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.

Monthly Movie Madness: November

Halloween is over and Christmas is just around the corner... So let's preview some movies I'd like to see this month. Grab your extra large popcorn that you don't want to share with your friends and let's dive in.

5. Out Of The Furnace: Now I must admit I'm yet to see Scott Cooper's last work "Crazy Heart" though it is on my to do list. Mostly this movie captures my attention because frankly we've been let down with crime dramas as of late but this movie appears to have more personality than your average shot at the genre... And this cast is about as close to amazing as you can get for me in an indie flick.

Synopsis: From Scott Cooper, the critically-acclaimed writer and director of Crazy Heart, comes a gripping and gritty drama about family, fate, circumstance, and justice. Russell Baze (Christian Bale) has a rough life: he works a dead-end blue collar job at the local steel mill by day, and cares for his terminally ill father by night. When Russell's brother Rodney (Casey Affleck) returns home from serving time in Iraq, he gets lured into one of the most ruthless crime rings in the Northeast and mysteriously disappears. The police fail to crack the case, so - with nothing left to lose - Russell takes matters into his own hands, putting his life on the line to seek justice for his brother. The impressive cast of Christian Bale and Casey Affleck are rounded out by Woody Harrelson, Forest Whitaker, Zoe Saldana, Sam Shepard and Willem Dafoe.

4. Birth of the Living Dead: I know, I said Halloween is over but this documentary is just too damn interesting to me!

Synopsis: In 1968 a young college drop-out and aspiring filmmaker named George A. Romero directed Night of the Living Dead, a low-budget horror film that shocked the world, became an icon of the counterculture, and invented the modern movie zombie, which has spawned legions of films, books, comics, and video games, generating billions of dollars. Night of the Living Dead is not only internationally recognised as an art film, revered for its groundbreaking treatment of American race relations and allegorical references to the Vietnam war, the film still maintains its cult status as a classic horror masterpiece. The film made history when it simultaneously screened at MOMA and the notorious grind-house theatre circuit on 42nd Street. Since its release Night of the Living Dead has been selected for preservation by the Library of Congress and the National Film Registry. Rob Kuhns' feature documentary BIRTH OF THE LIVING DEAD goes beyond just being a tribute to director George Romero's work, to explore a critical moment in the American experience and the notion that horror acts as a reflection of national anxiety. The film details how Romero gathered an unlikely team of real Pittsburgh citizens -- police officers, iron workers, teachers, housewives and a roller-rink owner -- to shoot in a revolutionary guerrilla style that became a cinematic landmark and one of the most visceral and influential horror films ever made.

3. Thor: The Dark World: Though most questioned the change in director since the first Thor was so well received, it doesn't seem to have hurt as the early reviews are impressive. A relative newcomer to movies Alan Taylor does great things apparently look no further than his TV resume which includes Boardwalk Empire, Mad Men and Big Love. Plus have I ever mentioned how great Disney is handling the Marvel properties?

Synopsis: Marvel's "Thor: The Dark World" continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel's "Thor" and "Marvel's The Avengers," Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos...but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

2. Oldboy: If you haven't seen the original South Korean "Oldboy" then you are missing out. It's ultra-violent and not for the easily squeemish. So when Spike Lee announced he was making a North American one I was understandably worried... I have nothing against Spike but how do you improve on the original while not making a frame for frame copy? You get Josh Brolin! That's fucking right, I couldn't have picked a better actor to play the main role. It has however avoided the film fest crowds which makes me wonder if I'm getting too pumped for nothing. We'll just have to wait and see

Synopsis: OLDBOY is a provocative, visceral thriller that follows the story of Joe Doucette, a man who is abruptly kidnapped and held hostage for 20 years in solitary confinement, for no apparent reason. When he is suddenly released without explanation, he begins an obsessive mission to find out who imprisoned him, only to discover that the real mystery is why he was set free. Co-starring Elizabeth Olsen and Sharlto Copley, OLDBOY was directed by Spike Lee, from a script by Mark Protosevich (I Am Legend, The Cell, Thor). The film was produced by Roy Lee, Doug Davison and Nathan Kahane.

1. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire: Let's get the jokes out of the way first... Haha. Donny wants to see Catching Fire, he must have a vagina HAHAHA... Aside from the unfortunate view that The Hunger Games has taken over the Twilight mantle of tween love story... You must remember the first Hunger Games was very well received (84% on rottentomatoes as of this writing) and although the 2nd one will have less action then the arena like killing atmosphere of the first, there will still be plenty of suspense says those who read the 2nd book, I'm currently working on it but comics are taking up too much of my time. Either way Catching Fire is my most anticipated November release.

Synopsis: THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark. Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a "Victor's Tour" of the districts. Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) - a competition that could change Panem forever.

Honorable Mentions: Ender's Game, Best Man Down, The Motel Life, A Case Of You, Sunlight Jr.