20) Paycheck (December 25th)

Ben Affleck stars in this adaptation of a Philip K. Dick story. Affleck plays an electrician who awakens one morning and discovers his employer has erased parts of his memory as a security measure. Then when he goes to collect his paycheck, he instead receives a release he signed authorizing his employer to replace his pay with a bag of objects related to his past. The electrician must then put these representations of his missing memories together to solve the jigsaw puzzle of his past. And, presumably, get paid.

In the wake of the mega-bomb that was Gigli and the backlash from the seemingly-constant media coverage of his romance with J-Lo, the fact that Ben Affleck is actually a pretty decent actor has kind of been lost. And while his overall record of hits and misses is no better or worse than many another actor of his generation, he is badly in need of, if not a hit, at least a film that doesn't tank. The fact that Philip Dick adaptations have been a mixed bag at best certainly doesn't help the cause, nor does the up-and-down nature of director John Woo's Hollywood career. However, the premise sounds interesting, and Woo has shown a facility for action sequences, as one would believe there must be some urgency added to the who-am-I mystery for the sake of dramatic tension, if nothing else. If the promise of the premise translates to the screen, Paycheck could provide an interesting counterpoint to the jolly-holiday, family-themed fare that generally abounds in theatres during this time of year. It will at least be an intriguing entry, regardless of its eventual fate.

19) Mona Lisa Smile (December 19th)

The title hearkens back to the poster of another Julia Roberts film, Notting Hill. The emphasis upon her elongated, crooked smile on the one sheet drives home the point that it's arguably the best feature of the most popular actress in the world today. And now she is cast in a female Dead Poet's Society alongside rising starlets Kirsten Dunst, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Julia Stiles. The story is one of a 1950s instructor at an all-girls school who teaches her class that women shouldn't aspire to be housewives unless that is their wish. The overriding female empowerment themes make this chick flick likely Oscar bait, but the same thing was said of The Emperor's Club at this time last year. This cast is much hotter, though.

18) Calendar Girls (December 19th)

A couple of weeks ago, The Today Show had a segment that highlighted a group of manly men who had posed naked for a calendar with proceeds that would go to charity. If this story sounds vaguely familiar, it's because that's basically the background of Calendar Girls -- except it's a group of British women that demurely pose for the calendar as opposed to rugged men. The catch? These women are definitely well-beyond even middle age, so it seems unlikely that there would be any interest among the public in purchasing such an item, but as it turns out, the calendar sold like hotcakes, making its stars so famous that they even eventually wind up in L.A. for an appearance on The Tonight Show. It's a very sweet story that features some wonderful actresses in Helen Mirren and Julie Walters -- and we can't wait for what promises to be the female version of The Full Monty.

17) Something's Gotta Give (December 12th)

When you think saucy romantic love triangle, three names that probably don't pop up in your head are Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton and Keanu Reeves. A more likely reaction to such a scenario would involve the gag reflex unless you have a fetish for antediluvian Lakers fans, venerable Woody Allen exes and Dogstar bassists. Even so, BOP is oddly drawn to this Harold and Maude meets Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice concept. Jack's portrayal of a lecherous old man who falls in love with his girlfriend's mother after she Florence Nightingale's him is a second consecutive attempt to act his age on film. Placing him in an amorous struggle with ultimate Hollywood pretty-boy Keanu is a fantastic concept, and the Nancy Meyers pedigree (scribe of the Father of the Bride series and director of What Women Want) seals the deal. And even if the movie didn't look good, we have suffered through far worse in order to watch co-stars Amanda Peet, Frances McDormand and Jon Favreau on screen.

16) The Cooler (November 26th)

A cooler is a gambling term for a player with such bad luck he or she can actually halt another gambler's hot streak. William H. Macy plays the eponymous unlucky gambler in this crime comedy, one Bernie Lootz, who is employed by a casino boss (Alec Baldwin) to cool down gamblers who are taking the house for too much. Bernie lives the cushy life in the hotel attached to the casino, ending hot streaks at his boss's pleasure, but everything starts to fall apart when Bernie falls in love with a cocktail waitress in the hotel and decides that maybe there's more to life than working for a made man and not having any free time.

Macy has made his mark playing quirky characters who don't always make the best choices in life, and it seems Bernie Lootz is no exception. It was a big hit at Sundance earlier this year, and will likely be a favorite with the folks who hand out the year-end awards. Given the early reaction, it might even become a breakout beyond the art-house circuit. Regardless, the combination of actors and storyline make this a limited release to seek out and enjoy after your Thanksgiving turkey.