An origins story that follows the early life of James Howlett (Jackman), also known as Logan, and best known as Wolverine. The chronicle of his younger years as a mutant connects to his relationship and eventual falling out with Victor Creed/Sabretooth (Schreiber), and his fateful entry into the Weapons X project, the governmental program that turns willing and unwilling beings into living weapons.

Media-friendly producer Lauren Shuler Donner was the first person to promise a bleak look into James Howlett’s backstory (call it Dark Knight effect), but when that didn’t gel with initial reports that Fox wants/wanted a more PG-13 take on their first X-Men spin-off, it seemed like everyone involved with the production stepped up to let fans know everything was (mostly) copacetic on set and in the editing suite. Latest reports indicate director Gavin Hood is “90% pleased” with the final results. And what about the rumors of Ryan Reynolds’s Deadpool project being in development? I doubt it’s an overstatement, and Reynold’s definitely pushing for it.

Director: Gavin Hood
Stars: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Ryan Reynolds
Studio: Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
Release Date: 1 May 2009 (USA)
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Thriller

In 1941, a group of Jewish brothers organize the largest armed rescue of Jews during the Holocaust. Three Jewish brothers escape from Nazi-occupied Poland into the Belarussian forest, where they join Russian resistance fighters and endeavor to build a village in order to protect themselves and others in danger.

Don’t call this one an awards-season has-been just because its December wide release date was nixed by a cost-cutting Paramount; Edward Zwick’s WWII drama is still buzzing (though the volume has been turned down) and has received an Oscar-qualifying run before its post-holiday push into the mainstream. However, the chance that Daniel Craig might be the first 007 to score an Oscar nod before his License to Kill has been revoked is looking increasingly faint. Still, his toughest competition may be co-stars Bell and Schreiber. As for the film itself, while a Best Picture nomination is unlikely, more importantly, it’s bringing to light a significant and often overlooked historical event.

Rated R for violence and language.

Director: Edward Zwick
Stars: Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell, George MacKay, Alexa Davalos
Studio: Paramount Vantage
Release Date: 16 January 2009 (USA)