People who know me personally know I love the holiday season. I love Christmas, the decorating, the shopping, the music, the holiday movies that have become traditions in our home, and almost everything about Christmas brings me great joy. On top of all of that, December is the month when Hollywood sends out its best hoping to catch the eye of Oscar. Here are eight films I am really looking forward to seeing very soon:
OPEN … AND ENJOY
The Imitation Game Nov. 28
Benedict Cumberbatch in “The Imitation Game.” (Photo courtesy of the Weinstein Company)
The trailer has been in theatres for months now. I am certain I have seen it at least fifty times. Every single time, however, I see something new. The production values seem incredible and the story intriguing. It also just picked up several Hollywood Film Awards, which might mean it is destined for a few Oscars. (Disclaimer: HFA do not hold the prestige of an Academy Award.)
STUDIO: The Weinstein Company
DIRECTOR: Morten Tyldum
MPAA RATING: PG-13 (for some sexual references, mature thematic material and historical smoking)
SCREENWRITER: Graham Moore
STARRING: Keira Knightley, Allen Leech, Mark Strong, Charles Dance, Matthew Goode, Benedict Cumberbatch, Matthew Beard, Rory Kinnear
GENRE: Drama, Biography
The Theory of Everything Friday
The film seems to explain some of the compelling ideas of Stephen Hawking while also depicting the love between him and his first wife as Hawking became more and more debilitated by his disease. Another glimpse at history that has my interest peaking.
STUDIO: Focus Features
DIRECTOR: James Marsh
MPAA RATING: PG-13 (for some thematic elements and suggestive material)
SCREENWRITER: Anthony McCarten
STARRING: David Thewlis, Emily Watson, Charlie Cox, Simon McBurney, Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones
GENRE: Drama, Romance
Mr. Turner Dec. 19
Any film from Mike Leigh has my attention. He directed two films that I consider some of the best family dramas ever: “Secrets and Lies” and “Vera Drake.” This story of an artist who is never given the credit he deserves seems to be a great new canvas for Leigh to offer insight on human nature.
More information from IMDB.com
Unbroken Dec. 25
Finn Wittrock as Francis ‘Mac’ McNamara in “Unbroken.” (Photo courtesy of Legendary Pictures)
The trailer almost brings tears to my eyes, at least it did the first several times I saw it. I have friends who have read the book and say it is an incredible experience. The trailer shows a lot, but I am hoping director Angelina Jolie has saved the best parts for the cinema.
STUDIO: Universal Pictures
DIRECTOR: Angelina Jolie
MPAA RATING: PG-13 (for war violence including intense sequences of brutality, and for brief language)
SCREENWRITERS: Richard LaGravenese, William Nicholson,Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
STARRING: Garrett Hedlund, Jack O’Connell, Domhnall Gleeson, Finn Wittrock, Miyavi
GENRE: Drama
Foxcatcher Out now
Steve Carrell transformed by make-up and giving a performance of a lifetime is enough to get me into a theatre seat. I know very little about the true story upon which this film is based, and I am hoping to keep it that way. I want the experience of learning this story through the film.
STUDIO: Sony Pictures Classics
DIRECTOR: Bennett Miller
MPAA RATING: R (for some drug use and a scene of violence)
SCREENWRITERS: Dan Futterman, E. Max Frye
STARRING: Mark Ruffalo, Steve Carell, Sienna Miller, Vanessa Redgrave, Channing Tatum, Anthony Michael Hall
GENRE: Drama
Wild Dec. 5
From the director of “Dallas Buyers Club,” along comes this film with Reese Witherspoon. That is really all one needs to know. She is getting some Oscar buzz again. The story looks powerful as well. All of us who have experienced the loss of our mother may want to take a box of tissues with us; at least that is what I have heard.
More information from IMDB.com
The Homesman Out now
This looks to be one of the best westerns since Clint Eastwood’s Oscar-winning “Unforgiven.” Directed by and starring Tommy Lee Jones (who was one of the leads in the greatest western ever filmed, “Lonesome Dove,”), the film looks great and was a stellar cast who have collected lots of previous Oscars and nominations.
STUDIO: Roadside Attractions
DIRECTOR: Tommy Lee Jones
MPAA RATING: R (for violence, sexual content, some disturbing behavior and nudity)
SCREENWRITERS: Tommy Lee Jones, Kieran Fitzgerald, Wesley A. Oliver
STARRING: Tommy Lee Jones, Meryl Streep, Miranda Otto,Hilary Swank, James Spader, Hailee Steinfeld, Grace Gummer, Sonja Richter
GENRE: Drama
Selma Dec. 25
David Oyelowo and Carmen Ejogo as Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King in “Selma.” (Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures)
I have not seen a trailer, poster or anything about this film other than a few snapshots, but the buzz is that it could completely change the Oscar race by becoming the front runner as soon as critics start to see it.
STUDIO: Paramount Pictures
DIRECTOR: Ava DuVernay
MPAA RATING: N/A
SCREENWRITER: Paul Webb
STARRING: Tim Roth, Tom Wilkinson, Oprah Winfrey,Alessandro Nivola, Cuba Gooding Jr., David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo, Lorraine Toussaint, Giovanni Ribisi Common
GENRE: Drama, Biography
STOCKING STUFFERS
These are the eight I am most anxious to see. But don’t miss out on a few more that are on my list for the holiday season: “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” “Into the Woods,” “Exodus: Gods and Kings,” “American Sniper” and “A Most Violent Year.” May you have a Merry Christmas and see a few great films during the season!
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