"Obsessed", "Soloist" & "Fighting" set to square off at the box office

With Zak Efron stealing the show at the box office last weekend in "17 Again", this week's new releases "Obsessed" and "The Soloist" have a more serious tone, with some fine actor pairings and good performances. Mix that in with a so-so fight movie, and you have the makings for an interesting weekend in theaters.

"Obsessed" (PG-13; Screen Gems/Sony) Idris Elba, Beyonce Knowles, Ali Larter, Bruce McGill, Jerry O'Connell, Christine Lahti. Beyonce Knowles returns to the screen, just several months after her appearance as Etta James in "Cadillac Records", pairing with Idris Elba as Derek and Sharon Charles, a husband wife duo who have everything going on for them. That is until temp worker Lisa (Ali Larter) comes on the scene at Derek's place of employ and begins stalking him, when it seems everything that Derek has worked so hard to obtain in life is placed in jeopardy. My rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

"Fighting" (PG-13; Rogue Pictures) Channing Tatum, Terrence Howard, Brian White, Luis Guzman, Zulay Henao. This one seems like another tired remake of the old "Big Fight Movie" formula, only with less than "Big Fight Movie" talent and script. The hunky but dull Channing Tatum portrays an ex-high school wrestler from Alabama who comes to New York for reasons that never are addressed and becomes an underground mixed-martial arts star in ways one would find on the brink of unbelievable. He's seen as a draw for the bare-knuckle fight circuit after a fluke win, then wins and loses, then gets a no decision until finally winning the "Big Fight". The advice here...wait for it to come out on DVD...which shouldn't take too long. My rating: 2 out of 5 stars.

"The Soloist" (PG-13; DreamWorks/Paramount) Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr., Catherine Keener, Tom Hollander, Lisa Gay Hamilton. Jamie Foxx plays Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, a homeless man who seems typical on the surface. But when journalist Steve Lopez (Robert Downey, Jr.) hears him play flawless Beethoven on a cello and talk about his former classmates at Juilliard, Lopez sees a stroy needing to be told. The pairing of Foxx and Downey is marvelous, bringing the story to life on the screen of a reporter who realizes he needs to help this man to help himself. Their duet creates the perfect concert on screen, making The Soloist sing. My rating: 4 3/4 out of 5 stars.