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Cinematically speaking, December has always been the most crowded month of the year. With holiday movies, Oscar bait and the last of the studio’s tent-pole releases, it’s hard to keep them all straight. For your assistance, I present a winter movie guide, highlighting the best bets for the coming break.
For those seeking family fare, there are two options that stand above the rest. The first is Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog,” an animated tale directed by John Musker and Ron Clements — the filmmaking team behind “Aladdin” and “The Little Mermaid.” After flirting with 3-D animated fare, Disney is going back to basics, presenting a 2-D animated story with catchy tunes and endearing characters meant for the entire family. The result is a new fairy tale for a new generation.
For families with older kids, “Sherlock Holmes” stands out as a sure bet. Starring A-Lister Robert Downey Jr., supported by Jude Law, Mark Strong and Rachel McAdams, “Holmes” is an action-comedy in the vein of “Pirates of the Caribbean” with director Guy Ritchie — “Snatch,” “RockNRolla” — at the helm. Warner Bros. is hoping to jump-start a new franchise with this one, even shooting a poorly-kept secret cameo by Brad Pitt as Holmes’ nemesis Moriarty to hint at sequels. “The Princess and the Frog” opens Dec. 11, and “Holmes” comes to screens Christmas Day.
In an effort to lure the audience that made “Sex and the City” and “Mamma Mia!” a hit, writer /director Nancy Meyers brings her latest to the table, “It’s Complicated,” starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. Also opening Christmas Day, the film tells of a divorced couple that resume sleeping together when their new relationships hit the rocks. Hilarity ensues as the romantic entanglements grow.
Also appealing to the “Mamma Mia” crowd is The Weinstein Company’s new musical “Nine.” “Nine” is the film adaptation of the popular Broadway show by Rob Marshall, the director of one of the most successful movie musicals in recent years, “Chicago.” The musical itself is an adaptation of Fellini’s classic film “8 ½” and explores the splintering psyche of a famed film director as he struggles to bring his next film to the screen. Daniel Day Lewis stars and is accompanied by Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz and several other beautiful and talented people. Expect it in theaters Christmas Day.
For those not in the mood for romantic comedies or musicals, we have Clint Eastwood’s new film “Invictus,” starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. Freeman plays South African president Nelson Mandela and the film unfolds as he tries to unite his country by using the nation’s rugby team, forming a relationship with the team captain, played by Damon. Opening Dec. 11, the film has been warmly received by critics at advanced screenings, and many believe it will be in the running for the Academy Awards.
Among the many other films vying for an Oscar consideration is the George Clooney vehicle “Up in the Air,” directed by “Juno’s” Jason Reitman. After premiering to resounding praise at the Toronto Film Festival, “Up in the Air” was pushed to a Dec. 18 release date. Clooney plays a man who is rented out to big businesses, flying all over the country doing their dirty work and firing their employees personally. When his company develops a computer program to replace him, his carefree nomadic lifestyle is threatened, and his chance to save it presents itself in the form of Natalie, played by up and coming actress Anna Kendrick, who shadows him in order to see if his services are worth keeping around.
The other leading Oscar contender is Peter Jackson’s “The Lovely Bones.” The man who brought “The Lord of the Rings” to the screen tackles more urgent material here, telling the story of Susie Salmon, a young girl who is raped and murdered by a neighbor, then watches her family cope from the afterlife. The trailer promises breathtaking visuals and exquisite emotional resonance, and Paramount clearly knows they have something great on their hands. Originally set to open last March, “Bones” was pushed to a Dec. 11 release date, not because the film wasn’t finished in time, but because test screenings went through the roof. The film opens in a limited release Dec. 11 and will slowly expand throughout the month, building buzz.
Now we come to the movie that has buzz to spare, “Avatar.” After James Cameron steered “Titanic” to become the highest grossing film in cinema history, he went into a state of semi-retirement. But 12 years and $400 million later, he’s back with a film he spent a good four years making. “Avatar” is a sci-fi adventure that focuses on an epic conflict on a far-off world called Pandora, where humans and the native species engage in a war over the planet’s resources and existence. Among the human soldiers is Jake Sully, played by Sam Worthington, a former Marine who inhabits an avatar that resembles the natives in order to infiltrate and exploit them. He falls in love with one of the natives, Neytiri, played by Zoe Saldana, and joins the fight to maintain their way of life. With eye-popping special effects, a captivating story and dazzling visuals, “Avatar” would be a major achievement for any director, but for Cameron — the mind behind “Terminator,” “Aliens” and “True Lies”— it’s just another jewel on his sterling resume. Opening Dec. 18, it is simply not to be missed.
So there we have it, your best options for the coming break. Happy viewing and happy holidays to all.
