Plot: Two older men (Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman) are terminally ill, and after putting up a good fight, they decide to make a list of things to do before they die. Who’s it for: Old people who are ready to give up on life. There is a slight chance this film could have a personal impact and inspire someone to chase a dream … slight chance.

Expectations: When you put two heavyweights in the same film, you hope something good would come of it. Freeman’s been good, but only in small roles with “Gone Baby Gone” and “Batman Begins.”

SCORECARD Actors: Jack Nicholson as Edward: Edward owns a slew of hospitals and his rule has always been “One room, two beds.” This leads him to

Plot: Based on Philip Pullman’s best-selling novel comes the story of Lyra (Dakota Blue Richards), a 12-year-old girl who has been raised in a university by her uncle (Daniel Craig). Lyra sets off on a journey in this alternative world with her spirit animal by her side trying to rescue missing children and perhaps save the universe. Who’s it for: Die-hard fans of Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” trilogy will flock to this film adaptation. I would actually recommend reading the book first, because a lot of odd things are thrown at you and underexplained.

Expectations: I like fantasy films, and it’s always good to see a young girl get the chance to lead the charge, but the only thing I knew of this film/book was

Plot: Inspired by the music and many lives of Bob Dylan comes “I’m Not There.” Todd Haynes directs six different actors portraying Dylan as a series of shifting personae at different moments in his life and/or dreams. Who’s it for: The obvious answer here is that you must love the music of Dylan. Beyond that if you like the standard film (intro, conflict, resolution) you need to steer clear of this one.

Expectations: I fall into the category of loving Bob Dylan. “Like a Rolling Stone” is my second-favorite song of all time. Director Haynes made a great nod to the 1950s with “Far From Heaven,” so maybe he’s good at nods.

SCORECARD Actors: Cate Blanchett as Jude: Jude is the persona of Dylan when he

Plot: Margot (Nicole Kidman) and her son attend the wedding of her sister (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Margot constantly points out everyone’s shortcomings, including her sister’s soon-to-be husband Malcolm (Jack Black), all while she is dealing with her own life falling apart. Who’s it for: Did you see “The Squid and the Whale”? If you liked that then you know what you are getting into … dysfunction, and a lot of it.

Expectations: Noah Baumbach’s “Kicking & Screaming” is the best film about dealing with life after college. I was slightly disappointed with “The Squid and the Whale” because it was more depressing than I had expected.

SCORECARD Actors: Nicole Kidman as Margot: Margot drove me crazy and Kidman was absolutely brilliant at it. For whatever reason

Plot: A classic animated fairytale smacks New York right in the face when a princess (Amy Adams) is cast out of her land by an evil queen (Susan Sarandon). Will her prince (James Marsden) rescue her? Or will a handsome lawyer (Patrick Dempsey) change her views? Who’s it for: Oh. My. Gosh. You will be, like, the best parents ever, if you, like, take your daughter to see this movie.

Expectations: The film is coming from Disney, and I assumed it was just another attempt to make a little more cash out of the princess franchise.

SCORECARD Actors: Amy Adams as Giselle: It might drive some nuts, but Adams nails the fairytale princess voice and look. Most people probably know Adams from “Talladega Nights,” but to

Plot: “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium” is a magic toy story where everything comes to life. Mr. Magorium (Dustin Hoffman) runs the place, but when he decides to depart, he hires an accountant (Jason Bateman) and attempts to leave the store in the reluctant hands of the store manager, Molly (Natalie Portman). Who’s it for: If you have fond memories of toy stores when you were a child, this is for you. Plus, it doesn’t have any violence and the worst word is jerk.

Expectations: I wasn’t expecting much with this film, though writer/director Zach Helm did write “Stranger Than Fiction.” Hoffman has turned in two really good smaller performances lately with “Stranger Than Fiction” and the barely seen “Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.”

