The holidays are here and while that means a lot of different things, for moviegoers, it’s the time for big splashy movies and quiet Oscar baiters. Get the low down from Hollywood.com’s critics on what to watch out for December ’07 through February ’08.
KIT’S PICKS
Who: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Sam Elliott, Eva Green and introducing Dakota Blue Richards; directed by Chris Weitz
What: Based on the widely read and award-winning trilogy by Philip Pullman, Golden Compass creates an alternate universe, one in which there are witches, ice bear warriors–and your own animal spirit that follows you wherever you go. Here lives 12-year-old Lyra Belacqua (Richards), who finds herself thrust into an adventure that will take her over sky and ocean. A great war is coming–with her band of friends and allies, and the power of the Golden Compass, Lyra will need all her skill and all her courage, to stop it.
Why: Because if we can’t have a Harry Potter or Chronicles of Narnia this holiday season, we need some kind of grand fantasy epic based on a children’s novel series. Golden Compass certainly looks like it fits the bill.
When: Dec. 7
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Who: Will Smith, Alice Braga; directed by Francis Lawrence
What: Smith plays Robert Neville, a brilliant scientist who cannot contain a terrible virus that is unstoppable, incurable and manmade. Somehow immune, Neville is now the last human survivor in what is left of New York City, and maybe the world. But he is not alone. He is surrounded by “the Infected”–victims of the plague who have mutated into carnivorous beings who can only exist in the dark and who will devour or infect anyone or anything in their path. That’s helpful. While Neville lives day to day keeping one step ahead of these monsters, he also tries to find a cure by using his immune blood. But time is quickly running out.
Why: Will Smith in something futuristic and in which he can kick some futuristic butt. Why else?
When: Dec. 14
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National Treasure: Book of Secrets
Who: Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Jon Voight, Helen Mirren, Ed Harris; directed by Jon Turteltaub
What: Ben Gates (Cage) and his historical treasuring hunting crew are at it again. This time, Ben has to clear his family’s name after a missing page from the diary of John Wilkes Booth claims Ben’s great-great grandfather was a key conspirator in Abraham Lincoln’s death. Say it isn’t so! Determined to prove his ancestor’s innocence, Ben follows an international chain of clues that takes him from Paris to London and ultimately back to America, chasing what turns out to be a book that contains all the world’s most treasured secrets. Oh, THAT book.
Why: Cage and company seem to have tapped into the right action-hero formula with their National Treasure series. Once again helmed by Turteltaub, this Book of Secrets should be another thrill ride, filled with plenty of jet-setting historical intrigue (if that’s even possible). Plus, Oscar-winning Helen Mirren plays Ben’s mom–what can get better than that?
When: Dec. 21
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Who: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman; directed by Mike Nichols
What: Womanizing, alcoholic Charlie Wilson (Hanks) is a bachelor congressman from Texas with a “Good Time Charlie” exterior. He also has a deep sense of patriotism and a passion for the underdog–and in the early 1980s that underdog was Russian-invaded Afghanistan. Along with the wealthy patron saint Joanne Herring (Roberts) and blue-collar CIA Agent Gust Avrakotos (Hoffman), Wilson forms unlikely alliances to help fund the Afghan rebel leaders in covert operations against the Soviets. Of course, the ramifications of arming this third world country are far reaching–but it certainly seemed like a good idea at the time.
Why: At this point, moviegoers might be a little tired of socio-political dramas about our current state of affairs, but Charlie Wilson’s War gives us a darkly comical look back at how some of it all began. In the hands of powerhouse talent such as Hanks and Nichols, this should be the Oscar baiting must-see for the holiday season.
When: Dec. 21
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Who: Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman, Eric Bana; directed by Justin Chadwick
What: Based on Philippa Gregory’s bestselling historical novel and adapted by The Queen screenwriter Peter Morgan, this lush story centers on the Boleyn sisters, Mary (Johansson) and Anne (Portman), who through their family’s political machinations, each have turns at winning the lusty heart of King Henry VIII (Bana). Of course, historically Anne proves to be the more cunning—but her doom is sealed when she can’t deliver a son as heir.
Why: With a spot-on cast, verdant sets, gorgeous costumes and all the historical drama one can muster, Boleyn Girl should be a Tudor soap opera at its best.
When: Feb. 29
Honorable Mentions:
Atonement (Dec. 7)
Based on the novel by Ian McEwan, this lush and romantic period drama from Pride & Prejudice director Joe Wright focuses on two pre-WWII lovers (Keira Knightley and James McAvoy) who see their burgeoning romance rip apart after a little girl’s (Saoirse Ronan) false accusation. As a grand sweeping romance set against the background of a war epic, this one is getting all kinds of Oscar buzz.
