Romantic epic, touching tale and family flick to light up silver screen
A romantic epic (“Cold Mountain”), a touching tale (“Calendar Girls”), a futuristic thriller (“Paycheck”), a nostalgic melodrama (“Mona Lisa Smile”), a modern fable (“Big Fish”), an edgy drama (“The Cooler”) and two family features (“Cheaper By the Dozen” and “Peter Pan”) are the top titles arriving between Dec. 19 and 25. The new motion pictures (with release dates subject to change) scheduled for a theater near you include:
Opening Dec. 19
– “Calendar Girls”: During this feel-good, fact-based British import, rated PG-13, some prim and proper English women in their 50s pose nude for a calendar in order to raise money to purchase furniture for a cancer-ward waiting room. International interest follows soon after as the ladies taste both the good and bad results of becoming instant celebrities. Helen Mirren (“Gosford Park”) and Julie Walters (“Educating Rita”) co-star. Nigel Cole (“Saving Grace”) directed.
– “The Cooler”: In this edgy R-rated gambling tale, a Las Vegas loser (William H. Macy of “Fargo”) is considered such bad luck that a vicious casino owner (Alec Baldwin of “Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat”) hires him to stand near high rollers and destroy their winning streaks. The lonely guy’s life changes when a pretty cocktail waitress (Maria Bello of “Coyote Ugly”) shows interest in him and he loses his ability to cool off hot players. That sudden shift in luck from bad to good might also cause the lonely guy to lose everything he holds near and dear. Wayne Kramer (“Crossing Over”) directed.
– “Mona Lisa Smile”: In this nostalgic melodrama, set in 1953, Julia Roberts (“Erin Brockovich”) plays an independent art-history professor at all-female Wellesley College, but with all of the crying, back stabbing and bed-hopping going on around her, she really should be a drama teacher. The PG-13 picture has Roberts’ free-thinking educator becoming shocked upon discovering that most of the extremely bright women just want to graduate and get married rather than use their knowledge and become professionals. The talented actresses playing students include Kirsten Dunst (“Spider-Man”), Julia Stiles (“Save the Last Dance”) and Maggie Gyllenhaal (“Secretary”). Mike Newell (“Four Weddings and a Funeral”) directed.
Opening Dec. 25
– “Big Fish”: During this colorful fable, rated PG-13, a grown son (Billy Crudup of “Sleepers”) never appreciated the tall tales told by his father (Albert Finney of “Annie”) until the dad is at death’s door and suddenly the stories no longer seem far-fetched. Ewan McGregor (“Moulin Rouge”) plays the father as an adventuresome young man who meets a number of eccentric characters, including a giant who accompanies him on a journey. Jessica Lange (“Tootsie”), Steve Buscemi (“Fargo”), Helena Bonham Carter (“Planet of the Apes”) and Danny DeVito (“The War of the Roses”) co-star. Tim Burton (“Edward Scissorhands”) directed.
– “Cheaper By the Dozen”: Steve Martin (“Parenthood”) and Bonnie Hunt (“Beethoven”) struggle to raise 12 children in this family friendly comedy. The PG-rated picture features teen favorites Hilary Duff (“The Lizzie McGuire Movie”) and Ashton Kutcher (“Dude, Where’s My Car?”). Shawn Levy (“Just Married”) directed.
– “Cold Mountain”: In this R-rated adaptation of North Carolina writer Charles Frazier’s novel, a Confederate veteran (Jude Law of “Road to Perdition”) injured during the Civil War deserts as the conflict comes to a close. He then struggles to return home and be reunited with his sweetheart (Nicole Kidman of “The Hours”), a woman who has learned how to fight to stay alive during the War Between the States. The supporting cast includes scene-stealing Renee Zellweger (“Chicago”), Phillip Seymour Hoffman (“Boogie Nights”) and Natalie Portman (“Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace”). Anthony Minghella (“The English Patient”) directed.
– “Paycheck”: Based on a short story by Philip K. Dick, this futuristic thriller stars Ben Affleck (“Gigli”) as a high-tech designer who discovers that some of his memory has been erased by the powerful company that employs him. Uma Thurman (“Kill Bill Vol. 1”), Aaron Eckhart (“The Core”) and Paul Giamatti (“American Splendor”) co-star in the PG-13 tale, which twists and turns in numerous directions. Hong Kong action specialist John Woo (“Face/Off”) directed.
– “Peter Pan”: In this PG-rated version of J.M. Barrie’s classic tale, young Peter Pan (Jeremy Sumpter of “Frailty”) grabs a sword, captivates Wendy (13-year-old newcomer Rachel Hurd-Wood) and leads the Lost Boys against the dastardly Captain Hook (Jason Isaacs of “The Patriot”). Director P.J. Hogan (“My Best Friend’s Wedding”) has employed cutting-edge digital effects to bring the adventures faced by Peter and Tinker Bell (Ludivine Sagnier of “Swimming Pool”) to realistic life.
At the buck& office
Two screen veterans dominated the box office last weekend as “Something’s Gotta Give” easily took the No. 1 spot.
The romantic comedy with Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton was followed by “The Last Samurai,” which stars Tom Cruise and grossed more than $14 million.
According to the Associated Press, the top 10 films last weekend were:
1. “Something’s Gotta Give” ($17 million)
2. “The Last Samurai” ($14.05 million)
3. “Stuck on You” ($10 million)
4. “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” ($6.5 million)
5. “The Haunted Mansion” ($6.3 million)
6. “Bad Santa” ($6.21 million)
7. “Elf” ($6.2 million)
8. “Honey” ($5.1 million)
9. “Dr. Seuss’ the Cat in the Hat” ($4.2 million)
10. “Gothika” ($2.7 million)
Coming Soon!
The major titles scheduled to open Dec. 26 include two adult dramas, “21 Grams” with Sean Penn and “House of Sand and Fog” with Jennifer Connelly.