Ten Must-See Movies this Winter

[tobynosker]

The Nativity Story
Release Date: December 1, 2006
Starring: Shohreh Aghdashloo, Ciaran Hinds, Keisha Castle-Hughes and Shaun Toub
Premise: A drama that focuses on the period in Mary and Joseph's life where they journeyed to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus.

Blood Diamond
Release Date: December 8, 2006
Starring: Stephen Collins, Jennifer Connelly, Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou and Michael Sheen
Premise: A farmer, a smuggler, and a syndicate of businessmen match wits over the possession of a priceless diamond.

Breaking and Entering
Release Date: December 8, 2006
Starring: Juliette Binoche, Vera Farmiga, Morgan Freeman, Jude Law, Robin Wright Penn and Ray Winstone
Premise: A Landscape Architect's dealings with a young thief cause him to re-evaluate his life.

The Holiday
Release Date: December 8, 2006
Starring: Jack Black, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law and Kate Winslet
Premise: Two women troubled with guy-problems swap homes in each other's countries, where they each meet a local guy and fall in love.

Dreamgirls
Release Date: December 15, 2006
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Danny Glover, Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce Knowles and Eddie Murphy
Premise: Based on the Broadway musical, a trio of black female soul singers cross over to the pop charts in the early 1960's.

The Good German
Release Date: December 15, 2006
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Beau Bridges, George Clooney, Tony Curran and Tobey Maguire
Premise: In post-war Berlin to find his former mistress, an American journalist is lured into a murder mystery.

The Pursuit of Happyness
Release Date: December 16, 2006
Starring: Thandie Newton, Jaden Smith and Will Smith
Premise: A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional endeavor.

The Good Shepherd
Release Date: December 22, 2006
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Billy Crudup, Matt Damon, Robert De Niro, William Hurt, Angelina Jolie, Joe Pesci and John Turturro
Premise: The tumultuous early history of the Central Intelligence Agency is viewed through the prism of one man's life.

Notes on a Scandal
Release Date: December 25, 2006
Starring: Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench
Premise: A pottery teacher enters into an affair with one of her students, causing upheaval in her personal and professional lives.

Black Snake Moan
Release Date: February 23, 2006
Starring: John Cothrane Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci and Justin Timberlake
Premise: A God-fearing bluesman takes to a wild young woman who, as a victim of childhood sexual abuse, looks everywhere for love, never quite finding it.

[doublee]

Blood Diamond
Release Date: December 8, 2006
Starring: Stephen Collins, Jennifer Connelly, Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou and Michael Sheen
Premise: A farmer, a smuggler, and a syndicate of businessmen match wits over the possession of a priceless diamond.


I have seen trailers for this at the movie theater and my reaction was a big meh. Aside from what looks to be a good cast the movie just doesn't look that compelling to me.

The Pursuit of Happyness
Release Date: December 16, 2006
Starring: Thandie Newton, Jaden Smith and Will Smith
Premise: A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional endeavor.


This is going to be a big time tear-jerker. I have seen the trailer for this as well and it all but brings a tear to one's eye. It looks like it is going to be really good.

[tobynosker]

Originally Posted by doublee
I have seen trailers for this at the movie theater and my reaction was a big meh. Aside from what looks to be a good cast the movie just doesn't look that compelling to me.

I was fairly disappointed in the trailer as well, especially DiCaprio's accent. But, I have been fooled by trailers before and the film has gotten decent Oscar buzz to this point.

If anything, this film could turn out to be like The Last King of Scotland: a story that could have been compelling but failed to execute, yet still managed to be raised above the competition because of the tremendous acting (Forest Whitaker/Leonardo DiCaprio, James McAvoy/Djimon Hounsou, Kerry Washington/Jennifer Connelly).


Originally Posted by doublee
This is going to be a big time tear-jerker. I have seen the trailer for this as well and it all but brings a tear to one's eye. It looks like it is going to be really good.

