The Grudge
They say that no one can beat American innovation and creativity, but when a Hollywood producer hires a Japanese director to remake his own movie in English instead of Japanese and casting a little blonde TV falling-star as the lead (to make it more palatable to US consumers, of course) I begin to have my doubts.
Go get a copy of the original Japanese version (which even has the same name) and flip Sam Ramie the bird. In the words of John Kerry, "We can do better." Besides, I hear they have this great new technology called - Subtitles.

Sideways
A TV fallen-star is about to get married, so his best friend (a never published writer) takes him on a trip through the Los Olivos wine country as a last hurrah before committing to the ball and chain. While they're busy doing manly wine country things (don't ask, I'm lost on that one), they meet two women and decide to have a little more than just a hurrah.
It's gotten great reviews and trailer looks more than descent. Dark romantic comedy and one of the guys gets beaten to a pulp by Sandra Oh. I love her.

The Machinist
Some people get insomnia. You take some Ambien or some other kind of opiate and drift right off to dreamland. All better.
This guy hasn't slept in a YEAR is bone thin and makes a living operating heavy machinery. Can you see the accident coming? How about the paranoid hallucinations?
Go see this instead of that remake if you want something scary. I'm not sure that it's better, but at least it's original.

Surviving Christmas
Gandolfini finally found a non-mafia role, but it's as the support for a lead who makes me want to puke.
I'll stick to my rule from last year on this one: "No justice, no peace; and no Christmas before Thanksgiving." Amen.

Vera Drake
A housewife does abortions on the side in 1950's England. Apparently it was frowned upon back then and grandma was prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
This is her story. Da! Da! (Law & Order sound effect)

Celsius 41.11
The conservative answer to Fahrenheit 9/11. Good luck even finding it.

Stella Street
A bunch of people imitating movie stars move into a quiet suburb of London.
I'm not sure I can say, "No" fast enough.

Lightning in a Bottle
A documentary about a night when a bunch of Blues pioneers and future stars took over Radio City Music Hall.
I love Blues, but not enough to see this movie.

Undertow
Can't get enough family dysfunction? A backwoods Southerner is bringing up his two boys on his own quite handily. That is until his ex-convict bother shows to terrorize them all until he gets his share of the inheritance.
I'm very curious to see Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot) in this non-gay coming of age role. Could be good.