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10 Films To See In December
We've made it to the final month of the year and while awards chatter clouds up the airwaves, we're here to help sift through the many promising options at the theaters. In fact, there's so many that a number of matinees could have easily made our top rundown. Check out the list below and return at the end of the month (and throughout) as we look back on the year in cinema.
Matinees: Cheerful Weather for the Wedding (12/7), Heleno (12/7), In Our Nature (12/7), Save the Date (12/14), The Guilt Trip (12/19), Not Fade Away (12/21), On the Road (12/21) and West of Memphis (12/25)
10. The Impossible (Juan Antonio Bayona; Dec. 21st)
Synopsis: An account of a family caught, with tens of thousands of strangers, in the mayhem of one of the worst natural catastrophes of our time.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Despite the overly saccharine trailer for this tsunami drama, Bayona has proven to have a strong grasp of tone in his last film, The Orphanage, and he looks to continue it here. Back during its TIFF premiere, we praised the film, saying it works "a heartfelt eulogy rather than a shameless attempt at manufacturing grief and sorrow for the wrong motivations." Despite the promising leading duo of Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor, it's their child (played by Tom Holland) that's the one to watch for.
9. Les Miserables (Tom Hooper; Dec. 25th)
Synopsis: In 19th-century France, Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after he breaks parole, agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's daughter, Cosette. This fateful decision changes their lives forever.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: As a Christmas release approaches, it is difficult to ignore what will be the most extravagant, booming motion picture of the month. While this adaptation of the classic story from The King's Speech director Tom Hooper is said to have a stellar performance from Anne Hathaway and excellent first act, I'm curious if the rest makes for a worthy, nearly three-hour musical.
8. Jack Reacher (Christopher McQuarrie; Dec. 21st)
Synopsis: A homicide investigator digs deeper into a case involving a trained military sniper who shot five random victims.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: It's difficult to imagine Tom Cruise's return to December action lead will be as successful as last year's Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, but Christopher McQuarrie's latest is shaping up to be one of the more purely entertaining entries into the genre this season. Add in Werner Herzog as the villain, and my ticket is already bought.
7. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Peter Jackson; Dec. 14th)
Synopsis: A curious hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, journeys to the Lonely Mountain with a vigorous group of dwarves to reclaim a treasure stolen from them by the dragon Smaug.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Although initial reviews were of the middling variety, there seemed to one consensus: it's nice to be back in Middle Earth. Few filmmakers can successfully capture an entire world like Peter Jackson and while the first step in this new trilogy may be rocky, I'm greatly looking forward to the experience of his new HFR technology, for better or worse.
6. This Is 40 (Judd Apatow; Dec. 21st)
Synopsis: A look at the lives of Pete and Debbie a few years after the events of Knocked Up.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Despite the many producing efforts he's involved in, few directors are able to replicate Judd Apatow's knack for mixing comedy and drama. While he went a bit overboard in the latter category with his last effort, Funny People, his latest -- a spin-off of his successful Knocked Up -- sees him taking on the familiar territory of being middle-aged and all the joys (and pain) that come with it.
5. Promised Land (Gus van Sant; Dec. 28th)
Synopsis: A salesman for a natural gas company experiences life-changing events after arriving in a small town, where his corporation wants to tap into the available resources.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: While Matt Damon handed over his would-be directorial debut to the man that helped launched his career, Gus van Sant, the actor is still a major force in this anti-fracking drama. Carrying the weight with his lead performance, his Good Will Hunting director takes an unassuming style based on a surprisingly strong screenplay (written by Damon with his co-star John Krasinski) that deals with nuanced moral issues amongst a small-town community. While the finale missteps, the journey leading to it more than makes up for any misgivings.
