Holiday Movie Preview

The blockbusters just keep coming. While this summer was one of the more disappointing box office seasons in recent memory, a slew of interesting indie films were enough to keep movie-goers intrigued. Smaller films have dominated the landscape, thanks to special releases on demand and word-of-mouth hype throughout the year, and movies based on comic books continue to be the only sure things for major studios.

The fall lineup will no doubt dominate the upcoming awards season. It’s full of thought-provoking, mostly-original films that could make up for what has otherwise been a ho-hum year on the silver screen.

NOV. 7: Interstellar
Details: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain and Michael Caine star in Christopher Nolan’s latest sci-fi flick that might or might not be about finding life on other planets.
So what? Given that the trailer was enough to make people cry, this drama could accelerate Nolan into another stratosphere. If all goes well, expect Oscar nods and science fiction fans drooling or nit-picking months after its release.

NOV. 14: Foxcatcher
Details: Steve Carell gives a rare dramatic performance as John du Pont, a billionaire whose relationship with two Olympic wrestlers/brothers leads to murder.
So what? The third film from director Bennett Miller, Foxcatcher has a strong cast, including Carell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo. Early reviews from the Cannes Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival applaud the film’s suspense and unshakable eeriness.

NOV. 21: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
Details: Jennifer Lawrence returns as Katniss Everdeen in the first part of the final chapter of box-office champ The Hunger Games.
So what? Catching Fire was the rare sequel that one-upped its predecessor. With the same director, Francis Lawrence, shooting this two-part finale back-to-back, all signs point to repeat success for this franchise. The cast is impeccable, with Woody Harrelson, Julianne Moore and the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman all giving committed performances.

DEC. 5: Wild
Details: Reese Witherspoon looks for a comeback with this drama about a recovering heroin addict who sets out to hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail.
So what? Witherspoon’s performance is the draw here. Teaming up with director Jean-Marc Vallée (who directed Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club), Witherspoon could garner another Oscar. Early reviews are arguing that this is the best performance of her career.

DEC. 12: Inherent Vice
Details: Critically acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson returns with an adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s book of the same name.
So what? Anderson is on a roll. He hasn’t made a bad film, and this one probably won’t start any new trend of mediocrity. However, Pynchon’s work isn’t easy to bring to the big screen. The director will no doubt get help from an amazing ensemble cast, including Joaquin Phoenix as the lead—drug-fueled detective Larry Sportello—as well as turns from Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon, Jena Malone, Benicio Del Toro and Eric Roberts.

DEC. 25: The Interview
Details: James Franco and Seth Rogen reunite for a comedy that involves an interview with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. The film turns to dark comedy as the CIA recruits the duo to assassinate Kim.
So what? The film has already ticked off the leader of the not-so-free world. With Neighbors and This Is the End earning critical acclaim and good box office returns, Rogen is on a hot streak. This film is scary in its timeliness, and you have to applaud Rogen’s and director Evan Goldberg’s bravado in tackling this topic. Franco, on the other hand, is annoying in his ability to be everywhere at once and not make much of an impression.