Movies
Excellent: Movies this great are rare, so don't miss it.
Good: At least worth the price of admission.
Okay: See it if you have nothing better to do.
Bad: If you absolutely have to see it, wait for the DVD.
No stars: Frickin' terrible; give us our two hours back,
you director from hell.
Holiday movie preview
Our movie critics sound off about the season's most anticipated releases
The Aviator Release Date: Dec. 17 (limited)
Leonardo DiCaprio stars as How
Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Howard Hughes, movie
s as Howard Hughes, movie director and aviation mogul, in The Aviator. Martin Scorsese, in his first film since Gangs of New York, took over as director of The Aviator when Michael Mann stepped down, bringing with him a who's who of acting talent: DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett,
Jude Law, John C. Reilly and Alec Baldwin, among others This one looks rife with Oscar consideration for Scorsese and DiCaprio, and has the biggest and most talented cast of any movie coming out this holiday season.
Release date: Dec. 3 (limited)
Closer
Closer is a study of the modern relationship, about four strangers who encounter one another through chance meetings and develop attractions to each other, even when they already have significant others. Directed by Mike Nichols and starring Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman and Clive Owen, Closer has an abundance of talent. The film is based on a play by the same name, so look for an acting showcase.
Jon Ralston
Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera
Release Date: Dec. 25 (limited)
After years of development hell, Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical finally gets the big-screen treatment it deserves. Director Joel Schumacher and
Webber himself have worked hard to bring the Phantom (Gerard Butler) and his Christine (The Day After Tomorrow's Emmy Rossum) to the screen, and from the trailer Phantom looks to be an incomparable translation from stage to screen.
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
Release Date: Dec. 25
The return of *Rushmore* and *The Royal Tenenbaums'* Wes Anderson to the director's chair and the flawless Bill Murray is a welcome relief this Christmas. The story follows esteemed oceanographer Steve Zissou as he searches for the shark that ate his partner. The trailer promises more of the same quirk and humor Anderson brought to his last two pictures, and with Owen Wilson and Jeff Goldblum around, anything's
possible.
Ocean's 12
Release Date: Dec. 10
The return of everyone who made Ocean's 11 worth watching and the addition of one Catherine Zeta-Jones, meanwhile, moving everyone across the ocean (the real one) to Europe. I scoffed when I heard a sequel was being made to the impeccable remake, but now I can't wait for a second chance to see the boys back on screen, stealing, scheming and charming away.
— Lindsey Ramsey
Alexander Release Date: Nov. 24
Oliver Stone directs Colin Farrell as the conquering Macedonian warrior in this long-awaited epic. Val Kilmer (Heat) and Angelina Jolie (Sky Captain) play parents King Philip and Olympias, while Jared Leto (Fight Club) costars as love interest Hepaheston (remember, Alexander the Great was cool like that). Stone's go-for-broke style (JFK, Natural Born Killers) should yield a bloody, uncompromising portrait.
Kinsey Release Date: Nov. 19 (limited)
Liam Neeson stars as the scientist whose groundbreaking 1948 study Sexual Behavior in the Human Male set off the sexual revolution. Written and directed by Bill Condon, who also made Gods and Monsters, which is one of the great screen biographies of recent years. As a way of licking political wounds suffered this election year, expect the Academy to nominate the libertine Kinsey for some major awards.
— Stephen Shupe
T8
Jayplay 11.18.04