Kate Winslet as Dr. Erin Mears takes on the role of helping the sick and trying to contain the virus. Setting up locations for the sick to be contained and pin pointing who the original virus carrier was. Meanwhile Dr. Leonora Orantes (Marion Cotillard) is tracing how the virus spread. Where it originated and how simple contact of a bartender picking up a dirty glass or a friendly handshake spread the viral disease. As both doctors identify how the disease spreads they both focus on a cure to getting it under control.

The streets are dead, everyone is fighting for a way to save themselves and the hospital can’t keep up with the sick. It is an eerie look at what could happen if a worldwide outbreak occurred. “Contagion” is a supreme thriller that will have everyone vying for the flu shot. It was an intriguing view into how hand washing is the best way to protect you from any virus. If you have not been worried about an outbreak or virus before now “Contagion” will have you rethinking your concerns. Offering the best thrills of 2011, “Contagion” will have audience viewers rapidly spreading the word, much like the virus.

It’s one of the first films of 2011 and it is coming out fighting. “County Strong” stars Gwyneth Platrow as country music super star Kelly Canter. A fallen star that has just finished a brief stint in rehab and after an early release her husband James (Tim McGraw) pressures here into going on tour again. While in rehab Kelly had sparks with Beau Hutton (Garrett Hedlund), an employee at the facility who has a mutual passion for the music.

Kelly agrees only to go on tour only if Beau is her opening act. James has another aspiring star in mind. Chiles Stanton (Leighton Meester) a former beauty queen who appears to be the Britney Spears of country. After some persuasion James gets both Chiles and Beau to come on tour for Kelly’s comeback. During this tour there is so much drama that a daytime soap opera could not handle.

James has lost his passion for his wife, who turns to Beau for love. Beau wants to be Kelly’s rock but realizes he is the worse thing for her now. Chiles starts to fall for Beau who begins to look at Chiles as the true talent she is. Then in the meantime Kelly falls off the wagon again and somehow manages to get her mess together for her final act in Dallas. Kelly’s performance not only blows the crowd away but was very appealing to me as well.

“Country Strong” is as County as you can get. Writer and director Shana Feste took the drama to the max, which made it lackluster. The film is very depressing and melancholy that you have a hard time finding the entertainment factor. That is until you get the music.

There is some GREAT music in this film. Newcomer Garrett Hedlund will have girls swooning with his amazing voice and easy on the eyes appearance. Gwyneth Paltrow is catapulted all over the place in this film, but her singing was better than expected. On a disappointing note Tim McGraw who is one of the best-known Country stars does not sing once in this film.

It may not be strong enough for all moviegoers, but “Country Strong” has a good chance at entertaining fans. Give it a possibility and see what it takes to have a comeback and how quickly it can all come to an end.

We have a limited number of admit-two passes for the screening Thursday, January 6 at 7:30 PM. Theatre location is still being determined. Winners will be chosen on Friday, December 31st. The winners will receive an email with instructions on how to print out their pass. Make sure to bring the pass with you to the screening. Be sure to get there early. These screenings are overbooked to fill every seat. Only ONE entry per email address. Only eligible for Kansas/Missouri metro area residents. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

COUNTRY STRONG

Soon after a rising young singer-songwriter (Garrett Hedlund) gets involved with a fallen, emotionally unstable country star (Gwyneth Paltrow), the pair embarks on a career resurrection tour helmed by her husband/manager (Tim McGraw) and featuring a beauty-queen-turned-singer (Leighton Meester).  Between concerts, romantic entanglements and old demons threaten to derail them all.

In Theatres everywhere on January 7.

The Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience: Pop singing sensations the Jonas Brothers make their feature-film debut in this three-dimensional concert experience. From their beginnings on the Disney Channel to the enormous fame that came after the 2007 release of their self-titled debut album, the New Jersey natives have followed a similar path to other tween pop idols like Miley Cyrus and Hilary Duff. But unlike those two, the real-life brothers have mostly appeared as themselves, not adopting on-screen personae like Cyrus’?s Hannah Montana. For a band so young, they take their music seriously and hold their fans dear. While they’?ve got producers working left and right to perfect their smooth look and sound, all three young men have a say in the band’s creative direction.

12 Rounds: When New Orleans Police Detective Danny Fisher (John Cena) stops a brilliant thief from getting away with a multimillion-dollar heist, the thief’s girlfriend is accidentally killed. After escaping from prison, the criminal mastermind enacts his revenge, taunting Danny with 12 rounds of near-impossible puzzles and tasks that he must somehow complete to save the life of the woman he loves.

Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li: Powerful forces are converging on the streets of Bangkok. They are warriors, some of whom possess extraordinary abilities, all of whom are determined to see their side prevail. Some fight for us; the others for unlimited power. Now, they are preparing for the ultimate battle – of terror versus beauty, light versus darkness, and good versus evil.

The forces of darkness are led by Bison (Neal McDonough), a crime boss of seemingly limitless power, and whose past holds a shocking secret. Bison’s syndicate, Shadaloo, is taking over the slums of the Thai capital, a task overseen by Balrog (Michael Clarke Duncan), a massively built enforcer and killer. Also in Bison’s employ is the assassin Vega (Taboo, of the group The Black Eyed Peas), a masked talon-wielding warrior, whose weapon is tailor-made for slashing and stabbing attacks. Bison’s attache is the beautiful but deadly Cantana (Josie Ho).

As Bison instigates a wave of violence in the slum districts, grabbing power and land no matter what the costs to its residents, a team of heroes emerges. Chun-Li (Kristin Kreuk) is a half-Caucasian/half-Asian beauty who gave up a life of privilege to become a street fighter, battling for those who cannot fight for themselves. Her kung fu master, Gen (Robin Shou), once a feared criminal, now fights for the forces of good. Equally determined to stop Bison is Interpol cop Charlie Nash (Chris Klein), who has tracked the crime boss all over the world, and Nash’s partner, gangland homicide detective Maya Sunee (Moon Bloodgood).

Two Lovers: Leonard, a charismatic but troubled young man, moves back into his childhood home following a recent heartbreak. While recovering under the watchful eye of his parents, Leonard meets two women in quick succession: Michelle, a mysterious and beautiful neighbor who is exotic and out-of-place in Leonard’s staid world, and Sandra, the lovely and caring daughter of a businessman who is buying out his family’s dry-cleaning business.

Leonard becomes deeply infatuated by Michelle, who seems poised to fall for him, but is having a self-destructive affair with a married man. At the same time, mounting pressure from his family pushes him towards committing to Sandra. Leonard is forced to make an impossible decision – between the impetuousness of desire and the comfort of love – or risk falling back into the darkness that nearly killed him.