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Here's a look at the new movie that I saw this last week. Also, with the Academy Award nominations having been announced and just five weeks until the big day (Sunday, Feb. 27), I'm going to start my review of Best Picture nominees. I'll do two a week until the end.

No Strings Attached

Starring: Natalie Portman, Ashton Kutcher, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Kevin Kline, and Gretta Gerwig.

Synopsis: This follows a somewhat typical rom-com formula. A mismatched pair thrown together in a "meaningless" relationship that blossoms into something more. This film is predictable, in terms of story, and as with all entries of this type how much you like the film depends on your sense of humor and the chemistry between the leads. I appreciated many of the jokes. The supporting players — including Ludacris, Jake Johnson, Mindy Kaling, Gerwig, and Lake Bell — offer plenty of humorous moments. This is not a film that takes itself too seriously. Director Ivan Reitman does a nice job putting the whole thing together, delivering probably his best comedy in a few years. Portman is a great actress, and does well here. Kutcher is affable in his role too, and the pair have good chemistry together. This isn't the greatest film, but it is entertaining. For the genre, it does a nice job.

Rating: R for sexual content, language and some drug material.

Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Best Picture nominees:

The Kids Are All Right

Starring: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo

Nominations: 4, including Best Actress (Bening); Best Supporting Actor (Ruffalo); and Best Original Screenplay

Opinion: This was not one of my favorite films of 2010, though it was hailed as such by a number of critics. At one point in the middle of the year I thought this would be a top contender for Best Picture, but the bloom seems to have fallen off the rose a bit. There are some good performances and some well-crafted scenes, but this story never clicked with me. In all honesty I have some moral objections to the story, but that wasn't the only reason the film never resonated with me. I don't think the characters are particularly likeable. This is a long-shot for Best Picture, but Bening should form half of the fight for Best Actress. She won at the Globes and will be a strong contender at the Academy Awards as well.

Rating: R for strong sexual content, nudity, language and some teen drug and alcohol use.

Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Black Swan

Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Barbara Hersey, and Vincent Cassel

Nominations: 5, including Best Actress (Portman) and Best Director (Darren Aronofsky).

Opinion: One of the best made films of the year, but tough to watch. This is the kind of film that will appeal to a niche audience. The dark material can be rough to watch, as can the overly sexualized aspects of the plot, but the filmcraft, directing, and acting in the film is incredible. Portman deserves all the praise for her work and should be the odds-on favorite to claim the Best Actress prize. What she endures in the movie is tough to watch, but she gives it her all. Bening will be a strong contender, but for my money Portman gives the better performance.

Rating: R for strong sexual content, disturbing violent images, language and some drug use.

Verdict: Four stars out of four.