Author: dpugh007

The Christmas vacation week has been a great time for movies for many years now. Knowing that people are on vacation and (possibly) eager to escape the odd family obligation or two, studios plan big releases for Christmas day, which is also conveniently one of the last big release dates of the year, making the time also a prime spot for the release of films with big award season campaigns. That means there are also many choices this week, from new releases to films that have been in theaters for a week or more, and the plethora of VOD offerings. So here’s a list of twenty movies to watch this Christmas.

Here, we’ll run down the big options for Christmas week movies, and give you some clue of which audiences might get the most out of each.

This isn’t a list of Christmas films — we did a an internal poll of /Film’s favorite Christmas movies, which is coming along later this week. Rather, this is a list of many other options you can see right now.

New to Theaters

Note: after press time, The Interview was also slated to play this week, and there is also the single-screen release of the Dardenne Brothers’ Two Days One Night.

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If you’re interested in this month’s must-see film: Selma

Ava DuVernay directs an excellent portrait of Martin Luther King, Jr. (played with resonant power by David Oyelowo) as the activist leads protests for African-American voting rights from Selma to Montomery, Alabama in 1965. Rather than attempting to depict the full span of King’s life, this film focuses on a specific point in time, revealing King as a man who is as flawed and plagued by doubt as any of us — which makes his achievement all the more significant. Selma also does not shrink from showing the division within African-American communities as they responded to voting restrictions.

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If you’re looking for a set of command performances: The Gambler

Rise of the Planet of the Apes director Rupert Wyatt remakes a ’70s picture that originally starred James Caan, now with Mark Wahlberg in the lead role of a college professor whose life is dominated by his gambling addiction. Some shockingly on the nose music choices and a fairly throwaway role for Brie Larson undermine the movie, but there’s no mistaking the energetic performances from Wahlberg, Larson, Michael K. Williams, Jessica Lange, and John Goodman.

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If you’re looking for some escapism with a musical accompaniment: Into the Woods

This year’s Christmas week openings are, by and large, not exactly feel-good family fare, but Rob Marshall gets closer than anyone else with his big-budget adaptation of Stephen Sondheim‘s musical. Several fairy tales are unified into something like a single story, but the real attraction is the star power, as the cast features Meryl Streep, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine, and Emily Blunt.

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If you’re looking for a tough but generally down the middle award-season effort: Unbroken

Angelina Jolie‘s second film as director looks like the product of someone who has spent time studying under Clint Eastwood — expect a straightforward tale of courage and perseverance in the face of great adversity as Jack O’Connell plays Louis “Louie” Zamperini, an Olympic athlete who spent two years in a Japanese POW camp after the B-24 on which he was a crew member crashed in the ocean south of Hawaii.

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If you’re from a military family, or if you’re ready to see Bradley Cooper challenge himself: American Sniper

Speaking of Clint Eastwood, the man is back with his own biopic of a major figure in American military history. In this case the subject is Chris Kyle, the Navy SEAL sniper who was credited as the most lethal sniper in Navy history before his murder at a Texas shooting range in 2013. Bradley Cooper plays Kyle, and the film follows the man’s conflicts both at war and at home, and especially deals with how the two environments clash in his psyche.

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If you want an actor showcase, or a relationship gone wrong: Big Eyes
Tim Burton‘s latest film stars Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz as married couple Margaret and Walter Keane, who became famous in the ’60s for Walter’s paintings of big-eyed children. But the paintings were actually by Margaret; Walter took credit for her work, leading to a bitter battle between the two. Burton doesn’t often turn to real-world stories — his last was Ed Wood, twenty years ago — so this is a pleasant change of pace for the director.

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Continue Reading 25 Movies to Watch During Christmas Week 2014 >>

The post 20 Movies to Watch During Christmas Week 2014 appeared first on /Film.

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Kim Dickens, whose standout work was one of the best parts of Gone Girl, has been cast in one of the lead roles in the Walking Dead spinoff series. The show, code-named Cobalt, also features Cliff Curtis as another one of the lead roles in a story that will follow other characters at the beginning of the zombie outbreak seen in The Walking Dead, but here most likely set in and around the Los Angeles area.

Deadline broke the news.

Kim Dickens in Walking Dead spinoff

The character to be played by Dickens is called a “girl next door with an edge,” with that “edge” being a troubled past that will come back to haunt her. She’s a guidance counselor and single mom to characters played by Frank Dillane (“a screwed up teenage son, too old to stay home, too scared to flee”) and Alycia Debnam Carey (“level-headed teenage daughter with ambition is in direct proportion to her older brother’s failures”).

