After the record-breaking success of "Precious: Based on the Novel PUSH by Sapphire" over the weekend, I'm more hopeful for films starting out in limited release. This week's recommendations may not have the distinction of being championed by Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, so if you find any of them worth seeing based on my recommendation, it may be more necessary for you to make the effort to get them to play near you.

"The Messenger"

What it is: A skewed romantic drama about a young Iraq War vet (Ben Foster) who is assigned to the Army's Casualty Notification service, where he's partnered with a captain played by Woody Harrelson. While delivering the bad news, he falls for one of the notified widows (Samantha Morton). Read more...

Additional reporting by Jessica Goebel

The floppy-haired boy we first came to love in "Ten Things I Hate About You" and "3rd Rock from the Sun" has long since graduated to more adult material with flicks like "Brick," "Mysterious Skin" and "The Lookout." Next year, Joseph Gordon-Levitt will try to keep the momentum going by broaching a very sensitive subject, in the family drama "Uncertainty."

"It's about a couple trying to decide whether to keep a pregnancy," Levitt explained. The story depicts two versions of the same Fourth of July in New York City, presenting alternative series of choices revolving around that thorny issue. Read more...