This is the busiest time of year for movies with a bunch of holiday releases for families, big-budget and high profile films to check out while shopping or celebrating, and end-of-year prestige films opening in time to be considered for awards. Here are ten to watch for:
Big Books
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” The posthumously published trilogy thriller about a crusading journalist and a brilliant but damaged young woman is already an international publishing phenomenon and a faithful and very successful Swedish movie trilogy. Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara star in the American remake from David Fincher, director of “The Social Network” and “Zodiac.”
“Breaking Dawn: Part 1” The last of the four books about the romantic triangle between a high school girl, a wolf-man, and a vampire is too big for just one movie. After three movies about longing, Part 1 has the wedding, the wedding night, and the complications of a vampire pregnancy.
Big Stars
“Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol” Tom Cruise is back and the stunts look wilder than ever in this fourth in the movie series based on the 1960’s television show.
“The Iron Lady” Meryl Streep plays Margaret Thatcher, or, based on the trailer, it is more accurate to say that Streep transforms into the first woman Prime Minister of the UK, a still-controversial figure who served from 1979-1990.
Sequels and Remakes
“Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law return as Holmes and Watson and Guy Ritchie returns as director as Holmes takes on his most diabolical foe, Professor Moriarty.
“Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy” An all-star cast including Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, and last year’s Oscar-winner Colin Firth appears in this remake of the brilliant BBC miniseries inspired by the “Cambridge Five” case with Soviet agents infiltrating British intelligence.
For the Whole Family
“The Muppet Movie” Jason Segal really, really loves the Muppets and his dream came true when he was given the chance to write and star in the first Muppet feature film in 12 years. A whole generation who grew up on “The Muppet Show” and “Sesame Street” can’t wait to bring their children to this one and it looks like it will be everything they hope for.
“Arthur Christmas” Any time the folks behind “Wallace and Gromit” make a film, I am excited about it. And this story about Santa’s son saving Christmas looks like a delight.
Likely Oscar Nominees
“The Descendants” George Clooney plays a father who discovers that his wife has been having an affair in this movie from the director of “Sideways” and “Election.”
“Albert Nobbs” Glenn Close plays a woman in 19th century Ireland who finds that the only way to support herself is to dress as a man and ends up living as a man for three decades.
