Film lovers can savor a holiday feast

Stuck in leftover turkey mode, with the charm of visiting relatives beginning to wear off, it’s time to get out of the house. The movies are looking good, aren’t they?

If you’re in an upbeat mood, the best of recent openings include “The Blind Side,” an inspirational underdog story for adults and teens alike; “Pirate Radio,” a 1960s nostalgia hit for ex-hippie parents; or “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” a cartoon for kids and adults. Teen girls are probably on their second or third round of seeing “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” by now, and Disney’s “A Christmas Carol” is another family option.

Oscar watchers and fans of heavier fare might check out “Precious,” an urban story of incest and child abuse; “An Education,” a Brit coming-of-age story; and “A Serious Man,” a dark comedy by the Coen brothers.

What’s coming between now and New Year’s? A batch of award contenders, and some pure escape as well. December’s calendar is crowded with talent:

Dec. 4

“Everybody’s Fine.” Robert De Niro is a newly widowed dad tracking down his three adult kids (Drew Barrymore, Sam Rockwell, Kate Beckinsale) at holiday time. De Niro is stirring Academy Award talk.

“Armored.” An armored-truck heist turns bad when guys on the inside (Matt Dillon, Jean Reno) are thwarted by an honest rookie on the job (Columbus Short).

“The Messenger.” Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson star as a pair of Marines whose job is to inform families that their loved one has been killed in action. Then Foster starts to fall for one of the widows. Both actors are inspiring award talk.

“Brothers.” Tobey Maguire goes missing in Afghanistan, and his brother (Jake Gyllenhaal) comforts his wife (Natalie Portman), who thinks her husband is dead. He’s not.

Dec. 11

“The Princess and the Frog.” Disney hopes for a comeback of hand-drawn animation with this classic fairy tale about kissing a frog.

“Invictus.” Director Clint Eastwood’s best-picture contender looks at how South African President Nelson Mandela used a rugby team to unite his racially torn country. Stars Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.

Dec. 18

“Avatar.” Award talk has long swirled around James Cameron’s follow-up to “Titanic.” Earthlings, whose planet is destroyed, aim to conquer another planet so they can survive. Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington and Sigourney Weaver star.

“Did You Hear About the Morgans?” Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant are a bickering New York City husband and wife trapped in Wyoming together after they enter witness protection.

Dec. 23

“Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.” Can this be better than the 2007 movie about the helium-voiced singing rodents? Well, it wouldn’t be hard.

Dec. 25

“Nine.” The musical version of Fellini’s autobiographical movie “8½” becomes a movie, directed by Rob Marshall (“Chicago”) and starring a long list of award-bait names: Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Penélope Cruz, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren and more.

“Up in the Air.” Another best-pic contender, directed by Jason Reitman (“Juno”). A corporate downsizer (George Clooney) is obsessed with frequent-flier miles, then meets Vera Farmiga, who gives him more to think about. Partly filmed in Omaha.

“It’s Complicated.” Meryl Streep must choose between ex-husband Alec Baldwin and architect Steve Martin in this comedy by Nancy Meyers (“Something’s Gotta Give”).

“Sherlock Holmes.” Robert Downey Jr. plays the 19th century sleuth and Jude Law is sidekick Dr. Watson. Rachel McAdams is a helpful con woman as they take on an evil practitioner of the occult.

Date uncertain

“The Road.” Cormac McCarthy’s bleak novel puts Viggo Mortensen in a bleak post-apocalyptic world, trying to survive with his young son. Charlize Theron is seen in flashbacks. Mortensen could be an award contender.

“The Lovely Bones.” Director Peter Jackson (“Lord of the Rings”) brings Alice Sebold’s novel to the screen. A 14-year-old murdered girl (Saoirse Ronan) hovers over her family and her murderer. Might be January before this Oscar hopeful reaches Omaha.

Others in the award-season mix with uncertain local opening dates, probably after the first of the year: “The Young Victoria,” about Britain’s Queen Victoria; “Broken Embraces,” with director Pedro Almodovar and actress Cruz paired again; “The Last Station,” about Russian author Leo Tolstoy’s private life (Helen Mirren, Christopher Plummer); and “A Single Man,” in which a gay English prof (Colin Firth) deals with the death of his partner.

Contact the writer:

444-1269, bob.fischbach@owh.com

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