Don’t think I forgot about you November and December. Just because you don’t have two Oscar bait movies starring Fuck Yeah Ryan Gosling doesn’t mean I’m not excited for all the pedigree films you have to offer.
Here are the end-of-year movies that can now demand my attention since the quite strong September/October I wrote about last time is over.
November 11
J. Edgar (11/9)
Leo working with Clint on the political biopic of J. Edgar Hoover is enough of a sale for me, but “J. Edgar” is also penned by the Oscar winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (“Milk”) and co-stars Armie Hammer, the breakout star from “The Social Network” who was so memorable as both of the Winklevi.
Melancholia
Lars von Trier’s unfortunate Nazi comments have practically erased “Melancholia’s” positive buzz from Cannes. Kirsten Dunst is supposed to be brilliant in a pessimistic but elegant sci-fi about a wedding on the day a planet is set to collide with the Earth and end mankind.
Into the Abyss
The state of Texas executed Michael Perry on July 1, 2010. After “Grizzly Man” and “Cave of Forgotten Dreams,” Werner Herzog has immortalized Perry in his latest documentary that explores death and why we kill.
November 18
The Descendants
As Alexander Payne’s (“Sideways,” “About Schmidt”) first film in seven years, “The Descendants” is possibly the biggest profile movie of the 2012 Oscar season. George Clooney stars as a man reconnecting with his two daughters after his wife’s tragic accident. The dramedy scored big points when it debuted at the Toronto Film Festival.
November 23
Hugo
Wait, Martin Scorsese is doing a kids movie? It doesn’t quite fit for the greatest living director, but I don’t really mind. This could be the movie that saves 3-D, be that a good or bad thing.
A Dangerous Method
There’s maybe a small group of people who wish David Cronenberg would go back to making horror movies, but his increasingly off-type movies starting with “A History of Violence” and “Eastern Promises” made me ecstatic for his most off-type film yet when Michael Fassbender and Viggo Mortensen, possibly two of the best actors working today, square off in a psychological thriller as Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud.
My Week with Marilyn
Michelle Williams is such a gifted actress, and the Academy is buzzing at her impeccable transformation into Marilyn Monroe by former TV movie director Simon Curtis. Williams looks so effervescent as Monroe that a lot of people are forgetting it also features Emma Watson, Kenneth Branagh, Dominic Cooper and Judi Dench.
The Artist
Sorry, the film nerd inside me is about to faint. There’s a silent film coming out from French director Michel Hazanavicius. Taking pages from the plot of “Singin’ in the Rain,” “The Artist” promises to be a artistic critical darling.
December 2
Shame
The whole sex addict thing is maybe already becoming a cliché, but Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan make for a compelling team in this NC-17 art house picture.
December 9
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
This Cold War spy thriller is the English debut of Tomas Alfredson, the director of the Swedish vampire smash “Let the Right One In.” The film looks absolutely chilling and bleak despite a booming British cast that includes Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, John Hurt, Tom Hardy and Mark Strong.
Young Adult
I kind of love Jason Reitman, and I kind of love Diablo Cody and “Juno.” I also kind of love Charlize Theron and Patton Oswalt, so I’m already hugging myself over “Young Adult,” a comedy about an immature prom queen turned struggling adult.
W.E.
So, turns out Madonna made a movie. Actually this is her second movie, and early audiences apparently hate it as much as her last movie. However, “W.E.” is basically the deleted side plot to “The King’s Speech,” following the relationship between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson.
We Need to Talk About Kevin (One Week Oscar Run)
Sadly, this release date is kind of a lie. Likely no one will see this until early 2012, but it will be eligible in this year’s Oscars because of a special, one week release. But it’s intended to be a powerful family drama starring the always excellent Tilda Swinton as the mother of a boy who went on a killing spree in his high school.
December 16
The Iron Lady
Meryl Streep is Margaret Thatcher. Meryl Streep is getting her kagillienth Oscar nod (actually it would be 17). It is however directed by Phyllida Lloyd of the wretched “Mamma Mia,” in case you wondered what it would be like if Thatcher danced in water fins.
