Before the deluge...

Three major releases this weekend: The Soloist, Fighting and Obsessed. The Soloist is based on a true story about an LA Times columnist who befriends a brilliant schizophrenic musician living on Skid Row. Robert Downey Jr. plays the columnist, Jamie Foxx plays the musician, but apparently that isn’t enough: early reviews have been mixed, and the film was bounced around the release schedule which almost always means the studio suspects a dud. However, if you love these actors The Soloist is worth a shot, as every critic has praised their performances. And it is a remarkable story. Obsessed is the Beyoncé Fatal Attraction style thriller, and there have been no sneaks or early critic screenings which makes it hard to assess, except to say you should be cautious about films that have no sneaks or early critic screenings. Finally, Fighting, surprisingly, is getting good early buzz, even though the trailer looks plain silly. Channing Tatum (Stop-Loss, Guide to Recognizing Your Saints) stars as Shawn MacArthur, a newcomer to New York who falls under the influence of con artist Harvey Boarden (Terrence Howard) and becomes a street fighter, brawling for audiences of wealthy gamblers. Critics say that the story is predictable but well told, and the characters are intriguing. Rated PG-13; the fight scenes are intense but not over the top. 17 Again and State of Play, last week's box office champs, are holding on to lots of theaters, but if you're looking for something a little more small scale, consider Sunshine Cleaning, starring Any Adams as a young woman trying to make a go of a crime scene clean up business; or Adventureland, about a new college grad who is forced to work in a tacky amusement park when his family finances give out. And hold on to your popcorn: blockbuster season kicks off next weekend with Wolverine.