With the holiday season coming up, awards season comes with it. We can also look forward to some of the best films of the year that are coming out in December. Here are some of the films I’m most looking forward to this December.
The Hobbit – Dec. 14
If you are a fan of Peter Jackson’s epic fantasy Lord of the Rings Trilogy, then you are no doubt counting days to The Hobbit, which is easily the most anticipated prequel since The Phantom Menace.
Jackson is back again to recreate J. R. R. Tolkien’s middle earth, adapting the Lord of the Rings prequel novel, The Hobbit, in what was originally supposed to be split into two films, one out this December and one out December 2013, is now being split into a trilogy in a somewhat controversial decision. Ian McKellen is back as Gandalf and so is Andy Serkis in motion capture as Smeagol. I personally can’t wait for this one.
This is 40 – Dec. 21
The newest film from comedy mogul Judd Apatow is a sequel to 2007 smash hit Knocked Up. This time the film is centered on long-time husband and wife, Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann) who were supporting characters in Knocked Up, but stole every scene they were in.
Making a sequel out of Rudd and Mann’s character is a brilliant and interesting idea rather than doing a sequel about Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl’s characters whose story seemed concluded in Knocked Up. This is 40 takes a look at marriage and turning 40; knowing Apatow, it’s sure to feature some crude humour and laugh out loud dialogue.
Zero Dark Thirty – Dec. 21
Coming from academy award winning director, Kathryn Bigelow, (The Hurt Locker) comes a chronicle of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden. This film will be following the 9/11 attacks and lead up to his death in May 2011 by the Navy SEAL Team 6.
This film has been embroiled in controversy even before the cameras started rolling due to the sensitive nature of 9/11 and the killing of Osama bin Laden. The Hurt Locker was a massive and critical success, winning best picture and best director, so her follow up has been eagerly anticipated. There are rumours and reports that Bigelow and screen writer Mark Boal have been privy to some classified information during filming, so the outcome should be interesting and probably a major awards contender.
Django Unchained – Dec. 25
Hitting theaters on Christmas Day is Quentin Tarantino’s highly anticipated eight film, Django Unchained. Django Unchained is a western about a slave-turned bounty hunter on a mission to free his wife from a brutal slave-owning plantation owner.
Starring Jamie Foxx as Django, Christoph Waltz (who won an Oscar for his turn as Nazi Jew hunter in Taratino’s last film, Inglourious Basterds) and Leonardo DiCaprio as the villainous plantation owner Calvin Candie.
Tarantino is notorious for his violent films, so it’s interesting that is the movie is set to be released on Christmas Day. As a massive Tarantino fan, this is my number one most anticipated film of 2012, and I can’t wait to see DiCaprio play a villain. If Tarantino’s other films are any indication, then we will certainly be seeing Django Unchained make an appearance at the Oscars.
Les Miserables –Dec. 25
Also hitting theatres on Christmas day is musical Les Miserables from director Tom Hooper, who cleaned up at the 2010 academy awards with The King’s Speech, winning best director. Les Miserables is yet another adaption of Victor Hugo’s classic novel and has been getting serious Oscar buzz and is one of the most anticipated films of 2012.
With an incredible cast including Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Amanda Seyfried, Russell Crowe, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen, this is one you won’t want to miss. Anne Hathaway has been getting Oscar buzz for her role as Fantine, in which she actually shaved her head.
Les Miserables is poised to be the number one Oscar contender for the 2013 Academy Awards. It will be interesting to see if it lives up to the buzz, but with a cast like that I would say it’s a safe bet.
