Coming Soon, December

Finally, we get to the most anticipated month of the cinematic year. It's a perfect blend of award contenders (all being released prior to the end of the year), big family films, and big tent poles. It's Christmas, why shouldn't everyone get a film they like! Here's a look at what will hopefully be a banner month at the Box Office.

Friday, Dec. 2:

Shame — This is not a movie for mass audiences. It's award season bait and supposedly has a great performance from Michael Fassbender, who's a great actor. Carey Mulligan is also in the film, and is also a great performer. However, the movie is rated NC-17 and is about a sex addict... So, yeah, not a family film. This could be a good weekend to watch "Happy Feet Two" again or finish up some Christmas shopping.

Friday, Dec. 9:

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy — This film is also generating plenty of buzz, especially for the performance from Gary Oldman. It is a remake of a classic spy tale that featured Sir Alec Guinness. This looks like an engrossing spy film and seems tailor made for this time of year.

New Year's Eve — If you loved "Valentine's Day," then this film is for you! Director Gary Marshall has found a new holiday in which to throw dozens of famous faces. The film features Katherine Heigel, Lea Michelle, Ashton Kutcher, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Biel, Seth Myers, Hilary Swank, Jon Bon Jovi, and Abigail Breslin, among others. And that's only about a quarter of the cast. It's a myriad of stories set on, what else, New Year's Eve. If you have a significant other and a free evening, pencil this one in.

Young Adult (Limited) — It's very likely this film won't be here until early January, but it is right in my wheel house so I had to list it. The film stars Charlize Theron and Patrick Wilson, and most of the characters look unlikeable. It's also a weird story. HOWEVER, it comes from director Jason Reitman ("Up In The Air," "Juno," and "Thank You For Smoking") and writer Diablo Cody ("Juno"), so I'm all in. The snark was apparent in the trailer, and I think the trailer was aimed directly at me. You know what, it worked.

The Sitter — This is a wild comedy about an inept babysitter played by Jonah Hill. The movie will be rude, crude, outrageous, and probably funny. It doesn't really require a description. If you didn't get a picture of this film from the words babysitter and Jonah Hill, then the film isn't for you.

I Melt With You — This is a film about men behaving badly... in their 40s. Thomas Jane and Jeremy Piven, a couple talented actors, are among the cast but, really? Did we need another "Hangover" movie to get through December? Probably not.

Friday, Dec. 16:

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows — I am among those who appreciated "Sherlock Holmes" for what it was. Was it like the traditional takes on the character, no? Was it more like Guy Ritchie's action films, yes? But it works. The bromance between Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law is entertaining, and I thought the film sort of worked. The weak spot was the villain, but it seems like this will be focused on Moriarty, so I have higher hopes. We shall see.

Carnage — This film from director Roman Polanski will be an interesting performance piece. It's essentially four actors — Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, Kate Winslet, and Christoph Waltz — going at each other. The run time is 79 minutes and this looks like it will be a fun, and different kind of film. Based on a one act play, the reason to see this film is an appreciation of the craft.

Alvin & The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked — There is no defense for this, but they had me with the "Titanic" homage in the trailer. I acknowledge that this film will not be deep and probably won't be great, but it will bring some holiday laughs. This is certainly a film for the whole family.

Wednesday, Dec. 21:

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo — If you've read the book or seen the original films, you know this story is beyond gritty. Still, I can't wait to see what director David Fincher can do with this story and the leads of Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara. The trailers look incredible and, though the material is dark, this looks like it will be an incredible film. Fincher's past few films have been incredible, so I expect nothing less with this.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol — With the exception of the second film (the John Woo disaster), this has been a reliable film franchise. The trailer for this film looks awesome, and the song choice is inspired. You know what you're going to get with this film, and it will be a great two hour escape from life. With Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, and Josh Holoway in the cast, we will probably even see a decent percentage of ladies in the audience.

The Adventures of Tintin — This is a CGI animated film from director Steven Spielberg. It supposedly has a large fanbase, but I'm not super familiar with this franchise. The footage looks OK, but it seems like a film that will appeal to a niche audience.

Sunday, Dec. 25

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close — This looks like an incredible film. Based on a novel, the cast includes Academy Award winners Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock, as well as nominee Viola Davis, who was incredible in "The Help." The trailer looks great and the song choice is inspired. If a trailer makes me choke up, I have high hopes for the film.

We Bought A Zoo — Director Cameron Crowe delivers a certain kind of film. Either you love it or you don't. For the most part, I do. This film, about a single father who buys a run down zoo to change his life and help provide a different kind of life for his kids, looks like a great family film for the holiday. An excellent option for Christmas Day.

The Darkest Hour — Who doesn't want an apocalyptic film for the holidays. For those who like action and horror, Merry Christmas. It's some kind of alien invasion story set in Moscow. Honestly, when I read about it, the only thing I could think about was "Skyline." And that's not a good thing.

War Horse — Spielberg's second holiday movie looks like the real gem. Based on a play, and set in World War I, the film is the story of a boy and his horse, and the war that tears them apart. It looks inspirational and emotional — one part "ET" and one part "Saving Private Ryan." Honestly, it's a Spielberg movie that looks like it incorporates classic Spielberg. I couldn't be more excited.