Out of the Furnace (Dec. 6) – Christian Bale plays an imprisoned man who, once released, must seek out his younger brother (Casey Affleck) after he becomes embroiled in a violent crime ring. Besides looking like a gritty revenge thriller, the film features Bale, Affleck, Willem Dafoe and Woody Harrelson among the cast. All that star power alone is worth the price of admission.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (Dec. 13) – While debates rage over whether a 300-page book deserves an entire film trilogy, die-hard fans can’t wait to return to Middle Earth in this second chapter of the three-part “Lord of the Rings” prequel. “Sherlock’s” Benedict Cumberbatch voices Smaug, the dragon who guards the treasure that Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and a company of dwarves journey to take back. With more action, a darker tone and the return of fan favorite Legolas (Orlando Bloom), look for this to be miles above its predecessor.
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (Dec. 18) – Will Ferrell’s Ron Burgundy is back, and classier than ever. This time, he and his news team take on the 1980s and the dawn of the 24-hour news channel. Will it top the infinitely quotable first film? Probably not. But it should be a great time at the movies anyway.
Saving Mr. Banks (Dec. 20) – Disney is doing something incredibly risky, literally turning on itself. Tom Hanks plays Walt Disney in the true story about how he acquired the rights to film “Mary Poppins” from its creator, P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson). With one of the greatest actors of our time playing the filmmaking icon that is Walt Disney, expect this to be something special.
American Hustle (Dec. 20) – A double dose of Bale this winter, only now the former Batman is playing off the likes of Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Jennifer Lawrence. This time, Bale plays a con man recruited by the FBI to investigate the seedy underworld of mafia leaders, powerbrokers and corrupt politicians that infest late 70s/early 80s New Jersey. The best part? All these amazing actors are wearing period-accurate clothing. Score.
The Wolf of Wall Street (Dec. 25) – Martin Scorsese and Leo DiCaprio are at it again. This time, the director/actor duo take on Jordan Belfort, a New York stockbroker who gets involved in corruption on Wall Street. The dark comedy also stars Jonah Hill and Matthew McConaughey, and the buzz going into it could make it a serious Oscar contender.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (Dec. 25) – Ben Stiller directs and stars in this fantastical drama-comedy, where a “Life” magazine worker, who spends his time daydreaming fantasy worlds, goes on a real-life global adventure. The trailers make it look like a visual wonder, so this may be something to go to for the eye candy alone.
December movies to look for
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