Entertainment writers are worked up about (1) Universal's box-office slump and (2) the studio's decision to move Green Zone out of the 2009 Oscar zone. To me, this is a sign that the movie actually might be entertaining and not some bore, a la most every other recent Iraq War picture aside from The Hurt Locker.

You know, RPattz's Little Ashes performed well given its subject matter and lack of major-studio muscle. It's quite possible a romantic story with a relatable premise (sorry, How to Be) from the studio that brought us Edward Cullen could lure plenty of the Twilight audience into theaters over Valentine's Day weekend and beyond. Good thing there was a seasoned cast and crew on what was widely reported as a difficult NYC shoot, given the thousands of fans who tracked R.P.'s every move. I'm also interested to see what Rachel Getting Married screenwriter Jenny Lumet has to say in her second outing.

Someone please help me understand why DreamWorks/Paramount execs think that a romantic comedy with no known stars, a green director, and a screenplay from the guys behind Sex Drive is a money-making idea. (Note: We'd love to be surprised about this movie's quality and proved wrong about its chances for success.)

Not to oversimplify things here, but it's surprising how long it has taken other studios (aside from Lionsgate) to reach the audience that Tyler Perry entertains once or twice a year. The relatable premise, combined with a cast of big- and small-screen stars and the savvy marketing of Fox Searchlight could yield a wintry blockbuster.

Bong Joon-ho's latest work has more in common with his Memories of Murder than his better-known effort, The Host, but, like all of his films, Mother has earned accolades for its mood, cinematography, and doses of slapstick humor. Reviews are strong (check here and here) and the film will hopefully expand quickly, even if some guys already are touting its availability as an import DVD.