W.

The Plot: An Oliver Stone film about President Bush's two terms in office.

The Pros: It certainly was interesting to watch Stone's take on the events of the past eight years. Interesting, I say, because the film was anything but enjoyable. Josh Brolin gives George Bush his best shot and, for the most part, succeeds. Much more impressive than his performance, however, is Richard Dreyfuss' portrayal of Vice President Dick Cheney. In fact, Dreyfuss' character work is probably the most fascinating thing about this film.

The Cons: There are far too many to list. For a Presidential drama directed by Oliver Stone, this was a sorely disappointing biography. Thandie Newton's caricature of Condoleezza Rice is juvenile and unresearched, Jeffrey Wright's Colin Powell is completely uninspired; even Elizabeth Banks, a very capable actress, looked as if she was embarassed to be part of the production. Not to mention the fact that the camerawork was some of Stone's most mediocre and boring fare. All of these sore thumbs rest on a plot that attempts to attribute Bush's every decision to a pseudo-Freudian battle between father and son.

The Bottom Line: W. is a rushed production through and through. This is unbelievable for someone like Stone, who has indeed directed two of the finest political dramas to date. He really dropped the ball on this one, however; poor acting by most of the cast, dialogue that could be mistaken for that of a tele-drama, and a general lack of interest shown by the people involved make W. one of the biggest disappointments of this year. If you're still dying to see it, please obtain it illegally; Oliver Stone doesn't need any more support for this film.

The Score: 4 / 10

Zack and Miri Make a Porno

The Plot: Lifelong platonic friends Zack and Miri look to solve their respective cash-flow problems by making an adult film together. As the cameras roll, however, the duo begin to sense that they may have more feelings for each other than they previously thought.

The Pros: Kevin Smith is back in action with his newest film. Seth Rogen is quite funny as usual, but he's also impressively apt in scenes that are more dramatically demanding. Elizabeth Banks is always a joy to watch, and the rest of the new-age comedy crew do a splendid job supporting the story. What is so striking about Zack and Miri, however, is Kevin Smith's uncanny ability to turn a seemingly insignificant moment into the puissant focal point of the scene. This touch is all over his newest film and, along with great writing, it's this quality that allows it to shine.

The Cons: Perhaps it's been too long since I've seen a Smith film, but there was truly nothing about this movie that made me unhappy. If anything, some of the jokes are incredibly vulgar and the entire plot is centered around sex, which some people may find inappropriate. However, if this is your mindset, you really shouldn't be seeing a Kevin Smith film.

The Bottom Line: Zack and Miri is one of the sweetest, funniest, and most touching films I've seen this year. It uses a shell of juvinility and shallow sexuality to later reveal a deeply complex and emotional core. That's one of the best things about this film; one walks away completely satiated, no assembly required.

The Score: 8.5 / 10

Quarantine

The Plot: A television reporter and her cameraman are trapped inside a building quarantined by the CDC after the outbreak of a mysterious virus which turns humans into bloodthirsty killers.

The Pros: This is a must-see if you can't get your hands on [Rec], the film that Quarantine is directly adapted from. Jennifer Carpenter's portrayal of the protagonist, Angela Vidal, is stunningly real. Rarely have I seen an actor so naturally react to the action in a horror film like Ms. Carpenter does; as the film nears its end, she seems to be one step away from falling to the floor and convulsing. The camerawork helps to draw the audience in to the confusion, and successfully creates an atmosphere of panic and suspense. And the "creatures" are scary as all hell.

The Cons: One of the only things lacking from this faithful remake is a proper exposition. All of 20 minutes are spent introducing us to the characters before they're thrown into a life threatening conflict together. Nonetheless, I did feel myself drawn into the world and those of the characters enough to make it matter.

The Bottom Line: Quarantine is indeed a Xerox copy of its predecessor, [Rec]; as we learned with The Departed, however, a remake is not always a bad thing. In fact, Quarantine succeeds on most fronts, delivering genuine scares, surprisingly solid acting, and an atmosphere that horror fans will have no trouble spending an afternoon in.

The Score: 7.5 / 10