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Plot: A great warrior named Beowulf (Ray Winstone) comes to a land in need of a hero. He attempts to battle a beast known as Grendel (Crispin Glover), but then Beowulf realizes the monster has a seductive mother (Angelina Jolie) who is even more evil. Who’s it for: If you love stories of warriors and the monsters they must conquer, then “Beowulf” is for you. But keep in mind, it’s bloody, violent and pretty sexual for the PG-13 rating. And I can’t stress this enough, SEE THE FILM IN 3-D!

Expectations: I wasn’t one of the students forced to read “Beowulf” in school, so I wasn’t familiar with the tale. The action sequences looked great in the preview, but I was also excited about “Final

Plot: Injuries to two Army rangers on a new military assignment in Afghanistan are all connected to Senator Irving (Tom Cruise), reporter Janine Roth (Meryl Streep) and a political-science professor (Robert Redford). Who’s it for: There is a little action here, but mainly this film feels like a play with the majority of time being spent with people sitting across a desk from one another.

Expectations: It’s impossible not to respect the careers of Redford (who also directs), Streep and Cruise. It just doesn’t seem that films about the war are really breaking new ground or creating a different debate.

SCORECARD Actors: Robert Redford as Professor Stephen Malley: Redford certainly fits the bill as a liberal political-science professor. There is a decent debate between Malley and

Plot: Based on the novel by Pulitzer Prize-winning American writer Cormac McCarthy, this is the story of Llewelyn (Josh Brolin) stumbling upon pickup trucks surrounded by dead men, drugs and $2 million. He takes the cash, which leads to a killer (Javier Bardem) chasing him down and a local sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones) attempting to contain the violence. Who’s it for: There is a fair amount of blood, mainly at the hands of Javier Bardem’s character, and it’s a great game of cat and mouse.

Expectations: The Coen brothers haven’t been great lately with “The Ladykillers” and “Intolerable Cruelty,” so I had slightly lower expectations.

SCORECARD Actors: Josh Brolin as Llewelyn: Wow, Brolin is no longer best known as the older brother in “The Goonies.” Llewelyn

Plot: We’ve never been told the tale of Santa’s brother Fred, until now. Fred (Vince Vaughn) is stuck in the shadow of Santa (Paul Giamatti), but after Fred gets into some financial trouble, he is forced to head to the North Pole and work with the jolliest man alive. When Clyde (Kevin Spacey) shows up for an audit, the future of Christmas is in jeopardy. Who’s it for: You must love Vaughn. The beginning of the film is just him talking and talking. Sure, it’s not the usual colorful language, after all this is the family film, but still the delivery is all classic Vaughn. Plus, you have to be willing to enter the land of make-believe. In other words, Scrooge, this isn’t for you

Plot: “American Gangster” is based on the true story of Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), the heroin kingpin of Harlem in the 1970s. Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) is an outcast cop who heads up the newly formed DEA. Both have a deep pride in what they do, and approach a confrontation where only one can come out on top. Who’s it for: If you like Washington, this film is right in your wheelhouse. Crowe has the quieter role of the two, and anybody who is a fan of Mafia films will like this story.

Expectations: I assumed this film would be better than Crowe and Washington’s first collaboration, the 1995 film “Virtuosity.” Director Ridley Scott is hit (“Gladiator”) and miss (“A Good Year”).

SCORECARD Actors: Denzel Washington as

Plot: Through the comedy of Jerry Seinfeld comes an animated story of a bee name Barry B. Benson (Seinfeld) who wants more out of working in the bee factory. He sets off on an adventure and breaks the cardinal rule, he talks to a florist (Renee Zellweger). This leads to a crash course in interacting with humans that could have disastrous consequences. Who’s it for: “Bee Movie” falls in line with the standard family animated movie. There are some jokes for adults, and the kids should be entertained.

Expectations: I have my blinders on when it comes to Seinfeld. I thought I couldn’t get enough of the guy. Then he kept showing up during my Thursday night TV on NBC, with “Bee” promotions. My wife

Plot: Dan Burns (Steve Carell) is a widowed advice columnist with three daughters. He meets Marie (Juliette Binoche) in a bookstore and immediately falls for her, but then Dan realizes Marie is his brother’s (Dane Cook) girlfriend. Chaos ensues when they are all under one roof with the rest of the Burns family at their parents’ annual get-together. Who’s it for: No matter what it looks like, this is an average romantic comedy, though I could see this film appealing to the father who has daughters and feels like he is in over his head.

