Holiday Movie Preview 2009

As we edge closer to the holiday season, everything slowly starts to develop the air of winter magic. The shiny green plastic sparkles on the fake trees and last year’s unsold Christmas cards take over the shelves. Perhaps it is not these commercial commodities that we look forward to during this time, but something entirely different.

Always a year in advance, the theaters burst with only the most unbelievable, hard-hitting blockbusters that are built up with loud, suspenseful trailers.

“COMING TO THEATERS NEAR YOU…next holiday season….”

The audience groans with the pain of waiting 365 days for the film. We leave the theater roused by these highly anticipated flicks, the images, the sounds, that one creepy line burned into your memory.

For decades, Hollywood has prioritized their big hits and Oscar worthy projects to premiere right in the middle of the holiday season. Why the timed release? For some reason, each film is like unwrapping that perfect present you expected to receive but surprised to finally witness right in front of you.
This year is no exception, promising to give us exactly what we’ve been waiting for.

Holiday and Family

Out of the two actual Christmas themed movies, the holiday season starts off rather early on November 6th with the 3D animated update of The Christmas Story. With the expertise of its cousin The Polar Express, writer and director Robert Zemeckis expects to produce another digital classic just in time for Santa Claus. Will Jim Carrey’s Scrooge beat out the Grinch?

Bring your kids to the movies November 25th when two releases of animated features hit the screens. The highly anticipated Disney film, The Princess and the Frog, introduces the newest princess, Tiana, whose story shows the New Orleans French Quarter during the jazz age of the 1930s. See if you can recognize the voices of John Goodman, Terrence Howard, and even Oprah in this Disney classic in the making.

That same night gives the kids options with the debut of Fantastic Mr. Fox. The animated adventure of the beloved Roald Dahl classic includes an unexpected cast of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Willem Dafoe, and Owen Wilson.

For the adults, look out December 4th for Everybody’s Fine. Robert DeNiro gives his Best Actor Award Performance from the Hollywood Film Festival as a widower reconnecting with his family. Drew Barrymore, and Kate Beckinsale add to the intrigue making this Christmas themed flick a must-see.

Books on Screen

It must seem as if the literary community is either failing miserably or thriving based on the success of countless film adaptations of many books. This year we are lucky enough to read on screen The Blind Side on November 20th. Based on the book by Michael Lewis, the film shows the true story of Michael Oher and his evolution from poverty to NFL fame. Will this be just another Remember the Titans or will Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw be able to draw us in?

The Academy is looking out for The Lovely Bones starring Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, and Susan Sarandon. Coming from the New York Times bestseller by Alice Sebold, this compelling mystery hits theaters November 11th. Playing the deceased main character, Susie Salmon, Saoirse Ronan tries for the second time after Atonement to be recognized with another Academy nomination.

Saoirse might not have realized her competition could lay with none other than…Mariah Carey? The Grand Jury and Audience awards winner at the Sundance Film Festival, Precious will premiere the first weekend in December. The drama is based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire written by Geoffery Fletcher and directed by Lee Daniels. Remember Mo’Nique long ago from “Moesha” or “The Parkers”? Ever thought she would star in any award-winning production? Me neither but we’ll see how that one turns out.


The Holidays are filled with…Action?

I can’t figure the previews of The Box yet but I hope that’s exactly the point of the horror/sci-fi/thriller film coming out November 6th. Romantic comedy alumni, CameronDiaz and James Marsden star in the film directed by Richard Kelly, the director of Donnie Darko. Will that be a clue? I hope not.

Apparently the end of the world is near or at least that’s what Roland Emmerich, director of 2012, is trying to tell us in his film coming out November 13th. John Cusack, Amanda Peet and President Danny Glover reaffirm our Christmas joy as they experience the apocalypse in the fast-paced action adventure.



Film Festivals can also look out for Avatar December 18th as one of the first digital 3D movies transforming American cinema today. We never thought Titanic’s James Cameron would go on to serve the gamer’s niche in this sci-fi/adventure film but maybe he knows something about Academy Awards that we don’t.

The Ultimate Present

If there is any reason to look forward to the holiday season, Twilight Saga: New Moon is one of them. Adolescent girls are celebrating early on November 20th with the second part of the hit vampire book series. It’s very difficult for sequels to surpass their originators but they do call it a saga for a reason.
Christmas day is here and it’s time to cozy up George Clooney and laugh with Jason Bateman. The comedy about a traveling businessman covers all the basics: truth, love, and what to do when you get somewhere... "Up in the Air".

Perhaps the most deserving of the claim ‘highly anticipated’, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus may lead us away from Christmas festivities to see the last performance of Heath Ledger since his passing in 2008. Although never finishing the film, Ledger’s leading character, Tony, was transformed by Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell. The fantasy adventure follows a traveling theater company with an unexpected show.

Whatever this year’s holiday festivities have to offer, the movies will definitely bring people together. Through action or animation, drama or darkness, the winter magic continues to take us to a new world as we munch on over-buttered, over-salted popcorn. Regardless of the nutritional value, the emotional one is priceless. Forget the Hollywood push to look forward to the next year. Stay in the moment and you won’t miss a scene.