Holiday Movie Releases - 11/27/09

Old Dogs

Robin Williams and John Travolta are best friends who are forced to take care of 7 year old twins. Because judges make single dirty old men take care of small young kids all the time. Don't fill out those worst of decade lists quite yet, folks. From the director of Wild Hogs (what's next - Fast Jogs? Sawed Logs?).

The Road

The pedigree looks good: Based on Cormac McCarthy's novel, directed by an interesting director (John Hillcoat - The Proposition) and starring Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron (whose longtime man - Stuart Townsend was originally cast as Aragorn). The Road looks oppressively grim and depressing with its post-apocalyptic setting filled with cannibals. Still, the principles have enough in the bank to warrant a viewing. In limited release.

Me and Orson Welles

Richard Linklater's first film in 3 years stars Zac Efron as an Orson Welles employee who witnesses his legendary stage productions. Christian McKay co-stars as Welles, and it's said he's very good. Claire Danes plays Efron's love interest. This is a good choice for Efron - seeking out talented directors. In limited release.


The Princess and the Frog

In New Orleans, the classic frog-kissing story gets modernized - with hand-drawn animation. The makers of Aladdin and The Little Mermaid go retro and the PC police win another one. In limited release.




Ninja Assassin

V for Vendetta's James McTeigue directs yet another chop-socky kung fu crappily edited flick. A man is trained to be an assassin and betrays his trainers. I don't know I can do this type of film anymore - I couldn't sit through John Woo's latest, Red Cliff, and I couldn't get into a recent re-viewing of Hero.