Due to the alternate, dystopian timeline we’re all currently dragging ourselves through, 2018 both felt hilariously long but also like it was speeding past us, particularly during these last few months. This is driven further home when you remember “Black Panther” was released this year before the 2018 Academy Awards. With the end of the year upon us, there’s an embarrassment of riches at the multiplex as studios compete to get that holiday vacation uptick with seemingly more than usual blockbuster titles making their debut.
Along with that, there’s the continued Oscar push for titles yet unseen, as the studios try and cram every possible awards contender into our rotation before January hits and we’re left wallowing in one of the few cinema barren months of the year.
So let’s take a look at the film industry box office gauntlet known as December.
(Note: Not on the list is “Roma” which was technically distributed in a limited release in November but make sure to keep your eyes peeled for this masterpiece when it hits Netflix on December 14th.)
“Mary Queen of Scots”
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie, Jack Lowden
Synopsis: Queen of France at 16 and widowed at 18, Mary defies pressure to remarry. Instead, she returns to her native Scotland to reclaim her rightful throne. As Scotland and England fall under the rule of the compelling Elizabeth I, each young Queen beholds her “sister” in fear and fascination.
What You Need to Know: Helmed by first time film director Josie Rourke, this historical drama would be interesting alone based on the basic premise, but with the two talents leading the charge being Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie, it becomes a must see. Our critic who called it “fabulously feminist” (another tremendous selling point) championed the film, saying it’s “…a vital film, whose lace-trimmed bosom heaves with life.”
Release Date: December 7th
“Vox Lux”
Cast: Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Stacy Martin, Raffey Cassidy
Synopsis: After singing at a memorial service, Celeste transforms into a burgeoning pop star with the help of her songwriter sister and talent manager. Celeste’s meteoric rise to fame dovetails with a personal and national loss of innocence, consequently elevating the young powerhouse to a new kind of celebrity: American icon, secular deity, global superstar.
What You Need to Know: In a film that is destined to be divisive, Brady Corbet’s latest propels Natalie Portman into yet another stunning showcase as a delusional pop star thrust into the limelight in the aftermath of a horrific event, only to have to combat another years later. A deeply unnerving meditation on the price and place of superstardom and how pop music can reinvigorate and inspire. Our critic called the emotionally volcanic flick absorbing, going as far to say that “the flaws are so unapologetic they’re almost virtues.” Corbet had already impressed with his last film, “The Childhood of a Leader” and with “Vox Lux” he doubles down on showcasing just how versatile his storytelling can be.
Release Date: December 7th
“Ben is Back”
Cast: Julia Roberts, Lucas Hedges, Courtney B. Vance, Kathryn Newton
Synopsis: 19-year-old Ben Burns unexpectedly returns home to his family’s suburban home on Christmas Eve morning. Ben’s mother, Holly, is relieved and welcoming but wary of her son staying clean. Over a turbulent 24 hours, new truths are revealed, and a mother’s undying love for her son is tested as she does everything in her power to keep him safe.
What You Need to Know: Julia Roberts never really went away, but she certainly isn’t as high profile as she once was. However, with “Homecoming” and now “Ben is Back,” just in the past few months, it would seem that the actress is doing something of a relaunch. Written and directed by Peter Hedges (“The Odd Life of Timothy Green” “Dan in Real Life”) — and father of star Lucas Hedges — the director once again tackles family dynamics, albeit with a darker edge as addiction plays a large part. Having debuted at the 2018 Toronto Film Festival, the film may not be the awards contender it looked like it could be on the offset but it’s proving to be a deserved showcase for Roberts and Hedges who are critic called “stunning” and “authentic,” even if they felt the film itself was uneven.
Release Date: December 7th
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”
Cast: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Jake Johnson, Liev Schreiber, Brian Tyree Henry, John Mulaney, Nicolas Cage, Lily Tomlin
Synopsis: Miles Morales is a New York teen struggling with school, friends and, on top of that, being the new Spider-Man. When he comes across Peter Parker, the erstwhile savior of New York, in the multiverse, Miles must train to become the new protector of his city.
What You Need to Know: And just like that, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” became one of the most anticipated films to see before the year ends (especially to those trying re-arranging our best of lists and what seems like an hourly basis.) Directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman and written by “The Lego Movie” duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, critics have gone as far to say that this might just be the best cinematic iteration of the character yet, as fan favorite Miles Morales takes center stage. We’re almost at the point of over-saturation of superhero films, with another being released this month, so when yet another comic property is released, the hope is that it shakes the foundation a bit and imbue the story with the excitement we should feel when watching relatable characters perform larger than life acts of heroism. Our critic certainly shared in the admiration for the film, saying “…Lord and Miller and the ‘Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse’ team deliver an eye-popping web of delights that will leave you smitten and blithely ensnared.”
Release Date: December 14th
