We’re at the end of the year, the end of the decade and the end of the 2019 Oscars race. These are the last movies that will be eligible for the 92nd Academy Awards. In September, we saw Ad Astra, Judy, and Hustlers enter the race, with The Laundromat and The Goldfinch falling behind. In October, Joker and Parasite definitely entered the race, with JoJo Rabbit, The Lighthouse and Dolemite is My Name dragging their feet a bit. In November, a slew of movies started running a little faster including The Irishman, Ford v Ferrari, A Beautiful Day In the Neighborhood, Knives Out and Two Popes. Now, we’ve reached the end of the finish line where Marriage Story and 1917 plan to make a big splash, with other hopefuls Little Women, Bombshell and Uncut Gems attempt to cut through the Christmas Blockbuster noise of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Jumanji: The Next Level. I’m excited to see how all of these movies fair and how the conversations change as we edge closer to nominations and the actual show itself.
Weekend of December 6th
Marriage Story
Plot: “A stage director and his actor wife struggle through a grueling, coast-to-coast divorce that pushes them to their personal and creative extremes.” – Netflix
Main Cast: Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern, Alan Alda, Ray Liotta, Julie Hagerty, Merritt Weaver
My Commentary: I have already seen this movie and it is truly incredible. The performances by Driver and Johansson are transcendent and Bombach’s directing is extremely personal. I will elaborate on my thoughts on this movie in a full review, however it’s worth mentioning here that it seems likely that the movie will be nominated for Best Picture, Best Director (Noah Baumbach), Best Actor (Adam Driver), Best Actress (Scarlett Johansson) and Best Supporting Actress (Laura Dern). This movie is already on Netflix. Watch it. You’ll be deeply moved by such an honest portrait of family and change.
The Aeronauts
Plot: “Daredevil pilot Amelia Wren and weather scientist James Glaisher find themselves in an epic fight for survival while attempting to make discoveries in a gas balloon” – Amazon Studios
Main Cast: Felicity Jones, Eddie Redmayne, Himesh Patel, Tim Courtenay, Phoebe Fox, Vincent Perez
My Commentary: To be honest, I haven’t heard much of anything about this movie until making this list. All I know is I love Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne. It appears to be Amazon’s entry to try to be relevant this year; the reviews have been generally positive citing director Jack Thorne’s technical prowess and effective chemistry between the two main leads. I love a good thriller with attractive leads, but I’ll probably wait to see this when it comes out on Prime Video.
Other Movies Coming Out This Weekend: I See You, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Most Likely to Succeed, The Banker, The Kindness of Strangers, A Million Little Pieces, Trauma Center, Knives and Skin, Daniel Isn’t Real
Weekend of December 13th
Uncut Gems
Plot: Howard Ratner, a jewelry store owner and compulsive gambler, must find a way to pay off his debts before it’s too late.” – A24, Netflix
Main Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin Garnett, Idina Menzel, Lakeith Stanfield, Julia Fox, Eric Bogosian, The Weeknd, Mike Francesca, Judd Hirsch
My Commentary: I’m extremely excited for this movie and so is the internet. The conversation around this movie has been electric. Firstly, people love a heist movie. Secondly, the cast is incredible. Thirdly, the power behind the movie is amazing, with the Safdie Brothers (Good Time, Heaven Knows What) directing and Martin Scorcese producing. Early reviews for the movie are those of essentially universal appraisal, citing Sandler’s incredible performance as a gritty-character actor in the 70s and the Safdie Brother’s ability to produce anxiety-inducing cinema in an unmatched fashion. This movie is a must see.
Jumani: The Next Level
Plot: ”Unknown to his friends, Spencer kept the pieces of the Jumanji video game and one day repaired the system in the basement of his grandfather’s house. When Spencer’s friends Bethany, Fridge, and Martha arrive, they find Spencer missing and the game running and decide to re-enter Jumanji to save him. Spencer’s grandfather Eddie and his friend Milo Walker hear the commotion and inadvertently get sucked into the game too before any of Spencer’s friends can select their avatars. With a new quest offered to them by Nigel Billingsley, the teenaged friends must help Eddie and Milo get used to their in-game avatars, get them to help find Spencer and Bethany, and escape Jumanji once again and for all.” – Sony
Main Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Awkwafina
My Commentary: This is the sequel to 2017’s Jumanji: Welcome to The Jungle, which was a reboot of Robin Williams’ 1995 Jumanji. The 2017 film was a GIANT box office success, making over $960 million and was the highest earning film at the box office for 6 full weeks. I did not see this movie in theaters because I judged it, but I did rent it at home and loved it. It was so much fun and a really entertaining action-comedy filled with stars I love. I’m actually really looking forward to round two.
Other Movies Coming Out This Weekend: Black Christmas, 6 Underground, The Death and Life of John F. Donovan, Shaun and Sheep the Movie: Farmageddon, Cunningham, Mob Town
Weekend of December 20th
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Plot: “A year after the events of The Last Jedi, the remnants of the Resistance face the First Order once again—while reckoning with the past and their own inner turmoil. Meanwhile, the ancient conflict between the Jedi and the Sith reaches its climax, bringing the Skywalker saga to a definitive end.” – Disney
Main Cast: Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamil, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Anthony Daniels, Naomi Ackie, Domhnall Gleeson, Richard Grant, Lupita Nyong’o, Keri Russell, Joonas Suotamo, Kelly Marie Tran, Ian McDiarmid, Billy Dee Williams
My Commentary: I have too much to say on how excited I am for this movie. The emotions that arise with the knowledge of how much this franchise has meant to me and so many people throughout the years is insurmountable. The close of the Skywalker saga doesn’t feel real. I cannot wait to see how it ends. I will be seeing this movie on Christmas day with my family.
