You'd be better off catching up on possible Oscar contenders such as Milk, Slumdog Millionaire, or even Bolt if you're planning a trip to the pictures this weekend.

But if you must do the opening-weekend thing, your best bet is Cadillac Records, a fictionalized history of Chicago-based Chess Records, home to R&B artists such as Etta James, Muddy Waters, and Chuck Berry. I haven't seen it yet, but considering its inevitably great soundtrack, I'm guessing you'd leave the theater buoyant even if the cast acted out the script to, say...

Nobel Son, one of those irritatingly "edgy" capers that might impress sheltered teens or anyone who hasn't seen Pulp Fiction. Starring Alan Rickman, Mary Steenburgen, and others who should know better.

Also stinking up the screen is Punisher: War Zone, about which no more needs to be said, and Save Me, a drama about a Christian gay-deprogramming ministry that kinda forgets to emphasize that believing virtue lies in straightness is a bit, oh, monstrous.

Finally, there's War Child, a locally-produced and -directed documentary about Emmanuel Jal, a Sudanese rapper who uses his music to tell of his experiences as a child soldier and preach peace. War Child will run for one week only, exclusively at Landmark E Street.

The District-born, St. Albans-educated Jeffrey Wright may have chosen to be more character actor than leading man since his breakout performance as the titular artist in 1996's Basquiat.

But he's sure been a busy one: This fall alone, you can see Wright portray a reticent Colin Powell (W.), an even more reticent CIA agent (Quantum of Solace), and now blues legend Muddy Waters in the upcoming Cadillac Records, the story of '50s-era R&B artists that's predominantly gotten buzz for Beyonce's turn as Etta James.

That's OK, though -- Ms. Knowles can bring 'em, while Wright will simply knock their socks off like the less glitzy but equally talented workhorse that he is.

Listen to NPR's interview with Wright, then catch Cadillac this Friday.