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Here's a look at the new film I saw this week plus my continuing recap of the Best Picture contenders. Only 10 days until the big awards ceremony!

Just Go With It

Starring: Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Brooklyn Decker, Nicole Kidman, Dave Matthews, and Nick Swardson

Synopsis: This movie has a wildly unbelievable premise. A single, middle-aged plastic surgeon uses a fake wedding ring gag to pick up ladies. That works fine for him until he meets a beautiful young woman he'd like to have a relationship with and she finds his fake wedding ring. Instead of coming clean, he wrangles his friend/assistant and her kids into playing his fake family, and they all end up on a "family" vacation to Hawaii, where he starts to realize he's focused on the wrong woman. It's a film designed for breezy jokes, situational humor, and to showcase exotic locations. Heading into this film I was dubious, based not only on the premise and the horrendous trailer but on the fact that Sandler has been coasting on his reputation for the last half decade. His films have been marginal at best, and I didn't expect this to be any different. I was wrong. The premise is still ridiculous and the story is still cheesy, but the characters feel more genuine and the movie doesn't take itself too seriously. The combination of the comedic styles of Sandler and Aniston, paired with some decent supporting work and a funny cameo role from Kidman and Matthews make this film work. It's easily Sandler's best comedy in a few years. I laughed consistently throughout the presentation and I was satisfied by how it all played out.

Rating: PG-13 for frequent crude and sexual content, partial nudity, brief drug references and language.

Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Best Picture Nominees (The Contenders):

The Fighter

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo, and Amy Adams

Nominations: 7 Total; including Best Supporting Actor (Bale), Best Supporting Actress (Leo and Adams), and Best Director (David O. Russell).

Opinion: This is a quality film. The story has all the hallmarks of a classic under dog sports movie, and the production brings out the human element to the story. Russell was blessed with a talented group of actors, three of whom landed individual nominations. While this film still has long odds as Best Picture and even longer odds for Russell to bring home an award, the best chance for it to earn hardware is in the acting nominations. Bale does an incredible job as the crack addicted, former boxer, burn-out trainer brother. He's swept most of the major awards to this point and seems a good bet to scoop up an Oscar as well. Leo also seems to be a safe bet. She delivers the stronger of the two nominated female performances and has been honored several times for her work in ceremonies leading up to the Academy Awards. Don't be surprised to see Bale and Leo walk away with awards on Feb. 27.

Rating: R for language throughout, drug content, some violence and sexuality.

Verdict: Four stars out of Four

True Grit

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Hailee Steinfeld

Nominations: 10 Total; including Best Actor (Bridges), Best Supporting Actress (Steinfeld); and Best Directing (The Coen Brothers).

Opinion: This is the best Coen Brothers film since "No Country For Old Men." It's an excellent retelling of Charles Portis' novel. That being said, this might be the best film of 2010 not to win a major award. In several categories I'd put the "True Grit" nominees a close second or third, but it's hard to see where they'll have an edge. From a personal standpoint, I'd love to Steinfeld take home an Oscar. Leo gives a wonderful performance in "The Fighter," but Steinfeld, at a young age and lacking experience, carries "True Grit." The film simply doesn't work without a strong performance from the Mattie Ross character, and Steinfeld does just that. As a matter of preference, I would rate her performance higher, but I doubt it will shake out that way on Feb. 27. Regardless, this is an exceptional film that continues the Coen Brothers hot streak (three Best Picture nominations in four years).

Rating: PG-13 for some intense sequences of western violence including disturbing images.

Verdict: Four stars out of Four