By Antora Majumdar and Keno Katsuda
If you’re hoping to hit the multiplex over the holidays, December’s film releases do not disappoint. With plenty of pics driven by complex female characters, in a wide range of indies and blockbusters alike, this month’s movie slate offers something for everyone.
December will usher in a number of new science fiction films that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Susanne Bier’s Sandra Bullock-starrer, “Bird Box” (December 13), gives us a glimpse into a terrifying post-apocalyptic world where using your eyesight spells death and disaster. Based on the books by Philip Reeve, “Mortal Engines” (December 14) is a steampunk action adventure following protagonist Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar), who lives in a dystopian London that moves like a giant machine on wheels. And in another machine-inspired tale, “Bumblebee” (December 21) revives the world of the “Transformers” universe. This time Hailee Steinfeld takes the lead as a young woman who comes upon what she thinks is just a beat up VW bug, but finds out the little car is so much more.
There are a bevy of indie must-sees, too. From first-time feature director Bridey Elliott, “Clara’s Ghost” (December 6) parodies well-known horror film tropes in order to dig into the drama of a former showbiz family. “Capernaum” (December 14), winner of the Jury Prize at Cannes, is an inventive and truly unique story about a Lebanese boy named Zain. Born into a life of struggle, Zain takes to the streets to fend for himself and sues his parents, alleging that giving him life was a crime.
This month will also bring historical and fictional stories about impressive, powerful women living in the public eye. In Josie Rourke’s “Mary Queen of Scots” (December 7) cousins Mary Stuart (Saoirse Ronan) and Elizabeth I (Margot Robbie) face off in a battle for the throne. “Vox Lux” (December 7) sees Natalie Portman playing a pop icon who once launched herself into stardom after a tragedy, but is now struggling to make a comeback. And at the end of the month, Felicity Jones stars in a biopic celebrating the triumphs of one of America’s most recognized Supreme Court justices: Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Mimi Leder’s “On the Basis of Sex” (December 25) follows Ginsburg as she takes on a landmark gender discrimination case, while she confronts the same kind of prejudice in her own career.
Finally, what are the holidays without a few movies that tug at the heartstrings or give you that warm fuzzy feeling? Start by reliving a childhood favorite with “Mary Poppins Returns” (December 19). Set 25 years after the events of the Disney classic, the film returns to London and the now-grown Banks siblings. With Emily Blunt starring as the most famous — and most magical — nanny in the world, you’ll be transported to another time. Meanwhile, Jennifer Lopez toplines “Second Act” (December 21), a heartfelt comedy about a working-class woman trying to land her dream job, only to find that when she does, it’s not quite in the way she expected.
Here are all of the women-centric, women-directed, and women-written films premiering this December. All descriptions are from press materials unless otherwise noted.
December 1
“Ulam: Main Dish” (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Alexandra Cuerdo (Opens in San Francisco)
In this delicious new documentary, Filipino-American filmmaker Alexandra Cuerdo follows the rise of Filipino food via the award-winning chefs crossing over to the center of the American table. “Ulam: Main Dish” stages this new culinary movement as not only a remarkable achievement for American restaurateurs, but also as a validation of Filipino culture.
“Elliot: The Littlest Reindeer” – Written and Directed by Jennifer Westcott
When one of Santa’s reindeer suddenly announces his retirement, he needs to find a replacement and fast! Against all odds, Elliot (Josh Hutcherson) and his best friend Hazel (Samantha Bee) set out to prove that he is the horse for the job. As Elliot and Hazel take on the North Pole reindeer tryouts, Hazel learns that Christmas as we know it may be headed for disaster. Meanwhile, back at the farm, a potential new owner has plans that threaten the lives of their friends. Elliot is faced with the biggest decision of his life: save his friends, or follow his dreams and save Christmas.
