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Chill for films
Winter movie scene looks bright
"Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel."
By MICHAEL SMITH World Scene Writer
Published: 11/29/2009 2:21 AM
Last Modified: 11/29/2009 4:55 AM
This holiday season and winter, there are
movies for the whole family to enjoy (once
the kids earn their Christmas break).
There are Academy Award hopefuls
(Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela; the
musical “Nine” features six Oscar winners).
There are crowd-pleasers (Robert
Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes just sounds right).
And then there’s “Avatar,” both the 800-pound
gorilla and the elephant in the room, the one with
the rumored budget of up to $500 million, the first
movie since “Titanic” for filmmaker James Cameron.
There’s something for everyone to unwrap this
holiday, all the way into the chill of February.
DECEMBER
Armored
As in armored car, with a team of guards
convincing the new guy (Columbus Short
of “Stomp the Yard”) to join them in a $42
million heist. Matt Dillon and Laurence Fishburne
star in this inside job. Dec. 4
Everyone’s Fine
Robert De Niro plays a father who travels
across the country to reconnect with his
children (played by Drew Barrymore, Sam
Rockwell and Kate Beckinsale) at the holidays.
Dec. 4
Brothers
When a military man (Tobey Maguire)
goes missing overseas, a wayward brother
(Jake Gyllenhaal) helps to care for the soldier’s
wife (Natalie Portman) and children.
Then he falls in love with the wife. Then his
brother reappears. That’s drama. Dec. 4
Invictus
Directed by Clint Eastwood and starring
Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela, the
movie tells the story of the South African
leader working to unite his country. He finds
his national rugby team’s success in the
1995 World Cup to be an opportunity to
bring people together. Matt Damon stars as
the team’s captain. Dec. 11
The Messenger
Ben Foster (“3:10 to Yuma”) plays a U.S.
soldier returned from Iraq and given the
duty of informing families that their loved
ones have been killed in service to their
country. Woody Harrelson plays his superior
officer in this indie drama. Dec. 11
The Princess and the Frog
Disney returns to traditional hand-painted
animation with a twist on the Grimm’s fairy tale
“The Frog Prince,” but set in 1920s New Orleans
to a jazzy beat. Anika Noni Rose, Terrence
Howard, Oprah Winfrey and John Goodman
are among those providing voices. Dec. 11
Avatar
Twelve years after he became the king
of the world with “Titanic” ($600 million
at the box office, 11 Oscars won), director
James Cameron returns with a story of
humans and aliens doing battle on a planet
called Pandora. Also in Imax. Dec. 18
Did You Hear About the Morgans?
Hugh Grant teams with Sarah Jessica
Parker for this romantic comedy about a
battling New York couple forced into the
witness protection program in the middle
of nowhere (Wyoming). Fish-out-of-water,
anyone? Dec. 18
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
Furry critters Alvin, Simon and Theodore
return for more fun — and for high school
— along with their human pal played by
Jason Lee. Dec. 25
Sherlock Holmes
Imagine Robert Downey Jr. as an adventurous
Holmes and Jude Law as a tough-as-
nails Dr. Watson, and you’ve got the
latest update of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s
detective story. Dec. 25
It’s Complicated
Meryl Streep is a divorcee having an
affair with her ex-husband (Alec Baldwin).
Her new contractor (Steve Martin) would
like to remodel her life with himself as an
addition. From Nancy Meyers, writer-director
of “Something’s Gotta Give.” Dec. 25
Up in the Air
George Clooney plays a corporate downsizer,
constantly traveling to fire employees.
It’s a perfect fit in his life of avoiding permanent
emotional connections and obsessively
collecting frequent-flier miles. But then
he meets a fellow traveler (Vera Farmiga).
Expect intelligence and humor from director
Jason Reitman (“Juno,” “Thank You for
Smoking”). Dec. 25
Nine
First came Federico Fellini’s seminal 1963
foreign film “8½.” Then came “Nine,” the
Tony-winning musical based on the film,
in 1982. Now, finally, comes a film based
on the musical, and the cast is one for the
ages: The glitzy tale of a filmmaker and
the women who surround him has Oscar
winners Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman,
Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Judi Dench
and Sophia Loren. And there’s Kate Hudson.
And Fergie. Yes, we’re a little excited. Can
Day-Lewis sing? Can’t he do it all? Dec. 25
Me and Orson Welles
A bored teen (Zac Efron) talks his way
into a Shakespeare production on Broadway
in 1937, directed at the Mercury Theatre by
no less than Orson Welles. Director Richard
Linklater helms this nostalgia trip that also
stars Claire Danes. Dec. 25
TBA
The Young Victoria
Emily Blunt portrays the early
years of Britain’s Queen Victoria,
including her relationship with
Prince Albert (Rupert Friend of
“Cheri”). Also with Jim Broadbent
and Miranda Richardson.
