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Who’s ready for more fall movies? Now that you’ve had some time to work your way through all of the action, adventure, and award contenders of September and October, it’s time to take a look at some of the most highly anticipated movies of the year: the ones hitting theaters in November and December. So grab yourself a nice, cool drink—and maybe a snack, too—because this is where Award Season gets crazy.
Once again, before we dig in, remember that I’ve listed films by week—typically using Friday as the standard release date. Some will open earlier in the week (especially around the holidays). Others will open in different cities at different times. And, of course, all of these release dates are subject to the whims of studio executives. So always check your local listings for exact dates and times.
NOVEMBER 6:
Let’s start this preview off with a bang, shall we? This week, Craig...Daniel Craig returns as Agent 007 in the latest Bond movie, Spectre. With Skyfall director Sam Mendes once again at the helm—and a cast that includes Christoph Waltz and Ralph Fiennes—it’s sure to be another action-packed thrill ride.
For the kids (and the kid in all of us), there’s The Peanuts Movie, which follows Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of Charles M. Schultz’s beloved characters on an epic big-screen adventure.
Also this week, Brie Larson stars as a mother raising her young son in a single room in the adaptation of author Emma Donoghue’s bestselling novel, Room. Thomas McCarthy tells the story of the Boston Globe investigation into the Catholic Church’s child molestation scandal in Spotlight. Drew Barrymore and Toni Collette star as two friends navigating the ups and downs of life in Miss You Already. And Brooklyn stars Saoirse Ronan as a young woman who’s forced to choose between two men in the ‘50s.
Kristin’s Pick: Really, there are several good options this week, but I’ve got to give my pick to the latest Mendes/Craig Bond collaboration.
NOVEMBER 13:
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are hoping for good luck on Friday the 13th, as they release By the Sea. Jolie wrote, directed, and stars with her new husband in this romance about a married couple traveling through France in the mid-‘70s.
Also this week, Antonio Banderas stars in director Patricia Riggen’s Chilean miner drama, The 33. Of course, if your Friday the 13th just wouldn’t be complete without a scary movie, there’s the third film in the Ring franchise, Rings. Or, if you’re in more of a holiday kind of spirit, you might want to check out the Christmas comedy Love the Coopers, which joins four generations of a family as their annual Christmas Eve celebration is filled with unexpected twists.
Kristin’s Pick: I love the fact that three of this week’s four releases were directed by women. I’m all for supporting all three of these female directors—but, since I have to choose just one release here, I’ll give my pick to Brangelina’s By the Sea.
NOVEMBER 20:
This week, the Hunger Games franchise comes to a close as Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss and the rest of District 13 battle against the Capitol in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2.
The only other film that dares to open this week is Secret in their Eyes, a gritty drama starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Julia Roberts, and Nicole Kidman as an investigative team shaken by the brutal murder by one member’s teenage daughter.
Kristin’s Pick: Though the cast of Secret in their Eyes is definitely noteworthy, I wouldn’t want the warriors of District 13 coming at me for choosing anything other than Mockingjay – Part 2.
NOVEMBER 25:
The 2015 movie calendar is full of special treats this year. One of them: two Pixar releases in the same year! The year’s second Pixar release (after summer’s Inside Out), The Good Dinosaur, tells the story of a lovable Apatosaurus and his human friend. Early reports reveal that even short clips of this film have made grown men cry—so be sure to bring your tissues.
Another thing that might make grown men cry: the release of a new movie in the Rocky franchise. In Creed, Sly Stallone’s Rocky Balboa agrees to train Adonis Creed (played by Michael B. Jordan), the son of Rocky’s former rival, Apollo Creed. Here’s hoping that this movie will make people forget that Jordan also starred in this year’s mega-flop, Fantastic Four.
Meanwhile, Mud director Jeff Nichols helms Midnight Special, the story of a father who’s trying to figure out what to do about his son’s magical powers. Victor Frankenstein tells the classic story as seen through the eyes of the doctor’s loyal assistant, Igor (played by Daniel Radcliffe). And the quirky holiday comedy The Night Before finds Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, and Anthony Mackie on a wild and crazy Christmas Eve quest for the biggest holiday party.
Kristin’s Pick: Though I’m either cautiously optimistic or morbidly curious about a number of this week’s releases, I have to give my pick to The Good Dinosaur.
DECEMBER 4:
The week after Thanksgiving is notoriously quiet. Apparently, the studios assume that people are too busy dealing with holiday shopping lists and family get-togethers to head to their local theater. If you’re not, however, you can always head out to see Krampus, a holiday horror-comedy about a family that awakens an ancient demon whose job is to punish anyone who’s lacking in Christmas spirit.
Kristin’s Pick: This week’s one release could be outrageously funny or horrifically bad. Watch this one at your own risk.
DECEMBER 11:
Don’t worry; December will eventually pick up—but not yet. Once again this week, there’s just one release: Ron Howard’s In the Heart of the Sea. In this nautical period adventure, Chris Hemsworth leads the crew of a 19th-century ship that’s attacked by a giant whale, leaving the survivors stranded at sea. Their true story would eventually inspire Herman Melville’s classic, Moby Dick.
Kristin’s Pick: Though I’m still bitter about the English professor who once made me read Moby Dick over Thanksgiving weekend, I’m willing to give Ron Howard’s version a chance. I’m hoping that it’ll be less excruciating—but, if nothing else, at least it’ll take up much less of my time.
DECEMBER 18:
Now we’ve come to the weekend that Star Wars fans have been both fearing and anxiously awaiting for years. This week, all of your favorite Storm Troopers and Jedi Knights will be flocking to theaters to see Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens. This J. J. Abrams-directed adventure continues the story thirty years after Return of the Jedi—and half of Hollywood will appear alongside original cast members like Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher.
If you don’t know the difference between a Wookiee and an Ewok, though, you might prefer Sisters, starring Amy Poehler and Tina Fey as a pair of siblings who discover that their parents have sold their childhood home—so, of course, they decide to throw one last epic party there before it’s too late.
Kristin’s Pick: I may not be the biggest Star Wars fan, but I’ll admit that I’m eager to see where Disney and J. J. Abrams take the franchise in The Force Awakens.
DECEMBER 25:
Every year, five or six films battle it out for Christmas box office dollars. So far, this year’s contenders include the Point Break remake, starring Luke Bracey and Édgar Ramírez in the roles made famous by Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze. Meanwhile, Will Smith stars as the first forensic neuropathologist to discover brain trauma in a pro football player in Concussion.
A couple of Oscar-darling directors also face off this week. David O. Russell returns with his powerhouse cast of regulars—Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, and Robert De Niro—for Joy, the true story of inventor and business owner Joy Mangano.
Last year’s Oscar-winning best director, Birdman’s Alejandro González Iñárritu, also returns this week with The Revenant, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as explorer Hugh Glass, who’s left for dead after he’s attacked by a bear and begins his fight for survival. For months, the rumors and reports have been swirling around this film, with talk of harsh filming conditions, a drawn-out shooting schedule, and surprising demands from the filmmakers. Only time will tell if it’ll all pay off in the end.
Kristin’s Pick: This week already has a couple of big contenders—and more are likely to show up in the next few months. Though I’m definitely curious about The Revenant, though, I’ve got to go with the sure-fire casting of Joy.
And there you have it: the good, the bad, and the ugly of another Award Season. In order to tell which is which, be sure to check back often as the season progresses—because, as always, I’ll be spending the next four months with my eyes glued to the screen, ready to report back on all of the action, drama, and blatant Oscar bait that the season has to offer.
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