December 5
“The Charmer” – Written by Ingeborg Topsøe and Milad Alami (Opens in NY)
Esmail (Ardalan Esmaili) is a darkly handsome Iranian immigrant to Denmark, on the verge of being thrown out of the country if he can’t find a Danish woman to marry. He dresses well and frequents posh bars, easily ingratiating himself with attractive Danes who are seduced by his good looks, gentle manners, and apparent decency. But he’s a man caught between his self-interest and self-respect. Things get a lot more complicated when he meets a beautiful fellow countryman (Soho Rezanejad) who immediately grasps his game plan, but finds herself attracted to him nonetheless.
December 6
“Clara’s Ghost” – Written and Directed by Bridey Elliott (Available on VOD December 7)
“Clara’s Ghost”
Set over the course of a single evening in the Reynolds family home in suburban Connecticut, “Clara’s Ghost” tells the story of Clara Reynolds (Paula Niedert Elliott) who, fed up with constant ribbing from her self-absorbed showbiz family, finds solace in and guidance from the supernatural force she believes is haunting her.
December 7
“Mary Queen of Scots” – Directed by Josie Rourke
“Mary Queen of Scots”
“Mary Queen of Scots” explores the turbulent life of the charismatic Mary Stuart (Saoirse Ronan). Queen of France at 16 and widowed at 18, Mary defies pressure to remarry. Instead, she returns to her native Scotland to reclaim her rightful throne. But Scotland and England fall under the rule of the compelling Elizabeth I (Margot Robbie). Each young Queen beholds her “sister” in fear and fascination. Rivals in power and in love, and female regents in a masculine world, the two must decide how to play the game of marriage versus independence. Determined to rule as much more than a figurehead, Mary asserts her claim to the English throne, threatening Elizabeth’s sovereignty. Betrayal, rebellion, and conspiracies within each court imperil both thrones – and change the course of history.
“Dumplin’” – Directed by Anne Fletcher; Written by Kristin Hahn (Also Available on Netflix)
Dumplin’ (Danielle Macdonald) is the plus-size, teenage daughter of a former beauty queen (Jennifer Aniston), who signs up for her mom’s pageant as a protest that escalates when other contestants follow in her footsteps, revolutionizing the pageant and their small Texas town.
“Vox Lux”
“Vox Lux”
“Vox Lux” begins in 1999 when teenage Celeste (Raffey Cassidy) survives a violent tragedy. After singing at a memorial service, Celeste transforms into a burgeoning pop star with the help of her songwriter sister (Stacy Martin) and talent manager (Jude Law). Celeste’s meteoric rise to fame dovetails with a personal and national loss of innocence, consequently elevating the young powerhouse to a new kind of celebrity: American icon, secular deity, global superstar. By 2017, adult Celeste (Natalie Portman) is mounting a comeback after a scandalous incident almost derailed her career. Touring in support of her sixth album, a compendium of sci-fi anthems entitled “Vox Lux,” the indomitable, foul-mouthed pop savior must overcome her personal and familial struggles to navigate motherhood, madness, and monolithic fame.
“Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes” (Documentary) – Directed by Alexis Bloom (Also Available on VOD)
“Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes” sheds light on the current moment in American political life by following the arc of Roger Ailes, long-time Republican svengali and controversial founder of Fox News. By coaching an unrivaled stable of politicians over the course of 50 years, Ailes heavily influenced Republican politics, steering the conservative movement from Nixon to the Tea Party to Trump. Under his tutelage, anger and fear became the coin of the realm, both on the ballot and on national television. Diagnosed with hemophilia at an early age, it took someone intimate with fear to skillfully manipulate the fear of others. Short skirts and low necklines mesmerized his audience and, as long as Fox made money, there was little oversight of his fiefdom. But the carnival house mirror Ailes put up to America reflected his own distorted personal life. This is a story of serial cruelty, both on the public stage and in private life.
“The Party’s Just Beginning” – Written and Directed by Karen Gillan (Opens in Select Theaters) (Available on VOD December 11)
“The Party’s Just Beginning”
The film begins with the life of Liusaidh (Karen Gillan), a young Scottish woman living with her parents in the Scottish Highlands. After a recent tragedy, her behavior is reckless, drunken, and often results in brief, casual liaisons. One such fling with a visitor to the town (Lee Pace) results in several other chance occurrences and in turn, begins the tale of three interwoven and still separate life narratives.
