December film previews

December here in film town is just November, but more. Like last month, the major studios will drop awards contenders just before their submission deadlines. Aging auteurs will release overlong reflections on their encroaching mortality. When the holiday season hits, Disney IP will capture the imagination of every living child and man-child, and hopefully entertain the rest of us enough to distract us from our encroaching mortality. Check out the high- (and maybe low-) lights belows:

Portrait of a Lady on Fire – 12/6

What it is: A romantic period piece about a young painter and the wealthy noblewoman she falls in love with. Writer-director Céline Sciamma won the award for Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival.

Why should you see it: In any other year, Portrait of a Lady on Fire might have won the Palme D’Or. As it stands, critics praised Sciamma’s visual eye as well as her examination of eroticism, obsession, and the female gaze. 

Little Joe- 12/6

What it is: An oddball sci-fi/horror flick about a pretty flower that’s supposed to make folks happy.

Why should you see it: If viewers can stand some unconventional pacing and stilted performances, they might be rewarded with a mesmerizing allegory for the dangers of the pharmaceutical industry.

Bombshell- 12/13

What it is: A retelling of the Roger Ailes era sexual misconduct scandals, starring Margot Robbie, Charlize Theron, and Nicole Kidman as a trio of prominent women victimized by Roger Ailes.

Why should you see it: Beyond the inherent ickiness of portraying network news employees as feminist heroes, trailers for Bombshell frame the film as a lighthearted, woman-scorned revenge romp. Stories from the Me Too era should be told, but Bombshell screams “misguided disaster.”

Richard Jewell 12/13

What it is: In Clint Eastwood’s newest film, heroic pilot security guard ̶”̶S̶u̶l̶l̶y̶”̶ ̶S̶u̶l̶l̶e̶n̶b̶e̶r̶g̶e̶r̶ Richard Jewell must fight The System and clear his name after being unfairly blamed for the ̶H̶u̶d̶s̶o̶n̶ ̶R̶i̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶p̶l̶a̶n̶e̶ ̶c̶r̶a̶s̶h̶ Centennial Olympic Park bombing.

Why should you see it: Clint is famous for his breakneck production speeds, but Richard Jewell began filming in late June. That this film even exists five months later is a not-so-minor miracle. 

Uncut Gems 12/13

What it is: Jeweler and general agent of chaos Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) tries to heal his marriage, escape circling loan sharks, and collect on a string of high-stakes bets in 2012 New York. Former NBA star Kevin Garnett also stars as himself in this crime thriller.

Why should you see it: Adam Sandler secretly ranks among the greatest actors of his generation. Co-directors Josh and Benny Safdie have in their short careers crafted a singular vision of the city, one powered by neon, synths, and amphetamines. Uncut Gems, the trio’s first collaboration, earned nominations for Best Male Lead, Best Director, and Best Film at the Independent Spirit Awards.

A Hidden Life 12/13

What it is: Terrence Malick’s portrait of Franz Jägerstätter, an Austrian man who chose death over service in Hitler’s Reich.

Why should you see it: Malick, whose early work landed him in the pantheon of Great Directors, has not approached his 20th century heights since 2011’s flawed-but-stunning The Tree of Life. Expect minimal dialogue, an inflated runtime, and heartbreakingly gorgeous photography.

Cats 12/20

What it is: A long-awaited film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s long-running Broadway musical.

Why should you see it: Sometimes, movies whisk us away from the drudgeries of existence. They offer grand adventure and glimpses at hitherto unseen stories. They teach us how to think and behave and perceive the world, and they allow us to rejoice in our common humanity. Other times, Jason Derulo sings songs about how he, the sexiest cat, most deserves to die and ascend to Valhalla.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker 12/20

What it is: It is Star Wars.

Why should you see it: I like it when they do the sword fights.

1917 12/25

What it is: Two British messengers scramble across the hellish Western Front in hopes of halting a doomed attack. Sam Mendes and director of photography Roger Deakins designed the World War I epic to resemble a single two-hour tracking shot.

Why should you see it: Deakins is the best DP in the business, and he and Mendes previously collaborated on 2012’s spectacular Skyfall. If I’m being a concern troll, 1917’s technical ambition and Deacon’s eye for beautiful lighting might detract from the war’s ugliness.

Little Women 12/25

What it is: Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved bildungsroman. Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, and Eliza Scanlen star as the four March sisters.

Why should you see it: Gerwig established herself as a sharp writer and sharper director with Lady Bird. Her choice to split Little Women’s screenplay into non-linear vignettes indicates a willingness to take creative risks with established stories, and early reviews were rapturous.