Revolutionary Road

Frank and April, a married couple in the 1950s, have always seen themselves as special, different, ready and willing to live their lives based on higher ideals. So, as soon as they move into their new house on Revolutionary Road, they proudly declare their independence from the suburban inertia that surrounds them and determine never to be trapped by the social confines of their era. Yet for all their charm, beauty and irreverence, the Wheelers find themselves becoming exactly what they didn't expect: a good man with a routine job whose nerve has gone missing; a less-than-happy homemaker starving for fulfillment and passion; an American family with lost dreams, like any other. Driven to change their fates, April hatches an audacious plan to start all over again, to leave the comforts of Connecticut behind for the great unknown of Paris. But when the plan is put in motion, each spouse is pushed to extremes--one to escape whatever the cost, the other to save all that they have, no matter the compromises.

Genres : Drama and Adaptation
Running Time : 1 hr. 59 min.
Release Date : December 26th, 2008
Distributors : Paramount Vantage
Starring : Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Kathy Bates, David Harbour, Michael Shannon
Directed by : Sam Mendes
Produced by : David M. Thompson, Marion Rosenberg, Henry Fernaine

Bedtime Stories

Hotel handyman Skeeter Bronson's life is changed forever when the bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew start to mysteriously come true. He attempts to take advantage of the phenomenon, incorporating his own aspirations into one outlandish tale after another, but it's the kids' unexpected contributions that turn Skeeter's life upside down.

Genres : Action/Adventure, Comedy and Kids/Family
Running Time : 1 hr. 39 min.
Release Date : December 25th, 2008
Distributors : Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Starring : Courtney Cox Arquette, Keri Russell, Teresa Palmer, Guy Pearce, Lucy Lawless
Produced by : Adam Shankman, Jennifer Gibgot, Garrett Grant

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

"I was born under unusual circumstances." And so begins "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," adapted from the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards: a man, like any of us, who is unable to stop time. We follow his story, set in New Orleans from the end of World War I in 1918, into the 21st century, following his journey that is as unusual as any man's life can be.

Genres : Comedy, Drama, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy and Adaptation
Running Time : 2 hrs. 47 min.
Release Date : December 25th, 2008
Distributors : Paramount Pictures
Starring : Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Jason Flemyng, Taraji P. Henson, Julia Ormond
Directed by : David Fincher
Produced by : Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Cean Chaffin

Marley & Me

An ambitious young reporter, John Grogan, and his wife, Jenny, also a reporter, move to a Florida, buy a house and adopt a Labrador puppy they name Marley. Marley quickly becomes a rollicking force of nature in their lives. .

Genres : Comedy, Drama and Adaptation
Running Time : 2 hr. 3 min.
Release Date : December 25th, 2008
Distributors : 20th Century Fox Distribution
Starring : Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Alan Arkin, Eric Dane, Haley Bennett
Directed by : David Frankel
Produced by : Arnon Milchan, Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr, Gil Netter

The Spirit

Adapted from the Will Eisner's graphic novels, "The Spirit" tells the story of a man who fakes his own death and fights crime from the shadows of Central City. The Octopus -- who kills anyone unfortunate enough to see his face -- has other plans. He's going to wipe out the entire city. The Spirit tracks this coldhearted killer from the city's rundown warehouses, to the damp catacombs, to the windswept waterfront...all the while facing a bevy of beautiful women who either want to seduce, love or kill the masked crusader

Genres : Action/Adventure, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Thriller, Crime/Gangster and Adaptation
Running Time : 1 hr. 48 min.
Release Date : December 25th, 2008
Distributors : Lionsgate
Starring : Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Eva Mendes, Sarah Paulson
Directed by : Frank Miller
Produced by : Benjamin Melniker, Steven Maier, Gigi Pritzker

Valkyrie

In a country in the grips of evil, in a police state where every move is being watched, in a world where justice and honor have been subverted, a group of men hidden inside the highest reaches of power decide to take action. Based on the true story of Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg and the daring and ingenious plot to eliminate one of the most evil tyrants the world has ever known.

A proud military man, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg is a loyal officer who serves his country all the while hoping that someone will find a way to stop Hitler before Europe and Germany are destroyed. Realizing that time is running out, he decides that he must take action himself and joins the German resistance. Armed with a cunning strategy to use Hitler's own emergency plan - known as Operation Valkyrie - these men plot to assassinate the dictator and overthrow his Nazi government from the inside.