“Amazing Grace” (Documentary) (Opens in NY)
“Amazing Grace”
Aretha Franklin may have been best known as the “Queen of Soul,” but she started her meteoric career singing gospel music as a teenager on tour and at home in Detroit, where her father was a star pastor. Her 1972 album, “Amazing Grace” — an extraordinary concert of Franklin at the peak of her powers — was her most successful record, and the best-selling live gospel album of all time. It was recorded with gospel legend Rev. James Cleveland at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles by a team supervised by producer Jerry Wexler and in front of an audience filled with admirers, including Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts.
“Back Roads” – Written by Tawni O’Dell (Also Available on VOD)
After his mother (Juliette Lewis) goes to jail for shooting and killing his abusive father, Harley Altmyer (Alex Pettyfer) is left to care for his three younger sisters in a rural Pennsylvania town. The uneducated Harley works two dead-end jobs to preserve what’s left of his family, including the rebellious, sexual 16-year-old Amber (Nicola Peltz). Angered and traumatized by his painful past, Harley finally begins to feel hope when he connects with an older, married woman (Jennifer Morrison), and they embark on an affair. When shocking family secrets emerge, Harley’s life begins to spiral downward, leading to a devastating conclusion that impacts the entire community.
December 13
“Bird Box” – Directed by Susanne Bier (Available on Netflix December 21)
“Bird Box”
When a mysterious force decimates the world’s population, only one thing is certain: if you see it, you take your life. Facing the unknown, Malorie (Sandra Bullock) finds love, hope, and a new beginning only for it to unravel. Now she must flee with her two children down a treacherous river to the one place left that may offer sanctuary. But to survive, they’ll have to undertake the perilous two-day journey blindfolded.
“Maine” (Available on VOD December 14)
A married Spanish woman named Bluebird (Laia Costa) attempts to hike the entire Appalachian Trail solo in order to find clarity, but her solitude is interrupted by a young American hiker (Thomas Mann). The pair develop an emotional and romantic connection while traveling together, but Bluebird ultimately must face the trail and her own feelings alone.
December 14
“If Beale Street Could Talk” (Opens in NY and LA)
“If Beale Street Could Talk”
Set in early-1970s Harlem, “If Beale Street Could Talk” is a timeless and moving love story of both a couple’s unbreakable bond and the African-American family’s empowering embrace, as told through the eyes of 19-year-old Tish Rivers (KiKi Layne). A daughter and wife-to-be, Tish vividly recalls the passion, respect, and trust that have connected her and her artist fiancé Alonzo Hunt, who goes by the nickname Fonny (Stephan James). Friends since childhood, the devoted couple dream of a future together but their plans are derailed when Fonny is arrested for a crime he did not commit.
“Capernaum” – Directed by Nadine Labaki; Written by Nadine Labaki, Michelle Kesrouani, Jihad Hojeily, and Khaled Mouzanar (Opens in NY and LA)
“Capernaum”
Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, Nadine Labaki’s “Capernaum” (“Chaos”) tells the story of Zain (Zain al Rafeea), a Lebanese boy who sues his parents for the “crime” of giving him life. “Capernaum” follows Zain, a gutsy, streetwise child as he flees his negligent parents, survives through his wits on the streets, takes care of Ethiopian refugee Rahil (Yordanos Shiferaw) and her baby son, Yonas (Boluwatife Treasure Bankole), is jailed for a crime, and finally, seeks justice in a courtroom.
“That Way Madness Lies…” (Documentary) – Directed by Sandra Luckow; Written by Sandra Luckow and Anne Alvergue (Opens in NY and LA)
What do you do when your brother descends into a black hole of mental instability — starting with falling for a Nigerian email scam but eventually winding up involuntarily committed into the hospital made famous by “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”? Luckow unflinchingly turns her camera on her own family as they attempt to navigate the broken mental health system in an effort to save her brother, Duanne. His iPhone video diary ultimately becomes an unfiltered look at the mind of a man with untreated schizophrenia as well as an indictment of how the system failed.
