This week, at a theater near you, there are seven new movies being released. Three open nationwide and another four are in limited release.
Opening Nationwide on Friday, November 9th:
Movie: Fred Claus (PG)
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, John Michael Higgins, Miranda Richardson & Rachel Weisz
Genre: Comedy
Synopsis: The older brother of Santa Claus has spent his life being overshadowed by his little brother. Shortly before Christmas he lands in jail and his brother bails him out on the condition that he come up to the North Pole and work off the debt by making toys for the upcoming holiday. He doesn’t take to the job and actually starts to mess things up, causing Christmas to be in jeopardy. Will Santa finally snap, or will everything work out in the end?
First Thoughts: Great cast and the promos seem kind of funny. Well, the very tall Vince Vaughn sleeping in a bed made for elves is really funny. Who knows about the rest.
Movie: Lions for Lambs (R) (Read Review)
Starring: Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise, Michael Peña & Derek Luke
Genre: Drama
Synopsis: A couple of college students follow the advice of one of their professors to do something of importance in their lives, which leads the two of them to enlist and become part of the battle in Afghanistan. The professor is both moved and dismayed by their decision. Their story of survival on the battlefield becomes the link between two other stories. One being, the professor trying to reach student that had a privileged upbringing and has become very disaffected and is completely opposite of the two soldiers mentioned above. The other story being about a presidential wannabe that is about to drop a huge story in the lap of a TV reporter and how this could affect the fate of the two soldiers fighting in Afghanistan. The stories intermingle and show how each affects the others and the world around them.
First Thoughts: Sounds interesting, yet convoluted.
Movie: P2 (R)
Starring: Wes Bentley & Rachel Nichols
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Synopsis: A woman gets trapped in a parking garage after leaving work late on Christmas Eve. She is offered help by the security guard when her car won’t start, but they can’t get it going. He extends an offer to her to stay there and share a small holiday meal with him, which she laughs off and says no. Unfortunately, this is not a request, as he has been watching her over the last many weeks and has set this all up. She must find away out if she wants to live.
First Thoughts: An underground parking garage at night is a creepy place, but how many places can their be to hide. I really like Rachel Nichols (TV’s Alias, The Inside), but don’t really see myself watching this flick anytime soon.
Movie in Limited Release:
- No Country for Old Men – Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin and Woody Harrelson in a crime thriller about missing drug money and those that want to keep it and the others that want to find it.
- Om Shanti Om – Romance story that takes place over many years about a fan of a mega star.
- Saawariya – Romance drama about a free spirited artist that thinks he has found a great place to paint and a beautiful woman that he falls madly in love with.
- War/Dance – Biography that tells the story of three children’s families and how the two decades of civil war in Northern Uganda has torn apart their families, homes and lives.
Expanding to more theaters this week are Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, Darfur Now and Music Within.
For New Movie Friday there are three new movies at a theater near me this week to choose from. They are Fred Claus, Lions for Lambs and P2. What new movie will you be heading out to see this weekend?
