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Here's a look at the films I saw this week as well as the final two Best Picture capsules. Don't forget to check out the Academy Awards on Sunday night. I'll have my traditional picks later this week.

The Eagle

Starring: Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, and Donald Sutherland

Synopsis: This is a period piece set in Britain during the reign of the Roman Empire. It focuses on a Centurion named Marcus Aquila (Tatum) whose father was the commander of a famed regiment that was lost in the wilds of Britain. Along with the loss of the legion — some 5,000 soldiers — was the loss of the legion's famous symbol, The Eagle. Marcus earns his own fame and recognition by saving his men at a post in the north of Britain, but he is injured and returned to his uncle Aquila (Sutherland) to convalesce. During that time he is given an honorable discharge (one has to wonder if that was really a phrase used during 140 A.D., but we'll let it pass), and Marcus is left to wonder what to do. After saving the life of a young slave named Esca (Bell), Marcus decides to embark on an impossible mission into the wilds of Britain to find The Eagle and return glory and honor to his family name. His only companion on the trip is Esca, a Britain that helps him understand the lay of the land. This is a decent period piece, though at times it feels a bit protracted. Bell and Tatum work well together and, though it initially seems like horrendous casting, Tatum seems to work in the lead role, somewhat. Director Kevin Macdonald ("Last King of Scotland") gives the film a decent pacing and some frenetic action sequences. The language used, some of the phrasing, and elements of the story don't fit with the period of the film, but that seems to be the kind of detail that often isn't acknowledged in films like this. "The Eagle" isn't particularly great or memorable, but it's mildly entertaining.

Rating: PG-13 for battle sequences and some disturbing images.

Verdict: Two stars out of Four

Gnomeo and Juliet

Starring the voice talents of: James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Maggie Smith, and Michael Caine

Synopsis: This film is a re-telling of William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" in an animated film featuring garden gnomes. While the makers get points for originality in the presentation, the re-telling of this story is pretty obvious. It follows, loosely, the story of the play with one giant exception. This being a kids' film, the ending is much more rosy than the source material. McAvoy and Blunt seem to have fun voicing the lead parts and the movie has a certain charm. It's backed by an Elton John soundtrack and a few jokes aimed at adult audiences. The film earned a kid-friendly G rating, but based on some of the material I would say it's more deserving of a PG. There are some jokes that, while they might go over the head of small children, are obvious adult references. It seems that there has been a recent trend of passing out G ratings to a number of kids' films, and this fits that trend. It's fairly entertaining, short, and crisp.

Rating: G

Verdict: Two stars out of Four

I Am Number Four

Starring: Alex Pettyfer, Dianna Agron, and Timothy Olyphant

Synopsis: This film is supposed to serve as the kick-off to a possible fantasy series. The story is based on a novel by James Frey and Jobie Hughes, and adapted for the screen by "Smallville" scribes Alfred Gough and Miles Millar and Joss Whedon collaborator Marti Noxon. The story centers on a young teen alien, who goes by the alias John Smith (Pettyfer). He moves with his guardian, Henri (Olyphant), to the small town of Paradise, Ohio. He tries to stay under the radar, but John ends up forming a close bond with a young photographer named Sarah (Agron), and romance blooms. John is one of nine special alien teens endowed with special powers that are in hiding on Earth. They are being eliminated one at a time by a rival group of aliens. With the first three gone, John is next in line for the slaughter. As his powers start to manifest, he teams up with another special kid — number six (Teresa Palmer). The film, directed by D.J. Caruso ("Distrubia"), has a good mix of action and character. The actors do a decent job of bringing everything to life. This is a series aimed at teens and young adults, but it's a much more engrossing production than other teen series, like "Twilight." I could see this film spawning a few watchable sequels.

Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and for language.

Verdict: Three stars out of Four.

Rabbit Hole

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Dianne Wiest, and Sandra Oh

Synopsis: This is a heart-breaking look at a couple dealing with the grief that comes with the loss of a child. The film has gained a little more traction thanks to Kidman's nomination for Best Actress by the Academy Awards. But Kidman's performance might not even be the best in this film. The movie is based on the stage play of the same name from David Lindsay-Abaire. Director John Cameron Mitchell does a nice job of pacing the film and bringing out the dramatic moments. It's an emotional journey that is compelling, but not overly depressing. It feels very grounded in real, emotional moments. Kidman gives a great performance, but Eckhart, an underrated actor, gives perhaps the best performance. He is exceptional in his role but hasn't garnered as much effusive praise. This is a fascinating character study.

Rating: PG-13 for mature thematic material, some drug use and language.

Verdict: Three stars out of Four

Unknown

Starring: Liam Neeson, January Jones, Bruno Ganz, Aidan Quinn, and Diane Kruger

Synopsis: This is a fairly standard action thriller. It's in the vein of another Neeson film, "Taken," which was basically a one man butt-kicking mission through Europe. This film doesn't have quite as unseemly a plot, but it's basically a similar formula. Neeson is still a strong, watchable actor, and Ganz and Kruger do a nice job as his tag-alongs, but this movie lacks some emotional resonance and gravity. Jones and Quinn give flat performances as two-dimensional villain characters, which doesn't help. That combined with the fact this movie feels wildly implausible at times makes it a forgettable exercise.

Rating: PG-13 for some intense sequences of violence and action, and brief sexual content.

Verdict: Two stars out of Four.

Academy Award nominees: The Favorites

The Social Network

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Armie Hammer, and Justin Timberlake

Nominations: 8 Total; including Best Actor (Eisenberg); Best Director (David Fincher); and Best Adapted Screenplay (Aaron Sorkin).

Opinion: This was my favorite film of 2010. I think this was also the best film of 2010. For a long time it was the prohibitive favorite, even taking the top prize at the Golden Globes. Since then it's star has faded, and I'm resigned to the fact it will probably not take the top prize. But this film should be in contention for a number of other awards. It will almost certainly win for screenplay, with Sorkin's crackling script ranking as the best I saw in 2010, and Fincher seems a decent bet to win Best Director. The film has an outside shot at best original score — a prize it claimed at the Golden Globes — but the will probably be it. "The Social Network" is a fantastic film that has resonated strongly with viewers 35 and younger. Unfortunately that's not the predominant demographic of the Academy.

Rating: PG-13 for sexual content, drug and alcohol use and language.

Verdict: Four stars out of Four.

The King's Speech

Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, and Helena Bonham Carter

Nominations: 12 total; including Best Actor (Firth); Best Supporting Actor (Rush); Best Supporting Actress (Bonham Carter); Best Original Screenplay (David Seidler); and Best Director (Tom Hooper).

Opinion: This is a beautiful and artfully crafted period piece. I felt it was one of the finest films of the year (ranking it fourth on my list of 2010 films). Firth, Rush, and Bonham Carter all give great performances. Firth is likely to take home an Oscar on Sunday, while Rush has a decent chance at pulling the upset over Christian Bale. This film will also likely win awards for Original Score and Original Screenplay, while Hooper is a strong contender for Best Director, though I think Fincher will get the nod. But where this film is likely to earn it's biggest honor is as Best Picture. This film has gained tons of momentum throughout the month and has claimed the biggest honors from the guilds, usually a precursor to the Academy Awards. The film is a grand, traditional period piece that has been very popular among older Academy voters. It's certainly a worthy film and, while I personally don't feel it was the best, I can see how it would make a strong selection for Best Picture.

Rating: R for some language.

Verdict: Four stars out of Four.