With the end of the year fast approaching, movie studios are clamoring to release their best and brightest. Johnny Depp, who was honored last year for his role in “Pirates of the Caribbean,” is sure to get another nomination for his portrayal of J. M. Barrie in “Finding Neverland.” Depp plays the “Peter Pan” author with great elegance and a Scottish accent to rival Sean Connery. Kate Winslet also stars as the mother of the boys who inspire Barrie to write “Peter Pan.” “Finding Neverland” will be in theaters nationwide Nov. 24. Jude Law is another big name this season. By years end he will have been in six movies, three in the next two months alone. In “Closer,” the latest fi lm by Mike Nichols, Jude beds a stripper, played by Natalie Portman, and manages to seduce Julia Roberts away from her husband, the delicious Clive Owen. “Closer” is attracting quite a large deal of press, because of racy dialogue and nudity (Portman’s first nude scene) Despite the gossip, “Closer” looks to be a front-runner come award season when it debuts Dec. 3.
The second movie stars Jude as screen legend Errol Flynn in Martin Scorcese’s “The Aviator.” Leonardo DiCaprio plays Howard Hughes, the movie producer and aviation giant of the early twentieth century. The film boasts a bevy of stars including Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale and Gwen Stefani in her fi rst movie. “The Aviator” flies into theaters on Christmas day. The fi nal Jude project of the year is “Lemony Snicket’s: A Series of Unfortunate Events.” While Law does not actually appear on screen here, he does narrate the film.
“Lemony Snicket’s” is based on the best-selling children’s books about a trio of orphaned children sent to live with a strange man by the name of Count Olaf. Jim Carrey plays the Count as well as several other characters. “Lemony Snicket’s” will be in theaters on Dec. 17. 2004 is the year of the great director, with Mike Nichols, Martin Scorcese and Oliver Stone all returning. Stone’s latest project is the historical epic “Alexander” about the young conqueror, Alexander the Great. Colin Farrell steps into the lead role as the king who ruled much of the known world by the age of 20.
Angelina Jolie, Val Kilmer and Anthony Hopkins round out the all-star cast. “Alexander” could mark the comeback of Oliver Stone when it debuts Nov. 24. Adventure fi lms are always popular and the next two movies should keep fans happy. “National Treasure” comes out Nov. 19 and stars Nicholas Cage and Diane Kruger (“Troy”). Cage plays a “treasure protector” who believes that the map to the greatest treasure in history is hidden on the back of the Declaration of Independence.
“Indiana Jones” production has been delayed yet again so viewers will have to make do with “National Treasure.” It has been a little over three years since the thieves of “Ocean’s 11” stole 150 million dollars from a Las Vegas casino; now they are back with one more added to their ranks. “Ocean’s 12” brings back the entire cast to pull off another heist, only this time in Europe. George Clooney and Julia Roberts are still together and Catherine Zeta-Jones shows up as one of Brad Pitt’s old fl ames.
“Oceans 12” hopes to rekindle the excitement of the first film when it hits theaters Dec. 10. Audiences always enjoy a good comedy, so the following two fi lms should provide some much needed laughter. Renee Zellweger is back as the British beauty Bridget in “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.”
This time Bridget has found love with Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), but where love goes, embarrassment always follows. She is forced to focus on her career and try to resist the incredibly good-looking Hugh Grant who is out to win her back. “Bridget Jones 2” should have audiences howling Nov. 12. The next movie is something we have all been waiting for – we fi nally get to “Meet the Fockers.”
Ben Stiller and Robert DeNiro return for the sequel to their hysterical comedy “Meet the Parents” and are joined by Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand. Hoffman and Streisand play Greg’s hippy parents who insist on showing their visitors every single humiliating memory of Greg’s childhood. “Meet the Fockers” is sure to please when it rolls into theaters on Dec. 22. Finally, it’s time to review the films that put us in the mood for Christmas. Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis star in “Christmas with the Kranks.” Based on the book “Skipping Christmas” by John Grisham, the movie tells the story of a family who decides to go away for Christmas instead of celebrating with the neighborhood.
What the family does not expect is a mutiny from the neighbors and a rush to prepare for Christmas at the last minute. “Christmas with the Kranks” should be holiday fun for the whole family when it hits theaters Nov. 24.
Last but not least is the computer-animated story “The Polar Express,” starring Tom Hanks. Based on the book of the same name, “The Polar Express” chronicles a young boy’s journey to the North Pole on a magical steam engine. “The Polar Express” will entertain even the crankiest of scrooges Nov. 10.
Well, that about does it. Remember that these release dates are subject to change, so check local theater listings for more information. In the end, when the weather outside is frightful, there is nothing better than going to see a great holiday movie.