The Kite Runner (Dec. 14)
As is this one, another novel adaptation about two Afghan childhood friends who have a fateful encounter during the final days of Afghanistan’s monarchy. Years later, one boy, Amir (Khalid Abdalla), now an adult, is haunted by the childhood betrayal and seeks redemption by returning to his war-torn native land to make peace and reconcile his cowardice. Although it’s mostly a cast of unknowns, in the capable hands of Finding Neverland director Marc Forster, Kite Runner should be one to watch out for.
The Bucket List (Dec. 25)
Honestly, how wrong can you go with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman in the same film? Especially when they are playing two terminally ill patients, on the opposite ends of the spectrum, who together decide to complete a list of things they never got a chance to do during their lifetime. Directed by Rob Reiner, known for his own sap factor, this could indeed be a three-hankie tearjerker.
27 Dresses (Jan. 11)
From her hilarious performance in Knocked Up, Katherine Heigl is the latest go-to girl in the romantic comedy department. 27 Dresses is her next effort in which she plays a single woman tired of always being the bridesmaid at her friends’ weddings. This time, she sets off to find her own Mr. Right, which could either be James Marsden or Ed Burns. Tough choice, but we’ll be right there with her, rooting her on.
Fool’s Gold (Feb. 8)
Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey, those rascally kids who showed us How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days, are reunited again in another romantic comedy, albeit one with an adventurous spirit. McConaughey plays Ben “Finn” Finnegan, a good-natured, treasure hunter who is obsessed with finding a legendary exotic treasure lost at sea in 1715. In his quest, Finn has sunk everything he has, including his marriage to Tess (Hudson). But just as Tess has begun to rebuild her life, Finn discovers a vital clue to the treasure’s whereabouts–and things heat up all over again. Let the treasure hunt begin!
Semi-Pro (Feb. 29)
Soccer. Car racing. Figure skating. Oh, Will Ferrell. Will you ever stop making us laugh with your outrageous behavior in the sports arena as well as the need to shed your clothes? We hope not. This time around, Ferrell plays a former benchwarmer from the NBA who returns to his rag-tag team in the American Basketball Association in an attempt to lead them to the big leagues. We’re totally there.
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BRIAN’S PICKS
Who: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman; directed by Jason Reitman
What: Suddenly and unexpectedly knocked up, a wry teenager named Juno (Page) decides that she will give her offspring to a baby-desperate Chicago couple (Bateman and Garner). But, of course, nothing is that simple as a teenager, let alone pregnancy.
Why: If Little Miss Sunshine was any indication, there’s no emotion a masterfully executed dramedy can’t arouse, and if director Reitman’s debut (Thank You for Smoking) was any indication, he is just the one to take Juno to that promised land–which would be thanks in no small part to a razor-sharp (first) script from stripper-turned-screenwriter Diablo Cody.
When: Dec. 5
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Who: John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer, Kristen Wiig and endless cameos; directed by Jake Kasdan
What: Behind the success story of rock ‘n’ roll icon Dewey Cox (Reilly) is, well, success, then failure. He’s had an up-and-down career, but now Cox is riding high again after a downward spiral that saw him befriend a chimp, become a drug addict and father countless children.
Why: Today’s music biopics don’t take enough flak for watering down biographies, but Walk Hard aims to change that by satirizing Walk the Line. Of course, it doesn’t matter if you never saw that Johnny Cash “biopic,” because Walk Hard is a Judd Apatow production (directed by Freaks and Geeks crony Kasdan), meaning it will be universally hilarious and exclusive to no one. Forget reviving the R-rated comedy; Apatow has revived comedy altogether, and Walk Hard will be but another notch on his belt. And hey, if uber-camera-shy White Stripes frontman Jack White signs on to play/satirize Elvis, that’s all the endorsement you need.
When: Dec. 21
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Who: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman and Sacha Baron Cohen; directed by Tim Burton
What: After being unjustly sent to prison, Sweeney Todd (Depp)–formerly Benjamin Barker–vows to get revenge on all those who wronged him. And does he ever, by setting up a sinister barbershop partnership with another tenant, Mrs. Lovett (Bonham Carter). Among the men whose head he wants to shave (off) is the judge (Rickman) who sentenced him in the first place.
