Let's Talk Movies! #21...Oscar Bait, Christmas Movies, "Bad" Movies You Loved......)

[PeterG]

Got some movies news? Have some Oscar predictions? Reviews for movies you've seen? Yup, it's the latest movie thread. Anything and everything movie-related, you're in the right spot. Welcome!

Along with everything else, we do a movie poll for the season. Please vote for as many poll options as you like. Here are trailers for the twelve movies in this thread's poll:

December 7 – Deadfall (Crime drama with Eric Bana, Olivia Wilde, Charlie Hunnam, Sissy Spacek and Kris Kristofferson)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IWaBAwTf2U

December 14 - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Fantasy with Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Aidan Turner, Hugo Weaving, Barry Humphries, Lee Pace, Stephen Fry, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Elijah Wood, Ian Holm, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly and Billy Connolly)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOGsB9dORBg

December 19 - The Guilt Trip (Comedy with Barbra Streisand, Seth Rogen, Adam Scott and Colin Hanks)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FMQLzOq1i4

December 19 - Monsters, Inc. 3D (Animated with John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Steve Buscemi, James Coburn, Jennifer Tilly, Frank Oz)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tCxnHCqqxg

December 19 - Zero Dark Thirty (Action with Chris Pratt, Joel Edgerton, Jessica Chastain, Édgar Ramírez, Mark Strong, Kyle Chandler, Jennifer Ehle and Harold Perrineau)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYFhFYoDAo4

December 21 - This Is 40 (Comedy with Leslie Mann, Paul Rudd, Megan Fox, Albert Brooks, John Lithgow, Melissa McCarthy and Charlene Yi)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxkNuHrS6cg

December 21 - The Impossible (Action with Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgw394ZKsis

December 25 - Django Unchained (Western with Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, Gerald McRaney, Don Johnson, Kerry Washington, Anthony LaPaglia, RZA, Tom Wopat, Jonah Hill, Amber Tamblyn)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUdM9vrCbow

December 25 - Les Misérables (Musical with Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne, Amanda Seyfried, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk5UStefYmE

December 28 - Promised Land (Drama with Matt Damon, John Krasinski, Rosemarie DeWitt and Frances McDormand)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHQt1NAkhIo

February 8 - Identity Thief (Comedy with Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy, Amanda Peet, John Cho and Jon Favreau)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqQg6Rlt6W4

February 14 - A Good Day to Die Hard (Action with Bruce Willis and Cole Hauser)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVkzZD92cMQ

[PeterG]

Other major movies coming out in the next three months:

December 7 - Playing for Keeps (Romantic comedy with Gerard Butler, Uma Thurman, Jessica Biel, Dennis Quaid, Judy Greer, James Tupper and Catherine Zeta-Jones)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq6OwEY8bcM

December 7 - Hyde Park on Hudson (Biographical Drama with Bill Murray, Laura Linney and Olivia Williams)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQaScjiWDyY

December 21 - Jack Reacher (Action with Tom Cruise, Richard Jenkins, Robert Duvall, Werner Herzog)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK7y8Ou0VvM

December 21 - Not Fade Away (Musical drama with Brad Garrett, James Gandolfini and Lisa Lampanelli)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w_uqflpCcU

December 25 - Parental Guidance (Comedy with Billy Crystal, Bette Midler, Marisa Tomei and Bailee Madison)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9nmIzCAMJQ

December 28 – Quartet (Dramatic Comedy with Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly, Pauline Collins and Michael Gambon)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSEnh8Hi62E

December 28 – Therese (Thriller with Elizabeth Olsen, Tom Felton, Jessica Lange and Shirley Henderson)
NO TRAILER

January 4 - Texas Chainsaw 3D (Horror with Trey Songz and Tania Raymonde)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75TvtJIbbNY

January 11 - A Haunted House (Comedy horror with Marlon Wayans and Cedric the Entertainer)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daCqXHagaPY

January 11 - Gangster Squad (Action with Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Robert Patrick, Michael Pena, Giovanni Ribisi and Nick Nolte)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMs0_gJ6Pvw

January 11 - Stand Up Guys (Action comedy with Al Pacino, Christopher Walken, Julianna Margulies and Alan Arkin)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NApJNjPTqZs

January 18 - Broken City (Crime with Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Barry Pepper, Kyle Chandler and Jeffrey Wright)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3HgYu1atOo

January 18 - The Last Stand (Action with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Forest Whitaker, Zach Gilford, Johnny Knoxville, Harry Dean Stanton and Luis Guzmán)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIersyq-Gt8

January 18 – Mama (Thriller with Jessica Chastain and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Am7i7uM9r0

January 25 - Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunter (Adventure horror with Jeremy Renner and Famke Janssen)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9246msCh7x4

