Sandra Bullock Heads the Best of Holiday Movies:

Late 2009's Biopics and Romances are Anything but Ordinary

© Bernice McWilliams

Nov 11, 2009

The end of the Han Dynasty, President Nelson Mandela’s unification of South Africa, and the varied incarnations of love makes these holiday movies worth their price of admission.

Biopics

• Skin-is a true story set in apartheid-era South Africa that stars Sophie Okonedo (Sandra Laing), who is a black child born to white Afrikaner parents Alice Krige (Sannie Laing) and Sam Neil (Abraham Laing) as a result of earlier generational racial mixing. Okonedo brilliantly mines the volatile field of societal constraints while searching for an identity in a world that refuses to recognize her unique ethnic blend. Release date: October 30th

• Red Cliff-is director Johoo’s historical epic depicting the legendary battle of China's Red Cliff, in which a force of fifty thousand defeated an army of nearly one million, ending the reign of the Han Dynasty. The film stars Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Zhang Fengyi. Intitially shown in two parts for a duration of five hours the movie was edited to 148 minutes for American audiences. Release date: November 18th

• The Blind Side-is a true story based on the book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis about All-American football star Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) and the wealthy family of Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) and Sean Tuohy (Tim McGaw) who took him in and with the assistance of his tutor Miss Sue (Kathy Bates) helped turn his life around from the scourge of poverty and an inferior education. Release date: November 20th

• Invictus-directed by Clinastwood, is based on the first black President of South Africa Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman), who unites with a white South African rugby star Fancois Pienaar (Matt Damon) to mend the wounds of their apartheid ravaged country by encouraging all citizens to come together to rally behind their rugby team, during their quest for the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Release date: December 11th

• The Messenger-stars Woody Harrelson (Captain Tony Stone) and Ben Foster (Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery), who are members of the Army’s Casualty Notification service. They’re trained to reserve their personal feelings when fulfilling their professional obligations. Yet, things go completely awry when Staff Sergeant Montgomery pursues a fallen soldier’s widow. Release date: November 13th

• Brothers-depicts the upheaval in the Cahill family when Sam (Tobey Maguire) goes missing in Afghanistan and is presumed dead. His ne’er-do-well brother Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal) comforts his brother’s wife Grace (Natalie Portman) and rips the family apart in the process. Release date: December 4th

• Up In The Air-has corporative downsizer Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) running from any facsimile of love only to fall head over heels in love with Alex (Vera Farmiga) a kindred soul. Release Date: December 4th

• A Single Man-is designer Tom Ford's directorial debut ,with the adaptation of Christopher Isherwood’s 1964 novel, depicting a gay English professor named George (Colin Firth). who’s on a downward spiral after the sudden death of his partner. For solace he seeks the companionship of party girl Charlotte (Julianne Moore). Release date: December 11th

• It's Complicated-directed by Nancy Meyers and starring Meryl Streep (Jane), Alec Baldwin (Jake), and Steve Martin (Adam) in a love triangle, which messily entangles Jane with her ex-husband and geeky suitor Adam. Release date: December 25th

Also see:

2009 Fall Movies Part I

http://filmdramas.suite101.com/article.cfm/2009_fall_movie_preview_part_i

Early Oscar Buzz

http://filmdramas.suite101.com/article.cfm/early_oscar_buzz

HOL101

Sophie Okonedo in Skin

Red Cliff battle

Head, Aaron and Bullock have family time.

Freeman and Damon unite

Clooney and Farmiga click

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