Expectations: The preview seems to be all about an advice columnist whose life unravels because he doesn’t follow his own wisdom. Nothing really looks funny in the preview, but then

Plot: For 30 days every winter, the town of Barrow, Alaska, is plunged into a state of complete darkness. This time, a group of vampires takes advantage of the uninterrupted darkness to feed. Sheriff Eben (Josh Hartnett), his estranged wife Stella (Melissa George), and the rest of the town must attempt to survive until the sun rises again. Who’s it for: There are tons of vampire movies, so there must be a huge fan base ready to suck up the newest one.

Expectations: Because of “Sin City,” “A History of Violence” and “300,” I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt to any film based on a graphic novel, which is exactly what the people behind “30 Days” must be counting on.

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Plot: Based on the novel by Dennis Lehane (“Mystic River”) comes a story of two Boston private investigators hunting for a kidnapped 4-year-old girl in the seamiest parts of the city. This quickly becomes an obsession for Patrick (Casey Affleck) and Angie (Michelle Monaghan) both professionally and personally. Who’s it for: If you’re wanting to see Ben Affleck fall flat on his face with his directorial debut, you’ll have to look elsewhere. If you like detective stories that are able to tap into some serious emotions, then this film is for you.

Expectations: I was curious to see what the Affleck brothers were capable of here, plus it is one of my friend’s favorite books, so I was optimistic.

SCORECARD

Actors: Casey Affleck as Patrick: Affleck

When we last left off, Elizabeth entered into the “Virgin Queen” stage. Cate Blanchett reprises her role as the Queen, and now she faces family betrayal and a challenge to her throne by the Spanish King Philip II. Sir Francis Walsingham (Geoffrey Rush) is back by her side, and Elizabeth also seeks affection and advice from Sir Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen). Who’s it for: If you like slow period pieces (I know there aren’t many of us) then this falls in to your bread and butter.

Expectations: Even though I remember liking “Elizabeth,” I don’t recall what happened in the film and I was very shocked to find out a sequel with Blanchett, Rush and director Shekhar Kapur was happening.

SCORECARD

Actors: Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth: Now this

Plot: Bobby (Joaquin Phoenix) has turned his back on the family business, which is the New York City Police Department. Joseph (Mark Wahlberg) is an up-and-coming officer who runs into brother Bobby while working a case. And when Burt (Robert Duvall), their legendary father and police chief, enters the mix the family is once again forced together during the escalating drug problems of the 1980s. Who’s it for: Fans of the 2000 film “The Yards.” Phoenix and Wahlberg star and James Gray wrote and directed it as well.

Expectations: Something didn’t feel right going into this one. I’m a fan of all three actors, but I just wasn’t jazzed to sit through this film. Maybe it was just because I returned from a vacation in

Plot: A young Robert Ford (Casey Affleck) gets his wish and joins Jesse James’ (Brad Pitt) gang. Slowly, Robert begins to resent the legendary outlaw and hatches a plan to kill the man he idolized. Who’s it for: If you like slow-moving westerns that dive more into character flaws than action, here’s the film you’ve been waiting for your whole life.

Expectations: I knew it was long (over two and a half hours) before I sat down, so mentally I had prepared myself. I’m a huge Brad Pitt fan, and for some reason I keep rooting for Casey Affleck, probably because of “Good Will Hunting” and his line “I think I swallowed a bug.”

SCORECARD

Actors: Brad Pitt as Jesse James: There is

Expectations: I’m still bitter about Bill Murray not winning (or even being nominated for) an Oscar for “Rushmore.” Also, I really liked “The Royal Tenenbaums,” and thought “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” was OK. SCORECARD

Actors: Owen Wilson as Francis: If your favorite Wilson character is Dignan