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Holiday Movie Preview Part 2:
The Oscar Race Heats Up!
by Sandra Olmsted
The announcement of the Golden Globe nominations by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association include many of the films listed below, and the Golden Globes are always a good indicator of the Oscars. It’s time to see as many potential Oscar nominations as possible!
Although it garnered no Golden Globe nods, Wonder is worth seeing and the acting make get he attention of the Oscars. Despite being dubbed a tear-jerker and manipulative by many film critics, every general filmgoer, who sees it, raves about it. Director Stephen Chbosky adapts the New York Times bestseller and heartwarming story of August Pullman (Jacob Tremblay), whose disfiguring birth defect made him an outsider. Then, his parents (Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson) agree to let Auggie enter fifth grade in public school. Auggie’s heroic persistence to be accepted on his own merit inspires his classmates and community. This Lionsgate release is rated PG for thematic elements including bullying, and some mild language and runs 113 min. Despite the critics not being enthused about Wonder, it has done well since opening in Nov. 17; however, it will be bumped by the many holiday releases.
OPENING WEDNESDAY, DEC. 20
Disney’s purchase of 20th Century Fox didn’t cause a release-date change, so The Greatest Showman will open as scheduled. Inspired by the life and imagination of P.T. Barnum, this original musical from director Michael Gracey celebrates the birth of show business and the rise of P.T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman, who earned a Golden Globe acting nomination). This Fox release depicts Barnum as a visionary who rose from nothing to create a circus spectacle that became a worldwide sensation. Barnum, an entrepreneur, struggles to support his wife Charity, (Michelle Williams) and their daughters until he creates The Greatest Show On Earth, but will their marriage survive the pressure and temptations of the circus world? Sadly, due to falling attendance and high costs, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which Barnum’s Greatest Show on Earth became, closed on May 21, 2017 after 146 years. The Golden Globes nominations also include a Best Picture, Comedy or Musical, and a Best Original Song nod for this biopic tribute to the circus in American life. This Fox release is rated PG for thematic elements including a brawl and runs 105 mins.
OPENING FRIDAY, DEC. 22
In Downsizing, a social satire, director Alexander Payne pokes fun at the serious issues of over-population and conservation of natural resources. After scientists discover a way to shrink humans to five inches tall, Paul (Matt Damon) and his wife Audrey (Kristen Wiig) abandon their stressful lives and get small. Once they’ve downsized and moved to a tiny community, their life-changing adventures have only begun. This Paramount Pictures release earned one Golden Globe Best Supporting Actress nomination for Hong Chau. The plot twists promise to surprise and entertain; this political film is rated R for language including sexual references, some graphic nudity and drug use and runs 135 mins.
In director Lawrence Sher’s Father Figures, fraternal twins, Kyle (Owen Wilson) and Peter (Ed Helms), hit the road to find their real father, who their mother (Glenn Close) has maintained was dead. She admits she just doesn’t know which of her 1970s lovers is their father. As the twins cross the country interview potential dads (played by J.K. Simmons, Ving Rhames, Terry Bradshaw, Katt Williams, and Christopher Walken), they might learn more than they want to know about their mother’s wild past. Wilson, master of deadpan humor, is always fun to watch, and the other big stars promise to make it an amusing film. The Warner Bros. release is R for language and sexual references throughout and runs 135 mins.
Director Trish Sie takes the helm of Pitch Perfect 3 which is billed as the last in the popular franchise. After graduating from college, the Bellas soon discover that making money in the real world doesn’t allow them to sing a cappella. They parlay their World Championships college win into a last chance to reunite for an overseas USO tour and to make more music and many questionable decisions. The first two installments have netted Universal has taken in more than $400 million in global box office. This Universal release is just barely rated PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned) for crude and sexual content, language and some action and run 93 mins. Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, Hana Mae Lee, Ester Dean, Alexis Knapp, Chrissie Fit, Kelley Jakle, Shelley Regner, Elizabeth Banks and John Michael Higgins all return and are joined by John Lithgow and Ruby Rose.
