Escape the cold weather in the multiplex

“Dreamgirls”

Dreamworks

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover, Anika Noni Rose, Jennifer Hudson, Keith Robinson, Bobby Slayton
Director: Bill Condon
Story: Based on the Tony-winning musical, this film tells the story of an all-female group’s (Knowles, Hudson and Rose) turbulent rise to the top and the sacrifices they made to get there. Foxx plays ambitious manager Curtis Taylor, who offers the girls a chance to sing backup for the colorful James “Thunder” Early (Murphy). Taylor finally gets them their own shot to become the Dreams, but wants to push talented Effie (Hudson) out of the picture in favor of the more beautiful Deena (Knowles).
Buzz: Since the studio showed 20 minutes of this film at Cannes, the buzz on this movie has been huge. There’s already tons of talk about a best-picture Oscar nomination and supporting nods for Murphy and former “American Idol” contestant Hudson (that shows you, Simon Cowell!). In fact, there’s word that the reason Streep’s role in “The Devil Wears Prada” is being pushed as a best-actress performance instead of best-supporting is because the studio doesn’t want her to have to compete against Hudson. Wow. Condon is the man who adapted the screenplay for “Chicago,” and he adapts this one as well. He’s best known for directing the very good “Gods and Monsters.”
Web site: http://www.dreamgirls.dreamworks.com/

“The Pursuit of Happyness”

Columbia Pictures

Starring: Will Smith, Thandie Newton, Jaden Smith, Dan Castellaneta, Zuhair Haddad Director: Gabriele Muccino
Story: Financial hardships put pressure on Chris Gardner’s (Smith) marriage. When his wife (Newton) leaves, it’s up to him to create a better life for his young son (Jaden Smith). He decides to take an unpaid internship at a well-known stock-brokerage firm, which forces dad and son to take up residence in bus stations, shelters and wherever else they can find a place to stay. But he hopes that his internship will give them both a better life.
Buzz: Good early word of mouth on this film: Mike Sampson of JoBlo.com wrote, “The relationship between father and son might be the best ever filmed.” Smith becomes an Oscar contender with this role, in which he plays opposite his real-life son, Jaden. If Smith, Forrest Whitaker, Derek Luke and Djimon Hounsou all get nominated, this could be a great year for black actors. Italian director Muccino is the man behind the superior film upon which the American “Last Kiss” was based.
Web site: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thepursuitofhappyness/index.html

“The Good German”

Warner Bros.

Starring: George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, Tobey Maguire, Leland Orser, Beau Bridges, Tony Curran
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Story: Clooney is American war correspondent Jake Geismar in this film set in post-WWII Berlin. Ostensibly, he’s there to cover the Allied summit meeting, but really he wants to find lost love Lena Brandt (Cate Blanchett), whose missing husband is being hunted by both the Americans and the Russians. Can Jake help Lena and her husband escape from Berlin? Maguire co-stars as Jake’s driver, who has some nefarious black-market connections.
Buzz: Clooney’s passion projects either end in awards (“Good Night and Good Luck”) or obscurity (“Solaris”). He yet again passed up a healthy paycheck to take this role. Soderburgh’s last truly powerful movie was 2000’s “Traffic.” This is only Maguire’s second non-“Spider-Man” film since 2002. If he wants to keep from being typecast, this is his chance to stretch. Soderbergh told Entertainment Weekly that he was most excited about Maguire’s work in this film.
Web site: http://thegoodgerman.warnerbros.com/

“Charlotte’s Web”
Starring: Dakota Fanning, Dominic Scott Kay, Julia Roberts, Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Oprah Winfrey, Cedric the Entertainer, André Benjamin, Thomas Haden Church, Robert Redford, Reba McEntire, Kathy Bates
Director: Gary Winick
Story: Every kid knows the tale. Wilbur (Kay) is the runt pig of the litter, who’s rescued by little Fern (Fanning). He comes to live in the barn with a bunch of different animals and is befriended by a wise spider named Charlotte (Roberts). When Wilbur realizes that he may end up in the smokehouse, Charlotte devises a plan to keep him safe. Based on E.B. White’s classic book.
Buzz: For some of us, the voices from the 1973 animated movie — which featured Debbie Reynolds as Charlotte, Paul Lynde as Templeton and Henry Gibson as Wilbur — feel so distinctive that it’s just strange to hear different voices come out of those characters’ mouths. That said Buscemi is an inspired choice for Templeton. Director Winick (“13 Going on 30”) used a combination of CGI and puppetry for animals.
Web site: http://www.charlotteswebmovie.com/site/index.php

“Eragon”

