First out the gate at Columbia will be Chris Columbus' Rent on November 11th.

Cast: Rosario Dawson, Taye Diggs, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Jesse L. Martin, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, Tracie Thoms

Based on Pucinni's La Boheme, tells the story of one year in the life of friends living the Bohemian life in modern day East Village New York. Among the group are our narrator nerdy love struck filmmaker Mark; the object of his affection his former lover, Maureen; Maureen's Harvard educated public interest lawyer lesbian lover Joanne; Mark's roommate HIV+ former junkie, Roger; Roger's lover the HIV+ drug addicted S&M dancer, Mimi; their former roommate HIV+ computer genius Tom Collins; Collins' HIV+ drag queen street musician lover Angel; and Benjamin Coffin III a former member of the group who married money and has since become their landlord and the opposite of everything they stand for. Shows how much changes or doesn't change in the 525,600 minutes that make up a year.

Next there's 20th Fox's Walk The Line based on the life of Johnny Cash and directed by James Mangold. It's due out November 18th.

Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Patrick, Ginnifer Goodwin, Shelby Lynne, Hailey Anne Nelson

He picked cotton, sold door to door, and served in the Air Force. He was a voice of rebellion that changed the face of rock and roll. An outlaw before today's rebels were born – and an icon they would never forget. He did all this before turning 30. And his name was Johnny Cash. "Walk the Line" explores the early years of the music legend, an artist who transcended musical boundaries to touch people around the globe. As his music changed the world, Cash's own world was rocked by the woman who became the love of his life: June Carter.

Finally is Universal's The Producers directed by Susan Stroman. It will be released on Dec 21st.

Cast: Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Will Ferrell, Roger Bart, Gary Beach

New York, 1959. Max Bialystock was once the king of Broadway, but now all his shows close on opening night. Things turn around when he's visited by the neurotic accountant Leo Bloom, who proposes a scheme tailor-made for producers who can only make flops: raise far more money than you need, then make sure the show is despised. No one will be interested in it, so you can pocket the surplus. To this end, they produce a musical called Springtime for Hitler written by escaped Nazi Franz Liebken. Then they get the insanely flamboyant Roger De Bris to direct. Finally, they hire as a lead actress the loopy Swedish bombshell Ulla (whose last name has over 15 syllables). As opening night draws near, what can go wrong? Well, there's no accounting for taste...

Do you think any of these can find award success?

I think Walk the Line has the best shot, but it seems to be more biopic than musical...much like this year's Ray.

The Producers will be interesting, with a first-time director and all.

Rent and Chris Columbus: These are words that don't seem to fit...

Chris Columbus and Oscar...

noooooooooo

If the Producer's do as good as it was on Broadway, that should definestly get nominated.

I debated whether or not to inculde Walk the Line. But since Ray fell under the Comedy/Musical category at the Globes, I figured this film could land there as well. So at least for the HFP, Walk the Line would be considered a musical.