Holiday movie preview: Something for grown-ups

  • By Robert Horton Herald Movie Critic
  • Friday, November 19, 2010 1:26pm
  • Life

With the holidays approaching, thoughts turn to that mythical figure who uses his magical powers wisely, cavorts with elves and shares his gifts every year. He’s beloved by young people around the globe.

That’s right: the new Harry Potter film has arrived. And the opening of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1” officially signals the arrival of the holiday movie season, an annual film festival that not only offers box-office blockbusters but also small, serious award-hopeful titles.

It’s the most concentrated moment in the cinema release schedule, so crowded, in fact, that some movies you’ll hear about won’t open locally until January. They’re playing in New York and Los Angeles to garner good advance reviews and qualify for awards (including the Oscars), but their wide releases will be delayed until the dust has settled. So you’ll have to wait a bit for Sofia Coppola’s “Somewhere” or Julie Taymor’s all-star Shakespeare production, “The Tempest.”

Unlike the summer movie season, this one actually has a few possibilities for grown-ups. So clear some space on the calendar and get ready for the following:

Nov. 24

“Burlesque.” A cocktail waitress (singer Christina Aguilera in her film debut) yearns to be a showgirl; can savvy veteran Cher help? Am I hallucinating, or did someone really make this movie? Thanksgiving indeed.

“Love and Other Drugs.” Jake Gyllenhaal plays a glib pharmaceutical sales rep who stumbles into the goldmine that is Viagra; Anne Hathaway is the skeptical woman he hooks up with. Much nudity decorates director Ed Zwick’s comedy-romance.

“Tangled.” The new Disney animated film sounds slightly snarky: a smartypants version of “Rapunzel,” rendered, of course, in 3-D.

“Faster.” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson sets aside his comedy career in favor of a straight-ahead action flick, this one a revenge yarn co-starring Billy Bob Thornton.

Nov. 26

“Marwencol.” A marvelous and mysterious documentary about a head-injury survivor who has created an elaborate miniature world in his back yard and made stunning photographs of the stories that emerge from there.

“Kings of Pastry.” Good reviews for this documentary about the top pastry chefs in the world creating unspeakably tasty concoctions. The appeal is obvious.

Dec. 3

“The Warrior’s Way.” Martial arts meets the Old West, as an Asian assassin finds himself transplanted to cowboy country.

Dec. 10

“It’s a Wonderful Life.” The Grand Illusion theater brings back its long-standing annual engagement of Frank Capra’s deservedly classic 1946 film (when the theater started doing this, the movie actually wasn’t a famous classic). James Stewart plays the small-town man who must contemplate the meaning of one person’s life.

“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.” This would be part three of the Narnia tales, adapted from C.S. Lewis. The same crew is back, the kids looking distinctly older, the computer-generated creatures now in 3-D.

“Black Swan.” Intrigue and rivalry inside the ballet world, as seen by director Darren Aronofsky — whose previous film, “The Wrestler,” featured much homelier athletes. Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis lead the cast.

“The Tourist.” Johnny Depp, vacationing in Venice, meets the alluring Angelina Jolie. All right, tell me this doesn’t have the makings of an old-fashioned movie-star vehicle. And the director is Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, who copped an Oscar for his riveting German film, “The Lives of Others.”

“White Material.” The superb French filmmaker Claire Denis tackles the story of a European landowner (Isabelle Huppert) holding onto her African farm in the face of local revolution.

Dec. 17

“Tron Legacy.” Maybe the 28 years that have passed since the original “Tron” don’t mean much if you’re inside a computer. Anyway, here’s a tech-heavy sequel to the supposedly visionary sci-fi picture, with Jeff Bridges reprising his old role. And hey, 3-D.

“The Fighter.” Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale have been getting strong notices for this old-school boxing film based on a true story. Director David O. Russell (“Three Kings”) is the wild card here.

“Made in Dagenham.” Something like a British “Norma Rae,” as factory worker Sally Hawkins (who dazzled in “Happy-Go-Lucky”) leads a game-changing strike of female employees; based on a true case from late-’60s England.

“I Love You Phillip Morris.” An off-the-charts workout from Jim Carrey powers this bizarre true tale of a con man who keeps trying to break out of prison, the better to be with his lover (an equally fine supporting turn from Ewan McGregor).

“How Do You Know.” Writer-director James L. Brooks makes character comedies such as “Broadcast News” and “As Good as It Gets,” when he makes movies, that is. For his first credit since 2004’s “Spanglish,” he’s corralled Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson for an offbeat romantic triangle. Jack Nicholson lends his weight, too.

“Yogi Bear.” 3-D depiction of the cartoon bear (voiced by Dan Aykroyd) and sidekick Boo-Boo (Justin Timberlake), presumably making mischief around a picnic or two.