4. Tabu (Miguel Gomes; Dec. 26th)
Synopsis: A love story told in two unique parts deftly moving between contemporary Portugal, colonial Africa and the landscape of dreams, director Miguel Gomes conjures an enthralling story of obsession, memory and dangerous forbidden romance.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Although most readers outside New York City won't be able to see this drama until 2013, the Berlin winner is finally getting a limited release at the end of the month. During the New York Film Festival, we said this drama is "one of the year’s true incarnations of movie magic...an irresistible tailspin into a world that covers everything from an old woman’s gambling addiction to suspected witchcraft to symbolic crocodiles." Sold yet? check out the fantastic trailer above.
3. Zero Dark Thirty (Kathryn Bigelow; Dec. 19th)
Synopsis: A chronicle of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks, and his death at the hands of the Navy SEAL Team 6 in May, 2011.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Following up her awards sweep for The Hurt Locker, director Kathryn Bigelow and writer Mark Boal chart out an intense, decade-long manhunt with an effective, thorough capturing of this incredible story. Despite knowing the outcome, the filmmakers have taken a factual approach and given a remarkable Jessica Chastain the emotional throughline of the story, resulting in a powerful finale.
2. Amour (Michael Haneke, Dec. 19th)
Synopsis: Georges and Anne are in their eighties. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter, who is also a musician, lives abroad with her family. One day, Anne has an attack. The couple's bond of love is severely tested.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Leave it to Michael Haneke to deliver the most affecting film of the year. Amour marks the most emotionally resonant film from the auteur's career, as we follow an aging couple and a decisions every single human must face. As we said in our Cannes review, "unflinching, unnerving and unforgettable, Amour is an incredible testament to the power of love we have for those closest to our hearts while forcing us to question the very essence of our own morality when confronted with the clocks of fate."
1. Django Unchained (Quentin Tarantino; Dec. 25th)
Synopsis: With the help of his mentor, a slave-turned-bounty hunter sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: It's been near the top of my most-anticipated films of the year list, but now Quentin Tarantino's latest is finally upon us and I couldn't think of a better way to cap off the year in cinema. Early positive impressions have justified the excitement surrounding this "southern," but in a mere few weeks, we'll all be able to witness the one-of-kind entertainment that only Tarantino can offer.
All releases:
What are you looking forward to this month?
We've made it to the final month of the year and while awards chatter clouds up the airwaves, we're here to help sift through the many promising options at the theaters. In fact, there's so many that a number of matinees could have easily made our top rundown. Check out the list below and return at the end of the month (and throughout) as we look back on the year in cinema.
Matinees: Cheerful Weather for the Wedding (12/7), Heleno (12/7), In Our Nature (12/7), Save the Date (12/14), The Guilt Trip (12/19), Not Fade Away (12/21), On the Road (12/21) and West of Memphis (12/25)
10. The Impossible (Juan Antonio Bayona; Dec. 21st)
Synopsis: An account of a family caught, with tens of thousands of strangers, in the mayhem of one of the worst natural catastrophes of our time.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Despite the overly saccharine trailer for this tsunami drama, Bayona has proven to have a strong grasp of tone in his last film, The Orphanage, and he looks to continue it here. Back during its TIFF premiere, we praised the film, saying it works "a heartfelt eulogy rather than a shameless attempt at manufacturing grief and sorrow for the wrong motivations." Despite the promising leading duo of Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor, it's their child (played by Tom Holland) that's the one to watch for.
9. Les Miserables (Tom Hooper; Dec. 25th)
Synopsis: In 19th-century France, Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after he breaks parole, agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's daughter, Cosette. This fateful decision changes their lives forever.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: As a Christmas release approaches, it is difficult to ignore what will be the most extravagant, booming motion picture of the month. While this adaptation of the classic story from The King's Speech director Tom Hooper is said to have a stellar performance from Anne Hathaway and excellent first act, I'm curious if the rest makes for a worthy, nearly three-hour musical.
8. Jack Reacher (Christopher McQuarrie; Dec. 21st)
Synopsis: A homicide investigator digs deeper into a case involving a trained military sniper who shot five random victims.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: It's difficult to imagine Tom Cruise's return to December action lead will be as successful as last year's Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, but Christopher McQuarrie's latest is shaping up to be one of the more purely entertaining entries into the genre this season. Add in Werner Herzog as the villain, and my ticket is already bought.
7. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Peter Jackson; Dec. 14th)
Synopsis: A curious hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, journeys to the Lonely Mountain with a vigorous group of dwarves to reclaim a treasure stolen from them by the dragon Smaug.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Although initial reviews were of the middling variety, there seemed to one consensus: it's nice to be back in Middle Earth. Few filmmakers can successfully capture an entire world like Peter Jackson and while the first step in this new trilogy may be rocky, I'm greatly looking forward to the experience of his new HFR technology, for better or worse.
6. This Is 40 (Judd Apatow; Dec. 21st)
Synopsis: A look at the lives of Pete and Debbie a few years after the events of Knocked Up.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Despite the many producing efforts he's involved in, few directors are able to replicate Judd Apatow's knack for mixing comedy and drama. While he went a bit overboard in the latter category with his last effort, Funny People, his latest -- a spin-off of his successful Knocked Up -- sees him taking on the familiar territory of being middle-aged and all the joys (and pain) that come with it.
5. Promised Land (Gus van Sant; Dec. 28th)
Synopsis: A salesman for a natural gas company experiences life-changing events after arriving in a small town, where his corporation wants to tap into the available resources.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: While Matt Damon handed over his would-be directorial debut to the man that helped launched his career, Gus van Sant, the actor is still a major force in this anti-fracking drama. Carrying the weight with his lead performance, his Good Will Hunting director takes an unassuming style based on a surprisingly strong screenplay (written by Damon with his co-star John Krasinski) that deals with nuanced moral issues amongst a small-town community. While the finale missteps, the journey leading to it more than makes up for any misgivings.
4. Tabu (Miguel Gomes; Dec. 26th)
Synopsis: A love story told in two unique parts deftly moving between contemporary Portugal, colonial Africa and the landscape of dreams, director Miguel Gomes conjures an enthralling story of obsession, memory and dangerous forbidden romance.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Although most readers outside New York City won't be able to see this drama until 2013, the Berlin winner is finally getting a limited release at the end of the month. During the New York Film Festival, we said this drama is "one of the year’s true incarnations of movie magic...an irresistible tailspin into a world that covers everything from an old woman’s gambling addiction to suspected witchcraft to symbolic crocodiles." Sold yet? check out the fantastic trailer above.
3. Zero Dark Thirty (Kathryn Bigelow; Dec. 19th)
Synopsis: A chronicle of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks, and his death at the hands of the Navy SEAL Team 6 in May, 2011.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Following up her awards sweep for The Hurt Locker, director Kathryn Bigelow and writer Mark Boal chart out an intense, decade-long manhunt with an effective, thorough capturing of this incredible story. Despite knowing the outcome, the filmmakers have taken a factual approach and given a remarkable Jessica Chastain the emotional throughline of the story, resulting in a powerful finale.
2. Amour (Michael Haneke, Dec. 19th)
Synopsis: Georges and Anne are in their eighties. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter, who is also a musician, lives abroad with her family. One day, Anne has an attack. The couple's bond of love is severely tested.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: Leave it to Michael Haneke to deliver the most affecting film of the year. Amour marks the most emotionally resonant film from the auteur's career, as we follow an aging couple and a decisions every single human must face. As we said in our Cannes review, "unflinching, unnerving and unforgettable, Amour is an incredible testament to the power of love we have for those closest to our hearts while forcing us to question the very essence of our own morality when confronted with the clocks of fate."
1. Django Unchained (Quentin Tarantino; Dec. 25th)
Synopsis: With the help of his mentor, a slave-turned-bounty hunter sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: It's been near the top of my most-anticipated films of the year list, but now Quentin Tarantino's latest is finally upon us and I couldn't think of a better way to cap off the year in cinema. Early positive impressions have justified the excitement surrounding this "southern," but in a mere few weeks, we'll all be able to witness the one-of-kind entertainment that only Tarantino can offer.
All releases:
What are you looking forward to this month?
