Tuesday, November 28, 2017

A Reel Preview: The Year in Film 2017 - Episode XII



As it is with almost every December, the final month of the season opens the floodgates, with Oscar hopefuls and fan favorites finally arriving. Here are the notable releases for the month of December.

It all takes shape with…

THE SHAPE OF WATER – From director Guillermo del Toro (HELLBOY, PAN’S LABRYINTH), comes this fantasy/sci-fi tale in which a custodian at a secret facility befriends a captured sea creature. Stars Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Octavia Spencer.

THE DISASTER ARTIST – James Franco plays the creator of the infamous film THE ROOM from 2003, considered to be one of the worst films ever made.

I, TONYA – Margot Robbie (THE WOLF OF WALL STREET) plays figure skater Tonya Harding in this sports drama. Allison Janney and Sebastian Stan (THE WINTER SOLDIER), co-star.

WONDER WHEEL – Director Woody Allen’s annual film is a crime drama in which the wife of a carousel operator and her husband’s estranged daughter pursue the same man. It stars Jim Belushi, Juno Temple, Justin Timberlake, and Kate Winslet.

TITANIC – Speaking of Kate Winselt, James Cameron’s Oscar winning epic about the doomed ocean liner returns to theatres in a limited run for its 20th anniversary.

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI – The long-awaited, and much anticipated 8th episode of the STAR WARS saga. Rian Johnson (LOOPER) directs, and he is joined by Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Laura Dern, Gwendoline Christie, Andy Serkis, Lupita Nyong’o, and Benicio del Toro.

GOTTI – John Travolta plays famous gangster John Gotti of the Gambino Crime Family.

JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE – This adventure serves as a loose sequel to the 1995 films. Dwayne Johnson and Jack Black lead the cast.

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN – Hugh Jackman (X-MEN), hangs up his claws and steps into the life of P.T. Barnum in this extravagant musical. It co-stars Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, and Zendaya.

DOWNSIZING – Alexander Payne (NEBRASKA), directs this sci-fi comedy in which people are miniaturized for a fresh start on life. It stars Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, and Kristen Wiig.

ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD – Sir Ridley Scott directs this crime drama based on actual kidnapping events. It stars Christopher Plummer, Michelle Williams, and Mark Wahlberg. 

PHANTOM THREAD – The last time director Paul Thomas Anderson and actor Daniel Day-Lewis worked together, we got the magnificent THERE WILL BE BLOOD in 2007. This time around they explore the world of the fashion industry in the 1950’s.

MOLLY’S GAME – Based on the true story of the underground high-stakes poker ring in Hollywood. It stars Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, and Michael Cera. It is the directorial debut of screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (A FEW GOOD MEN, THE SOCIAL NETWORK).

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME – This adaptation of the novel of the same name, which is one of the most acclaimed films out of Sundance this year, has a 17 year-old Italian boy (Timothee Chalamet), beginning a love affair with his father’s American assistant, played by Armie Hammer (THE SOCIAL NETWORK).

THE POST – Steven Spielberg directs this true-story adaptation about the role of the press in the revealing of the Pentagon Papers. The cast includes Tom Hanks, Meryl Steep, Sarah Paulson, Bradley Whitford, and Bruce Greenwood.

*

Next month, Episode I previews the first month of 2018.


No comments:

Post a Comment

A few rules:
1. Personal attacks not tolerated.
2. Haters welcome, if you can justify it.
3. Swearing is goddamn OK.