Director Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name is nominated for three Golden Globes: Best Picture, Drama, Best Actor: Timothée Chalamet and Best Supporting Actor: Armie Hammer. During the summer of 1983, 17-year-old Elio Perlman (Chalamet) spends his summer at his parents’ 17th-century Italian villa. Then Oliver (Hammer), a handsome doctoral student, arrives to be an intern for Elio’s father, and Elio awakes to desire and love as he bonds with Oliver. Their relationship will change their lives forever. Set in lavishly beautiful and sun-drenched Lombardy, the film is both beautiful and compelling. This Sony Pictures Classics release is rated R for sexual content, nudity and some language and runs 132 mins.
OPENING DEC. 25
Director Ridley Scott’s All the Money in the World takes a revealing look at the “wealthiest man in the history of the world” and at how the rich are different. This TriStar release opens with 16-year-old John Paul Getty III (Charlie Plummer) wandering through Rome and explaining that the audience needs to understand his grandfather and the rich to understand the events that follow, which, unfortunately, is the one thread that is not followed up at the end of the film. Then, Paul is suddenly dragged into a van. The kidnappers contact Paul’s mother, Gail (Michelle Williams), who previously traded riches for custody of her children. Gail immediately contacts J. Paul Getty, who could easily pay the 17 million dollar ransom; he refuses because making a better deal is his mantra. Getty does assign employee Fletcher Chase (Mark Wahlberg), an ex-CIA negotiator, to find the beloved grandson and, although Getty would never admit this, to protect Gail and the other children. While Paul suffers at the hands of his increasing frustrated kidnappers and is sold to a more ruthless criminal, Fletcher investigates and comes to some wrong conclusions.
Gail proves to be a worth and savvy negotiator, and the lighting on her emphasizes her as the one spot of goodness. Eventually, fate and luck play a part in the rescue of Paul and comeuppance for Getty. This gritty, film noir, biopic has to be watched closely to get all the nuances; however, it is riveting without that close attention. The stylish production values and top notch acting make it a really must-see gem and an Oscar contender. The film garnered three Golden Globe nominations: Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, who replaced Kevin Spacey which required reshooting 128 scenes; a well deserved Best Actress, Drama for Michelle Williams, and Best Director: Ridley Scott. It is rated R for language, some violence, disturbing images and brief drug content and runs 132 mins.
OPENING JAN. 5
In Insidious: The Last Key, parapsychologist Dr. Elise Rainier’s childhood home is in the grip of KeyFace (Javier Botet), an entity with five keys for fingers and thumb. Because she doesn’t have memories from the house — only scars, she must face her greatest fears to end the evil that has haunted her for years. Called back to Five Keys, New Mexico by the new owners, Rainier investigates haunting with the help of a young psychic (Spencer Locke) who lives in the house. Director Adam Robitel helms this Universal Pictures release, which is rated PG-13 for disturbing thematic content, violence and terror, and brief strong language, runs 103 mins., promises to make you jump!
Director Aaron Sorkin’s new film, Molly’s Game, chronicles the true story of Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain), an Olympic-class skier who ran the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game for a decade. Then, she was arrested in the middle of the night by seventeen FBI agents wielding automatic weapons. Her players included Hollywood royalty, sports stars, business titans, and, finally, unbeknownst to her, the Russian mob. Her only ally and last hope is her criminal defense lawyer Charlie Jaffey (Idris Elba), who learned that there was much more to Molly than the tabloids led the public to believe. Kevin Costner also stars. This STX release is rated R for language, drug content and some violence and runs 140 mins.
January also sees some important releases, including The Post (Fox) on Jan. 12 and Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool (SPC) on Jan. 26, both of which are already getting Oscar buzz. So, stay tuned for more on these films and the Oscar race which is heating up since the Golden Globe nominations!
