New Movies to Crave: Look Ma, No Strings Attached!

By Chris Kavan - 01/21/11 at 10:59 AM CT

Maybe Hollywood is afraid of The Green Hornet, or maybe they're just getting ready for the rest of awards season... Whatever the case, don't expect a tidal wave of films anytime soon.

1) Natalie Portman shows that she doesn't just need to show her gritty ballerina side all the time. No Strings Attached is about as far from Black Swan as you could ask - a fun, romantic comedy about casual sex turning into something more. Before you think "Natalie Portman, should be good" - it also stars Ashton Kutcher, and he might cancel out that thought pretty quickly. With The Dilemma actually making a decent splash (compared to more recent romantic comedy fare) this one could play even better - but I'll wait to see how audiences react.

2) The Company Men - Downsizing is a way of life for many people, but we usually only get to see the firing part. This drama shows us the consequences of those actions from the young men to the old guard. An impressive cast - Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper, Tommy Lee Jones and Kevin Costner - and some good buzz might boost this film, but don't expect it to break the bank.

3) Opening in limited release is a story about sheer determination - The Way Back has Colin Ferrell playing the part of a Siberian prisoner who escapes the gulag and then makes a 4000-mile trek to freedom. Based on an actual story, should be interesting with a good supporting cast including Saoirse Ronan, Jim Sturgess, Mark Strong and Ed Harris. Probably won't open anywhere around me anytime soon, but a good candidate for rental in the future.

We'll see how the battle plays out and if Green Hornet can continue to dominate a relatively weak box office lineup.

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