he holidays are upon us, as this week's opening of the fantastical Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium attests. And so it's for Hollywood to deck the malls not only with movies about magic toy shops but also about pregnant teenage moms, war-ravaged friendships and serial-killing barbers.
Why such diversified entertainment? Well, the happy / holy season is also the prelude to Hollywood's own gift-giving binge - the Academy Awards. To be eligible, films have to be out by Jan. 1, and so, over the years, Christmastime has evolved into Hollywood's preferred release platform for meaty (occasionally blood-rare), prestigious films.
Being a holiday, Christmas is also a time for blockbusters, the theory being that a big-budget film requires wide-open vacation time to bust blocks properly. Witness the summer-movie extravaganza.
To take stock of all the movies coming our way, here is our presorted holiday film guide.
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Seasonal treats
This Christmas
(Nov. 23)
Hollywood dreams of a black Christmas. Stomp the Yard stars Columbus Short and Chris Brown are together again in the story of an African-American Yuletide family reunion.
Alvin and the Chipmunks (Dec. 14)
They were washed up, everyone said. Five-time Grammy-winners, cartoon stars in the sixties, sure. But the munks' last movie, Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman (2000), was direct-to-video. Then: Ratatouille. Suddenly rodents are hot again.
Here comes Oscar
Margot at the Wedding (Nov. 23)
As a kid in Brooklyn, Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale) fell in love with Jennifer Jason Leigh's lost character in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Eighteen years later, the filmmaker found and married the actor, who now stars in his comedy-drama about rival sisters. With Nicole Kidman and Jack Black.
The Savages
(Nov. 30)
Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney are distant siblings who reluctantly interrupt their busy schedules to parcel dad (Philip Bosco) off to a nursing home.
I'm Not There
(Nov. 30)
Director Todd Haynes's (Far From Heaven) speculative biopic offers seven sketches of Bob Dylan, with as many different leads, including Heath Ledger, Christian Bale and Richard Gere. Lavish soundtrack, with Dylan songs interpreted by Jeff Tweedy, Sonic Youth, Cat Power and others.
The Kite Runner
(Dec. 14)
An adaptation of the celebrated novel by Khaled Hosseini - the story of how a rich Afghan boy is separated from a poor friend by foolish pride and the Soviet army. Much of the dialogue is Dari (Afghan Persian) with subtitles.
Youth Without Youth
(Dec. 21)
Francis Ford Coppola's comeback is the pre-Second World War story of a professor (Tim Roth) on the run from Nazis.
Holiday romance
Atonement
(Dec. 7)
From Ian McEwan's novel, starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy (The Last King of Scotland) as cursed wartime lovers. Directed by Joe Wright, who did great things with Knightley in Pride & Prejudice.
P.S., I Love You
(Dec. 21)
American girl's music-loving Irish husband dies, but refuses to leave her, having knocked off a series of pep talks before closing his guitar case for good. Each letter ends with the phrase "P.S., I Love You." Hard hearts need not apply for entry to this film, which stars Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler and Lisa Kudrow.
Ho, ho, ho
My Dinner With Jimi
(Dec. 7)
From screenwriter and former Turtle Howard Kaylan comes the story of the sixties pop group's Happy Together tour of Europe. Recalls Kaylan, "We met the Rolling Stones and the Beatles - who played us Sgt. Pepper's before it was released - all the same night. I wound up eating dinner with Hendrix at 4 a.m. and puking all over his red velvet suit." Toronto only.
Juno
(Dec. 14)
Juno (Haligonian Ellen Page) is a pregnant, unwed teen who sets out to find ideal adoptive parents for her baby. Michael Cera (Superbad) is the surprised father; Jennifer Garner and Jason Batemen, the prospective parents who aren't as perfect as their J. Crew catalogue looks might suggest. Directed by Jason Reitman.
Walk Hard:
The Dewey Cox Story
(Dec. 21)
John C. Reilley (Talladega Nights) is Dewey Cox, a guitar-humping hillbilly cat who goes through four decades of musical costume changes. Written by Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, Superbad).
The Bucket List
(Dec. 25)
Whining, complaining and very ill, Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman check out of a hospital and scoot out on a road trip. Grumpy Wild Old Hogs anyone?
Blockbuster giftsThe Golden Compass
(Dec. 7)
Hollywood's biggest 2007 Christmas present came unwrapped recently when Christian groups protested the $200-million (U.S.) film version of Philip Pullman's bestseller. The magic journey to a northern world populated by lords, queens and polar-bear warriors, was, they said, anti-Christian. Starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. Directed by Chris Weitz (About a Boy).
I Am Legend
(Dec. 14)
With a German shepherd his only company, Will Smith survives a virus that turns New York into a postapocalyptic wasteland. The last living man on Earth has company, however - the creepy, crawling undead.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
(Dec. 21)
Johnny Depp once wielded scissor hands for Tim Burton. Now he's using a straight razor to trim unwary customers in his 19th-century London barber shop. There's music, too - Depp and company belt out a score of songs by Stephen Sondheim, who had casting approval. With Helena Bonham Carter and Sasha Baron Cohen.
National Treasure:
Book of Secrets
(Dec. 21)
A father-and-son sleuth team, plus missing treasure, mysterious bad guys, no swearing - the Hardy Boys, right? Close. It's the sequel to Nicolas Cage's surprise 2004 hit, National Treasure. With Jon Voight and Helen Mirren.
Charlie Wilson's War
(Dec. 25)
Mr. Wilson goes to Afghanistan. Tom Hanks is a Texas congressman who conspires with a rogue CIA operative (Philip Seymour Hoffman) to launch a covert operation against the Soviet military in Afghanistan. Julie Roberts is his benefactress. Directed by Mike Nichols, script by Aaron Sorkin.
Family outings
Enchanted
(Nov. 21)
An evil queen (Susan Sarandon) banishes a beautiful princess (Amy Adams) from paradise, sending her to New York. Live action mixed with animation. Julie Andrews narrates this spoonful of sugar from Disney.
August Rush
(Nov. 21)
Freddie Highmore (Charlie and the Chocolate Family) is a musical orphan in search of musician parents (Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers) who never intended to let him go.
Grace is Gone
(Dec. 7)
John Cusack's wife, a career soldier, is killed in Iraq. Heartbroken but resolute, he takes his young daughters on a trip to gently break the news.
The Water Horse:
Legend of the Deep
(Dec. 25)
A wee Scottish boy discovers a magic egg that grows into a sea serpent. When the water horse grows to monstrous proportions, he reluctantly releases the friendly beast into ... Loch Ness!
The Great Debaters
(Dec. 25)
Story of a black college debate team that beat Harvard in 1935. Starring Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker.
A bit of bah, humbug
The Mist
(Nov. 23)
A Trojan mist envelops a Maine town, unleashing a slavering crew of deadly creatures. Yes, another Stephen King story hits the big screen. With Thomas Jane and Marcia Gay Harden.
Aliens vs. Predator:
Requiem
(Dec. 25)
Hey, monsters celebrate Christmas, too.
Dates may change, and may vary across the country.
