The Film Fix: Reviews, Previews of December’s Top Films in Theaters, Streaming
Pictured above: Angelina Jolie stars as Maria Callas in the new film from Pablo Larraín, coming to Netflix.
By JONATHAN W. HICKMAN, Special to The Paper
Below are reviews and capsules of various films this month in theaters and/or streaming.
Review rating … A “Fix” is recommended with a rating between 6 and 10. A “No Fix” is not recommended with a rating between 1 to 5.
In Theaters
Gladiator II (now playing) – Fix Rating 6/10 – Director Ridley Scott returns with this sequel to his 2000 multiple Oscar winner. This installment is fun but not as award-worthy as its predecessor. While Denzel Washington will get the most notice for his often bizarre (and humorous) turn as the scheming Macrinus, the palace intrigue his character engineers detracts from the thrilling gladiatorial combat that should dominate the narrative.
The story has soldier Lucius (a muscled-up Paul Mescal) captured in Numidia by Roman forces led by General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal). Naturally, Lucius plots revenge as he makes his way through the ranks of would-be gladiators, catching the eye of Washington’s opportunistic Macrinus. In no time, Lucius finds himself in the arena, where the movie shows signs of great excitement.
But the film gets bogged down with callbacks to the original in an attempt to give it artificial dramatic weight. What audiences want to see is epic gladiator battles, which are present in the movie but have less visceral impact this time. Sadly, the grandeur of the Coliseum is lacking here even though, at one point, the structure is filled with water, and ships collide violently with gladiators falling into waters inhabited by hungry sharks. It’s not quite as thrilling as it sounds.
The Brutalist (coming soon – Best of 2024) – Fix Rating 9/10 – Sure to be a top Academy Award contender, “The Brutalist” is director and co-writer Brady Corbet’s third feature since “The Childhood of a Leader” in 2015. Corbet is an emerging talent whose films excite cineastes but never quite feel complete. For example, his 2018 effort “Vox Lux” starts powerfully but meanders to a conclusion.
What Corbet has as a filmmaker is a feel for authentic and engaging visual storytelling, and “The Brutalist” is easily his best film to date. Clocking in at a whopping three hours and thirty-five minutes, the story follows a super-talented architect named László Toth (Adrien Brody, delivering a possible second Oscar-worthy performance) who flees Europe after WWII to restart in the United States.
But once here, László finds obstacles that threaten. His depression deepens as he longs to be reunited with his wife Erzsébet (Felicity Jones) left behind. A ray of hope emerges in the form of wealthy benefactor Harrison Lee Van Buren, Sr. (a fantastically selfish and out-of-touch portrayal by the gifted Guy Pearce). He commissions László to design and build a massive community center.
“The Brutalist” is an enormous achievement on almost every level. Shown in two halves, with an intermission in between, the first section will enchant viewers, while the second half offers an uncompromisingly bleak vision. Still, Corbet’s commitment to his own vision is why the movie is so powerful.
Nosferatu (December 7) – Fix Rating 8/10 – This third feature film bearing the name of “Nosferatu” is credited as an adaptation of F.W. Murnau’s 1922 silent classic that was an unofficial adaptation of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.” German director Werner Herzog also adapted the material in 1979 with his frequent collaborator Klaus Kinski in the lead.
“Nosferatu (2024)” comes from director Robert Eggers, the auteur responsible for “The Witch,” “The Lighthouse,” and “The Northman.” In many ways, “Nosferatu” is Eggers’s most broadly appealing film. The well-known story centers around the mysterious Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård), who sends for a young real estate attorney named Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult) to complete the purchase of a home in Germany. However, once the young newlywed Thomas ventures to the Count’s far-off castle, he discovers that the client’s intentions are downright sinister.
Back home, Thomas’ suffering wife, Ellen (an excellent Lily-Rose Depp), has terrifying visions and seeks assistance for her husband’s immediate return. But if Thomas does come back, he will not be himself and will likely not be alone.
