

We don't normally review documentaries but found our self sitting for a screening of My Kid Could Paint That, in which a single digit kidlet's dabbling earned her tens of thousands of dollars until 60 Minutes II called her a fraud. Filmed at the same time as the expose, watch her comeback. Tain't a bad sit.