Filmmaker Kevin Smith takes another stab at the mainstream with "Cop Out," the new buddy comedy starring Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan, which leads the New Movies Podcast discussion this week. Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba and fellow commenter Cory Olsen also tackle period drama "The Last Station," overlooked animated delight "A Town Called Panic," documentary "Lord, Save Us from Your Followers" and new DVDs.

So, "Shutter Island": we've watched the trailers for months, and the anticipation of another Martin Scorsese/Leonardo DiCaprio collaboration kept growing. Does it live up to the hype? Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba answers that question in the New Movies Podcast. He also defers to podcast producer/Robert De Niro expert Cory Olsen during a discussion of Scorsese's work with his two muses. And together they tackle new DVD releases.

Can Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba recite the very long list of principal stars in "Valentine's Day" by memory? (Probably not.) Will the film live up to the hype of the holiday? (Mmmmmaybe.) What argument will Serba and fellow podcaster Cory Olsen get into this time? (Hint: It involves the Coen Brothers.) Give the New Movies Podcast a listen, and find out. They'll also go over new releases "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief," "The Wolfman," two new documentaries opening in Grand Rapids and new DVD releases.

So Woody Harrelson and Colin Firth are Oscar nominees for "The Messenger" and "A Single Man" respectively -- are they deserving? Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba addresses the question, with producer Cory Olsen adding commentary, in the New Movies Podcast. Both films open in Grand Rapids this weekend, along with wide releases "Dear John" and "From Paris With Love."

Does "Avatar" have a shot at winning a pile of Oscars? What the heck is "The Secret of Kells"? Is Sandra Bullock really the frontrunner for Best Actress? All questions posed by Tuesday's Oscar nominations, and addressed by Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba and producer Cory Olsen in a special edition of the New Movies Podcast.

So, does Jeff Bridges deserve all the hype, praise and awards he's received for "Crazy Heart"? That's the focus of conversation from Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba and producer Cory Olsen in this week's New Movies Podcast. Also discussed: New releases "Edge of Darkness," "When in Rome" and "The Yes Men Fix the World."

Things (almost) get nasty in the New Movies Podcast this week. Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba and producer pal Cory Olsen watched "Extraordinary Measures" -- the new drama starring Brendan Fraser and Harrison Ford -- and walked out with clashing opinions of the talent on hand.

They also mull over kid flick "Tooth Fairy," Pedro Almodovar-Penelope Cruz collaboration "Broken Embraces," top-shelf sports drama "The Damned United" starring Michael Sheen and new faith-based indie drama "To Save a Life." Oh, and Serba makes a must-see recommendation among new DVD releases. Give it a listen:

"The Lovely Bones" doesn't always work, but Peter "Lord of the Rings" Jackson creates an ambitious adaptation of the bestselling Alice Sebold novel. So says John Serba, film critic for The Grand Rapids Press, in this week's New Movies Podcast. He also discusses Denzel Washington thriller "The Book of Eli," Jackie Chan comedy "The Spy next Door," Lars von Trier's controversial "Antichrist" and a slew of new DVD releases, including "The Hurt Locker" and "Moon" -- all with podcast producer extraordinaire Cory Olsen adding commentary.

Michael Cera, Amy Adams and Heath Ledger headline three new movies this week: "Youth in Revolt" (which was filmed in Michigan), "Leap Year" and "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" (featuring Ledger's last role), respectively. Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba and producer Cory Olsen discuss these actors' performances in the New Movies Podcast, as well as "Daybreakers" and French film "35 Shots of Rum" (which opens at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts).

Regular listeners of this podcast might have an inkling as to what Grand Rapids Press film critic John Serba's favorite, and most hated, films of the year are. Perhaps you've already read his complete list, but he elaborates further -- and, notably, acts out the best movie line of the year -- in a special version of this week's New Movies Podcast, with producer-sidekick Cory Olsen chiming in.