- Shame
- Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
- Young Adult
- We Need To Talk About Kevin
- Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
- Carnage
- The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
- The Adventures of TinTin
- Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
- We Bought A Zoo
- War Horse
- The Iron Lady
Synopsis' for each film are credited to IMDb
Shame
Synopsis: In New York City, Brandon's carefully cultivated private life -- which allows him to indulge his sexual addiction -- is disrupted when his sister Cissy arrives unannounced for an indefinite stay.
Directed by Steve McQueen. Starring Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan.
In theaters December 2nd.
Reviews on the film are saying that this is Fassbender's best movie to date, and I mean, the guys already had a pretty fantastic year with Jane Eyre, X-Men: First Class, and A Dangerous Method. Fassbender is proving that he's a heavyweight, and that he'll be around for a while. But add in the sensational Carey Mulligan, well you have two actors that are only getting bigger and bigger. It's definitely possible for Fassbender to gather a nomination for Best Actor, but will he win? Who the hell knows with The Academy.
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Synopsis: In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6's echelons.
Directed by Tomas Alfredson. Starring Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Toby Johns, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Ciarán Hinds.
In theaters December 9th.
I remember about a year and a half ago when I first read about this film coming together...I said to myself, this is a film to keep an eye on. I saw the cast get bigger and bigger, and I got more excited as time went on. And now, it's almost here. And I can't wait. I've been high on this film from the start, and I've said to many friends that this is going to be the best movie of the year. I've seen the mini-series, and it was one of the best I've seen. I'm calling it now, this will be the best movie of the year, and Gary Oldman will win Best Actor. Tomas Alfredson is a fine director, and he may have only one film under his belt (Let The Right One In), but it's by far the best vampire movie I've seen. I expect this to be even better.
Young Adult
Synopsis: Soon after her divorce, a fiction writer returns to her home in small-town Minnesota, looking to rekindle a romance with her ex-boyfriend, who is now married with kids.
Directed by Jason Reitman. Starring Charlize Theron, Patrick Wilson, Patton Oswalt, and J.K. Simmons
In theaters December 9th.
From the director and writer pair who brought us Juno, they team up again for what looks like another fantastic hilarious film. I've always been a big fan of Reitman, starting from Thank You For Smoking, and he seems to bring out the best in every actor who he works with. Hell, he makes Danny McBride do a serious film in Up In The Air, and for the brief time he's in the film, he has moments where he shines. From the reviews I'm hearing, Theron is just an awful human being, but is fantastic, and Patton Oswalt steals the film. Which is a sentence I don't really get to say a lot. Oswalt is a good actor, he just doesn't get many large roles. But if what I hear is true, there could be a possible Best Supporting Actor nomination in his future. We'll just wait and see.
We Need To Talk About Kevin
Synopsis: The mother of a teenage boy who went on a high-school killing spree tries to deal with her grief - and feelings of responsibility for her child's actions.
Directed by Lynne Ramsay. Starring Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, and Ezra Miller.
In theaters December 9th.
This isn't the first movie to take on a topic such as sensitive as this during the year. The first film, Beautiful Boy, came out in June, and it certainly shouldn't be forgotten. But it may not be the better of the two. We Need To Talk About Kevin doesn't focus on both parents like the first movie does, but focuses on the mother, who is tragically portrayed by Tilda Swinton. In what people are calling Swinton's best film yet, We Need To Talk About Kevin seems to be steamrolling into Oscar season. The film will only be in theaters for one week in both LA and NYC just to make it eligible, and if you're looking for a heavy family drama, this is the film to see.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Synopsis: Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson join forces to outwit and bring down their fiercest adversary, Professor Moriarty.
Directed by Guy Ritchie. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris, Noomi Rapace, Stephen Fry, Rachel McAdams, and Kelly Reilly
In theaters December 16th.
I was a very, very big fan of the first Sherlock Holmes film...the action, the humor, and just the fantastic chemistry between Downey and Law. From what I've been reading from the cast of this second film, it seems like everything will be back, but this time with the first villain that's ever been created in the history of literature. Moriarty has always been Sherlock's toughest opponent, and it'll be exciting to see Downey take on a presence such as Jared Harris. Many of you are probably wondering, "Who the fuck is that guy?" Well! For those who don't know, watch Mad Men. And when you hit season 3, you'll see. Harris is intelligent, intimidating, and he can hold his own. Plus, adding in the humor of Stephen Fry as Sherlock's brother Mycroft, and you already should know that this film will be exhilarating. Don't miss it.
Carnage
Synopsis: Tells the story of two sets of parents who decide to have a cordial meeting after their sons are involved in a schoolyard brawl.
Directed by Roman Polanski. Starring Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz, and John C. Reilly
After watching the trailer for the first time, I just couldn't stop laughing. The film seems fantastically funny, and the chemistry between the two couples is...look. All that can be said is that the film is just so, so funny. Jodie Foster plays the wife of John C. Reilly, and Kate Winslet plays the wife of Christoph Waltz. Both seem to be perfect pairs if I do say so myself. Polanski is a fantastic director. The cast is full of fantastic actors. And to see the way they all play of each other will be great.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Synopsis: Journalist Mikael Blomkvist is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing for forty years by Lisbeth Salander, a young computer hacker.
Directed by David Fincher. Starring Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Robin Wright, Christopher Plummer, and Stellan Skarsgård
In theaters December 21st.
