DECEMBER FILMS WORTH SEEING

December is littered with must-sees. We're in the thick of awards season right now, and a lot of festivals films are finally being seen in limited and later wide release.

December 3rd
Black Swan
I've been waiting for this one for a long time. Every time I read a review, my anticipated love for the film grows, as well as my hatred for those who have already been lucky enough to see it.

Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassell, Barbara Hershey and Winona Ryder star in Darren Aronofsky's take on the ballet Swan Lake. Portman plays Nina--the lead in the production--who begins to hallucinate, sprout black feathers and get it on with another ballerina (Kunis). Aronofsky has only been responsible for five films (Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain, The Wrestler) but is without a doubt one of the most talented and interesting directors in the business. Early word is that Portman is on her way to be in the final five for Best Actress at the upcoming Oscars. Expect Aronofsky and the film itself to make the cut as well.



See the rest after the break.


Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale
Finally, an honest account of jolly old Saint Nick. Exports is a Finnish fantasy film about some reindeer hunters who come upon Santa Claus, and turns out to be the kidnapper of children. Santa looks scraggly as all hell, and pretty terrifying. I'm not sure what kind of vibe this is planning on sending out. Whether it's going to be straight up serious, or be injected with some spikes of absurdity. Regardless, I'm in.



December 10th
The Fighter
I think it's safe to say that 'Marky' Mark Wahlberg has had a pretty hit-and-miss career. For every Boogie Nights and The Departed, there's a Shooter and The Happening (see below).



Wahlberg has spent years trying to get The Fighter in theatres. As the boxer Mickey Ward, he looks believable in all the trailers; the real star here is Christian Bale though. Bale has long been one of the most gifted and dedicated of his craft. While filming 2004's The Machinist, Bale slimmed down to 120 lbs., by only consuming an apple and a cup of coffee a day. From someone that can look as powerful as he does as Batman, it's shocking to see him as Mickey's brother Dickie. My money's on Bale walking away with some hardware for his efforts.



December 17th
Tron: Legacy
It's been twenty-eight years since we last saw Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges). Legacy introduces Sam, Flynn's son who gets trapped in the same world that afflicted his father. The original Tron revolutionized special effects; doubtful that the sequel will have the same impact, but it's sure to remain fan friendly. Flynn will battle his digital doppelgänger CLU, while Olivia Wilde (!) and Beau Garrett (!) are some of the supporting cast. There are others, but they're not good-looking and therefore not worth mentioning.



December 22nd
Somewhere
The latest from writer/director Sofia Coppolla. This one has similarities to the phenomenal Lost in Translation--actor involved in a mid-life crisis, forms/rekindles a relationship with a younger girl. Stephen Dorff (a bizarre choice from the outside) substitutes for Bill Murray while Elle Fanning is Dorff's alienated daughter. Set at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, California, Coppolla locales all seem to have this dreamlike shine on them. If she can make Dorff seem credible, she should win another Oscar on that regard alone.



December 31st
Blue Valentine
This is director Derek Cianfrance's baby; a film that he struggled to get made for over a decade. It premiered at this past year's Sundance Film Festival, and will finally get a larger audience right before the turn of the year. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) is not doing a lot to help this independent picture keep afloat. Due to a supposedly emotionally graphic sex scene near the end of the film, the MPAA gave Valentine an NC-17 rating (no one under the age of seventeen will be admitted)--essentially the kiss of death in the industry.

Valentine deals with the present and past relationship of Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams): how it starts with promise, yet ends painfully due to different life choices and other circumstances. Pundits are saying these are Williams and Gosling's career roles to date, which is saying a lot since they've both been nominated for earlier films.