With everything in place, with the future of the world, the fate of millions and the lives of his wife and children hanging in the balance, von Stauffenberg is thrust from being one of many who oppose Hitler to the one who must kill Hitler himself.

Genres : Action/Adventure, Drama, Thriller, Biopic and War
Running Time : 2 hrs.
Release Date : December 25th, 2008
Distributors : MGM Distribution Company
Starring : Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Carice van Houten, Thomas Kretschmann
Directed by : Bryan Singer
Produced by : Tom Cruise, Chris Lee, Ken Kamins, Gilbert Adler

Last Chance Harvey

New Yorker Harvey Shine is on the verge of losing his dead-end job as a jingle writer. Warned by his boss that he has just one more chance to deliver, Harvey goes to London for a weekend to attend his daughter's wedding but promises to be back on Monday morning to make an important meeting--or else. Harvey arrives in London only to learn his daughter has chosen to have her stepfather walk her down the aisle instead of him. Doing his best to hide his devastation, he leaves the wedding before the reception in hopes of getting to the airport on time, but misses his plane anyway. When he calls his boss to explain, he is fired on the spot. Drowning his sorrows at the airport bar, Harvey strikes up a conversation with Kate, a slightly prickly, 40-something employee of the Office of National Statistics. Kate, whose life is limited to work, the occasional humiliating blind date and endless phone calls from her smothering mother, is touched by Harvey, who finds himself energized by her intelligence and compassion. The growing connection between the pair inspires both as they unexpectedly transform one another's lives.

Genres : Drama and Romance
Running Time : 1 hr. 39 min.
Release Date : December 25th, 2008
Distributors : Overture Films
Starring : Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Kathy Baker, James Brolin, Eileen Atkins
Directed by : Joel Hopkins
Produced by : Jawal Nga, Tim Perell, Nicola Usborne

Waltz with Bashir

Documents the filmmaker's journey toward discovering the truth about an Israeli Army mission he participated in during the first Lebanon War of the early 1980s that left him with a loss of memory about the events. The long-forgotten images begin to resurface as the director interviews old friends and comrades around the world.

Genres : Art/Foreign, Documentary, Animation and War
Running Time : 1 hr. 27 min.
Release Date : December 25th, 2008
Distributors : Sony Pictures Classics
Starring : Ari Folman, Ori Sivan
Directed by : Ari Folman
Produced by : Ari Folman, Serge Lalou, Gerhard Meixner

The Wrestler

Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a 1980s-era pro wrestler, has become a burnt-out shell of his former self. After he has a heart attack during a small-time match, a doctor tells him he could die if he fights again. In an effort to build a new life, Robinson takes a job at a deli, moves in with an aging stripper and tries to build a relationship with her son. But the prospect of a rematch with his old nemesis, the Ayatollah, proves too tempting to resist, even if it means risking his life.

Genres : Action/Adventure, Comedy, Drama and Sports
Running Time : 1 hr. 45 min.
Release Date : December 17th, 2008
Distributors : Fox Searchlight Pictures
Starring : Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, Judah Friedlander, Ajay Naidu
Directed by : Darren Aronofsky
Produced by : Vincent Maraval, Agnes Mentre, Jennifer Roth

Watch the Trailer

Yes Man

A man signs up for a self-help program based on one simple principle: say yes to everything... and anything. At first, unleashing the power of "yes" transforms his life in amazing and unexpected ways, but he soon discovers that opening up his life to endless possibilities can have its drawbacks.

Genres : Comedy and Adaptation
Running Time : 1 hr. 44 min.
Release Date : December 19th, 2008
Distributors : Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution
Starring : Jim Carrey, Rhys Darby, Bradley Cooper, Zooey Deschanel, Sasha Alexander
Directed by : Peyton Reed
Produced by : Marty Ewing, Dana Goldberg, Bruce Berman

Watch the Trailer

The Tale of Despereaux

Tiny and graced with oversized ears, Despereaux was born too big for his little world. Refusing to live his life cowering, he befriends a Princess named Pea and learns to read (rather than eat) books -- reveling in stories of knights, dragons and fair maidens. Banished from Mouseworld for being more man than mouse, Despereaux is rescued by another outcast, Roscuro, who also wants to hear the tales. But when the Princess dismisses Roscuro's friendship, he becomes the ultimate rat and plots revenge with fellow outsider Mig. After Pea is kidnapped, Despereaux discovers he is the only one who can rescue her...and that even the tiniest mouse can find the courage of a knight in shining armor.