Egger’s take on the “Dracula” tale is inventive and scary. Skarsgård, who played the frightful Pennywise in the “It” films, makes a horrifying vampire cleverly shown chiefly in shadow. Willem Dafoe appears as the professor who might assist in fighting the Count. Still, instead of making the academic an all-knowing vampire killer, Eggers’ carefully constructed screenplay allows for a distinct learning curve. This lack of knowledge means that the Count has the upper hand for most of the film, putting the characters and the viewer on edge.
Streaming Selects
NETFLIX
Kneecap (December 2) – Fix Rating 8/10 – This entertaining movie will likely garner Ireland a Best International Feature Film Oscar nomination. The story is a mostly true biopic of the Irish hip-hop band Kneecap. The movie is presented in Irish and English, and language is the narrative’s focus as the young rappers play themselves in this rousing production.
Maria (December 11) – Angelina Jolie stars in the biography of opera singer Maria Callas. It’s set in the 1970s in Paris during the last days of the great artist who died in 1977 at 53. Word is that Jolie is terrific in this film directed by Pablo Larraín (completing his trilogy alongside “Jackie” and “Spencer”) that’s written by Steven Knight (see “Locke” and “Eastern Promises”).
APPLE TV+
A Charlie Brown Christmas (stream free December 14 and December 15) – Apple is making the 1965 animated Christmas classic available to stream free on their platform for two days. Join Charlie Brown, Schroeder, Lucy, Patty, Pig-Pen, Linus, and, of course, Snoopy as Charlie tries to find the deeper meaning to the Christmas holiday.
Wonder Pets: In the City (December 13, 2024) – Izzy the Guinea Pig, Tate the Snake, and Zuri the Bunny leave the kindergarten classroom in NYC to explore the planet in their “Jetcar.” “In the City” is a new season of the beloved show.
MAX
Juror #2 (December 20) – Fix Rating 6/10 — The controversy surrounding the muted theatrical release of Clint Eastwood’s likely final film centered on the limited number of theaters released last month. And while I think the movie would have made money had the studio elected to release it wider, “Juror #2” is right at home in streaming. The story is like something from a John Grisham novel significantly influenced by the classic “12 Angry Men.” When a young man is picked to serve on a murder jury, he discovers that he may have a connection to the crime. The film is set in Savannah.
DISNEY+ / HULU
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (first two episodes on December 3) – As Disney slows the serialization of the Star Wars universe on the small screen, “Skeleton Crew” is one of several shows in the pipeline hoping to buck the downward trend. This younger-skewing series has four kids making a discovery that will take them on an exciting adventure. Jude Law becomes their de facto leader as the tikes try to return to their home planet while staying alive.
Theatrical Teasers
The Order (December 6) — Jude Law is reportedly in the running for best actor notice in this thriller from director Justin Kurzel (see 2015’s “Macbeth”). Law plays an FBI agent investigating a series of bank robberies that may be linked to a group of domestic terrorists.
Nightbitch (December 6) — Amy Adams plays a stay-at-home mom whose domestic malaise transforms her into a dog. The outlandish premise should allow Adams to show her acting range, but the film hasn’t generated much awards buzz. “Nightbitch” is directed by Marielle Heller (see “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”).
Kraven the Hunter (December 13) — Another entry in Sony’s Spider-Man universe, this MCU-adjacent project has been kicking around for some time. The film is an origin story for the title character (played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and his complicated relationship with his criminal father (played by Russell Crowe). The trailers make good use of Johnny Cash’s “The Man Comes Around,” but the action teased seems all too familiar.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (December 20) — The third film in the popular Sonic series has Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles facing off against Shadow. Jim Carrey returns as Dr. Ivo Robotnik and his grandfather Gerald. Keanu Reeves provides the voice of Shadow the Hedgehog.
A Complete Unknown (December 25) – Timothée Chalamet makes a terrific dead-ringer for Bob Dylan in this biopic from director James Mangold (See “Walk the Line,” “Logan,” and “Ford v Ferrari”). The story, which does appear to provide some of the great folk artist’s origins, concerns Dylan’s change to electric guitar at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. With the strength of Chalamet’s stardom and Dylan’s classic sound, “A Complete Unknown” could be one of the holiday season’s biggest hits.
Jonathan W. Hickman is an entertainment attorney, filmmaker, college professor, and novelist. More about Jonathan can be found by visiting: filmproductionlaw.com.
