What to watch this winter
It’s all too bad with new TV series in winter, whereas the Christmas and the New Year is traditionally the best period for release of new films, be it blockbusters or family and kids’ movies.
So, what are we to expect from cinemas in December?
1, 2. Horror movies
A horror movie is a guaranteed average profit for cinemas, which is neither on the top of the charts nor doomed to failure because it less expensive than action movies and the films for kids. Therefore, a couple of horror movies are produced any month.
Several horror movies are released at once ahead of the New Year. However, only the select few will reach our cinemas. Relying on the IMDb (the Internet Movie Database) expectations ratings and some other ratings, there are only 2 movies in this genre that are worth watching.
The first one, the ‘Incarnate’, tells about an exorcist-telepathist, who fights the demons by tapping into the subconscious of the possessed.’
The premiere is scheduled for December 1.
The second one, the ‘Devil’s Candy’, is another haunted-house story with a suspiciously low price. There are reports on the network that having found out some details of this movie, the legendary Metallica rock band ‘gratuitously’ granted its cult composition ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ to the movie, just because they liked the plot. The plot!
The film will be premiered on December 15.
3, 4. Romance and adventures
Romance and adventures are ‘all rolled into one’ this winter. If cinema fan community’s expectation rating is anything to go by, there will be 2 films in December, that are worth watching.
The first one was produced by Morten Tyldum, a promising Norwegian filmmaker, an author of once successful ‘Imitation Game’. His new film, ‘Passengers’, tells about two members of an interstellar expedition, who woke up early as a result of malfunction in their sleeping chambers, with 5,000 passengers around and 90 years of flight, a sea of love and adventures ahead. Co-starring Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence.
The premiere is scheduled for December 22.
Another movie, ‘Allied’, is far more promising. Firstly, because it features Brad Pitt and incomparable Marion Cotillard in lead roles. And secondly, the film was produced by Robert Zemicks himself (‘Back to the Future’, ‘Forrest Gump’). The scene is set in Nazi-occupied North Africa, in 1942. Brad Pitt stars as the U.S. intelligence officer, who encounters Cotillard’s character, the French Resistance Movement fighter, during a mission behind enemy lines.
The film will be premiered on December 1.
5. For the whole family
The French film ‘Demain tout commence’ (eng. Everything starts tomorrow) was translated for the Russian release as ‘2+1′, apparently trying to lure the audience by analogy with a brilliant French comedy ‘1+1′ (The Intouchables, 2011). However, there two films actually don’t have anything in common-neither the actors nor the producers or the plot.
Here the main character is searching for the mother of a child, who has been dumped to him gets involved in different adventures.
The premiere is due on December 8.
6. For women
The third movie is from the young French filmmaker, Rebecca Zlotowski, who has already produced several successful purely-European movies. Her ‘Planetarium’ has everything that a woman needs-Paris of the 30s’, the roofs of Montmartre, hot coffee with croissants, spiritual séances, mystery and, to cap it all, Natalie Portman starring in lead role.
The premiere is scheduled for December 1.
7. For kids and teens
Everybody needs money, especially the African children and the Disney Company, that purchased the rights to ‘Star Wars’.
‘Outcast-1′ is a new movie in the ‘Star Wars’ franchise that from now on will be annually replenished with new films. Last year, there world saw ‘The Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ directed by J. J. Abrams, who actually produced a remake of the first movie of the series (released in 1977), featuring just another Mocking-jay instead of Luke Skywalker.
A new film was directed by some Gareth Edwards, who came out with the ‘Godzilla’ remake 2 years ago. The film composer is equally well-known Michael Giacchino. And also, another Mocking-jay, represented by no less legendary Felicity Jones.
The premiere is due on December 15. Go and watch it, just because it’s ‘Star Wars’.
8. Only for kids
‘Moana’ is a full-length animated movie about a Polynesian girl, who is traveling from island to island in the Pacific Ocean in search of her parents, accompanied by a Maori strong warrior and a lot of minor animal characters.
The premiere is scheduled for December 1.
9. Comedy
There is always a lack of comedies (good comedies!) ahead of the New Year days. Of course, there are sequels to ‘Yolki’ (New Year Trees, also known as Six Degrees of Celebration, a 2010 Russian comedy directed by Timur Bekmambetov) released, but you will bored to death. As a last resort, you may watch ‘Bad Santa’ sequel, that is due to be released on December 22.
10. Just good movies
Emir Kusturica gets back to filmmaking for the first time after a 7-year break, presenting us with a new film about love during the Bosnian war. Co-starring Kusturica and Monica Bellucci.
The film ‘On the Milky Road’ will be released on December 15.
