Christmas Day Films

Here are my top picks for what to see this month!

Currently In Theatres

The Pursuit of Happyness
Starring Will Smith and his real life son Jaden, this film is the uplifting true story of a single dad doing his best to raise his five-year-old son. Despite incredible obstacles, including homelessness and poverty, Chris Gardner fights for a better life with his young son as his main motivation. Also starring: Thandie Newton, Dan Castellaneta, and James Karen.
Why I Recommend It
This is the time of year when many people are focused on material things. This moving film will remind you of all that you have to be grateful for and what's really important.

Charlotte's Web
With an all star cast including Julia Roberts as the voice of Charlotte and Dakota Fanning as Fern, this version of the children's classic is sure to become a live-action favorite. Wilbur is a pig doomed because of his size. As a runt, Wilbur is destined for the smokehouse on the farm where he was born. Determined to save him, Charlotte, a wise spider, decides to create a series of miracles to change the farmer's mind. With the help of Fern the farmer's daughter, and a barnyard of talking animals, Wilbur is transformed into the farmer's most valuable pig. Also starring: Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Kathy Bates, and Dominic Scott Kay as the voice of Wilbur.
Why I Recommend It
"Charlotte's Web" is a wonderful book and a great story. If your child is unfamiliar with it, this is the perfect opportunity to introduce this classic!

I Also Recommend:
Blood Diamond
Directed by Ed Zwick ("Glory" "Courage Under Fire" "The Last Samurai") and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou ("Amistad" "The Island"). In Sierra Leone, two men search for a priceless diamond that they each believe will save their lives. In prison, Danny Archer (DiCaprio) realizes that poor farmer Solomon Vandy(Hounsou) has found the jewel. The two reluctantly agree to work together for very different reasons: Archer hopes to escape his past in South Africa and Vandy must find his missing family.

Opening on December 22nd

The Good German
Directed by Steven Soderbergh ("Ocean's Eleven" "Solaris") and starring George Clooney, Tobey Maguire, and Cate Blanchett. It is 1945 and American reporter Jake Geismer (Clooney) visits Berlin to get the story of the Potsdam Conference. Although his companion and driver, Patrick Tully (Maguire) seems like a naive farm boy, he is anything but. Eventually Tully's illegal dealings get him killed, and Geismer is left to find the killer and reconnect with his ex-love, Lena Brandt (Blanchett).

Opening on December 25th

Children of Men
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón ("Y tu mamá también" "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) and starring Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Set in the not-so-distant future, a terrible infection makes all women infertile and spurs worldwide anarchy. At 18, the world's youngest person is now dead and the future looks bleak. In London, Theo Faron (Owen) is coerced by his old flame Julian (Moore) into helping the world's last pregnant woman. They must find a way to keep her amazing pregnancy from the world so that she can safely give birth.

Dreamgirls
Directed by Bill Condon and starring Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Anika Noni Rose, Jaime Foxx, and Eddie Murphy. If you haven't seen the famous Broadway musical, here's your chance to see the fantastic story of Deena (Beyoncé Knowles), Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose), and Effie (Jennifer Hudson), three young women who dream of making it big. It is the era of Motown and three talented teens are taken under the wing of Curtis Taylor (Foxx), a car salesman who also has big dreams. As they reach the heights of fame, their friendships are threatened and hearts are broken. Loosely based on the story of Diana Ross and the Supremes, this adaptation follows their journey from hopefuls to stars.

Whatever you choose to see, remember to relax and enjoy. For more info, below are links to the five films mentioned.