NEW YEAR’S EVE
Starring: Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi,
Abigail Breslin,
Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Robert De Niro, Josh Duhamel, Zac Efron,
Hector Elizondo, Katherine Heigl,Ashton Kutcher, Seth Meyers,
Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker,Michelle Pfeiffer,
Til Schweiger, Hilary Swank & Sofia Vergara
Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Robert De Niro, Josh Duhamel, Zac Efron,
Hector Elizondo, Katherine Heigl,Ashton Kutcher, Seth Meyers,
Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker,Michelle Pfeiffer,
Til Schweiger, Hilary Swank & Sofia Vergara
Directed by Garry Marshall for distribution by New
Line Cinemas (WB)
The Plot: A series of
inter-twining tales about the lives of New Yorkers on New Year’s Eve.
The Final Word: A
pseudo-sequel to last year’s “Valentine’s Day,” audiences are going to have the
same reaction; you are either going to love it or resent everything it stands
for. Granted, it probably depends on if you’re in a relationship or not when
you’re seeing it, but the point is that New Line and Warner Brothers aren’t
looking for an Oscar here, they are looking to have a successful romantic
comedy holiday hit that can continue to perform for them many years down the
line and the truth is the vast majority of Americans will have a great time
seeing this the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
THE SITTER
Starring: Jonah Hill, Sam Rockwell, Max Records,
Kevin Hernandez, Landry Bender, J.B. Smoove &
Method Man
Directed by David Gordon Green for distribution by 20th
Century Fox
The Plot: A suspended
college student gets conned into babysitting a group of kids that he has no chance
of controlling.
The Final Word: It just goes
to show how long it takes movies to get made as this was filmed back when Jonah
Hill was still a little on the heavy side. Now the suddenly single star is set
to close out 2011 with his former look in a new comedy with shades of “Adventures
In Babysitting.” Whether it can top “New Year’s Day” remains to be seen, but
Hill has his fans (outside of his failed FOX series “Allen Gregory” that is)
and this should find an audience of some sort.
TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY
Starring: Gary Oldman, Ciaran Hinds, Jared Harris,
Colin Firth, Tom Hardy,
Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Strong & Svetlana
Khodchenko
Directed by Tomas Alfredson for distribution by Focus
Features
The Plot: A disgraced
former spy is brought back out of retirement to search for a spy inside the
British Secret Service following the end of the Cold War.
The Final Word: Gary Oldman is
one of the industry’s more respected and talented actors, yet he’s never received
an Oscar nomination. This year though, he stands a real chance of breaking
through and finally being recognized for his talents. Credit should also be
given Focus Features for shifting the film’s release date right into the heart
of awards season.
Previewed next week: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows & Alvin & The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
