“Downsizing”
Cast: Matt Damon, Kristin Wiig, Hong Chau
Synopsis: When scientists discover how to shrink humans to five inches tall as a solution to overpopulation, a married couple decides to abandon their stressed lives in order to get small and move to a new downsized community. The choice triggers life-changing adventures.
What You Need to Know: “Downsizing” making the National Board of Review’s top ten films of the year was a surprise. The concept of the movie is an interesting one but one that, by the end of the film (long past its staying power), is realized to be rather half-baked. Alas, Alexander Payne has his fans and the charms of any original ideas in film are always worth celebrating. Even better though is the introduction of Hong Chau who provides the heart of the story. For every misstep, there’s Christoph Waltz delivering his most fun performance in ages. For every prolonged section, there’s a warm meditation on humanity. Our critic enjoyed it when it debuted at the Venice Film Festival, saying “the ride is not only peppered with moments of inspired humor, it’s also peopled by characters who are expressly, unapologetically likeable, so that by its unexpectedly chipper ending, it’s been an enjoyable, broadly accessible and wonkily heartfelt good-time-at-the-movies.”
Release Date: December 22nd
“All the Money in the World”
Cast: Michelle Williams, Mark Wahlberg, Christopher Plummer
Synopsis: Follows the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III and the desperate attempt by his devoted mother Gail to convince his billionaire grandfather to pay the ransom.
What You Need to Know: More than the film itself, the major story that’s going to follow Ridley Scott’s “All the Money in the World” is the last minute replacement of Kevin Spacey following the multiple accusations against him of sexual assault and the introduction of Christopher Plummer to the role of Jean Paul Getty. The film burst back into production to reshoot all of Spacey’s scenes and still hit a release date this month. A machine, this is Scott’s second film this year following “Alien: Covenant” and with the controversy that has surrounded the movie, it will be interesting to see if it plays any role in the awards conversation.
Release Date: December 22nd
“The Post”
Cast: Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Bob Odenkirk
Synopsis: Katharine Graham is the first female publisher of a major American newspaper — The Washington Post. With help from editor Ben Bradlee, Graham races to catch up with The New York Times to expose a massive cover-up of government secrets that spans three decades and four U.S. presidents. Together, they must overcome their differences as they risk their careers — and very freedom — to help bring long-buried truths to light.
What You Need to Know: Reviews are embargoed for now, but all you need to know is this is pure Spielberg, with Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep putting in strong performances. More than anything though, the relevance that viewers will attach to it will dictate just how thrilling it becomes, with dialogue about the necessity of the freedom of the press ringing astonishingly close to home to those of us living in hellish circus show that is 2017. What makes “The Post” extra exciting is the list of who’s who in the cast, with popular names from television series such as Bob Odenkirk, Matthew Rhys, Sarah Paulson and Carrie Coon making appearances.
Release Date: December 22nd
“Happy End”
Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Toby Jones, Mathieu Kassovitz
Synopsis: Although a middle-class family living in Calais deal with a series of setbacks, they pay little attention to the grim conditions in the refugee camps within a few miles of their home.
What You Need to Know: Isabelle Huppert and Michael Haneke are a hell of a pair, once again teaming up for a film that settles in the back of viewers’ minds, unsettling and odd but beautifully told. One of our greatest living actresses and and filmmakers working together should be enough of a pull for any film fan, even if Haneke can be a tough act to endure considering his often bleak worlds. Our critic heaped praise onto the film when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival saying, “As an austere and darkly comic family drama, and a scathing commentary about the kind of world our children are living in, ‘Happy End’ is stunning cinema.”
Release Date: December 22nd