Genres : Comedy, Kids/Family, Animation and Adaptation
Running Time : 1 h. 34 min.
Release Date : December 19th, 2008
Distributors : Universal Pictures
Starring : Matthew Broderick, Tracey Ullman, Emma Watson, Tony Hale, Frances Conroy
Directed by : Sam Fell, Rob Stevenhagen
Produced by : Robin Bissell, William Sargent, Ryan Kavanaugh

Watch the Trailer

Seven Pounds

Ben Thomas is an IRS agent with a fateful secret who embarks on an extraordinary journey of redemption by forever changing the lives of seven strangers.

Genres : Drama and Romance
Running Time : 2 hr. 3 min.
Release Date : December 19th, 2008
Distributors : Sony Pictures Releasing
Starring : Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, Michael Ealy, Robinne Lee
Directed by : Gabriele Muccino
Produced by : David Crockett, Ken Stovitz, Domenico Procacci

Watch the Trailer

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Renowned scientist Dr. Helen Benson finds herself face to face with an alien called Klaatu, who travels across the universe to warn of an impending global crisis. When forces beyond Helen’s control treat the extraterrestrial as a hostile and deny his request to address the world’s leaders, she and her estranged stepson Jacob quickly discover the deadly ramifications of Klaatu’s claim that he is ffriend to the Earth. Now Helen must find a way to convince the entity who was sent to destroy us that mankind is worth saving--but it may be too late. The process has begun.

Genres : Science Fiction/Fantasy
Running Time : 1 hr. 50 min.
Release Date : December 12th, 2008
Distributors : 20th Century Fox Distribution
Starring : Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, Jon Hamm, Jaden Christopher Smith
Directed by : Scott Derrickson
Produced by : Paul Harris Boardman, Erwin Stoff, Gregory Goodman

Nothing Like the Holidays

It's Christmastime and the far-flung members of the Rodriguez family are converging at their parents' home in Chicago to celebrate the season and rejoice in their youngest brother's safe return from combat overseas. For Jesse, coming home has rekindled feelings for an old flame, although she can't seem to forgive him for leaving. His older sister Roxanna, a struggling actress, has been chasing her Hollywood dreams for years with little to show for it. And much to the dismay of their mother Anna, eldest brother Mauricio brings home a high-powered executive wife who would rather raise capital than a child. In the course of one eventful week, traditions will be celebrated, secrets revealed and major life decisions made. It all begins when Anna announces to her children she is divorcing their father Eduardo. The shock waves from this familial upheaval prompt Roxanna, Mauricio and Jesse, each in their own way, to reevaluate the past and rethink the future. But when the Rodriguezes learn that one of their own is facing a true crisis, they instinctively pull together: Old resentments are forgotten, familial bonds are re-affirmed and the healing power of laughter works its magic as the family discovers they are much stronger than they ever realized.

Genres : Comedy, Drama, Kids/Family
Running Time : 1 hr. 39 min.
Release Date : December 12th, 2008
Distributors : Regent Releasing
Starring : John Leguizamo, Freddy Rodriguez, Jay Hernandez, Melonie Diaz, Alfred Molina
Directed by : Alfredo De Villa
Produced by : Freddy Rodriguez, Rene Rigal (II), Robert Teitel

Watch the Trailer

The Reader

When he falls ill on his way home from school, 15 year-old Michael Berg is rescued by Hanna, a woman twice his age. The two begin an unexpected and passionate affair only for Hanna to suddenly and inexplicably disappear. Eight years later, Michael, now a young law student observing Nazi war trials, meets his former lover again, under very different circumstances. Hanna is on trial for a hideous crime, and as she refuses to defend herself, Michael gradually realizes his boyhood love may be guarding a secret she considers to be more shameful than murder.

Genres : Drama, Romance and Adaptation
Running Time : 2 hr. 2 min.
Release Date : December 12th, 2008
Distributors : Miramax Films, The Weinstein Company
Starring : Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, Karoline Herfurth, Hannah Herzsprung, David Kross
Directed by : Stephen Daldry
Produced by : Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, Jason Blum

Watch the Trailers

Wendy and Lucy

Wendy Carol is driving to Ketchikan, Alaska in the hopes of a summer of lucrative work at the Northwestern Fish cannery, and the start of a new life with her dog, Lucy. When her car breaks down in Oregon, however, the thin fabric of her financial situation comes apart, and she confronts a series of increasingly dire economic decisions, with far ranging repercussions for herself and Lucy.