January 25 - Movie 43 (Comedy with Elizabeth Banks, Chloë Grace Moretz, Emma Stone, Gerard Butler, Kristen Bell, Hugh Jackman, Seann William Scott, Anna Faris, Kate Winslet, Naomi Watts, Uma Thurman, Richard Gere, Josh Duhamel, Justin Long, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Kate Bosworth, Liev Schreiber, Jason Sudeikis, Patrick Warburton, Chris Pratt, Kieran Culkin, Johnny Knoxville and Tony Shalhoub)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrTRlglS8xE

January 25 - Parker (Crime with Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Chiklis and Nick Nolte)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca8qg7xuBGk

February 1 - Bullet to the Head (Action with Sylvester Stallone, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Christian Slater, Jason Mamoa and Jon Seda)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDiaXZiIJOQ

February 1 - Warm Bodies (Romantic horror with Nicholas Hoult, John Malkovich and Dave Franco)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3ErWNBX9Rc

February 8 - Side Effects (Crime thriller with Rooney Mara, Jude Law, Channing Tatum and Catherine Zeta-Jones)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS5MQlDSiS8

February 13 - Beautiful Creatures (Supernatural drama with Davis, Emma Thompson, Emmy Rossum and Jeremy Irons)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Mmo4GzMMqw

February 14 - Escape from Planet Earth (Animated Family with Brendan Fraser, Jessica Alba, James Gandolfini, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jane Lynch and Paul Reubens)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxgYptNF7hc

February 14 - Safe Haven (Romantic drama with Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj6i_Z1Srsw

February 22 - Dark Skies (Thriller with Keri Russell, Josh Hamilton and J.K. Simmons)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8iLp1xQtPQ

February 22 - Snitch (Action, Thriller with Dwayne Johnson, Susan Sarandon, Benjamin Bratt and Barry Pepper)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu46XLdgmCo

[Buzz]

There are a lot of great movies coming. I want to see Gangster Squad, Django ( even if it does have Leo in it), Last Stand,

[PeterG]

The movies coming out over the next three months that I'm most interested in seeing are:

1. The Guilt Trip - I'm a Streisand fanatic, so getting to see her in a starring role after more than 15 years is a long enough wait for me!!!
2. The Impossible - I love this trailer - it looks like it could be very dramatic and moving...with possibly a great special effects section of the movie - I'm in!
3. Identity Thief - I think Melissa McCarthy is hilarious, she makes me laugh my a** off
4. Playing for Keeps - this looks to be a typical romantic comedy drama...but with everything done RIGHT - plus Butler's looking real buff in this one
5. Les Misérables - I love Hathway's singing in this trailer...I'm hoping this will be a sweeping drama/musical for the ages
6. Promised Land - The trailer looks good, letting everyone be human instead of making anybody into a caricature

[Wyliefan]

Kyle Chandler's been a busy boy! Always so happy to see his face popping up in trailers!

[Buzz]

Just wanted to say that I will never watch any movie with Elizabeth Banks in it.

[Vash01]

I plan to see (definitely):

Zero Dark Thirty
The Hobbit
Les Miserables

May be:

The impossible
Promised land

[Cachoo]

I am so looking forward to Zero Dark Thirty...

[Sofia Alexandra]

I watched a film called Fourth Kind the other day, mostly because a classmate said it was creepy as hell. It's a sci-fi horror film, which starts with

Spoiler

the lead actress (Milla Jovovich) popping up to tell the audience how everything in the film is a dramatised version of "true events", interspersed with "real" footage of the "real" stuff that went down. And that completely ruined the film for me, 'cos then I just sat there counting all the ways in which I could tell that the whole thing was bullshit (there were plenty, and a quick bit of googling afterwards confirmed that the story was, indeed, bullshit ).

There were a couple of times where things suddenly happening on the screen made me jump, but apart from that I didn't find the film frightening. At all. And whoever did the colour balancing was way too fond of the blue/yellow colour scheme that so many films suffer from.

[PeterG]

Just wanted to say that I will never watch any movie with Elizabeth Banks in it.

Why the EB hate? I've liked her in most movies I've seen her in. I recently watched "The Next Three Days" which I give a whole-hearted thumbs up to in spite of Elizabeth Banks....character. Her character does

Spoiler

some stupid things, especially towards the very end, which includes one of the stupidest scenes I've ever seen in the movies.

But overall it was a good popcorn movie with lots of twists and turns. An enjoyable view.

I watched a film called Fourth Kind the other day, mostly because a classmate said it was creepy as hell. It's a sci-fi horror film, which starts with

Spoiler

the lead actress (Milla Jovovich) popping up to tell the audience how everything in the film is a dramatised version of "true events", interspersed with "real" footage of the "real" stuff that went down. And that completely ruined the film for me, 'cos then I just sat there counting all the ways in which I could tell that the whole thing was bullshit (there were plenty, and a quick bit of googling afterwards confirmed that the story was, indeed, bullshit ).

There were a couple of times where things suddenly happening on the screen made me jump, but apart from that I didn't find the film frightening. At all. And whoever did the colour balancing was way too fond of the blue/yellow colour scheme that so many films suffer from.

