Fall Movie Preview, Pt. 2


Yesterday I looked at five movies from October through mid-November, today I'll be previewing five I'm excited about from Thanksgiving through Christmas.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2, Friday, November 20
About: This series, based on the young adult fiction novels from Suzanne Collins, has been a Box Office phenomenon. Now in its fourth — and final — installment, that won’t change. Bowing the Friday before Thanksgiving week, it will dominate the last half of the month. And it should. The films feature a fascinating story, good characters and a compelling narrative that asks bigger questions about our society and our future. Jennifer Lawrence is one of the best — and most popular — young actresses working today, and this is one of two big films featuring her this fall. I can’t wait to see how it ends.

Star Wars, Episode VII: The Force Awakens, Friday, December 18
About: Do I even need to pitch this movie to you? I had you at “Star Wars,” right? It’s been a decade since we’ve had an installment of the story from long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away, but the fervor for it hasn’t diminished. It’s been 32-years since we saw Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hammil), but our fervor for them hasn’t diminished. Now they’re back, and we get a movie that will launch an entire new run of “Star Wars” films. I’m excited to see what director J.J. Abrams — who re-booted “Star Trek” in 2009 — is able to do with this franchise. This is going to be great.

Sisters, Friday, December 18
About: Why would anyone open a movie opposite “Star Wars?” That question might never be answered. However, when you’ve had your fill of space drama — or if that’s not your thing — we have an alternative. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are comedy gold, whether it’s hosting the Golden Globes or starring in films together. “Sisters” is their latest comedy, and I was sold even before seeing the hilarious trailer. Take a break from the shopping and catch these two ladies making you laugh.

Joy, Friday, December 25
About: The last time David O. Russell and Jennifer Lawrence worked together, it was in the Best Picture nominee “American Hustle,” which earned Lawrence an Academy Award nomination. Prior to that, they worked together on “Silver Linings Playbook,” which earned Lawrence an Academy Award as Best Actress. So, yeah, their collaborations create some great and memorable films. There’s no reason that will change with “Joy,” the story of a family across four generations and the woman who rises to become founder and matriarch of a powerful family business dynasty. The film also features Bradley Cooper in a supporting role.

Concussion, Friday, December 25
About: This might seem like a downer. It’s a biopic about the doctors who discovered concussion-related CTE syndrome and forever changed the NFL. That doesn’t scream Christmas, but I think this will be an important film, and one worth seeing. I love football. I come alive for games in the fall. But you can’t ignore the findings in “League of Denial,” and I think this movie will further shed light on an important topic. I’m also excited to see what Will Smith does in such a serious role.

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