Here are the movies I'm betting you already know about this weekend, there's, "Julie and Julia", "G.I. Joe Rise of the Cobra", and "The Perfect Getaway". I admire the writing of Nora Ephron, but with some of the other choices this weekend, Julia Child may just have to wait...

Word on the street is, G.I. Joe is, wait for it...not terrible. Paramount decided not to release it for a critic's screening, which usually spells F-A-I-L for whatever movie is coming out. Paramount released a statement saying it was tired of critics lampooning films before the general public got the chance to make the call, so they were leaving it up to America. So I will too. You tell me if it's worth seeing and I'll decide then.

I'm also not anti-blockbuster at all. Movies that are heavily advertised can be just as good and entertaining as little-known independents. So I'm no indie snob. But there are some other films that you may also want to know about but didn't see previews for, so check your local art theater for showtimes pertaining to the following films.

You may have heard about this next one, "Paper Heart", a documentary with some scripted moments (???) starring then real-life couple Michael Cera and Charlene Yi. The two of them made the mainstream talk show circuit this week, and I'm betting the film is getting more attention than it would ordinarily due to the rising popularity of emo mascot Michael Cera. It looks endearing and I'm always glad when a small movie gets big attention.

But I must admit, the fad of "partially true" documentaries is wearing thin on me. Either call it a mockumentary, a la Christopher Guest, or go ahead and just document something. Though I did like Jeff Goldblum's, "Pittsburgh". But if we know some moments are scripted, but we don't know which ones, how are we supposed to invest in the characters? Methinks reality television is seeping into documentary filmmaking, I don't like it one bit and I choose to be a curmudgeon about it!

The one that's really catching my eye though is a horror film starring Dominic Monaghan and Ron Perlman entitled, "I Sell The Dead". There's no rating, so I don't know just how horrific it will be. The plot is essentially a graverobber talking about his life in the industry in the 19th century. Now I grew up watching Frankenstein and Mummy movies, so a little graverobbing never bothered me. The unique subject matter plus the excellent cast and nifty 60's looking poster art makes this one a shoe-in for me if I can find it.

There's also, "Beeswax", a comedy/drama about family life. It was filmed in a somewhat experimental way with lesser known actors and a light crew. So you'll probably leave the theater with more to talk about than the film itself. Did the method work for you? (I hate to get sassy, but lesser known actors and a light crew essentially translates to what most low-budget indies are, right? I don't quite get the experiemental part.)

Paul Giamatti is also out in, "Cold Souls". He was on Conan O'Brien this week talking about it and it sounds interesting. It's about an actor named Paul Giamatti needing to escape from his soul for a while, so he pays to have it extracted.

No doubt because of it's self-referential plot and existential theme, it will draw comparisons to, "Being John Malkovich. But it sounds unique enough to stand on its own, so go see it if you like the genre or the actors. G.I. Joe will be in theaters for a long time, so consider giving something that may have a more fleeting release a chance.

Last but not least we have an interesting drama featuring a blend of serious subject matter (honor killings) and not typically serious technique (road movie). I can't imagine that this one will be bad, but you know it will be heavy. So it likely depends on what kind of mood you're in this weekend. Graverobbing, toy movie, existential blues, "documentary" about love, or heavy-handed drama? Take your pick...