Anyone who was a big fan of the book The Pursuit of Happyness will probably be disappointed, as it takes nearly three-fourths of a read before you even get to what the plot of this movie is about.

But, I couldn't agree more about the tear-jerker part. My girlfriend cried during the trailer. I don't mean "a tear to one's eye." I mean, openly bawled.

I will be interested to see if Will Smith's son Jaden can pull off the supporting role in the film, but Will may have guaranteed himself an Oscar with this performance.

[doublee]

Yeah, my girlfriend and I saw the trailer for Pursuit of Happyness this past weekend and she said she almost cried herself.

[bama4256]

Anything with Morgan Freeman i'm happy to see.

[Marc]

I am personally dying to see Casino Royale. Finally, Bond is back! :cheers:

[BurghGuy]

I'm getting excited to see Bobby.

I have yet to see Borat, but a lot of my buddies tell me it's hilarious.

[Marc]

Casino Royale, went and saw it on Thanksgiving. WOW! Aside from how it dragged towards the end and had some cheesy sappy moments, I was blown away. Daniel Craig had just the right amount of humor that made the packed theater laugh out loud, along with some much-needed gritty action that brought Bond back to the basics. I loved the Monte Carlo scenes and how it went all across Europe. I will definitely be seeing this again!

Anyone else see it?

[tobynosker]

Casino Royale was a tremendously fun James Bond flick (look in my sig for a rating), and I really thought Daniel Craig did a fine job in the role. I also enjoyed Eva Green as the Bond girl, and the sappy love story was actually enjoyable -- if not at all in line with the way the "womanizing" Bond usually is.

The opening chase sequence was amazing, but outside of that their was very little action to grip you. I enjoyed the poker game as well, but I thought the film dragged when they would take a break from the game and then return.

Overall, a fine film and better than anything Pierce Brosnan had done in the Bond role.

[IntheNet]

The Nativity Story
Release Date: December 1, 2006
Starring: Shohreh Aghdashloo, Ciaran Hinds, Keisha Castle-Hughes and Shaun Toub
Premise: A drama that focuses on the period in Mary and Joseph's life where they journeyed to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus..


I am looking forward to this "Nativity Story" movie... early reports on the film are good... it opened at the Vatican yesterday...

I wasted $10 yesterday on rookie Bond flick... what a waste... this guy seems like a .07 or perhaps just a .7.... he looses at cards, drinks a coke at bar, and has heart attack in car? C'mon... Sean Connery he is not....

[tobynosker]

Originally Posted by InTheNet
I am looking forward to this "Nativity Story" movie... early reports on the film are good... it opened at the Vatican yesterday...

I haven't seen any reviews for the movie so far, although there has been some buzz around 16-year old Keisha-Castle Hughes picking up an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Mary.

But, I don't know if Hughes' chances will be hindered by the news that she is pregnant (it honestly shouldn't hurt her chances, but that type of controversy surrounding the girl playing Mary in the movie is not the type of controversy a studio or film wants).

Throw into the mix the controversial director of Thirteen, and it will be very interesting to see what kind of backlash, if any, this movie receives.

Originally Posted by InTheNet
I wasted $10 yesterday on rookie Bond flick... what a waste... this guy seems like a .07 or perhaps just a .7.... he looses at cards, drinks a coke at bar, and has heart attack in car? C'mon... Sean Connery he is not....

I would much rather see a James Bond who reminds me more of a Jason Bourne-type, than a James Bond who reminds me of Sean Connery in this day-and-age.

[Ellis]

The Pursuit of Happyness looks like such a good movie. I can't wait to see it.

Bobby looks good, but I will probably wait and rent it.

[tobynosker]

Originally Posted by Ellis
The Pursuit of Happyness looks like such a good movie. I can't wait to see it.

Since you are a book reader, you should check out the book of the same name by Chris Gardner (who the movie is based on). It's a fine read.


Originally Posted by Ellis
Bobby looks good, but I will probably wait and rent it.

