The Plot: An American expat (Cusack) returns to a corrupt, Japanese-occupied Shanghai four months before Pearl Harbor, where he discovers his friend has been killed. His attempt to unravel that mystery, he falls for a beautiful woman, and discovers a secret being held by his own government.

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THE BUZZ: Harvey Weinstein's epic production was booted from China before it had a chance to begin filming in 2008; the Chinese government, still up in arms over Ang Lee's Lust, Caution, retracted Shanghai's permits mere months before cameras were set to roll. Weinstein shrugged it off -- an easy feat considering the nearly $300 million he has received to produce Asia-set films -- and touched down in Thailand (and England) last summer. The industry is mad for the continent at the moment as moguls know where the money is, but will this project truly be worthy of Oscar glory? No offense to the reteaming of John Cusack and his 1408 director Mikael Håfström; they made a great popcorn movie, but can they really wrangle statues?

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