Posted on: Friday, November 17, 2006
Holiday films
By Jack Garner
Gannett News Service
Between the turkey legs and candy canes, the movie studios hope their holidays will be happy. They hope to attract lots of people away from shopping and football games and into the multiplexes as studios position their best films for much-desired Oscar nominations and placement on top-10 lists.
It's the time for Hollywood to strut its best stuff — whether it's a movie about the Bobby Kennedy assassination, a CIA thriller from Robert De Niro, a taut drama about diamond-hunting in Africa, or a tuneful adaptation of "Dreamgirls," a Broadway legend that's taken a quarter-century to make it to the big screen.
Or, could the surprise success of Christmas be the return of a fabled Hollywood boxer to the ring, even though the actor who portrays him is 60 years old?
Here are the films on tap for broad release from Thanksgiving to New Year's. We've included some links to trailers as well. As always, remember that studios frequently juggle dates up to the last minute:
THURSDAY
"Deja Vu": A time-travel thriller with Denzel Washington as a federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent who travels back in time to save a woman from murder. He's reunited with Tony Scott, his "Crimson Tide" and "Man on Fire" director. http://dejavu.movies.go.com.
"Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny": Faux musicians Jack Black and Kyle Gass tell the supposed tale of the rise of their band, thanks to a magical guitar pick stolen from a rock 'n' roll museum.
"Deck the Halls": In a film that sounds suspiciously like "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," Matthew Broderick goes nuts because his neighbor Danny DeVito has enough holiday lights on his house to be seen from space.
"The Fountain": Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz co-star in an epic fable in which a 16th-century Spanish warrior discovers the tree of life. Darren Aronofsky directs. http://thefountainmovie.warnerbros.com.
"For Your Consideration": The latest parody comedy from Christopher Guest and his regular gang of improv comics from "Best in Show" and "Waiting for Guffman." The target this time? Oscar campaigns by Hollywood studios.
NOV. 23
"Bobby": A fine ensemble brings to life the people and scene in and around Los Angeles' Ambassador Hotel on the day of Bobby Kennedy's assassination. Emilio Estevez writes and directs, impressively. www.bobby-the-movie.com.
DEC. 1
"The Nativity Story": A holiday film about the birth of Christ, focusing on Mary, who is played by Keisha Castle-Hughes. The 16-year-old Oscar nominee of "Whale Rider" is expecting her first child early next year. www.thenativitystory.com.
"Turistas": A thriller in which a trio of young backpackers in Brazil are captured by the military and forced to help carry out a mysterious task. Josh Duhamel stars.
"Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj": A sequel to a direct-to-DVD cult hit, "The Rise of Taj," in which the title character (Kal Penn) transfers to Oxford University and teaches an uptight student to chill. (Hey, we didn't say all these films are aiming for Oscars.)
DEC. 8
"Blood Diamond": A soldier of fortune (Leonardo DiCaprio), a fisherman (Djimon Hounsou), and a reporter (Jennifer Connelly) share a dangerous journey in the quest for a priceless diamond in war-torn Sierra Leone. The film is already controversial — the diamond industry has mounted a campaign to counter the film's position that diamond greed is behind much bloodshed in Africa. http://blooddiamondmovie.warnerbros.com.
"Apocalypto": Mel Gibson's adventure saga in which a young Mayan flees the kingdom when he is tagged for human sacrifice by the decaying Mayan empire. Once again, ancient languages and cultures are explored by this eclectic, talented and controversial filmmaker. http://apocalypto.movies.go.com.
"The Holiday": A romantic comedy from Nancy Meyers, with Kate Winslet and Jack Black, and Cameron Diaz and Jude Law looking for love in London. www.sonypictures.com/movies/theholiday.
"DOA: Dead or Alive": A video-game adaptation (ugh) about specially trained women invited to an island for a battle royale.
"Unaccompanied Minors": A young cast recreates Susan Burton's NPR story about teens who create their own Christmas holiday while stranded in a Chicago airport. http://unaccompaniedminors.warnerbros.com.
DEC. 15
"The Pursuit of Happyness": Based on a true story of one man's climb up the corporate ladder with a small child in tow, this film stars Will Smith and his son, Jaden, who co-star as the father-son duo who go on the reportedly poignant, emotional journey together. www.sonypictures.com/movies/thepursuitofhappyness.
"Eragon": A fantasy wishing to be in "The Lord of the Rings" tradition, based on a best-selling fable written by a J.R.R. Tolkien-inspired teenager. Jeremy Irons and newcomer Edward Speleers co-star. http://eragonmovie.com.
DEC. 20
"Charlotte's Web": The latest version of the popular children's classic about a pig who tries to save himself from becoming pork chops. Dakota Fanning, Julia Roberts and Oprah Winfrey contribute performances or voices. http://charlotteswebmovie.com.
DEC. 21
"Dreamgirls": It took a very long time, but the musical loosely based on the story of the Supremes is finally on screen. The cast includes Beyoncé Knowles and Jamie Foxx, but Eddie Murphy steals the trailer thunder as a Wilson Pickett-like soul singer. http://dreamgirlsmovie.com.
DEC. 22
"The Good Shepherd": Robert De Niro finally returns to directing after the success of 1993's "A Bronx Tale," this time creating a drama about the early days of the CIA, as seen through the eyes and experiences of a young agent (Matt Damon). The first-rate cast also includes Angelina Jolie, Joe Pesci, Alec Baldwin, Michael Gambon, William Hurt and Billy Crudup. http://thegoodshepherdmovie.com.
"Night at the Museum": Comedy star Ben Stiller aims at the family crowd with this "Jumanji"-like adventure of museum animals and exhibits coming to life on a magical night.
"Rocky Balboa": When I heard Sylvester Stallone was revisiting his Rocky franchise, I figured it would be the saga of the aging ex-boxer helping his now-grown son in the ring. But, no-o-o-o-o, the 60-year-old Stallone is still the pugilist. Clearly, George Foreman has nothing on him. http://rockythemovie.com.
"We are Marshall": A potential heart-tugger of a sports movie, about the efforts of a new coach (Matthew McConaughey) and the school dean (David Strathairn) to keep the Marshall University sports program alive after the tragic deaths of the school's football team in a 1970 plane crash. http://wearemarshall-themovie.warnerbros.com.
DEC. 25
"Children of Men": A dark, futuristic drama about a few underground rebels trying to protect a pregnant woman at a time when having a child is forbidden by law. Clive Owen, Julianne Moore and Michael Caine star in this film, which offers echoes of "A Handmaid's Tale." Alfonso Cuaron directs. http://childrenofmen.net.
"Black Christmas": This year's counter-programming for the holiday: Sorority sisters staying over the holidays at their campus house receive terrorizing phone calls in this remake of a 1974 horror film.
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