Darwin's Nightmare

PRO:A smart, sober look at how Africa's famed Lake Victoria has been decimated by a predatory fish species.

CON: Poor red-state reaction to title, which implies "intelligent design"; movie depressingly implies Africa is doomed; Nile perch not nearly as loveable as marching penguins.

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room

PRO:Familiar news story brought home with greater insight and compelling footage; trial beginning in earnest as Oscar voting begins.

CON: Audiences already know, and have given up dejectedly on, the story; Enron guys far less loveable than penguins.

March of the Penguins

PRO: Non-controversial family-friendly documentary after years of politicized Michael Moore and Morgan Spurlock fare; plus, enormous box-office

CON: Penguins not as loveable as quadraplegic athletes

Murderball

PRO: Oddly uplifiting story about wheelchair-bound athletes competing in a rugby league showcases brutal real-life grit and determination.

CON:Title reminds people of Rollerball; raises questions about James Caan's long-overdue lifetime achievement award; quadraplegics not as loveable as embattled Newark mayor Sharpe James.

Street Fight

PRO: Filmmaker drawn into story about contentions Newark, NJ, mayor's race; interesting look at black-against-black racism as reflected in political battle.

CON:There's no recount, no hanging chads, what kind of race is this?

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