“Swan Song“
Oscar-winning Mahershala Ali stars in Benjamin Cleary’s “Swan Song,” which follows a husband and father who is presented with an alternative means by his doctor to shield his family from grief when diagnosed with a terminal illness. Naomi Harris, Awkwafina, and Glenn Close also star in this Apple TV+ drama. Our critic praised Ali’s dual performances, writing “Ali’s deftness to embellish each of his parts with subtle distinctions in demeanor—making them intrinsically similar, yet not the simplistically same—stuns, especially in scenes where both participate.”
Release Date: December 17 via Apple TV+.
“Nightmare Alley“
Guillermo del Toro returns with his adaptation of the 1946 novel of the same name, “Nightmare Alley” with a screenplay he co-wrote alongside Kim Morgan. A neo-noir thriller, the film marks as the second adaptation of the property, with the 1947 version starring Tyrone Power. The cast is universally impressive, with a stacked lineup including Bradley Cooper, Rooney Mara, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Ron Perlman, and many more. As is to be expected with anything del Toro touches, it’s safe to assume that, if nothing else, it will be a visual feast.
Release Date: December 17 in theaters via Searchlight Pictures.
“The Matrix Resurrections“
Returning the property that put her entirely on the map, “The Matrix Resurrections” reunites Lana Wachowski with Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss as Neo and Trinity. Plagued by strange memories, the film follows Neo as his life takes an unexpected turn when he finds himself back inside the Matrix. Fans of the original trilogy will be anticipating the answers to how certain characters can return while the spectacle hopefully lives up more than twenty years since the first film premiered. Neil Patrick Harris, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Jessica Henwick also star.
Release Date: December 22 in theaters and HBO Max via Warner Bros. Pictures.
“Parallel Mothers“
One of our finest directors working returns after only two years since his film “Pain & Glory.” With “Parallel Mothers,” filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar once again returns to womanhood and motherhood as touchstones of his storytelling as the narrative follows two single women who meet in a hospital room where both are due to give birth. The story follows as the two form a strong bond despite their differing ages and circumstances. Penélope Cruz, Aitana Sánchez-Gijónand Milena Smit star. Our critic at the Venice Film Festival wrote that the film “…bursts the Venice Film Festival wide like a piñata that’s been crammed with storylines as contrived as its feelings are genuine, so that melodrama rains down in ribbons from the screen, and conflicting emotions scatter like so much color-blocked confetti.”
Release Date: December 24 in theaters via Sony Pictures Releasing.
“Licorice Pizza“
Having already proven to be quite the conversation starter, Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Licorice Pizza” is one of the year’s most anticipated films. Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman, Bradley Cooper, and Benny Safdie star in this coming-of-age story about two young people growing up in California’s San Fernando Valley in the 1970s. Our critic who saw the film wrote “… “‘Licorice Pizza’ is a wonderfully wistful and evocative ode to youth, done by a masterfully poised filmmaker who doesn’t really care if this ain’t your bag.”
Release Date: Already open in limited release it goes wide, December 25 in theaters via Universal Artists Releasing.