“All Good Things.” Fortunate son Ryan Gosling hooks up with poor girl Kirsten Dunst, in a true story that leads to a criminal case.

Dec. 22

“Little Fockers.” An enormously successful comedy franchise returns, as Ben Stiller once again tries to face down father-in-law Robert De Niro. If the trailer is any indication, expect broad slapstick. But maybe that was always the case with these movies.

“True Grit.” A John Wayne vehicle from 1969 is remade by the Coen brothers, this time with Jeff Bridges in the role of the grizzled, one-eyed Rooster Cogburn. With Matt Damon and Josh Brolin providing western flavor, this might be the most-anticipated title for people over the age of 25.

“Gulliver’s Travels.” Jack Black plays Jonathan Swift’s traveling hero, towering over the teeny-tiny Lilliputians. A reasonably nice cast (including Emily Blunt and Jason Segel) suggests this special-effects extravaganza might not be exclusively for kids. And yes, 3-D.

“Country Strong.” A country singer (Gwyneth Paltrow) exits rehab and goes on tour with a hot new star (Garrett Hedlund); Tim McGraw plays her understandably worried husband. “Crazy Heart” with a gender switch? We’ll see, and Paltrow can really sing.

Dec. 25

“The King’s Speech.” A much-buzzed-about Oscar contender, this is the true story of King George VI (Colin Firth), a lifelong stutterer who labored to overcome his handicap with the help of an eccentric speech therapist (Geoffrey Rush). Old-fashioned in every sense, and just the kind of movie the Oscar loves. And it’s in 3-D! (Just kidding.)

“Rabbit Hole.” A couple confronts life after a tragedy, in what looks like an actor’s showcase for Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart. Directed, in a change of pace, by John Cameron Mitchell, who did “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.”

“The Company Men.” Hmmm, this year’s “Up in the Air?” Tommy Lee Jones, Ben Affleck and Chris Cooper are white-collar execs laid off and suddenly adrift in a recession.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Brandon Hailey of Cytrus, center, plays the saxophone during a headlining show at Madam Lou’s on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood-based funk octet Cytrus has the juice

Resilience and brotherhood take center stage with ‘friends-first’ band.

FILE - In this April 11, 2014 file photo, Neko Case performs at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Fire investigators are looking for the cause of a fire on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, that heavily damaged Case’s 225-year-old Vermont home. There were no injuries, though a barn was destroyed. It took firefighters two hours to extinguish the blaze. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Singer-songwriter Neko Case, an indie music icon from Tacoma, performs Sunday in Edmonds.

Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli
Tangier’s market boasts piles of fruits, veggies, and olives, countless varieties of bread, and nonperishables, like clothing and electronics.
Rick Steves on the cultural kaleidoscope of Tangier in Morocco

Walking through the city, I think to myself, “How could anyone be in southern Spain — so close — and not hop over to experience this wonderland?”

chris elliott.
Vrbo promised to cover her rental bill in Hawaii, so why won’t it?

When Cheryl Mander’s Vrbo rental in Hawaii is uninhabitable, the rental platform agrees to cover her new accommodations. But then it backs out. What happened?

The Moonlight Swing Orchestra will play classic sounds of the Big Band Era on April 21 in Everett. (submitted photo)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Relive the Big Band Era at the Port Gardner Music Society’s final concert of the season in Everett.

2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport AWD (Honda)
2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport AWD

Honda cedes big boy pickup trucks to the likes of Ford, Dodge… Continue reading

Would you want to give something as elaborate as this a name as mundane as “bread box”? A French Provincial piece practically demands the French name panetiere.
A panetiere isn’t your modern bread box. It’s a treasure of French culture

This elaborately carved French antique may be old, but it’s still capable of keeping its leavened contents perfectly fresh.

(Judy Newton / Great Plant Picks)
Great Plant Pick: Mouse plant

What: Arisarum proboscideum, also known as mouse plant, is an herbaceous woodland… Continue reading

Bright green Japanese maple leaves are illuminated by spring sunlight. (Getty Images)
Confessions of a ‘plantophile’: I’m a bit of a junky for Japanese maples

In fact, my addiction to these glorious, all-season specimens seems to be contagious. Fortunately, there’s no known cure.

2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited (Hyundai)
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited

The 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited is a sporty, all-electric, all-wheel drive sedan that will quickly win your heart.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet R/T hybrid’s face has the twin red lines signifying the brand’s focus on performance. (Dodge)
2024 Hornet R/T is first electrified performance vehicle from Dodge

The all-new compact SUV travels 32 miles on pure electric power, and up to 360 miles in hybrid mode.

Don’t blow a bundle on glass supposedly made by the Henry William Stiegel

Why? Faked signatures, reused molds and imitated styles can make it unclear who actually made any given piece of glass.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.