On the week before Christmas, at a movie screen near you,
There were nine new movies being released to view,
Five of them were being released nationwide,
Another four were getting a limited ride,
What would you pick to see before the big holiday,
As Dewey Cox, Sweeney Todd and Charlie Wilson were on the way,
National Treasure: Book of Secrets was coming too,
Oh, and don’t forget, so was P.S. I Love You,
Those were the five being release wide and far,
The others were Flakes, Steep and Taare Zameen Par,
The last one hitting theaters to give you the full gist,
Was Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson in The Bucket List,
We hope you enjoyed the movie choices this week,
As there was plenty for both casual fans and the movie geek.
Opening Nationwide on Friday, December 21st:
Movie: Charlie Wilson’s War (R)
Starring: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams & Ned Beatty
Genre: Drama
Synopsis: Charlie Wilson was a Texas congressman and notorious womanizer and alcoholic. He got the CIA to begin training and arming Afghan resistance fighters to keep the Soviet Union from overtaking Afghanistan. With a rogue CIA agent helping, they were able to send money, military experts and weapons to turn the Afghan forces into a group that could keep the Red Army at bay.
First Thoughts: It looks like Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman will be throwing their hats in the ring for best actor, actress and supporting actor Oscar nominations.
Movie: National Treasure: Book of Secrets (PG) (Read Review)
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Jon Voight, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Helen Mirren, Ed Harris, Harvey Keitel & Bruce Greenwood
Genre: Action Adventure
Synopsis: A missing page from the diary of John Wilkes Booth is found and it looks like Benjamin Franklin Gates’ great-great grandfather may have been involved in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Ben is determined to un-tarnish his family lineage. This sends him on a journey to Paris, London and then America. His quest reveals some surprising results and could unlock many treasure secrets of the world.
First Thoughts: When I began my quest at the beginning of this year to see at least one new movie each week for the year, this was one that I was looking forward to seeing. Here’s hoping it is as fun as the first one
Movie: P.S. I Love You (PG-13)
Starring: Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Lisa Kudrow, Gina Gershon, James Marsters, Kathy Bates & Harry Connick, Jr.
Genre: Romantic Drama
Synopsis: A smart and beautiful woman has found the man of her dreams. He is a passionate and funny Irishman. She is devastated when his life is cut short by illness. It seems that the one person she needs to help her get her life back on track, it the one person who is no longer there. It turns out that he planned ahead for his eventual demise and wrote her a series of letters to guider her through her grief and rediscover the person he fell for. The first of these messages is delivered to her on her 30th birthday. It is an audio message he recorded to tell her of his plan and to get her back out there. New messages are delivered in unsuspecting ways in the weeks and months ahead. Each new one with a new adventure to take part in and they all sign off with the message: P.S. I Love You.
First Thoughts: This has a pretty good-looking cast, but the ads haven’t made it look all that great. The premise does sound interesting though.
Movie: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (R)
Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall & Sacha Baron Cohen
Genre: Musical Horror Comedy
Synopsis: A man is unjustly imprisoned and vows to take revenge for this and for what happened to his wife and daughter. Once released, he reopens his barber shop and becomes Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. His amorous accomplice bakes some diabolical meat pies.
First Thoughts: Based on the Broadway musical that tells the story of Benjamin Barker and how he becomes Sweeney Todd. Tim Burton has an eye for the truly bizarre and Johnny Depp is usually pretty good at bring it to the big screen.
Movie: Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (R)
Starring: John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer, Kristen Wiig, Tim Meadows & Raymond J. Barry
Genre: Musical Spoof Comedy
Synopsis: This is the up-and-down-and-up-again story of an American musician that would change a nation with his songs. His journey consists of sleeping with 411 women, three marriages, 22 kids, 14 step kids, starring in his own TV show, befriending the likes of Elvis and the Beatles, owning a chimp, and becoming addicted to and then kicking just about every drug there is. Yet, he still becomes a national icon.
First Thoughts: This looks like it could be the next great over-the-top adult comedy.
Movie in Limited Release:
- The Bucket List – Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson star in this comedy drama about two terminally ill men that decide to take off and do the things they always wanted to do, but never did. Opens nationwide on Christmas Day.
- Flakes – Romantic comedy about and old hippie that runs a bistro that only sells cereal. Opens today, December 19th.
- Steep – Sports history flick about the people that wanted to ski where no one had ever thought to ski before back in the ‘70s and how now some of the greatest skiers in the world pursue the experience where one small mistake could cost you your life.
- Taare Zameen Par – Foreign drama about a boy that is filled with wonder of things that adults just don’t seem to appreciate anymore.
Expanding to more theaters this week are Atonement and Juno.
For New Movie Friday there are five new movies this week to choose from. They are Charlie Wilson’s War, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, P.S. I Love You, Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. What new movie will you be heading out to see this weekend?