Curtis will play teacher and divorced dad Sean Cabrera, and who works at the same school that employs Dickens’ character. He’s described as “a good man trying to do right by everyone in his life.” He has a teenage son, too, the actor for whom hasn’t been revealed at this point.

In fact, the two characters have a romantic relationship going, in addition to their working relationship.

The Walking Dead creator and original comic writer Robert Kirkman, also created this show, with Dave Erickson, and Adam Davidson is set to direct.

 

The post Kim Dickens Cast in ‘The Walking Dead ‘Spinoff appeared first on /Film.

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Everyone who walks out of Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice is likely wondering why we haven’t seen more from Katherine Waterston until just now. That’s due in no small part to the fact that she doesn’t just help drive the Inherent Vice plot, but takes center stage for one of the film’s most arresting scenes, performing in an unbroken long and very vulnerable take. (In fact, Waterston has been working for quite a while, and Boardwalk Empire fans should recognize her immediately.) Now Waterston has been offered a role in the Steve Jobs film scripted by Aaron Sorkin and set to be directed by Danny Boyle.

Deadline reports that Waterston has the option of taking the role of Chrisann, Jobs’ first wife. At this point we don’t know if she’ll grab it, but we hope so, if only because it means we’ll see more of her work sooner rather than later. 

Universal picked up the Jobs movie after Sony walked away from it weeks ago. At this point, it is set to star Michael Fassbender as Jobs, Seth Rogen as Steve Wozniak, and Jeff Daniels as John Sculley. And Kate Winslet has been tipped as the likely choice to play Joanna Hoffman, who was part of the original Apple Macintosh dev team.

Beyond that, this particularly public casting and development process is still more or less where it has been for weeks. The film should shoot early next year, and features a look at Steve Jobs through the lens of three major product launches at various points in his career.

The post ‘Inherent Vice’ Breakout Star Katherine Waterston Offered Steve Jobs Role appeared first on /Film.

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When might we see the first Ant-Man trailer? Want to learn more about the Suicide Squad? Has The Flash been renewed for season 2? How did the Walkman and tape work for so long in Guardians of the Galaxy? Can someone build a working Hellboy arm? Read about all this and more in today’s Superhero Bits.

Who and what are the Suicide Squad? Superhero Hype has a great feature on the soon-to-be big screen stars.

Actor Cory Michael Smith talked to AssignmentX (via Comic Book Movie) about playing The Riddler on Gotham.

The Ant-Man trailer has been classified, which means we should see it in the next few weeks. Agent Carter premiere?

Some sites were reporting that The Flash had been renewed for season 2 and while that’s highly likely, it’s not yet official. (Though it most certainly will be soon)

Another new Agent Carter promo via Spoiler TV.

Check out some clips from the next new episode of Gotham.

Do you dare to oppose Ronan?! #GuardiansOfTheGalaxy pic.twitter.com/3AXsxAF0xw

— GuardiansOfTheGalaxy (@Guardians) December 23, 2014

Fun image from the Guardians of the Galaxy Blu-ray special features.

Read about the origins of the heroes and villains in Guardians of the Galaxy via Hollywood Reporter.

Continue Reading Superhero Bits >>

Due to the amount of graphics and images included in Superhero Bits, we have to split this post over THREE pages. Click the link above to continue to the second page of Superhero Bits.

The post Superhero Bits: Ant-Man, Agent Carter, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Hellboy appeared first on /Film.

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The Plaza Theater in Atlanta made news last night by claiming it would be screening The Interview beginning on Christmas Day. Initially there was no confirmation that Sony was going allow an Interview theatrical release – and since the film is likely only available as a DCP, showing The Interview without Sony’s cooperation at this point would be basically impossible. But then other reports started to trickle in saying that Sony indeed plans to authorize screenings of the film, and at this point it seems that audiences will have multiple options to see the film in theaters and on VOD later this week.

UPDATE: Sony has issued an official press release, which you can read after the jump. It confirms the limited theatrical release but not the VOD plan.

UPDATE 2: Director and star of The Interview, Seth Rogen has finally commented on the situation as has James Franco.

When the Plaza claimed to be offering showings beginning on Christmas Day I was dubious, as the Star Wars debacle with that theater earlier this year erased my confidence in the management there.

But then Tim League, founder of the Alamo Drafthouse chain, said,

Breaking news: Sony has authorized screenings of THE INTERVIEW on Christmas Day. We are making shows available within the hour. #Victory

— Tim League (@timalamo) December 23, 2014

Earlier this week the Art House Convergence had issued an open letter to Sony requesting the option for indie theaters to program The Interview, which was followed by a Change.org petition in favor of that option. We don’t yet know if art-house and independent theaters will be the primary theatrical homes for The Interview, but that’s how it looks at the moment.

