SPECIAL FEATURE: What To Watch in December 2012

It’s December now and that means two things:  holiday season is here (which means holiday music and cheesy TV movies) and, most importantly, AWARDS SEASON IS COMING.  By awards season, I obviously mean the Golden Globes and The Academy Awards (or Oscars, if you prefer).  Let’s take a look at my list of what to watch (and not watch) in December, 2012…

Friday, December 7

Playing for Keeps (Gerard Butler, Uma Thurman, Jessica Biel, Dennis Quaid) – If you are into any of these actors and want to see what promises to be a cheesy, feel-good flic with phoned-in performances from pretty people… then check it out.  Maybe I’m too cynical and this will actually be good, but I doubt it.

Dino Time (Rob Schneider, Jane Lynch) – I will not be seeing this, but if you have kids then you may want to check it out.  It will probably be a pretty standard PG-rated, animated feature… but at least it features some good voice talent.  It does, however, sound a little like a dumbed down Jurassic Park for kids.

Friday, December 14

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen) – This one is highly anticipated and if you haven’t heard about it, you probably don’t watch TV… or ever leave your abode.  It’s the start of what will most likely be another 3 installment epic that takes us deep into middle earth.  It will look great, probably be up for Oscars, etc.  See it so you can discuss it with your fellow film lovers.

Any Day Now (Alan Cumming) – This is an indie which has gotten great reviews so far (100% from the critics on RottenTomatoes.com).  It’s about a boy with down syndrome who gets abandoned by his mother then taken in by a loving gay couple who fight the legal system to keep him as their own son whom they love.  It probably won’t hit too many theaters near you, but it’s worth checking out if you want something fresh and original (some critics say it is hilarious).

Wednesday, December 19

The Guilt Trip (Seth Rogen, Barbra Streisand) – This seems like a weird pairing to me, but the trailers look like it could be entertaining.  I seriously doubt it will blow anyone’s mind or become the next Hangover… but it could be decent if the two leads put their best foot forward.

Monsters, Inc. 3D – You’ve probably already seen this film, so why play into the studios’ money grubbing hands and pay to see a movie again just because it’s in 3D?  3D isn’t even that cool (that’s why Christopher Nolan doesn’t do it)!  Stay away and watch it on DVD (since you probably already own it if you like the movie).

Zero Dark Thirty (Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton) – Want to see how an elite Navy Seal team took out Osama Bin Laden?  Well, this film will show you a dramatized version of it (please don’t take it as complete fact like most people will).  This film has gotten a lot of buzz, great early reviews, and is already in Oscar conversations.  It is directed by Kathryn Bigelow who was the first female director to win Best Director at the Oscars for her 2008 effort, The Hurt Locker.  So she has proven she knows how to make a solid Iraqi war film.

Friday, December 21

This is 40 (Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann) – This sort-of sequel to Judd Apatow’s comedy hit Knocked Up has gotten great early reviews including some critics saying it’s Apatow’s best feature.  Obviously if you enjoy his brand of humor, then you should see it.  I just hope it has some heart in there rather than just vulgar hilarity.  I’m a little worried about the addition of Megan Fox to the cast, though…

Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise, Robert Duvall) – Why is Tom Cruise still making wild action films?  Even though I really liked Ghost Protocol, he showed his age in some of those closeups… and he’s not getting any younger.  The trailers for this one look like the same action film I’ve seen 100 times.  It is written by the guy who wrote The Usual Suspects though.  But that was in in 1995!  More recently he wrote The Tourist… enough said.

Tuesday, December 25

Django Unchained (Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson) – There’s not much to say other than QUENTIN TERANTINO IS BACK!  I can’t wait!

Les Miserables (Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried) – This musical-turned-movie is supposed to be an epic cinematic experience and take home tons of Oscars.  I’m sure it will be in the mix for costuming and other art-department kids of awards… but we’ll see how it can hold up against some of the great original films that have come out this year.

Parental Guidance (Billy Crystal, Bette Midler, Marisa Tomei) – If you’re looking for a more kid-friendly film for Christmas Day, see this because Billy Crystal and Marisa Tomei are awesome.  The story is for the kids, but the old-school actors are for the parents… perfect.  But I’ll be watching Django Unchained.

Wednesday, December 26

Tabu – This drama from award winning director, Miquel Gomes, may be something you want to see if you are into foreign dramas.  It’s a love story that (according to early reviews) is told poetically and with beautiful cinematography.  It will almost certainly be paced very slowly, but may be a nice break from standard American films.  It will also be a very artistically done film, most likely.

Friday, December 28

Promised Land (Matt Damon, John Krasinski) – This corporate drama hasn’t gotten much press yet but is directed by acclaimed director Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Milk) and stars Matt Damon, so it has potential.  It is, however, written by its stars, Damon and Krasinski, who only have 5 writing credits between them.  Like I said… potential.  I’m skeptical, though.

NOTE:  Release dates for films get changed very often, so don’t hate me if some of these films don’t come out on the day that I said they will.