Mini Reviews

For an online guide, go to augustachronicle.com/movies:

NEW THIS WEEK

CORALINE 3D (PG): Aadaptation of the bestselling novel about a girl who discovers an alternate (and scary) universe. Augusta Exchange, Evans

HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU (PG-13): A series of vignettes illustrate the advice of the self-help bestseller written to help women negotiate the treacherous waters of the dating pool. Augusta Exchange, Evans, Aiken

PINK PANTHER 2 (PG): Steve Martin is back in his painfully unfunny schtick as the bumbling Inspector Clouseau. Augusta Exchange, Evans, Aiken

PUSH (PG-13): Fugitives with clairvoyant and telekinetic powers are on the run from the government. Evans

OSCAR NOMINEES

AUSTRALIA ( ***, PG-13): Nomination for best costume design. Ends today at Masters

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (PG-13): Nominations for best picture, actor (Brad Pitt), supporting actress (Taraji P. Henson), art direction, cinematography, costume design, directing (David Fincher), film editing, makeup, original score, sound mixing, visual effects, adapted screenplay. Augusta Exchange, Evans

DEFIANCE ( ***, R): Daniel Craig plays a Jew who built a village in the Belarussian forest to save others from the Nazis. Nomination for original score. Ends today at Evans

FROST/NIXON ( ****, R) Nominations for best picture, actor (Frank Langella), directing (Ron Howard), film editing, adapted screenplay. Ends today at Evans, Augusta Exchange

MILK ( ****, R): Oscar nominations for best picture, actor (Sean Penn), supporting actor (Josh Brolin), costume design, directing (Gus Van Sant), film editing, original score, original screenplay. Ends today at Augusta Exchange, Evans

THE READER ( ***, R): Stephen Daldry's account of the affair between a mature woman and a secondary-school student. Nominations for best picture, actress (Kate Winslet), cinematography, director (Mr. Daldry), adapted screenplay, Ends today at Augusta Exchange, Aiken

REVOLUTIONARY ROAD ( ***, R): Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio as a 1950s couple whose Technicolor dreams have given way to khaki realities. Nominations for best supporting actor (Michael Shannon), art direction, costume design. Augusta Exchange, begins Friday at Evans

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE ( ****, R) Nominations for best picture, cinematography, directing (Danny Boyle), film editing, original score, original song, sound editing, sound mixing, adapted screenplay. Evans, Augusta Exchange, begins Friday at Aiken

THE WRESTLER ( ***1/2, R): Mickey Rourke plays an old wrestling star staging an improbable comeback. Nominations for best actor (Mr. Rourke), supporting actress (Marisa Tomei). Begins Friday at Evans, ends today at Augusta Exchange

ONGOING

BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA ( **1/2, PG): A pampered pooch is stranded in Mexico. Masters

BRIDE WARS (PG): Two best friends help each other plan their weddings, until a scheduling glitch turns them into rivals. Augusta Exchange, ends today at Evans

THE D AY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (PG-13): The extraterrestrial Klaatu warns mankind its days are numbered. Masters

GRAN TORINO (R): Clint Eastwood plays a flinty, unapologetically racist Korean War vet. Evans, Augusta Exchange, Aiken

HOTEL FOR DOGS ( *, PG): Two kids take in nine stray dogs and hide them in an abandoned house. Augusta Exchange, Evans, Aiken

INKHEART ( **, PG) A man tries to rescue his wife from the fantasy realm where she's being held prisoner. Augusta Exchange, Evans, ends today at Aiken

MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA (PG): The former Central Park zoo dwellers hook up with their families in Africa. Masters

MARLEY AND ME (PG): Adaptation of John Grogan's best-seller about the world's worst-behaved Labrador retriever. Begins Friday at Masters

NEW IN TOWN (PG): A Miami businesswoman moves to a frigid town in Minnesota, where she meets the man of her dreams. Augusta Exchange, Evans

NIGHTS OF RODANTHE: ( **, PG-13): A romantic drama set at a North Carolina inn. Masters

NOTORIOUS ( ****, R): The life story of Notorious B.I.G., the Brooklyn rapper who was shot to death in a reported gang rivalry in 1997. Augusta Exchange

PAUL BLART: MALL COP (PG): A security guard tries to save the day when the mall is overrun with crooks. Augusta Exchange, Evans, Aiken

PUNISHER: WAR ZONE: (R): Ray Stevenson is the third actor to play Marvel Comics' vigilante hero. Begins Friday at Masters

TAKEN (PG-13): A retired spy is forced back into action after his daughter is kidnapped. Augusta Exchange, Evans, Aiken

THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX (G): A spunky mouse is in love with a human princess. Masters

TRANSPORTER 3 ( *, PG-13): Jason Statham returns for a third outing in the slick, action-intensive franchise. Masters

THE UNBORN (PG-13): A creepy-looking thriller about a young woman who discovers she's the heir of a family curse. Augusta Exchange, ends today at Evans

UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS (R): A look at how the werewolf Lucian led an uprising against an aristocratic vampire sect. Augusta Exchange, Evans, Aiken

THE UNINVITED (PG-13): A young woman receives visits from the ghost of her dead mother. Augusta Exchange, Evans, Aiken

YES MAN (PG-13): Jim Carrey decides to turn his drab life around by saying yes. Begins Friday at Masters

ENDS TODAY

Four Christmases ( *, PG-13): A married couple must visit all four of their divorced parents on one dysfunctional Christmas Day. Masters

MY BLOODY VALENTINE (R): Jensen Ackles finds himself a suspect in a 10-year-old Valentine's Day massacre. Augusta Exchange, Evans

NOT EASILY BROKEN (PG-13): A marriage-in-crisis melodrama baked from the Tyler Perry recipe. Augusta Exchange

QUANTUM OF SOLACE ( **, PG-13): This is a very slight Bond movie, and it feels especially so compared to Casino Royale. Masters