This was another good popcorn movie. I cut most movies some slack because I almost always find plot points (or whatever) that could ruin it for me, so I just let it go and enjoy the overall experience. Which makes things really wonderful when a movie never goes where I expect, or has no storyline problems, etc. That pretty much sums up Ondine (with Colin Farrell) that I saw recently. I definitely recommend this one. And not just because I'm in love with Colin Farrell and not because he also has the most gorgeous long hair in this movie. It's a great story, very interesting and with characters I liked spending time with. A sweet story but not overdone in it's sweetness. Anyway, back to The Fourth Kind. I took it as entertainment and nothing more. It gave me the chills a couple of times, which usually doesn't happen to me. It helped that I really like Milla Jovovich, I've liked her in everything I've seen (this makes me want to watch A Perfect Getaway again)!

[Buzz]

Sorry Petey I meant Anna Ferris. Got my blondes mixed up.

[Cachoo]

I love quirky movies that don't always telegraph the action from scene to scene so I was delighted watching Safety Not Guaranteed last night. I don't know much about Aubrey Plaza (sp?) and Mark Duplass but they impressed me in this film.

[Buzz]

New Zealand is going crazy over the Hobbit premier !

http://ca.reuters.com/article/entert...8AP1AJ20121128

[Artemis@BC]

I love quirky movies that don't always telegraph the action from scene to scene so I was delighted watching Safety Not Guaranteed last night. I don't know much about Aubrey Plaza (sp?) and Mark Duplass but they impressed me in this film.

I talked about this film in the previous movie thread. I enjoyed it very much too -- very "indie in a good way" iykwim. Duplass was the standout performance for me. Plaza was fine, and she fit the character very well (was the character) ... but it was pretty much identical to what she does in Parks & Recreation.

[Vash01]

I saw the trailer of Impossible the other day, and I definitely want to see this movie. I heard Naomi Watts is fantastic/Oscar worthy in it (she has always been fantastic, IMO).

[Cachoo]

I talked about this film in the previous movie thread. I enjoyed it very much too -- very "indie in a good way" iykwim. Duplass was the standout performance for me. Plaza was fine, and she fit the character very well (was the character) ... but it was pretty much identical to what she does in Parks & Recreation.

You know how suddenly you hear a name over and over again? It was Jessica Chastain last year and this year it seems to be Duplass and Scoot McNairy. I'm sure all have been working long and hard but it seems they explode onto the scene. Ita about Duplass and now I think I will watch Parks and Recreation to see Plaza. I really liked her in this.

[PeterG]

Some random movie news. SPOILER: Heavy on the superhero stuff!!

Watch Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy Channel Bumbling Law Enforcers in Paul Feig’s Bridesmaids Follow-Up
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/osc...e-heat-trailer

Youtube trailer for the Bullock/McCarthy movie (it is hilarious!!!!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0HWlvP1xdk

Hugh Jackman Also Back for Singer's 'X-Men: Days of Future Past' (along with Ian McKellan, Patrick Stewart, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender and Nicholas Hoult)
http://www.firstshowing.net/2012/hug...f-future-past/

Cate Blanchett Becoming Wicked Stepmother for Disney's 'Cinderella'
http://www.firstshowing.net/2012/cat...ys-cinderella/

Lenny Kravitz is Motown Legend Marvin Gaye for Julien Temple Film
http://www.firstshowing.net/2012/len...n-temple-film/

Rumor: Joseph Gordon-Levitt Set to Play Batman in 'Justice League'
http://www.firstshowing.net/2012/rum...ustice-league/

Paul Greengrass' Martin Luther King Jr. Film 'Memphis' Back on Track
http://www.firstshowing.net/2012/pau...back-on-track/

Rose Byrne, Patrick Wilson & Director James Wan Back for 'Insidious 2'
http://www.firstshowing.net/2012/ros...r-insidious-2/
...umm, did any of us see the first one???

Lee Pace, Joel Edgerton & More Testing for 'Guardians of the Galaxy'
http://www.firstshowing.net/2012/lee...of-the-galaxy/

Fox Searchlight Developing Biopic on Singing Sensation Susan Boyle
http://www.firstshowing.net/2012/fox...n-susan-boyle/

From Entertainment Weekly:

West Bentley and Brit Marling will play Abraham Lincoln’s first teacher and mother, respectively, in a Terrrence Malick-produced Lincoln biopic.

(It's about time they made a movie about Lincoln.... )

[Buzz]

There are a few good ones in there but unfortunately so many of the smaller movies never open here in Toronto. Anna Karenina is not showing anywhere near here. Not sure about the Boyle Biopic however...

[michiruwater]

Life of Pi came to China so I saw that on Tuesday and loved it. Whoever said it wasn't filmable was totally wrong. It wasn't perfect, but it was really well-done, and absolutely gorgeous to boot. Plus, the tiger was awesome. I was totally rooting for the tiger.

[ssminnow]

Saw Silver Linings Playbook recently and LOVED it.