Out December 3
The End of the Tour
(USA, drama)
Director: James Ponsoldt
Starring: Jason Segel, Jesse Eisenberg, Anna Chlumsky
What's it about?
The story of the five-day interview between Rolling Stone reporter David Lipsky and acclaimed novelist David Foster Wallace, which took place right after the 1996 publication of Wallace's groundbreaking epic novel, Infinite Jest.
(Melbourne only.)
Phoenix
(Poland/Germany, drama)
Director: Christian Petzold
Starring: Nina Hoss, Ronald Zehrfeld, Nina Kunzendorf
What's it about?
Badly injured, her face destroyed, Auschwitz survivor Nelly returns to her hometown, Berlin. Having barely recovered from facial surgery, Nelly sets out to find her husband, Johnny, who is convinced that his wife is dead. When Nelly finally tracks him down, he doesn’t believe it could really be her. Hoping to secure her family’s inheritance, Johnny suggests to Nelly that she take on the identity of his late wife.
[link title="Phoenix: Christian Petzold and Nina Hoss interview" url="node/52908"]
In the Heart of the Sea
(USA, adventure/drama/action)
Director: Ron Howard
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson
What's it about?
In the winter of 1820, the New England whaling ship Essex was assaulted by a whale of mammoth size, and an almost human sense of vengeance. The real-life maritime disaster would inspire Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick. Heart of the Sea reveals the encounter’s aftermath, as the ship’s surviving crew is braving storms, starvation, panic and despair.
The Night Before
(USA, comedy)
Director: Jonathan Levine
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie
What's it about?
Since Ethan Miller's parents passed away on Christmas Eve fourteen years ago, his two best friends, Isaac and Chris, have been with him in support on this night by having an annual tradition of going out on Christmas Eve. However, because Isaac is going to be a father and Chris has become famous, all three decide to have one last Christmas Eve out in New York City.
Truth
(USA/Australia, drama)
Director: James Vanderbilt
Starring: Robert Redford, Cate Blanchett, Dennis Quaid
What's it about?
A behind-the-scenes look at news anchor Dan Rather and producer Mary Mapes during their final days at C.B.S. News when they broadcast a damaging report about how President Bush relied on privilege and family connections to avoid fighting in the Vietnam War.
[link title="Cate Blanchett on 'Truth', Quentin Tarantino, and her very big year (interview)" url="node/48637"]Watch trailer
Out December 10
Mississippi Grind
(USA, drama)
Director: Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Ben Mendelsohn, Sienna Miller
What's it about?
When Gerry, a down-on-his-luck gambler, meets Curtis, a younger, highly charismatic poker player, the two strike up a friendship and embark on a road trip to a legendary high stakes poker game in New Orleans. As they make their way down the Mississippi River, Gerry and Curtis manage to find themselves in just about every bar, racetrack, casino, and pool hall they can find, experiencing both incredible highs and dispiriting lows.
Out December 17
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens
(USA, action/adventure/sci-fi/fantasy)
Director: J.J. Abrams
Starring: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Harrison Ford
What's it about?
In this continuation of the "Star Wars" saga, balance returns to the Force as the First Order, emerging from the ashes of the Empire, clashes with the Resistance, which includes scrappy newcomers as well as heroes from the former Rebel Alliance.
Out December 24
Ip Man 3
(Hong Kong, action/martial arts)
Director: Wilson Yip
Starring: Donnie Yen, Lynn Hung, Zhang Han
What's it about?
When a band of brutal gangsters led by a crooked property developer make a play to take over the city, Master Ip is forced to take a stand.
[link title="Mike Tyson attached to Kung Fu biopic 'Ip Man 3'" url="node/37929"]
Out December 26
The Good Dinosaur
(USA, fantasy/animation/comedy/family/adventure)
Director: Peter Sohn
Starring: Jeffrey Wright, Frances McDormand, Maleah Nipay-Padilla
What's it about?
Pixar's new offering imagines a world where giant dinosaurs never became extinct. The story centers on Arlo, a young Apatosaurus, who being separated from his family after a traumatic event, sets out on a remarkable journey to reunite with them, gaining an unlikely companion along the way - a human boy.