Cats
Plot: “Over the course of a single night, a tribe of cats called the Jellicles make what is known as “the Jellicle choice” and decide which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life.” – Universal Pictures
Main Cast: James Corden, Judi Dench, Jason Derulo, Idris Elba, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellan, Rebel Wilson, Francesca Hayward
My Commentary: I might be the only one on the planet excited for this movie? I know the animation is freaky and people are confused by the plot, but Cats is really just about the music. It’s the story of the lives of different cats throughout the world and each gets to share the songs of their lives that encapsulates who they are. Cats is featured prominently on my showtunes playlist, with favorites like Rum Tum Tugger, The Jellicle Song, Magical Mister Mistoffelees, Memories and more at the very top of the playlist. The cast is incredible I think the soundtrack will be great.
Bombshell
Plot: “The film centers upon female Fox News personnel and their allegations against founder Roger Ailes.” – Lionsgate
Main Cast: Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, John Lithgow, Kate McKinnon, Connie Britton, Mark Duplass, Rob Delaney, Alison Janney, Malcom McDowell
My Commentary: The three main cast are enough to get me to see this movie, let alone my curiosity about how they’re going to handle the delicate landscape of #MeToo and such a polarized political climate. Charlize’s Megyn Kelly transformation has already gotten a lot of attention because it’s uncanny how much Theron truly looks exactly like Kelly. I’m very interested in what the discourse around this movie will be after premiering. So far, there’s already been buzz for Margot Robbie for a potential Best Supporting Actress nod, which would be exciting.
Other Movies Coming Out This Weekend: Superintelligence, Crown Vic
Weekend of December 27th / Christmas
Little Women
Plot: “Little Women explores the lives of the March sisters in 1860s New England, in the aftermath of the American Civil War. According to one of its producers, the new adaptation focuses more on the sisters’ young adult lives, particularly after Meg, Jo, and Amy leave their family home. The film jumps back and forth in time and focuses more on themes rather than narrative.” – Sony
Main Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothee Chalamet, Meryl Streep
My Commentary: I, like hundreds of thousands of others, grew up with this story. I’ve read the book about 100 times and cherish the story and its characters. This cast is truly a dream come true in my opinion – I’m a huge fan of the entire main cast and have been for a long time. Directed by Greta Gerwig, a visionary and a light in a category that is usually saved for men, I have very high hopes for this movie. So far, the reviews have been extremely kind. Gerwig was able to make a huge splash with her semi-biographical film Lady Bird in 2017, starring her muse Saoirse, who herself has been nominated for THREE Oscars (she’s only 24). Not to mention hello Meryl Streep and Laura Dern, who is probably already up for a Best Supporting Actress nod for her work in Marriage Story (directed by Gerwig’s partner Noah Bombach). Ugh this is my dream film I cannot wait to see it and I hope it gets all the accolades; plus, give me all the excuses in the world to gaze upon Timmy and his gorgeous locks and soft smile.
1917
Plot: “At the height of the First World War during Spring 1917 in northern France, two young British soldiers, Schofield (George MacKay) and Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman), are given a seemingly impossible mission to deliver a message which will warn of an ambush during one of the skirmishes soon after the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line during Operation Alberich. The two recruits race against time, crossing enemy territory to deliver the warning and keep a British battalion of 1,600 men, which includes Blake’s own brother, from walking into a deadly trap. The pair must give their all to accomplish their mission by surviving the war to end all wars.” – Universal Pictures
Main Cast: George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Benedict Cumberbatch, Colin Firth, Claire Duburcq
My Commentary: The Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Skyfall) directed war epic is apparently set to shake up the Oscars race, based on early reviews of the movie. I personally am fascinated by War stories; they all seem so remarkable to me. It’s incredible what the human spirit and body can overcome – it’s why I spend a majority of my vacations reading historical fiction war novels. The films cinematographer is Roger Deakins (Shawshank Redemption, No Country for Old Men, Skyfall), one of the most well-regarded Cinematographers of all time, nominated for Best Cinematographer at the Oscars 14 times, winning once for Blade Runner: 2049 in 2018. I suspect this movie could be nominated for Best Director, Best Picture, Best Cinematographer and potentially more. I’m highly anticipating this movie.
Bonus: Clemency
My Commentary: Since premiering at Sundance, where it won the US Dramatic Grand Jury prize, making director Chinonye Chukwu the first black woman to win the award, Clemency has picked up a lot of steam. The cast stars Alfre Woodard and is rounded out by Wendell Pierce and Aldis Hodge; Woodard in particular has been receiving a large amount of buzz and praise, and might be able to pick up a nomination for her work in the movie. The movie follows Woodard as Bernadine Williams, a death row warden who faces psychological hardships in the face of her job and everything bubbles to the surface when she has to execute another inmate. This film also showed at the Hamptons Film Festival and while I did not get a chance to see it, I did meet Aldis Hodge at the Breakthrough Artists panel where he talked about the long process he went through trying to learn about the psychological state of a death row inmate; it sounded harrowing. I plan on seeing this film when it comes out.
Other Movies Coming Out This Weekend: Just Mercy, Spies in Disguise, A Hidden Life, Ice Princess Lily, The Song of Names, IP Man 4,
