A Cinematic Sleighful at the Cineplex - Outword ’s Guide to Year-end Movies

by Chris Narloch

There are so many hot movies coming out in December, competing for the holiday box office and Oscar consideration, I am going to have to take vacation just to keep up with them all.

With box office receipts for the year already nearing record levels, Hollywood is pulling out all the stops to get you into movie theaters this Christmas season.
With so many films competing for a limited number of screens, some of the best movies will be playing at local art-house cinemas such as the Crest and the Tower.

Read on for our guide to some of those less publicized titles, as well as the blockbusters you’ve been waiting for.

Avatar

Movie fans have been waiting impatiently for James Cameron’s years-in-the-making sci-fi blockbuster, his first big-screen, feature film since Titanic in 1997. The story is set during the 22nd century on a small moon called Pandora, which orbits a gas giant, and is inhabited by the tribal Na’vi, ten-foot blue humanoids that are peaceful unless attacked. The revolutionary 3D effects are reportedly out of this world, and the movie re-teams Cameron with Sigourney Weaver, who starred as Ripley in Aliens, the director’s sequel to Ridley Scott’s Alien. Opens December 18. Visit www.imax.com/sacramento.

The Princess And The Frog

Disney presents the musical The Princess And The Frog, an animated comedy set in New Orleans. From the creators of The Little Mermaid and Aladdin comes a modern twist on a classic tale, featuring a beautiful girl named Tiana (Anika Noni Rose), a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again, and a fateful kiss that leads them both on an adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana.
The movie marks a return to hand-drawn animation from the revered team of John Musker and Ron Clements, with music by Oscar-winning composer Randy Newman. In wide release.

Did You Hear About the Morgans?

This potentially funny fish-out-of-water comedy follows a highly successful Manhattan couple, Meryl and Paul Morgan (Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant), whose almost-perfect lives have only one notable failure – their dissolving marriage. But the turmoil of their romantic lives is nothing compared to what they are about to experience: they witness a murder and become targets of a contract killer. The Feds, protecting their witnesses, whisk away the Morgans from their beloved New York to a tiny town in Wyoming, and a relationship that was already on the rocks threatens to end completely in the Rockies — unless, in their new BlackBerry-free lives, the Morgans can slow down the pace and rekindle the passion. Opens December 18.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Audiences have not turned out for this charming new movie from director Wes Anderson, and that’s a real shame. An unusual, but fascinating example of stop-motion animation, the film features great voice work by George Clooney, Meryl Streep and Bill Murray, among others, as well as a wonderfully funny and adult (for a kid’s film) script. In wide release.

It’s Complicated

Director Nancy Myers (Something’s Gotta Give) returns with this romantic comedy starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. I don’t care what it’s about. With that cast, I’m there. Opens Christmas Day.

The Lovely Bones

Director Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings) returns to the screen with this dramatic film adaptation of Alice Sebold’s acclaimed novel narrated by a dead girl. The murder victim is played by the talented Saoirse Ronan, who co-stars with Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci and Mark Wahlberg. Coming soon.

Brothers

A terrific cast led by Natalie Portman, Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal stars in this Oscar-bait family drama from director Jim Sheridan, the story of a woman (Portman) who becomes involved with the brother of her husband while he is stationed in Afghanistan. In wide release.

Up In The Air

Director Jason Reitman’s new comedy is generating a lot of Oscar buzz, especially for its lead performance by the ubiquitous George Clooney, playing a lonely exec and an obsessive flier. In wide release.

Sherlock Holmes

Although I love Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law, I am not looking forward to this one after seeing the noisy, action-packed trailer. It looks like director Guy Ritchie (the ex-Mr. Madonna) plays fast and loose with the original Arthur Conan Doyle material which has apparently been transformed from a mystery into a slick action flick. Opens Christmas Day.

Invictus

Clint Eastwood’s new film tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) joined forces with the captain of South Africa’s rugby team, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon), to help unite their country. Coming soon.

Precious

This controversial film about an obese, abused and pregnant teenage girl is dividing critics down the middle, but they all agree that the film’s trio of actresses — Mo’Nique, Gabby Sidibe and Mariah Carey (yes, Mariah Carey) – give Oscar-worthy performances. Adapted from the novel Push by Sapphire, the movie is shocking yet ultimately hopeful. At the Tower.

The Road

Another dark film adaptation, The Road is director John Hillcoat’s movie of Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book of the same name. This haunting, suspenseful tale of a father and son trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world stars Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron and Robert Duvall. At the Tower.

The Bad Lieutenant

Rebel German director Werner Herzog (Grizzly Man, Rescue Dawn) continues his weird ways with this bizarre movie starring Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes. Cage plays a rogue detective (and drug addict) in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina who descends into a world of desire and compulsion along with the woman he loves, a prostitute played by Mendes. Coming to the Tower Theatre.

A Single Man

Thanks to highly praised performances from British actor Colin Firth and four-time Academy Award nominee Julianne Moore, A Single Man is already generating Oscar buzz. Fashion icon Tom Ford makes his directorial debut with this adaptation of Christopher Isherwood’s novel about a literature professor (Firth) in early 60’s LA, struggling with the sudden loss of his long time partner (Matthew Goode). Coming to the Tower Theatre.

The Messenger

If this excellent film is still playing at the Crest when you read this, run, don’t walk, to see it. In his most powerful performance to date, Ben Foster stars as Will Montgomery, a U.S. Army officer who has just returned home from a tour in Iraq and is assigned to the Army’s Casualty Notification service. Partnered with fellow officer Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson) to bear the bad news to the loved ones of fallen soldiers, Will faces the challenge of completing his mission while seeking to find comfort and healing back on the home front.

The Red Cliff

Legendary Hong Kong action specialist John Woo, and international superstar Tony Leung reunite for their first feature film together since 1992’s Hard Boiled. The historical drama is set during the decisive 208 A.D. battle that heralded the end of the Han Dynasty and is adapted in part from the beloved Chinese tome Romance of the Three Kingdoms. At the Crest.

La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet

This highly acclaimed documentary by Frederick Wiseman centers on one of the world’s great ballet companies. The film is a profile of all aspects of The Paris Opera Ballet, one of France’s principal cultural institutions. Coming to the Crest.

Me and Orson Welles

Directed by Richard Linklater and based in real theatrical history, Me and Orson Welles is a romantic coming-of-age story about a teenage actor (Zac Efron) who lucks into a role in Julius Caesar as it’s being re-imagined by a brilliant, impetuous young director named Orson Welles (impressive newcomer Christian McKay) at his newly-founded Mercury Theater in NYC, 1937. Also starring Claire Danes. Coming to the Crest.

The Young Victoria

Director Jean-Marc Vallée takes the helm for this look at the turbulent early years of Queen Victoria (Emily Blunt), who was crowned at the age of 18, and whose ill-fated marriage to Prince Albert (Rupert Friend) would later prompt her into a life of mournful seclusion. Coming to the Crest on Christmas Day.