2009 holiday movie guide

November 9, 12:49 AMSt. Louis Movie ExaminerKatie Carter

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It’s about time. The first week of November is over, and the awkward fall movie season has transitioned into the holiday movie season, where we’ll see the return of big budget blockbusters as well as the release of smaller gems bound for Oscar gold. The season has already started with such big movies as “A Christmas Carol”, “The Men Who Stare at Goats”, and, in limited release now, “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”. But there are still plenty of great movies ahead of us, so from now until the end of December, here’s what you can expect to see at your local theater.  

November 13

• “2012”: apocalyptic, special effects-laden disaster flick directed by Roland Emmerich and starring John Cusack. Rated PG-13.
• “Pirate Radio”: comedy about a group of 1960s DJs who rebel against the British government with rock n roll; written and directed by Richard Curtis, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, and Kenneth Branagh. Rated R.
• “Women in Trouble”: comedy about a day in the life of ten different women who are all undergoing personal crises; written and directed by Sebastian Gutierrez and starring Carla Gugino. Rated R.
• *This weekend also sees “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” expanding to more theaters.
• *Notable limited release: the Iraq war drama “The Messengers”

November 20

• “The Twilight Saga: New Moon”: horror/romance and sequel to 2008’s “Twilight” finds vampire Edward Cullen leaving girlfriend Bella Swan, who then lets werewolf Jacob Black into her life; directed by Chris Weitz and starring Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner. Rated PG-13.
• “Planet 51”: animated comedy about a planet of aliens whose fears of invasion are realized when an Earth astronaut lands on their planet; directed by Jorge Blanco, Javier Abad, Marcos Martinez, with voices by Dwayne Johnson, Jessica Biel, and Justin Long. Rated PG.
• “The Blind Side”: true story about African-American football player Michael Oher, who was taken in by a white family as a homeless teen; written and directed by John Lee Hancock and starring Sandra Bullock, Kathy Bates, and Tim McGraw.

November 25

• “The Fantastic Mr. Fox”: animated comedy about a trio of incensed farmers who try to chase their rival, a fox, out of his home; directed by Wes Anderson with voices by George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, and Cate Blanchett. Rated PG.
• “The Road”: apocalyptic drama about a man who journeys with his son through a destroyed Earth, fending off other stragglers and dangerous men as they try to find safety; directed by Joe Hillcoat and starring Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall, and Kodi Smit-McPhee. Rated R.
• “Ninja Assassin”: action flick about a ninja who must confront another ninja from the orphanage where he was raised; directed by James McTeigue and starring Rick Yune, Rain, and Naomie Harris. Rated R.
• “Old Dogs”: comedy about a man who finds out he has young children, and finds himself raising them with his best friend; directed by Walt Becker and starring Robin Williams, John Travolta, Seth Green, and Matt Dillon. Rated PG.
• *Notable limited release: the period drama “Me and Orson Welles”

December 4

• “Brothers”: drama about the brother of a supposedly dead Marine who takes his place with his widow and children; but, when the Marine returns home alive, he soon becomes suspicious of his wife and sibling; directed by Jim Sheridan and starring Tobey Maguire, Natalie Portman, and Jake Gyllenhaal. Rated R.
• “Armored”: thriller about a group of armored truck guards who steal a truck transporting $10 million; directed by Nimrod Antal and starring Matt Dillon, Laurence Fishburne, and Jean Reno. Rated PG-13.
• Notable limited release: the dramedy "Up in the Air"
   

December 11

• “The Princess and the Frog”: animated Disney fairy tale about what happens after a princess kisses a frog prince; directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, with voices by Anika Noni Rose, John Goodman, and Oprah Winfrey.
• “Invictus”: drama about Nelson Mandela’s attempts to host the 1995 Rugby World Cup to unite South Africa after the fall of apartheid; directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. Rated PG-13.
   

December 18

• “Avatar”: futuristic sci-fi film about a military group from Earth fighting with the natives of the planet Pandora to get the valuable resources on the land; written and directed by James Cameron and starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, and Sigourney Weaver.
• “Did You Hear About the Morgans?”: romantic comedy about an estranged married couple forced to, after witnessing a murder, enter the witness protection program and travel to Wyoming together; written and directed by Marc Lawrence and starring Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Mary Steenburgen.
• *Notable limited release: the period drama “The Young Victoria”
   

December 25

• “Sherlock Holmes”: mystery/adventure featuring the famous detective and his partner Watson figuring out a plot that could destroy all of England; directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law, and Rachel McAdams.
• “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel”: comedy and sequel features singing chipmunks Alvin, Simon, and Theodore going to school and meeting their female counterparts; directed by Betty Thomas and starring Jason Lee. Rated PG.
• “Nine”: musical about a film director struggling to complete his next movie; directed by Rob Marshall and starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Marion Cotillard, and Sophia Loren. Rated PG-13.
• “It’s Complicated”: romantic comedy in which a newly married man has an affair with his ex-wife, while another man vies for her attentions; written and directed by Nancy Meyers and starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin.

For more info, check out Film Releases, or feel free to email me.  For regular updates on movie reviews, news, and releases, become a fan of me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.