Aloha from Hawaii. Not sure I'll get a chance to hang out with Roseanne this trip, but who knows? In the meantime, here's my annual Holiday Movies Preview. The fact that I've seen exactly none of these pictures should not undercut in any way the validity of my opinions.
ANOTHER HAPPY DAY – Ellen Barkin takes time out from dating Barry Levinson’s 26 year-old son to star in a movie he wrote and directed. Barry discovered her thirty years ago for DINER. He must be so proud.
A DANGEROUS METHOD – Freud & Jung -- the Popeye & Bluto of psychoanalysis -- mix it up over Olive Oyl (Keira Knightley). Wonder what Freud would say to Barry Levinson.
ARTHUR CHRISTMAS – Breathe easy. Russell Brand is nowhere to be seen. Motion-capture pic by the WALLACE & GROMIT guys so should be good.
HUGO – Martin Scorsese's first kid film. Got great reviews and a big opening weekend. Plans already underway for his second -- a claymation version of CAPE FEAR.
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO – from the popular series that includes THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST, THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, and THE GIRL WITH SOMETHING EXTRA (originally a ‘70s sitcom starring Sally Field).
THE DESCENDANTS – George Clooney learns his wife has been unfaithful and is in a coma, and he must somehow draw upon all of his strength to cope by living in Hawaii. Getting sensational reviews. Co-writer/director Alexander Payne may soon be saying "Mahalo" to the Academy.
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN – Speaking of Oscars, Michelle Williams might win one playing Marilyn Monroe, an actress who couldn’t win one herself.
RAMPART – Woody Harrelson as a scary L.A. cop who pistol whips people while singing “Kelly Kelly Kelly”.
ANSWERS TO NOTHING – Movie about the recent Republican debates.
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DOWN – PART 1 – Edward & Bella get married and have a kid who’s half vampire. He doesn’t drink blood, just gargles it. In PART 2, problems arise when he starts teething.
SHAME – Not to be confused with Barry Levinson's reaction to his 26-year-old son dating a 57-year-old woman. Michael Fassbender as a sex addict who moves in with his younger sister, Carey Mulligan. She begins to suspect there's a problem when he sleeps with the hosts of THE VIEW.
SLEEPING BEAUTY – ONCE UPON A TIME with roofies.
THE SITTER – Jonah Hill as irresponsible baby sitter. I wonder if that's how Ellen first met Barry Levinson's son.
NEW YEAR’S EVE – Essentially a sequel to VALENTINE’S DAY. A mish-mosh of romantic stories featuring every bankable movie actor who will be doing television in a year.