Gentleman Broncos
A science-fiction author
(Jemaine Clement of “Flight of
the Conchords”) releases his
newest tome, then is accused
of plagiarism by a teen writer in
this comedy.
A Single Man
This adaptation of Christopher
Isham’s novel tells the
story of an English professor
(Colin Firth) over one day’s time,
as he works to move on after the
death of his partner (Matthew
Goode) in a tragic accident.
Serious Moonlight
An attorney (Meg Ryan)
duct-tapes her cheating husband
(Timothy Hutton) to a
toilet rather than let him leave
with his mistress (Kristen Bell).
A dark comedy written by the
late Adrienne Shelly (writerdirector
of “Waitress”).
Crazy Heart
Jeff Bridges plays a brokendown
country singer with a
story to tell to a journalist
(Maggie Gyllenhaal) in this
drama. With Colin Farrell and
Robert Duvall.
JANUARY
The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
Expect the unexpected from director Terry Gilliam ("The Fisher King") with this story of a traveling theater troupe that features Heath Ledger in his final role, as a character that is also seen in transformations played by Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law.
Jan. 8
Daybreakers
A plague is quickly turning the population into vampires (What else?) in the year 2017. This won't be the last bloodsucker movie of 2010, merely the first. With Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe and Sam Neill.
Jan. 8
Youth in Revolt
In this sex comedy, Michael Cera plays a 14-year-old hoping to lose his virginity. How old is this movie?
Jan. 8
Leap Year
When a woman (Amy Adams) makes elaborate plans to propose to her boyfriend (apparently an Irish tradition whenever Leap Day, Feb. 29, comes on the calendar), everything goes wrong, of course. Matthew Goode ("Watchmen") co-stars in this romantic comedy.
Jan. 8
The Lovely Bones
Filmmaker Peter Jackson ("The Lord of the Rings" series) adapts the best-selling book about a young girl who is murdered (Saorise Ronan of "Atonement" plays her) looking down from heaven on her family. She wants her family to heal after the tragedy, but she also wants revenge against her killer.
Jan. 15
Broken Embraces
Spanish director Pedro Almodovar and his muse Penelope Cruz ("Volver" was their most recent of four collaborations) deliver the story of a filmmaker looking back on the day that a car accident took not only his sight, but his beloved.
Jan. 15
The Book of Eli
If any of 2009's post-apocalyptic movies didn't float your boat, maybe an actioner pairing Denzel Washington with Mila Kunis will fit the bill.
Jan. 15
The Spy Next Door
Your kids will love it when Jackie Chan comes over to take care of them. Look for high-flying, foot-to-the-face action in this family flick about an undercover babysitter.
Jan. 15
Hoodwinked Too: Hood vs. Evil
Investigators Little Red Riding Hood (voiced by Hayden Panettiere) and the Wolf (Patrick Warburton) are looking for clues in this sequel when Hansel and Gretel go missing. Hansel is voiced by Bill Hader, in his first of multiple movies in 2010 for the Tulsa boy.
Jan. 15
The Tooth Fairy
A hockey player (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) is a bad boy who turns even worse. His sentence: One week as the tooth fairy. That's cold.
Jan. 22
Extraordinary Measures
In this medical drama, a couple (played by Brendan Fraser and Keri Russell) seeks help from a doctor (Harrison Ford) for their child's rare genetic disorder.
Jan. 22
When in Rome
When an unlucky-in-love young woman (Kristen Bell) liberates a few coins from a romantic fountain in Rome, she finds suitors lining up for her hand.
Jan. 29
Edge of Darkness
Mel Gibson is back at the multiplex, and he's not in a good mood: He's a murder cop whose daughter has just been killed. He's on the case, with varying degrees of help and hindrance from Ray Winstone and Danny Huston. Directed by Martin Campbell ("Casino Royale").
Jan. 29
FEBRUARY
Dear John
Channing Tatum ("G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra") and Amanda Seyfried ("Mamma Mia!"), respectively, play the soldier and his new love, both tested when he re-enlists in the Army. Based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks ("The Notebook").
Feb. 5
The Wolfman
Benicio Del Toro goes wild-man in this rendition of the creature story, with Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt and Hugo Weaving also on hand.
Feb. 12
Valentine's Day
Singles and couples make up and break in response to the greeting-card holiday. The cast is a wow: Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba and Taylor Swift among the girls; Bradley Cooper, Jamie Foxx, Joe Jonas, Taylor Lautner and Patrick Dempsey on the guys' side.
Feb. 12
Shutter Island
Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio team up again for this spooky tale of an investigator trying to unlock a secret at a secluded island asylum.
Feb. 19
By MICHAEL SMITH World Scene Writer
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