The Great Debaters

In 1935, Mel Tolson (Denzel Washington) is a professor at Wiley College Texas who wants to encourage his students to have big dreams. So, he forms and coaches a local debating team that aggressively fights for the chance to engage Harvard's championship team in a match.

Cast: Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett, Denzel Whitaker, Jermaine Williams (more)
Director: Denzel Washington
Writer: Robert Eisele
Genre: Drama
Release Date: Dec. 25, 2007
Running Time: 123 minutes

Lust, Caution

In WWII-era Shanghai, Wong Chia Chi (Tang Wei) is a Chinese college student who gets involved with a drama club after meeting Kuang Yu Min (Want Leehom), a charismatic fellow classmate. While Wong is happy performing on the stage, Kuang asks her to take on a very dangerous role in real life. She is to transform herself into Mrs. Mak and make friends with the wife (Joan Chen) of a major Japanese collaborator, Mr. Yee (Tony Leung), only to ensnare him into an affair so that her Kuang and his cohorts can kill him. However, the plan fails to work out at the time, but after several years pass, Kuang re-enters Wong's life, whereupon he asks her to resume their deadly mission.

Cast: Tony Leung Ka Fai, Tang Wei, Joan Chen, Lee-Hom Wang (more)
Director: Ang Lee
Writer: Hui Ling Wang, James Schamus
Genre: Drama
Release Date: Sept. 28, 2007
Running Time: 157 minutes

The Golden Compass

A young student, Lyra Belaqua (Dakota Blue Richards), begins a mighty journey to save the universe after learning that a valuable microscopic particle is under attack. Based on the first book in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy.

Cast: Nicole Kidman, Dakota Blue Richards, Sam Elliott, Eva Green, Daniel Craig, Tom Courtenay (more)
Directors: Chris Weitz, Robert Shaye
Writers: Chris Weitz, Tobias Emmerich, Paul Weitz
Genre: Drama
Release Date: Dec. 7, 2007
Running Time: 113 minutes

Sweeney Todd

In this adaptation of the classic musical, Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp) is a barber who is sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit. After his release years later, Sweeney opens up a new shop and plots revenge against the judge (Alan Rickman) who sent him behind bars. But, before he does, he practices his knife skills on unsuspecting customers who have their necks cut along with their hair. The bodies of his victims then fall into the possession of Sweeney's girlfriend, Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), who carves them into delicious meat pies that become the talk of the town.

Cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Jamie Campbell Bower, Jayne Wisener (more)
Director: Tim Burton
Writer: John Logan
Genre: Musical
Release Date: Dec. 21, 2007
Running Time: 116 minutes

The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep

Angus MacMorrow (Alex Etel) is a young Scottish lad who finds a mysterious egg on the shore of a loch with his sister Kirstie (Priyanka Xi). When the egg hatches, an unusual creature is freed who gets so big, the only place it can live is under the water.

Cast: Emily Watson, Alex Etel, Ben Chaplin, David Morrissey, Brian Cox (more)
Director: Jay Russell
Writer: Robert Nelson Jacobs
Genre: Family
Release Date: Dec. 25, 2007
Running Time: 111 minutes

Alvin and the Chipmunks

The classic cartoon brothers — Alvin, Simon and Theodore — get the CGI-animated treatment and create havoc for their "dad" David Seville (Jason Lee).

Cast: Jason Lee, David Cross, Cameron Richardson, Jane Lynch, Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler (more)
Director: Tim Hill
Writers: Jon Vitti, Will McRobb, Chris Viscardi
Genre: Family
Release Date: Dec. 14, 2007
Running Time: 92 minutes

American Gangster

n 1970s Harlem, Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) is a quiet, unassuming driver to one of NYC's most notorious drug lords. When his boss suddenly croaks, Frank steps into the power vacuum to become an even bigger crime kingpin. Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) is the hardnosed cop determined to bring Frank to justice. Based on a true story.

Cast: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Josh Brolin, Chjwetel Ejiofor, Carla Gugino, Ted Levine (more)
Director: Ridley Scott
Writer: Steven Zallian
Genre: Drama
Release Date: Nov. 2, 2007
Running Time: 157 minutes

Awake

Clay (Hayden Christensen) is happily married to his wife (Jessica Alba) and comes from a wealthy family, but he suffers from a debilitating illness and only a risky surgical procedure can save him. However, even though he's put under anesthesia, he remains awake even though he can't move. Worse, he can hear the doctors plotting his death on the operating table. With his mind still functioning, Clay races through his memory to try to find out why anyone might want him dead.

Cast: Jessica Alba, Hayden Christensen, Terrence Howard, Lena Olin, Sam Robards, Arliss Howard (more)
Director: Joby Harold
Writer: Joby Harold
Genre: Drama
Release Date: Nov. 30, 2007
Running Time: 84 minutes

Bella

Jose (Eduardo Verastegui) used to be a superstar soccer player making millions of dollars. But, after falling on hard times, he's forced to work in his brother's Mexican restaurant. It's not all bad, though, especially when he falls for a pretty young waitress (Tammy Blanchard).

Cast: Eduardo Verastegui, Tammy Blanchard, Manny Perez, Ali Landry, Angelica Aragon, Jaime Terelli (more)
Director: Alejandro Monteverde
Writers: Alejandro Monteverde, Patrick Million, Leo Severino
Genre: Drama
Release Date: Oct. 26, 2007
Running Time: 91 minutes

Beowulf

Based on the legendary epic poem, the great warrior Beowulf (Ray Winstone) must destroy the evil creature Grendel (Crispin Glover) who is terrorizing the Scandinavian countryside. And if that isn't difficult enough, Beowulf must also kill the monster's mommy (Angelina Jolie).

Cast: Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Robin Wright, Brendan Gleeson, Crispin Glover (more)
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Writer(s): Neil Gaiman, Roger Avary
Genre: Family
Release Date: Nov. 16, 2007
Running Time: 115 minutes