The holiday season is upon us and Hollywood will be releasing a slew of new flicks in the next few weeks, many of them potential Oscar contenders. With box office numbers higher during the holiday season, the studios will release a variety of movies. Here is an eclectic mix of some of the films to come for the rest of December.
Dec. 5
“Last Samurai”
Tom Cruise’s “Last Samurai” has been one of the most talked about films of the year and one of the most heavily advertised. The movie centers on Cruise’s character, Nathan Algren, a downtrodden Civil War veteran asked to train the Emperor of Japan’s army in American weaponry. What follows, according to Movie-Vault.com, is a movie that is a “testament that clichés are older than period films.” The movie surely will be action-filled, but the acting chops, or lack thereof, of Cruise and a lack of a strong supporting cast may not carry this film.
“Big Fish”
Another potential Oscar film is the low-key “Big Fish.” With a cast including Jessica Lange, Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney and Alison Lohman, the star power alone should attract some fans. The usually creepy Tim Burton directs the fantasy drama, which is based on vignettes from the book “Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions” by Southern writer/illustrator Daniel Wallace. Billy Crudup plays William Bloom, a young man who never knew his dying father. To make a connection, William recollects elaborate memories of his father as a young man using what he knows and the stories he remembers.
“Honey”
As if filmgoers hadn’t had enough of recent aspiring dancer movies with “Center Stage” and “Save the Last Dance,” Jessica Alba plays the title role in “Honey,” the story of an aspiring hip-hop choreographer. MSN Entertainment summarizes the plot as such, “watching the clock until her bartending shift ends, Honey comes alive on the dance club floor, where her training collides with her passion and her smooth moves get her noticed.” Of course, internal conflicts will arise and Honey will have to choose fame or teaching underprivileged children.
Dec. 12
“Stuck on You”
The directing Farrelly brothers are at it again. This time, the “Dumb and Dumber” directors seek to revamp that plot line with Siamese twins and plenty of celebrity cameos. Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear play Bob and Walt, two brothers who refused separation surgery until they become celebrities and begin to question their closeness. The movie also stars Cher and Eva Mendes. One has to wonder what the draw of this movie was to attract Academy Award winners.
“Something’s Gotta Give”
Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton star in “Something’s Gotta Give,” a romantic comedy about May-December romances. Nicholson plays Harry Langer, a swinging entertainment executive surrounded by plenty of young girlfriends, although he is quite old. He winds up dating Marin the daughter of Erica, a successful playwright with no love life. He has a heart attack and stays in her house and becomes fond of Keaton’s character. Keanu Reeves also appears as Langer’s doctor and competition for Erica, although he is much younger than she.
Dec. 17-19
“Mona Lisa Smile”
Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Julia Stiles star in the chick flick of the season, “Mona Lisa Smile.” Roberts plays Katherine Watson, a new professor at Wellesley College for Women who encourages her students to be more than the wives of Harvard men. Trailers for the movie show great cinematic direction and period costuming.
“Lord of the Rings: Return of the King”
A movie that needs no introduction, “Lord of the Rings: Return of the King” finally will be released to its legions of rabid fans. The movie picks up where “The Two Towers” left off and includes the same cast. Those who haven’t read the books will find out what happens to the one ring to rule them all.
Dec. 25
“Cold Mountain”
The entertainment presses have been buzzing with gossip about “Cold Mountain” concerning a possible romance between the two stars Nicole Kidman and Jude Law.
Many outlets also report Kidman is a shoo-in for another Oscar nomination for her performance as Ada, the sweetheart of Inman (Law), a Confederate soldier on a dangerous journey home. Renee Zellweger plays Ruby, a drifter that helps Ada survive and keep her farm alive. The movie could possibly earn many Oscar nominations.
“Peter Pan”
Christmas day is usually a good time to release family movies. Universal Pictures will present the first live action “Peter Pan” since the silent era. The classic story will remain intact, but will feature computerized special effects the animated version and the stage performances could never accomplish. The cast features relatively unknown Jeremy Sumpter in the title role and Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy of “Harry Potter”) as Captain Hook.
“The Company”
Neve Campbell has been out of sight since the “Scream” trilogies and she makes her return with “The Company,” a look into the world of a ballet company.
The Joffrey Ballet cooperated in this film no doubt to show off their dancers and choreography. Campbell plays Ry, a dancer struggling with romance and the dance world. Though acclaimed director Robert Altman directed the film, finding an audience other than aspiring and former dancers may prove difficult.