It's very easy to say, 'Star Wars is
coming out this month. I don't care about anything else,' but there's actually
plenty of other stuff to care about this month!
Might as well get this out of the
way. Star Wars: The Last Jedi is nearly here! I’m very excited
for this one because it’s directed by Rian Johnson, who made Looper which is one of the coolest
sci-fi action films. Now recent
Star Wars news regarding the Han Solo movie might suggest that
any artistic influence from the director will be shut down by the studio, but
I'm pretty sure Johnson can work within the studios parameters and still put
out a great film. Hopefully Mark Hamill gets to speak in this one and we'll all
try not to cry seeing Carrie Fisher's final performance.
James Franco likes to spread himself
thin. He's involved in all sorts of projects. Movies, television, acting,
writing, directing. He really seems to enjoy his job and this latest project
has gotten some surprising buzz. It's surprising because it's about the making
of The Room a.k.a 'the greatest bad movie ever made.' The
Disaster Artist tells the story of Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero,
portrayed by brothers James and Dave Franco, and their journey to make The
Room. I haven't seen The Room but it's supposed to be enjoyably
awful and the story behind it is supposed to be even better. Franco brought a
lot of his famous friends together to make this, should be fun.
Guillermo del Toro makes some cool
sci-fi action films and beautiful looking tragedies. The Shape of Water
looks like it's somewhere in the middle. While working at a secret government
lab during the Cold War, an employee comes across an amphibious man that seems
to be the result of experimentation. This out of this world creature feature
with a moving story will probably be more Pan's Labyrinth than Hellboy
and that’s not a complaint.
Without researching (because I don't
like reading sad stuff) I'll say that the 1973 John Paul Getty III kidnapping
is one of the most famous in the history of kidnapping, Patty Hearst may be
more popular. They're both related to famous rich people, that's probably the
only reason I'm aware of them. When Getty was kidnapped in Rome and held for
ransom. His mother Gail Harris, Michelle Williams, asks her billionaire father,
Christopher Plummer, to pay since he has All the Money in the World.
Instead of handing over the money he sends over his security man Fletcher
Chase, Mark Wahlberg, and Chase and Harris try to sort out the kidnapping with
little help from the stingy billionaire.
Most movies know not to go up
against Star Wars, but if you have The Rock, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and
Karen Gillan you may as well give it a shot. Directed by Jake Kasdan (son of Star
Wars regular screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan, who is sitting out this next SW
film and not competing with his son) Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, looks
like it may be a lot of fun. In the first Jumanji a magic board game
released characters from the game into the real world for some mid 90's Robin
Williams insanity. This time around a Breakfast Club like group of teens
come across a magic video game called Jumanji and get pulled into the
world of the game. Once inside they take the look and power of their chosen
character (the popular teen socialite becoming Jack Black will probably be
mined for all jokes possible) and must work as a team to beat the video game
and return to the real world. Unless they get trapped, only to be released
decades later like in the first, but I doubt that.
The Bellas are back at it and this
time they're singing for America at a USO show in Pitch Perfect 3.
Their competition, according to the film description, is 'a group who uses both
instruments and voices,' which most of us would call 'a band.' If you've seen
the first two then you know what to expect. Friends hanging out, singing,
peppered with cameos and more singing. After watching the first one I realized
I had a real love for mashup songs.
In an attempt to save the world and
create less waste, Matt Damon follows the trend of Downsizing,
but instead of moving into a small home and recycling, he shrinks himself and
joins a small but growing society. This one looks charming, not really a
December release but it's from the director of Descendants, Election
and Sideways, so when he makes a movie the Academy pays attention.
When their mom, Glenn Close, tells
them their father isn't really dead, Ed Helms and Owen Wilson go on a road trip
to find out which character actor is their real father - or at the very least
find a Father Figure. J.K. Simmons, Christopher Walken, Ving
Rhames and Harry Shearer all show up. That's a lot of funny people.
I imagine people have high
expectations for a Spielberg movie starring Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep and a slew
of others (including David Cross and Bob Odenkirk!), from the writer of Spotlight
about a huge presidential cover-up discovered by journalists. The Post
will most likely get a lot of attention.
It always baffles me to see
Wolverine signing, but then I remember that before X-Men Hugh Jackman
was a stage actor who caught a lucky break. The Greatest Showman
gives him the opportunity to sing once again as P.T. Barnum. This musical tells
a rags to riches tale of Barnum and becoming the showman that he is recognized
as. I imagine some artistic license was used here but it is a musical about
P.T. Barnum so what would you expect?
For all that Aaron Sorkin has done
with film and television (A Few Good Men, West Wing, etc.) the
man has yet to be behind the camera until now. Based on the memoir of Molly
Bloom, famous skier turned host of underground poker tournament for the wealthy
and the rich, Molly's Game will be the first time he'll be
writing and directing. Jessica Chastain plays Molly and Idris Elba plays
her criminal defense attorney, which she needed after Federal Agents catch wind
of her massive poker racket.
Daniel Day Lewis' final film before he
retires checks a lot of Oscar boxes. Phantom Thread is a 1950's period
piece where he plays a dressmaker who's living the high life making dresses for
the rich and famous, but things get complicated when he falls in love with a
young woman. Oh, and it's directed by Paul T. Anderson, who directed DDL to an
Oscar in There Will Be Blood. I don't think this one is for me but I
expect it to be on some top 10 lists come year end.
SO there’s some fun movies, some
Oscar hopefuls and Star Wars. Happy
December!