Genres : Drama and Adaptation
Running Time : 1 hr. 20 min.
Release Date : December 10th, 2008
Distributors : Oscilloscope Pictures
Starring : Michelle Williams, Walter Dalton, Larry Fessenden, Will Oldham (II), Will Patton
Directed by : Kelly Reichardt
Produced by : Joshua Blum, Todd Haynes, Phil Morrison

Doubt

It's 1964, St. Nicholas in the Bronx. A vibrant, charismatic priest, Father Flynn, is trying to upend the school's strict customs, which have long been fiercely guarded by Sister Aloysius Beauvier, the iron-gloved Principal who believes in the power of fear and discipline. The winds of political change are sweeping through the country, and, indeed, the school has just accepted its first black student, Donald Miller. But when Sister James, a hopeful innocent, shares with Sister Aloysius her suspicion that Father Flynn is paying too much personal attention to Donald, Sister Aloysius is galvanized to begin a crusade to both unearth the truth and expunge Flynn from the school. Now, without a shred of proof or evidence except her moral certainty, Sister Aloysius locks into a battle of wills with Father Flynn, a battle that threatens to tear apart the Church and school with devastating consequences.

Genres : Drama, Adaptation and Politics/Religion
Running Time : 1 hr. 44 min.
Release Date : December 12th, 2008
Distributors : Miramax Films
Starring : Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis, Alice Drummond
Directed by : John Patrick Shanley
Produced by : Celia D. Costas, Scott Rudin, Mark Roybal

Watch the Trailers

Gran Torino

Walt Kowalski is a widower, grumpy, tough-minded, borderline-hateful, unhappy old man who can't get along with either his kids or his neighbors, a Korean War veteran whose prize possession is a 1973 Gran Torino he keeps in cherry condition. When his neighbor Tao, a young Hmong teenager, tries to steal his Gran Torino, Kowalski sets out to reform the youth. Drawn against his will into the life of Tao's family, Kowalski is soon taking steps to protect them form the gangs that foul their neighborhood.

Genres : Action/Adventure, Drama and Thriller
Running Time : 1 hr. 56 min.
Release Date : December 12th, 2008
Distributors : Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution
Starring : Clint Eastwood, Cory Hardrict, Doua Moua, Brian Haley, Bee Vang
Directed by : Clint Eastwood
Produced by : Jenette Kahn, Tim Moore, Bruce Berman

Watch the Trailer

Juno

Juno is a whip-smart teen confronting an unplanned pregnancy by her classmate Bleeker. With the help of her hot best friend Leah, Juno finds her unborn child a "perfect" set of parents: an affluent suburban couple, Mark and Vanessa, longing to adopt. Luckily, Juno has the total support of her parents as she faces some tough decisions, flirts with adulthood and ultimately figures out where she belongs.

Genres : Comedy, Drama and Teen
Running Time : 1 hr. 31 min.
Release Date : December 5th, 2007
Distributors : Fox Searchlight Pictures, 20th Century Fox International
Starring : Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Olivia Thirlby, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman
Directed by : Jason Reitman
Produced by : Joe Drake, Nathan Kahane, Daniel Dubiecki (II)

There Will Be Blood

An epic tale of family, faith, power and oil set on the incendiary frontier of California's turn-of-the-century petroleum boom. The story chronicles the life and times of one Daniel Plainview, who transforms himself from a down-and-out silver miner raising a son on his own into a self-made oil tycoon. When Plainview gets a mysterious tip-off that there's a little town out West where an ocean of oil is oozing out of the ground, he heads with his son, H.W., to take their chances in dust-worn Little Boston. In this hardscrabble town, where the main excitement centers around the holy roller church of charismatic preacher Eli Sunday, Plainview and H.W. make their lucky strike. But even as the well raises all of their fortunes, nothing will remain the same as conflicts escalate and every human value--love, hope, community, belief, ambition and even the bond between father and son--is imperiled by corruption, deception and the flow of oil.

Genres : Drama and Adaptation
Running Time : 2 hrs. 38 min.
Release Date : December 26th, 2007
Distributors : Paramount Vantage, Miramax International
Starring : Daniel Day-Lewis, Mary Elizabeth Barrett, Paul Dano, Dillon Freasier, Christine Olejniczak
Directed by : Paul Thomas Anderson
Produced by : Scott Rudin, Eric Schlosser, JoAnne Sellar