[link title="Watch Pixar rewrite history in 'The Good Dinosaur' trailer" url="node/42671"]Pixar president Jim Morris with Mrc Fennell (The Feed)
The Bélier Family
(France, comedy/drama/music)
Director: Eric Lartigau
Starring: Karin Viard, François Damiens, Eric Elmosnino, Louane Emera
What's it about?
The whole Bélier family is deaf, except for sixteen-year-old Paula who is the translator in her parents' day-to-day life, especially when it comes to the family dairy business. When her music teacher discovers she has a fantastic singing voice and she gets an opportunity to enter a big Radio France contest, the whole family's future is set up for big changes.
Watch interview with Eric Lartigau
Peggy Guggenheim - Art Addict
(USA/Italy/UK, documentary/biography/history)
Director: Lisa Immordino Vreeland
What's it about?
Bouncing between Europe and the United States as often as she would between lovers, Peggy Guggenheim’s life was as swirling as the design of her uncle’s museum. This documentary offers a rare look into Guggenheim’s world, portraying a life that was as complex and unpredictable as the artwork Peggy revered.
Suffragette
(UK, drama)
Director: Sarah Gavron
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter, Meryl Streep
What's it about?
When Maud, a working wife and mother, joins the UK's growing suffragette movement, she finds herself galvanized by the outlaw fugitive Emmeline Pankhurst and becomes an activist for the cause. When increasingly aggressive police action forces the suffragettes underground, they engage in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse with the authorities, as the women's civil disobedience escalates and sparks debate across the nation.
Read review[link title="Time Out London defends its controversial 'Suffragette' photoshoot" url="node/48505"]
[link title="'Suffragette' premiere stormed by feminist protestors in London" url="node/48709"]
Youth
(UK/Italy/France/SSwitzerland, drama)
Director: Paolo Sorrentino
Starring: Michael Caine, Rachel Weisz, Harvey Keitel
What's it about?
Two lifelong friends ponder retirement while vacationing in a luxury Swiss Alps lodge. While Fred has no plans to resume his musical career despite the urging of his loving daughter Lena, Mick is intent on finishing the screenplay for what may be his last important film for his muse Brenda.
Read review[link title="Cannes 2015: Caine, Fonda, Keitel act their ages in 'Youth'" url="node/39067"]Watch trailer
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip
USA/ animation/comedy/family/adventure)
Director: Walt Becker
Starring: David Cross, Jason Lee, Justin Long, Amy Poehler
What's it about?
Through a series of misunderstandings, Alvin, Simon and Theodore come to believe that Dave is going to propose to his new girlfriend in New York City - and dump them. They have three days to get to him and stop the proposal.
Joy
(USA, comedy/drama)
Director: David O. Russell
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro
What's it about?
David O. Russell's new movie, based on a true story, follows the story through four generations of a struggling Long Island single mother, played by muse Jennifer Lawrence, who became one of the country's most successful entrepreneurs by inventing the "Miracle Mop".
[link title="Watch: Life is hard for Jennifer Lawrence in 'Joy' trailer" url="node/42331"]Jennifer Lawrence Says 'Joy' Is Salute to 'Women Who Are Unsung Heroes'
Daddy's Home
(USA, comedy)
Director: Sean Anders, John Morris
Starring: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini
What's it about?
A mild-mannered radio executive (Will Ferrell) strives to become the best stepdad ever to his wife's two children, but complications ensue when their freewheeling, freeloading real father (Mark Wahberg) arrives, forcing stepdad to compete for the affection of the kids.
Trumbo
(USA, drama/biography)
Director: Jay Roach
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, Helen Mirren, Elle Fanning
What's it about?
In 1947, Dalton Trumbo was Hollywood's top screenwriter until he and other artists were jailed and blacklisted for their political beliefs. The film recounts how Dalton (played by (Bryan Cranston) used words and wit to win two Academy Awards and expose the absurdity and injustice under the blacklist, which entangled everyone from gossip columnist Hedda Hopper to John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Otto Preminger.
[link title="Watch Bryan Cranston fight anti-communist hysteria in 'Trumbo' trailer" url="node/44083"]
