Monthly Movie Madness: December

December is here! That means Christmas, it also means less wide releases but lots of indie's looking to make their last minute Oscar surge. So let me recommend you some flicks this month...

Note: Out Of The Furnance is being released in December as it was pushed back a week but since it was already featured in November, I decided to avoid it on the December list.

5. Zombie Hamlet: Okay so I'm cheating a little bit here as this movie is basically coming out on DVD December 31st but it'll also play in like 4 theatres. But all the same it looks so bad it will probably be so good!

Synopsis: First-time director Osric Taylor finally manages to get his dream film financed, Shakespeare's HAMLET, set against the epic backdrop of the American Civil War. He heads to a small Louisiana town to start filming when production funding suddenly dries up. With no other options, Osric agrees to take up southern matron Hester Beauchamp's offer to finance his movie, as long as he throws some zombies into the film to attract a wider audience. When Hester suddenly dies mid-shoot -- and with the local sheriff and ambitious news reporter Shine Reynolds hot on his trail -- Osric is thrust into one precarious and hilarious situation after another in a desperate attempt to keep ZOMBIE HAMLET alive.

4. American Hustle: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That seems to be the idea for director David O. Russell as he combined the key actors from his last 2 films (The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook) to create one of the most anticipated films of award season. Now granted I'm a sucker for ensemble casts, and none has more Oscar Pull then this as Lawrence and Bale have both won Oscars for their previous work with Russell. Cooper also has a nomination for Silver Linings with Adams garnering one of her 4 nominations for The Fighter. Not to mention Renner was also has a nomination for The Hurt Locker under his belt.

Synopsis: A fictional film set in the alluring world of one of the most stunning scandals to rock our nation, American Hustle tells the story of brilliant con man Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale), who along with his equally cunning and seductive British partner Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) is forced to work for a wild FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper). DiMaso pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia that's as dangerous as it is enchanting. Jeremy Renner is Carmine Polito, the passionate, volatile, New Jersey political operator caught between the con-artists and Feds. Irving's unpredictable wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) could be the one to pull the thread that brings the entire world crashing down. Like David O. Russell's previous films, American Hustle defies genre, hinging on raw emotion, and life and death stakes.

3. The Wolf Of Wall Street: Speaking of awards fodder... Another Scorsese and DiCaprio team-up? That doesn't sound good for the other hopefulls. Gangs Of New york, The Aviator and The Departed all cleaned up in their respective years at the Oscars, and I'm sure Paramount is hoping for more of the same as they have surrounded Leo with other capable actors, although I really don't like McConaughey but the academy seems to so what do I know. Other than he needs to use deodorant.

Synopsis: Martin Scorsese reteams with Leonardo DiCaprio on this adaptation of Jordan Belfort's memoir surrounding his indulgent ride as a crooked banker made headlines in the 1990's. Terrence Winter provides the screenplay. Jonah Hill and Oscar-winner Jean Dujardin co-star.

2. The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug: The sequel all my friends have been anxiously awaiting for is here! But they'll have to go without me as I have a tradition of seeing it with my mommy (awwww). So what is the obsession with the LOTR films? They are great adventure films, even if they are a little too long if you ask me. The book is some 350 pages... Does it really warrant 3 films?? Though in this 2nd one we finally meet the dragon Smaug voiced by bad guy extrodinaire Benedict Cumberbatch... Or so my friend Mike says anyways. Colour me excited!

Synopsis: The second in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan) and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) on an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.

1. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues: Only a movie of epic proportions could keep The Hobbit from the top spot but that's exactly what we get here. Will Ferrell and company are back for another exciting chapter in your favourite news teams book. More importantly this is a return to form of sorts for Will Ferrell as he hasn't done a good movie in god knows how long!

Synopsis: With the 70's behind him, San Diego's top rated newsman, Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell), returns to the news desk in "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues." Also back for more are Ron's co-anchor and wife, Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate), weather man Brick Tamland (Steve Carell), man on the street Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd) and sports guy Champ Kind (David Koechner) - All of whom won't make it easy to stay classy...while taking the nation's first 24-hour news channel by storm.