“Bombshell”
Cast: Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, Kate McKinnon
Synopsis: A revealing look inside the most powerful and controversial media empire of all time; Fox News, and the explosive story of the women who brought down the infamous man who created it.
What You Need to Know: Sitting in the “Vice” like arena about late in the year awards contenders about abhorrent human beings, the biggest news thus far regarding “Bombshell” (until official reviews drop at least) is the uncanny likeness Charlize Theron pulls off to Megyn Kelly. Margot Robbie and Nicole Kidman co-star in this star-studded cinematic telling of the takedown of Fox News mogul Roger Ailes. Directed by Jay Roach (“Dinner for Schmucks,” “The Campaign”) and written by (“The Big Short”) it would seem that “Bombshell” is attempting to follow along in the footsteps of Adam McKay and Todd Phillips route of taking a slight pivot from comedy for the sake of something darker in nature.
Release Date: December 13th
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”
Cast: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver
Synopsis: The surviving Resistance faces the First Order once more as Rey, Finn and Poe Dameron’s journey continues. With the power and knowledge of generations behind them, the final battle commences.
What You Need to Know: Perhaps the better question is really how much do you want to know at this point. Capping off the latest trilogy to the Skywalker Saga and following Rian Johnson’s “The Last Jedi” in terms of narrative plotting (big shoes considering Johnson’s take might be the series best yet) there are both big shoes to fill for returning director J.J. Abrams as well as unyielding expectations by fans and critics alike hoping for a perfect send-off for this final chapter of this version of the franchise. Knowing anything else would be too much as going in completely ignorant (or any ignorant as you can be these days) is part of the communal fun of the films. If there’s any real concern is that Abrams will rely too much on nostalgia for the original trio rather than cutting out his own path as Johnson did but even still, it’s slight worries for what, on paper, should be something tremendously entertaining.
Release Date: December 20th
“Cats”
Cast: James Corden, Idris Elba, Judy Dench, Taylor Swift
Synopsis: Over the course of a single night, a tribe of cats called the Jellicles make what is known as “the Jellicle choice” and decide which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life.
What You Need to Know: Each new trailer has prompted the question “it can’t be that bad” in regards to the outsized, near-hysterical reactions via Twitter and both times, after watching the trailers, the realization hits that it really is that bad. Who knows. Maybe the musical will smack us in the face with ingenuity, heart and spectacular craft that will numb us enough to forget the absurdity of the story itself. Maybe. Best bet though is that it’s both jaw-droppingly garish to look at and, most fearfully, dull. Starring everyone from Idris Elba and James Corden to Taylor Swift and Judy Dench, the film looks nauseating to look at, a far cry from director Tom Hooper’s usual yawn inducing contributions to cinema with period pieces such as “The King’s Speech” and “The Danish Girl.” So there’s that at least.
Release Date: December 20th
“Little Women”
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, Timothée Chalamet
Synopsis: The story of the March sisters as they confront growing pains, financial shortages, family tragedies and romantic rivalries in mid-19th-century Massachusetts.
What You Need to Know: Every generation needs their own version of Jo March, the leading protagonist of Louisa May Alcott’s novel “Little Women.” Following her strong debut directing “Lady Bird,” Greta Gerwig returns with her adaption of the classic story about the March sisters and she’s got quite the cast on board with her. Starring Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, and Timothée Chalamet the film is a stunning reinterpretation of the story which keeps some of it’s most heartened elements while expanding on characters and storylines that in the past were glanced over. While some (like myself) might still hold the 1994 Gillian Armstrong version as the strongest still, Gerwig injects a new life into the story that will embolden new viewers. Our critic found plenty to love, writing “‘Little Women’ fills and drains your heart, fills and drains your heart, fills and drains the heart. But the best remains the same. ‘Little Women’ lives by vitality and hope.”
Release Date: December 25th
“1917”
Cast: George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden
Synopsis: At the height of the First World War, two young British soldiers, Schofield and Blake are given a seemingly impossible mission. In a race against time, they must cross enemy territory and deliver a message that will stop a deadly attack on hundreds of soldiers–Blake’s own brother among them.
What You Need to Know: Be prepared to read or hear the phrase “the best war film since ‘Saving Private Ryan‘” as it seems to already be a favorite to those celebrating director Sam Mendes’ achievement with “1917.” A personal story to the director, the films epic in size scale and ambitious direction style allow for the story told to the director by his paternal grandfather to be shot with deliberate orchestration – the hell of war experienced all the more viscerally through staged long, continuous shots. With cinematography by the genius Roger Deakins and starring a who’s who of British talent with George MacKay, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrew Scott, and Mark Strong, our critic wrote that the promise of the scale delivered in full with a harrowing and heartfelt story. He singled out the leads in MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman, writing “… but the picture is MacKay and Chapman’s to carry, and they shoulder it. When a film is constructed like this, with such careful planning, blocking, and camera choreography, it’s presumably a challenge to maintain a sense of spontaneity. But both actors convey their shock, fear, and desperation…”
Release Date: December 25th
“Just Mercy”
Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Brie Larson, Rob Morgan, Tim Blake Nelson
Synopsis: A powerful and thought-provoking true story that follows young lawyer Bryan Stevenson and his history-making battle for justice. After graduating from Harvard, Bryan had his pick of lucrative jobs. Instead, he heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or who were not afforded proper representation, with the support of local advocate Eva Ansley.
What You Need to Know: Directed Destin Daniel Cretton seemed poised for a big breakout following the success of his 2013 film “Short Term 12.” Despite the overwhelming on display in that film, “The Glass Castle,” his follow up, landed to rather muted responses. With his upcoming Marvel debut on the horizon in 2021 with “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” he’s first here to remind us of his ability to tell intimate relationship dramas with “Just Mercy.” Starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx, our critic praised the two performers but called the film stale in its execution, writing “’Just Mercy’ is clearly a film with its heart squarely in the right place. But the broad strokes are just too familiar here, and try as he might, Cretton simply can’t put a fresh spin on them.”
Release Date: December 25th
“Clemency”
Cast: Alfre Woodard, Aldis Hodge, Wendel Pierce, Richard Schiff
Synopsis: Years of carrying out death row executions have taken a toll on prison warden Bernadine Williams (Alfre Woodard). As she prepares to execute another inmate, Bernadine must confront the psychological and emotional demons her job creates, ultimately connecting her to the man she is sanctioned to kill.
What You Need to Know: One of those films that we hear about all year before finally getting to see (and hopefully not too on the backburner that it doesn’t generate the deserved response) “Clemency” is first and foremost a showcase for its star, Alfre Woodard. Woodard has always been a magnifying and magnificent screen presence but “Clemency” allows her room other films don’t always allow her. Directed by Chinonye Chuku (“Sorry for Your Loss,” “AlaskaLand”) the film has generated support since its premiere at 2019’s Sundance, though our critic had their reservations, writing that due to editing choices “The film breathes so much it often comes to a standstill.”
Release Date: December 27th