My mother is dying to see this movie, so the two of us are planning on taking this one in on Sunday (along with some Christmas shopping...it's too soon, dammit!).

[doublee]

I want to see Bobby as well but I have been seeing some mixed reviews on it so I don't know that I will see it in the theaters. It seems to be one of thos polarizing movies that critics are either loving or hating.

[Ellis]

I thought that it seemed cool how Bobby uses real footage of Bobby Kennedy in the movie. But, it got some bad reviews and I don't know if it worth spending the money on.

I would read the book, but I don't want to ruin the movie. From the trailer, it looks like it will be an amazing movie and Smith's acting looks great.

Movies are just too expensive now days. The ticket prices aren't terrible, but I have to have popcorn and a drink. (It is all part of the experience of going to a movie.) Usually I drop like $20 for one movie, which is a huge rip when it costs $3 to rent a movie and $20-10 to buy.

[Marc]

I wasted $10 yesterday on rookie Bond flick... what a waste... this guy seems like a .07 or perhaps just a .7.... he looses at cards, drinks a coke at bar, and has heart attack in car? C'mon... Sean Connery he is not....
But that was part of the point. It was Bond at his beginning ... you can't expect him to be the polished agent of later Bonds. He was finding his way and starting out. I praise this film for taking a new direction and not following the old formulaic, boring model. A few of my favorite moments were at the beginning, the black and white set an eery tone and I love when he shot that guy for his second kill, and at the very end when he says "that b*tch is dead" and loads his assult rifle. Wow, I loved that last moment.

[Richard the Lionheart]

I thought Daniel Craig did a great job, but the film itself, left me a little dissapointed...probably because I heard such great things about it.

Stranger than Fiction was original and enjoyable. I look forward to giving it a second viewing when it comes out on DVD.

The Departed was very good. Suspenseful, interesting, funny at times. Great job by Leo again.

That's about all I've seen lately.

[Marc]

Saw "Turistas" with a girlfriend yesterday and it was thoroughly mediocre. Typical for what we expected, but it was a crappy weekend for releases and we wanted to see something. Best part was a lot of attractive skin was shown, I guess.

[tobynosker]

Originally Posted by Ellis
Bobby looks good, but I will probably wait and rent it.

Bobby: ***1/2 out of ****

It has a great ensemble cast, and for the most part, the film was executed very well. It would have been a **** movie, but I felt that one entire scene that made me roll me eyes (which, I don't do very often at movies given their ridiculous nature) should have been omitted.

Definitely worth the theater ticket price.

[catman]

I'm looking forward to seeing Bobby. I remember Bobby Kennedy and feel the country would have been a different place had he been President.
The Nativity Story looks good to me and I might see it.

[tobynosker]

Originally Posted by catman
I'm looking forward to seeing Bobby. I remember Bobby Kennedy and feel the country would have been a different place had he been President.

The final minutes of Bobby are some of the most emotionally draining moments I have seen in a movie this year (outside of United 93), and had my mother openly weeping.

After walking out of the theater, I said that judging by her reaction she must have enjoyed the film. She said, that growing up during that time and watching someone who she thought would have not only made this country a different place but "a better place" get killed, would never be something that she could enjoy, but she appreciated the movie.


Originally Posted by catman
The Nativity Story looks good to me and I might see it.

After a draining weekend (broadcasted two high school basketball games in Hays, Kansas Friday Night, attended the Big XII Championship Game in Kansas City Saturday Night, and then spent $150.00 Christmas shopping in Wichita, Kansas on Sunday) I like to relax by taking in a movie -- and will probably watch The Nativity Story tonight before the rest of my week gets hectic.

I am also hoping to catch Jesus Camp at the local arthouse theatre this weekend.

[doublee]

The Nativity Story looks good to me and I might see it.

I don't know most of the reviews have been middling to bad for this one. Most of them seem to center on the notion that the movie is fairly dull.