It's funny. Rooney Mara was in The Social Network for, what, a total of 15 minutes? And out of that 15 minutes, the first scene she was in was 9 minutes, so that's more than half. And with those 15 minutes, she has become a name to keep an eye on. She completely stole that scene away from Jesse Eisenberg, who went on to garner a nomination for Best Actor. And now, here she is, taking on the role of hacker Lisbeth Salander in the David Fincher adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. From the images and trailers that have been released, all I can say is, god damn this is going to be amazing. I'm not always a fan of Daniel Craig, there's just something with his face. But some films he is pretty damn good, so I'm interested to see what Fincher is able to bring out of Craig. David Fincher hasn't made a bad movie yet, I don't see why he would start now.
The Adventures of Tintin
Synopsis: Tintin and Captain Haddock set off on a treasure hunt for a sunken ship commanded by Haddock's ancestor. But someone else is in search of the ship.
Directed by Steven Speilberg. Starring Daniel Craig, Jamie Bell, Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis, Cary Elwes, Toby Jones, and Nick Frost.
In theaters December 21st.
Steven Spielberg. Peter Jackson. Steven Moffat. Edgar Wright. Joe Cornish. John Williams. The Adventures of Tintin could very well have the best crew of any film this year. Spielberg is a legend. Jackson has to be respected for what he's done with The Lord of the Rings. Moffat is a genius who has revolutionized the British TV series Doctor Who. Edgar Wright is one of the funniest writers and directors in the business today. Cornish is an up-and-comer who brought the great alien film Attack the Block. And John Williams has given us some of the greatest scores of all time. Combine that with an all-star voice cast that includes alum from each crew member (Serkis and Jackson; Pegg/Frost and Wright for example), and this film will blow you away. It's being received extremely well over in Britain, and I don't see why it wouldn't hear. The animation looks incredible, and if any animated film could win Best Picture, this has the best chance.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Synopsis: A nine-year-old amateur inventor, jewelry designer, astrophysicist, tambourine player, and pacifist searches New York for the lock that matches a mysterious key left by his father when he was killed in the September 11 attacks.
Directed by Stephen Daldry. Starring Thomas Horn, Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, John Goodman, Max von Sydow, Viola Davis, and Jeffrey Wright
In theaters December 25th.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is a book that's very close to my heart. Written by Jonathan Safran Foer, it focuses on a young kid who goes on a massive journey throughout New York for one lock that will fit the key he possesses. The book is one unlike any I've ever read before, and I recommend it to everyone. As for the movie, well...it has Tom Hanks. Enough said. But really. The film is written by Eric Roth, who is able to present long journeys pretty well in a script like the one that takes place in the novel. Roth is the screenwriter for both Forrest Gump and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, so he's able to find a way to put everything together. Daldry has been nominated for Best Director in each of the three movies he's put together, and you include the all-star cast as well as the source material...and this is Oscar bait. This film could do so well, and I expect that it will.
We Bought A Zoo
Synopsis: Set in Southern California, a father moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo.
Directed by Cameron Crowe. Starring Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Elle Fanning, Patrick Fugit, and John Michael Higgins
In theaters December 23rd
2005. That's the year Cameron Crowe's last film came out. And it was Elizabethtown, which I'm certain many people have tried very hard to forget. Before that...thing...came out though, it's safe to say that Crowe has done a fantastic job at putting together well done movies, but even better screenplays. Almost Famous won an Oscar for Best Screenplay while Jerry Maguire was nominated for Best Screenplay. Also, don't forget about Say Anything..., which is one of the most quotable films that's not directed by John Hughes. Hell, one of the lines in the trailer seems like one that'll stick around for a lifetime, and you know what? People will remember. They always do. A person may not remember a character, an actor, or a director. But people will always remember lines. And if We Bought A Zoo is as well-written as Crowe's past films, then this could be a pretty damn good movie.
War Horse
Synopsis: Follows a young man named Albert and his horse, Joey, and how their bond is broken when Joey is sold to the cavalry and sent to the trenches of World War One. Despite being too young to enlist, Albert heads to France to save his friend.
Directed by Steven Spielberg. Starring Tom Hiddleston, Benedict Cumberbatch, David Thewlis, Emily Watson, Jeremy Irvine, Toby Kebbell, and Eddie Marsan
In theaters December 25th
Yeah. Another Steven Speilberg movie. And as excited as I may be for this movie, I really don't know what to write about it. I mean, yeah, it's a movie about a man and a horse. I could go on and rave about the magnificent things the horse may have seen and go all nostalgic on your asses, but, I won't. All I can say is this really. That War Horse, so far, is a front-runner for the Best Picture Oscar; that Steven Speilberg is a genius of a man; that horses are horrible people (points if you get the reference). Anywho, if you've read the list up to this point, then I feel you trust my judgement, at least even a little. If you do, then trust this. War Horse. See it.
The Iron Lady
Synopsis: A look at the life of Margaret Thatcher, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, with a focus on the price she paid for power.
Directed by Phyllida Lloyd. Starring Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Anthony Head, Harry Lloyd, and Iain Glen.
In theaters December 31st in NYC/LA, expands on January 13th
I admit, I'm advertising this movie for the wrong reason. Not Meryl Streep or Jim Broadbent. But for Anthony Head. I'm a fanboy. I admit it. I love the guy. I've watched him in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Doctor Who, I've watched a few episodes of Merlin, and I want to see anything else that has him involved. But. Looking at the actual movie, yeah, Oscar bait. Completely. I mean. Hell. It's Meryl Fucking Streep. She's a badass. She touches a movie, Oscar nom. Does she win? Hardly. Not her fault though. I mean, a lot of actresses just end up finding the right movie that propels them to such great heights. Will this be the film everyone remembers Streep for? Please. People will remember her for being an ageless wonder who is the just fantastic. And for that, I will see this movie. Along with Anthony Head. And Jim Broadbent ain't bad either.
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