20th Century Fox

Starring: Edward Speleers, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Guillory, Robert Carlyle, Djimon Hounsou, Garrett Hedlund, John Malkovich
Director: Stefen Fangmeier
Story: This mythic adventure stars Speleers as Eragon, a young farm boy who discovers a dragon egg. When Eragon’s uncle is killed, he sets off to avenge him with help from Saphira the dragon and storyteller Brom (Irons). Together they realize it is up to them to unite the kingdom and overthrow the evil king Galbatorix (Malkovich).
Buzz: A movie that definitely wants to be this year’s “Lord of the Rings,” the book on which this film is based is also the first of a trilogy. Author Christopher Paolini is currently at work on the third book; he started writing “Eragon” when he was 15 years old. Irons and Malkovich in the same movie sounds like fun until you remember the two starred together in the awful “Man in the Iron Mask.” This is Speleers' first movie role. A visual effect specialist, Fangmeier makes his directing debut.
Web site: http://www.eragonmovie.com/

“Home of the Brave”
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Jessica Biel, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Brian Presley, Christina Ricci, Chad Michael Murray
Director: Irwin Winkler
Story: This drama follows four soldiers (Sam Jackson, Biel, Curtis Jackson and Presley) who are nearing the end of their tour of duty in Iraq. But at the last moment they are sent on a humanitarian mission where they are attacked. The mission takes its toll on the soldiers, who must deal with both physical and psychological injuries once they return to the States.
Buzz: This feels like a movie that should be opening in March, not December. With its simple “support the troops” premise, you may tear up watching, but later feel manipulated. This is Curtis Jackson’s first role since “Get Rich or Die Tryin’.” It’s hard not to admire Biel for actually trying to build a real acting career instead of just taking sexpot roles (looking at you, Jessica Alba). Presley is best known for his role as Jack Ramsey on the soap “Port Charles.”
Web site: NA

“Venus”

Miramax

Starring: Peter O'Toole, Vanessa Redgrave, Richard Griffiths, Leslie Phillips, Jodie Whittaker
Director: Roger Michell
Story: A pair of veteran actors, Maurice (O’Toole) and Ian (Phillips), find their routine interrupted when Ian’s outgoing grandniece Jessie (Whittaker) comes to stay. But Maurice finds himself drawn to the young girl as he contemplates his last chance at love. Redgrave plays O’Toole’s ex-wife.
Buzz: O’Toole (“Lawrence of Arabia,” “The Lion in Winter”) is 73 and has been nominated for the Oscar seven times, but has yet to win (though he did receive an honorary Oscar in 2003). This makes him a huge contender for his work in this film, which received good advance buzz when it played at Toronto. The Hollywood Reporter's Michael Rechtshaffen called O’Toole’s work a “superbly rendered portrayal.”
Web site: http://www.venus-themovie.com/

“Arthur and the Invisibles”

MGM

Starring: Mia Farrow, Freddie Highmore, Madonna, David Bowie, Snoop Dogg
Director: Luc Besson
Story: Highmore stars as a boy whose grandfather’s house is threatened by evil developers. In order to save it, he follows his grandfather’s clues to find the fabled land of the Minimoys, a race of incredibly tiny people who have a huge treasure. Unfortunately, an evil wizard (voiced by Bowie) guards the treasure, so Arthur joins forces with a princess (voiced by Madonna) to save both their “kingdoms.” Farrow plays Highmore’s grandmother.
Buzz: The film combines live action with CGI animation — when Highmore goes to the Minimoy world, he appears as an animated character. Besson (“The Fifth Element,” “La Femme Nikita”) not only wrote the screenplay but also the best-selling children’s books the movie is based on.
Web site: http://www.weinsteinco.com/

“Brooklyn Rules”

Hannover House

Starring: Alec Baldwin, Freddie Prinze Jr, Scott Caan, Jerry Ferrara, Mira Sorvino
Director: Michael Corrente
Story: Set in Brooklyn in 1985 against the backdrop of John Gotti’s rise to power, this film tells the story of three boyhood friends whose separate ambitions lead them in different directions. When one is drawn to mafia life, will their friendship fall apart?
Buzz: Screenwriter Terrence Winter knows his way around a mob story; he’s penned over 20 episodes of “The Sopranos,” and is one of the show’s producers. Director Corrente helmed the sweet but flawed “Outside Providence” (the highlight of which was a great scenery-chewing turn by Baldwin). Between his role in “30 Rock” and the character roles he takes, Baldwin has really rediscovered himself as an actor. Ferrara is best known for his role as Turtle on “Entourage.”
Web site: NA

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