Why: Try as they might, Depp and Burton just cannot bear to be apart for long periods of time–and aren’t we lucky for their separation anxiety. Only Depp and Burton could instantly turn a musical cool where all others are the antitheses thereof. Out with the peppy, campy, light-even-when-heavy musicals; in with the macabre, bleak stuff. And off with patrons’ heads!
When: Dec. 21
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Who: Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano; directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
What: An adaptation of Upton Sinclair’s novel Oil!, There Will Be Blood is about…you guessed it. But with oil inevitably comes corruption (as is the allegorical nod to modern times by the writer-director), primarily from Day-Lewis’ turn-of-the-century tycoon, Plainview.
Why: Take one look at the (year’s best) trailer and you’ll be sold, if not fully creeped out. A lot of trailers look enticing; There Will Be Blood actually has the geniuses, Anderson and Day-Lewis, to back it up. Separately, their projects are worth getting excited for, but together, in the same movie, it’s a dream collaboration come true. PTA (Magnolia, Boogie Nights, Punch Drunk Love) is a singular director who doesn’t play by Hollywood’s confining rules, and Day-Lewis is his thespian equivalent. Indeed, there will be Oscar nominations for There Will Be Blood.
When: Dec. 26
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Who: Jack Black, Mia Farrow, Danny Glover and Mos Def ; directed by Michel Gondry
What: When Jerry (Black) tries to ruin a power plant he believes is melting his brain, he accidentally erases all the videos from the store at which his buddy, Mike (Mos Def), works. In order to save Mike’s job, the two friends must re-create every single movie a customer tries to rent. Such a simple premise–where’s the creativity, Gondry?! (Kidding, of course.)
Why: It’s not just Jack Black who has us stoked about Be Kind Rewind, although that doesn’t hurt. Truth be told, this is a Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) movie through and through, in case you couldn’t ascertain as much from the maximalist concept. Few write like Gondry, but nobody directs like him, and it’ll be fun(ny) to see exactly what he does with yet another seemingly unfilmable idea. The man thrives on unfilmability.
When: Jan. 25
Honorable Mentions:
Persepolis (Dec. 25)
With the voices of Sean Penn, Catherine Deneuve, Iggy Pop and Gena Rowlands, it’s no coincidence that the godfather of punk, Iggy Pop, lays down vocals for Persepolis–the animated movie co-directed by Marjane Satrapi (from her graphic novel of the same name). It’s about an Iranian girl who overcomes the atrocities of her homeland with help from punk and other music movements. Expect it to be unlike anything you’ve seen this year, and expect Satrapi and co-director Vincent Paronnaud’s to be making Oscar acceptance speeches come February.
Cloverfield (Jan. 18)
Even the trailer for this J.J. Abrams-produced apocalyptic thriller seems tight-lipped, beyond the obvious: New York City is under some otherworldly attack, and no iconic statues or buildings are spared. But it’s such secrecy, a rarity these days, that has us even more excited. Of course, the Abrams factor doesn’t hurt.
John Rambo (Jan. 25)
Since we last saw Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo 19 years ago, he has retreated to Thailand, where he leads a solitary life. But when the long-running civil war in the nearby Thai-Burma border gets out of control, his simple life becomes a little more complicated–and before long, he’s back! So what if everything about this Rambo is laughable, from its premise to Stallone directing to its 19-year delay to its senior-citizen-discount-eligible protagonist; whether you see it for the unintentional laughs or the intentional action, it’ll be good, if silly, popcorn fun.
Charlie Bartlett (Feb. 1)
Despite the dreaded pushback, Charlie Bartlett remains very intriguing. ‘It’ boy Anton Yelchin (Alpha Dog, next year’s Star Trek prequel) stars as Bartlett, self-appointed psychiatrist to his high school student body, who doles out pills like candy. With Yelchin, Robert Downey Jr. and Hope Davis on board, Charlie Bartlett is a safe bet to be well-acted and darkly comical–in addition to a biting commentary on modern high school. It’s the anti-Fast Times at Ridgemont High AND-American Pie.
Jumper (Feb. 15)
A lot is riding on director Doug Liman’s (Swingers) first outing since the Brangelina storm surrounding Mr. and Mrs. Smith catapulted him to elite status in the ever-changing hierarchy of directors. Having dabbled in every other genre, the director finally tries his hand at sci-fi, with this story of a young man (Hayden Christensen) who discovers the good and bad of being able to teleport anywhere. With Heroes proving a smash hit on the small screen, this scaled-up, darker version could be massive, not to mention highly exciting.