Carnage
“Carnage” should have anyone interested in theater and Broadway buzzing. Roman Polanski is directing the film based on the multiple Tony winning play “God of Carnage,” and his cast is impressive: John C. Reilly, Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz team up in the ensuing shouting match dramedy.
December 21
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Combine the look, pacing and Trent Reznor score of the best movie of last year, “The Social Network,” with the iconic story and intensity of one of the best foreign films of last year, the Swedish and original adaptation of the much-loved “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo,” and you have my most anticipated movie of 2011. Promised to be the feel-bad movie of Christmas, David Fincher’s direction of Rooney Mara, Daniel Craig, Stellan Skarsgard, Christopher Plummer and Robin Wright can’t fail.
The Adventures of Tintin
Forget that the screenplay is written by the British comedy super team of Stephen Moffat (“Doctor Who”), Edgar Wright (“Shaun of the Dead,” “Scott Pilgrim”) and Joe Cornish (“Attack the Block,”) and is based on beloved children’s books. “The Adventures of Tintin” is pegged to be a stunning example of motion capture animation as directed by, who else, Steven Spielberg.
December 23
We Bought a Zoo
This true story of a family that purchases a struggling zoo seems a tad melodramatic, but director Cameron Crowe needs another hit, and stars Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson may be perfect.
In the Land of Blood and Honey
Angelina Jolie’s directorial debut is a politically tinged romance between a Serbian soldier and a Bosnian captive. The trailer looks to be a complex drama of trust and identity amidst war, and if it’s a success it could be a welcome new chapter in Jolie’s career.
Pina
Wim Wenders is a legendary art house director from the ‘80s. Still steadily working but largely unheard of recently, he’s made some noise again with “Pina,” a documentary about a choreographer being celebrated for its sheer beauty and artistry.
December 25
War Horse
In a year with a lot of polarizing, serious and even depressing films, the world needs a real “movie” by the world’s biggest director tackling a sprawling war epic. Spielberg’s “War Horse” is “Saving Private Ryan” on Broadway, and it’s going to be huge.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Based on a novel by “Everything is Illuminated” author Jonathan Safran Foer, a boy genius searches for the lock opened by a key left by his father, who died on 9/11. The family is made up of “Teen Jeopardy” champ Thomas Horn, Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock. It’s written by Eric Roth of “Benjamin Button” and “Forrest Gump.” Its directed by Stephen Daldry of “The Reader” and “The Hours.” Is this movie just bursting with crowd-pleasing schlock not the king of Oscar bait?
Movies that also exist
These four movies don’t precisely interest me, but they each have peculiar names attached that make one wonder if there might actually be some unexpected quality here.
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol – 12/23
From the man who brought you “The Incredibles” and “Ratatouille” comes the action blockbuster of the year. Yeah, kudos to Brad Bird for branching out into live action and making an identity outside of Pixar, but did he have to start with this third sequel of a bad franchise in IMAX?
The Sitter – 12/9
There was a time when critics thought David Gordon Green could be the next great American indie screenwriter and director of the 21st Century. We let “Pineapple Express” slide, and then he made “Your Highness,” and now it seems he’s completely given up.
Tower Heist – 11/4
Brett Ratner would not normally turn heads, but he happens to be directing the Oscars this year, and his movie’s costar, Eddie Murphy, happens to be its host. “Tower Heist” also has a ridiculous cast, most notably Gabourey Sidibe of “Precious.” I guess Monique wasn’t available since she actually won.
Immortals – 11/11
I’m reminded that “Immortals” is directed by Tarsem, the avant garde visionary behind “Dancer in the Dark” and “The Fall.” Too bad he’s now chosen to make “300” in 7-D.
Movies that in my mind do not exist, despite what others may say
A Very Harold and Kumar 3-D Christmas – 11/4
Jack and Jill – 11/11
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 – 11/18
Happy Feet Two – 11/18
The Muppets – 11/25
New Year’s Eve – 12/9
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows – 12/16
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked – 12/16