By David Weiner
10:25 AM PST, December 9, 2013
David O. Russell's highly anticipated follow-up to Oscar-bait Silver Linings Playbook is a force to be reckoned with, given its all-star cast and irresistible late '70s/early '80s setting. The film is based on the true story of Irving Rosenfeld (played by a barely recognizable Christian Bale), a notorious financial con artist from the Bronx who, along and his Brit mistress/partner-in-crime Sydney (Amy Adams), was forced to work with out-of-control FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) to expose other con artists, mobsters and politicians -- including volatile New Jersey mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner), who manages to keep his community afloat despite a recession. The tale of corruption is highlighted by Jennifer Lawrence as Rosenfeld's Long Island housewife, flaunting a loose-cannon demeanor that threatens to derail the entire operation.
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American Hustle
Columbia Pictures
David O. Russell's highly anticipated follow-up to Oscar-bait Silver Linings Playbook is a force to be reckoned with, given its all-star cast and irresistible late '70s/early '80s setting. The film is based on the true story of Irving Rosenfeld (played by a barely recognizable Christian Bale), a notorious financial con artist from the Bronx who, along and his Brit mistress/partner-in-crime Sydney (Amy Adams), was forced to work with out-of-control FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) to expose other con artists, mobsters and politicians -- including volatile New Jersey mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner), who manages to keep his community afloat despite a recession. The tale of corruption is highlighted by Jennifer Lawrence as Rosenfeld's Long Island housewife, flaunting a loose-cannon demeanor that threatens to derail the entire operation.
Saving Mr. Banks
Disney
Disney has the magic touch this season, recruiting Tom Hanks to channel Walt Disney himself opposite Emma Thompson's P.L. Travers in the charming, poignant Saving Mr. Banks -- the first film to dramatically portray the Mouse House legend onscreen. Banks takes a straightforward look at the volatile creative process, real-life struggle and untold backstory of how Mary Poppins made it to the big screen. Disney's daughters begged him to make a movie out of the beloved Travers book, but when the curmudgeonly and uncompromising Travers refused to yield to Disney's magical vision, his promise to his daughters turned into a 20-year quest to obtain the rights and find a way to please Travers. Colin Farrell, Paul Giamatti, Jason Schwartzman, B.J. Novak, Bradley Whitford, Ruth Wilson, Melanie Paxson and Annie Rose Buckley also star.
12 Years a Slave
Fox Searchlight Pictures
This stirring film about slavery pulls no punches and is intensely engrossing from heartbreaking start to finish. Based on an incredible true story, 12 Years a Slave is set in the pre-Civil War era and follows the dramatic turn of events experienced by Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor in a stunning performance), a free black man from upstate New York who is double-crossed, abducted and sold into slavery in the South. There, he struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. Shame director Steve McQueen expertly manages an all-star cast that includes Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Alfre Woodard, Paul Dano, Garret Dillahunt and Paul Giamatti.
Inside Llewyn Davis
CBS Films
The Coen Bros. have done it again, this time beautifully capturing the Greenwich Village folk scene of the '60s. Oscar Isaac is the title star in the highly anticipated follow-up to True Grit that chronicles a week in the life of aimless folk singer Davis -- looking for love, purpose and a modicum of success. Loosely based on Dave Van Ronk's memoir The Mayor of MacDougal Street, the film co-stars Coen Bros. mainstay John Goodman (in his sixth collaboration with the filmmakers), plus Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, Garrett Hedlund, Girls stars Alex Karpovsky and Adam Driver and F. Murray Abraham.
Frozen
Walt Disney
Dreams do come true for Frozen stars Kristen Bell, Josh Gad and Idina Menzel, as their Disney animated adventure has proven to be one of the best in ages from the Mouse House. The visually stunning film showcases not one but two classic Disney princesses in the story of Anna (voiced by Bell), a modest princess and fearless optimist who teams up with rugged mountain man Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) on an epic journey (encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman named Olaf, played by a goofy Gad) to find Anna's sister Elsa (Menzel), whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter.
Her
Warner Bros.
From Being John Malkovich and Adaptation to Where the Wild Things Are and his myriad clever music videos, Spike Jonze remains a director to get excited about. For his first "love story," he's teamed up with Joaquin Phoenix, who is in his prime following his stunning performance in The Master. The near-future tale Her, set in Los Angeles, follows Phoenix as Theodore Twombly, a heartbroken man who falls hard for "Samantha" an advanced, intuitive operating system with a female voice (by Scarlett Johansson) that is insightful, sensitive and surprisingly funny. Despite the cutesy subject matter, we all know this will cut deeper, asking the question: In the end, does it matter whether or not your true love is human? Amy Adams, Rooney Mara and Olivia Wilde co-star.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Warner Bros.
After a bit of a sluggish start with the first installment of Peter Jackson's trilogy adaptation of the classic J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy, the second chapter picks up the pace with thrilling set pieces and a rousing charm that reminds audience why they like to escape to the movies in the first place. Nearing their destination at Lonely Mountain, the Hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and his band of 13 Dwarves continue their quest to reclaim their kingdom from the gold-loving dragon Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch), who delivers plenty of fire in the edge-of-your-seat cliffhanger conclusion.
The Wolf of Wall Street
Paramount
Clocking in at three hours, there's more than a Wall Street corporate raider's share of indulges to feast upon in the new film from Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese. Based on a true story, Leonardo DiCaprio plays Jordan Belfort, who made just shy of a million a week as wealthy stockbroker during the corporate-raiding '80s, living a life of hedonism and illegal money operations until the federal government finally caught up with him. Leo reunites with Scorsese (they collaborated on Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed and Shutter Island) for an exercise in '80s exce$$, with a stellar supporting cast that includes a loopy Matthew McConaughey alongside Jonah Hill, Jon Favreau, Kyle Chandler, Rob Reiner, Jean Dujardin and Kenneth Choi. Enough said?
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Lionsgate
It's being called The Empire Strikes Back of The Hunger Games franchise (for non-geeks, that means the sequel one-ups the first in terms of scope and character development). The second film in the blockbuster dystopian franchise finds a triumphant Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) suddenly faced with the ramifications of the tricky stunt that kept them both alive as they prepare for the Quarter Quell. is it as good as the fans say it is? The box office numbers don't lie... May the odds be ever in your favor!
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
Paramount
Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd and David Koechner stay classy almost a decade after the first Anchorman cracked up audiences and found a cult comedy following, demanding a sequel packed with alarming '80s fashions and amusing man-perms! The long-awaited follow-up finds San Diego's top-rated newsman, Ron Burgundy (Ferrell), returning to the news desk with a whole new set of challenges in the new, 24/7 newsworld populated by equal opportunities, integrated ethnicities and bold sexual preferences. Now married to his co-anchor and wife, Veronica Corningstone (Applegate), can Ron and his pals -- weatherman Brick Tamland (Carell), man on the street Brian Fantana (Rudd) and sports guy Champ Kind (Koechner) -- handle the new age of journalism? Of course they can't -- and that's why we all want to watch this movie.