“Mortal Engines” – Written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Peter Jackson
“Mortal Engines”
Hundreds of years after civilization was destroyed by a cataclysmic event, a mysterious young woman, Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar), emerges as the only one who can stop London — now a giant predator city on wheels — from devouring everything in its path. Feral, and fiercely driven by the memory of her mother, Hester joins forces with Tom Natsworthy (Robert Sheehan), an outcast from London, along with Anna Fang (Jihae), a dangerous outlaw with a bounty on her head.
“The Second Time Around” – Written by Sherry Soules and Leon Marr
Katherine Mitchell (Linda Thorson), a widowed yet vibrant senior, wasn’t looking for love a second time — not at her age, and certainly not with grumpy Isaac Shapiro (Stuart Margolin). Despite the nosey bunch of seniors in the residence where Katherine convalesces after breaking her hip, she and Isaac warm to each other over their shared love of music. Against unforeseen obstacles, their love blooms and together they set out to fulfill Katherine’s lifelong dream of going to the opera in Milan.
December 19
“Mary Poppins Returns”
“Mary Poppins Returns”
“Mary Poppins Returns” is set in 1930s, Depression-era London — the time period of the original novels — and is drawn from the wealth of material in P.L. Travers’ additional seven books. In the story, Michael (Ben Whishaw) and Jane (Emily Mortimer) are now grown up, with Michael, his three children, and their housekeeper, Ellen (Julie Walters), living on Cherry Tree Lane. After Michael suffers a personal loss, the enigmatic nanny Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) re-enters the lives of the Banks family, and, along with the optimistic street lamplighter Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda), uses her unique magical skills to help the family rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives.
December 21
“Bumblebee” – Written by Christina Hodson
“Bumblebee”
On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken. When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns this is no ordinary yellow VW bug.
“Second Act” – Written by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Justin Zackham
“Second Act”
“Second Act” is a comedy in the vein of “Working Girl” and “Maid In Manhattan.” Jennifer Lopez stars as Maya, a 40-year-old woman struggling with frustrations from unfulfilled dreams. Until, that is, she gets the chance to prove to Madison Avenue that street smarts are as valuable as book smarts, and that it is never too late for a second act.
“Welcome to Marwen” – Written by Caroline Thompson and Robert Zemeckis
“Welcome to Marwen”
When a devastating attack shatters Mark Hogancamp (Steve Carell) and wipes away all memories, no one expected recovery. Putting together pieces from his old and new life, Mark meticulously creates a wondrous town where he can heal and be heroic. As he builds an astonishing art installation — a testament to the most powerful women he knows — through his fantasy world, he draws strength to triumph in the real one.
“Delaware Shore”
“Delaware Shore” follows the life of a Holocaust survivor, Agnes (Gail Wagner), who escapes a concentration camp and finds refuge on a Delaware Beach. Haunted by the war and its atrocities, she finds herself doing the bare minimum to raise her abandoned twin grandchildren.
“Between Worlds” – Written and Directed by Maria Pulera
A lonely, grief-stricken truck driver stumbles onto a horrific scene in a remote truck stop. A woman is being strangled. He leaps out of his cab and pulls off the attacker, but, strangely, the woman is angry that he interfered. Was he interrupting a suicide? A murder? He’s about to be swept into a world beyond his comprehension.
December 25
“Destroyer” – Directed by Karyn Kusama (Opens in NY and LA)
“Destroyer”
“Destroyer” follows the moral and existential odyssey of LAPD detective Erin Bell (Nicole Kidman) who, as a young cop, was placed undercover with a gang in the California desert with tragic results. When the leader of that gang re-emerges many years later, she must work her way back through the remaining members and into her own history with them to finally reckon with the demons that destroyed her past.
“On the Basis of Sex” – Directed by Mimi Leder
“On the Basis of Sex”
The film tells an inspiring and spirited true story that follows young lawyer Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Felicity Jones) as she teams with her husband, Marty (Armie Hammer), to bring a groundbreaking case before the U.S. Court of Appeals and overturn a century of gender discrimination. “On the Basis of Sex’s” premiere is in line with Justice Ginsburg’s 25th anniversary on the Supreme Court.