The Wrap says a VOD release is also set to be announced later today.

UPDATE: Here’s Sony’s official statement which, again, only hints at VOD at the moment. We’ll update if a real VOD plan is announced.

SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES LIMITED THEATRICAL RELEASE OF THE INTERVIEW ON CHRISTMAS DAY

[Hollywood – December 23, 2014]  Sony Pictures Entertainment today announced that The Interview will have a limited theatrical release in the United States on Christmas Day.

“We have never given up on releasing The Interview and we’re excited our movie will be in a number of theaters on Christmas Day,” said Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Entertainment. “At the same time, we are continuing our efforts to secure more platforms and more theaters so that this movie reaches the largest possible audience.”

“I want to thank our talent on The Interview and our employees, who have worked tirelessly through the many challenges we have all faced over the last month.  While we hope this is only the first step of the film’s release, we are proud to make it available to the public and to have stood up to those who attempted to suppress free speech.”

UPDATE 2: Seth Rogen has finally come out of hiding (on Twitter) and offered this update:

The people have spoken! Freedom has prevailed! Sony didn’t give up! The Interview will be shown at theaters willing to play it on Xmas day!

— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) December 23, 2014

As did James Franco:

VICTORY!!!!!!!
The PEOPLE and THE PRESIDENT have spoken!!!
SONY to release THE INTERVIEW in theaters… http://t.co/0KyZQAB6cf

— James Franco (@JamesFrancoTV) December 23, 2014

Update 3: The Alamo Drafthouse has issued a statement, and we’ve got a full list of all the theaters currently booked to play the film.

Drafthouse founder Tim League said:

We cannot imagine the pressures that have been affecting Sony, at all levels of the organization they have been under attack. Amidst this unwarranted chaos, they have regrouped and listened to the public, the government and the exhibition community and responded with resolve and determination. At 10:45 AM Sony bookers approved screenings at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and other arthouse and independent theaters across the country. This is the best Christmas gift anyone could give us. We, both distributors and exhibitors, have collectively stood firm to our principles and for the right to freedom of expression. Two days til Christmas, and I am proud to be an American.

– Alamo Drafthouse CEO Tim League

Here’s the full theater list as it stands Tuesday afternoon, December 23.

Alabama:
Edge 12 – Birmingham

Arizona:
Harkins Theatres – Phoenix

Arkansas:
Riverdale 10 – Little Rock

California:
Laemmle Theatre, North Hollywood, CA (Dec. 31)
Cinefamily – Los Angeles
Mission Grove Theaters – Riverside

Colorado:
Alamo – Littleton

Delaware:
Penn Cinemas Riverfront – Wilmington
Rehoboth Beach’s Movies at Midway – Lewes
Westown Movies – Middletown

Florida:
Sun-Ray Cinema – Jacksonville

Georgia:
The Plaza Atlanta – Atlanta

Illinois:
Art Theater Co-Op, Champaign
Hollywood Blvd Cinema, Woodridge

Indiana:
Jasper 8 Theatres – Jasper

Louisiana:
Chalmette Movies – Chalmette
The Robinson Film Center – Shreveport

Maryland:
Eastpoint Movies 10 – Baltimore

Massachusetts
AppleCinemas – Cambridge

Michigan:
Alamo – Kalamazoo
The Michigan Theater – Ann Arbor

Missouri:
Alamo Main Street – Kansas City
MX Movies – St. Louis

New York:
Alamo – Yonkers
Dipson Flix 10 Stadium – Lancaster (Dec 26)
Dipson Lakewood Cinema – Lakewood  (Dec 26)

Ohio:
Tower City Cinema – Cleveland
Gateway Film Center – Columbus

Oregon:
The Fox Theater – Dallas

Pennsylvania:
Southside Works Cinema – Pittsburgh

Puerto Rico:
Caribbean Cinemas – Puerto Rico

Rhode Island:
Cable Car Cinema – Providence

South Carolina
Terrace Theatre – Charleston

Tennessee
Belcourt Theatre – Nashville
Franklin Theatre – Franklin

Texas:
Alamo Lakeline – Austin
Alamo Slaughter – Austin
Alamo South Lamar – Austin
Alamo Ritz – Austin
Alamo – Richardson
Alamo Vintage Park – Houston
Alamo Mason Park – Katy
Alamo – Lubbock
Alamo Marketplace – New Braunfels
Alamo Park North – San Antonio
Alamo Westlakes – San Antonio
City Base Cinema – San Antonio

Vermont:
Merril’s Roxy – Burlington

Virginia:
Alamo Loudoun – Ashburn

The post Sony Will Release ‘The Interview’ to Select Theaters This Week [Updated With Theater List] appeared first on /Film.

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