The holidays mean quite a bit to movies, not only do we get our yearly onslaught of holiday themed delights (and or bombs), but we also get some of the biggest and best work from filmmakers from around the globe.  This isn’t just the holiday season, this is Oscar season.

In the coming weeks I will be sharing my most anticipated releases of the holiday season, in addition I hope to update each post with my thoughts after I see the films.  Let’s begin.

The Descendants

Synopsis: From Alexander Payne, the creator of the Oscar-winning “Sideways,” set in Hawaii, “The Descendants” is a sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic journey for Matt King (George Clooney) an indifferent husband and father of two girls, who is forced to re-examine his past and embrace his future when his wife suffers a boating accident off of Waikiki. The event leads to a rapprochement with his young daughters while Matt wrestles with a decision to sell the family’s land handed down from Hawaiian royalty and missionaries (from Fox Searchlight).

My Take: Payne is an incredibly talented director who has the rare ability of creating the perfect balance of comedy and humour in his work.  The buzz around The Descendants is huge right now and critics have almost unanimously called it one of the year’s best pictures.  Clooney’s performance is supposed to be incredible as well.

Melancholia

Synopsis: What really can be said about Lars Von Trier’s Melancholia? Described as “A Beautiful Movie About The End of The World,” Trier’s latest stars Kirsten Dunst and involves a wedding taking place at the same time as the World is coming to an end…I think.

My Take: Lars Von Trier is quite a fascinating director, excessive yes, but fascinating all the same.  I found Antichrist to be quite a disturbing film, but I couldn’t take my eyes from it.  Melancholia looks to be a gorgeous, surreal, experience, and one that I can’t wait to see.  Also…I love Kirsten Dunst and her performance is said to be Oscar worthy.  Count me in.

Mini-Review: Oh Lars, how I love and hate you at the same time.  While Melancholia begins quite incredibly and finishes with a huge bang, I can’t help but think that the middle act dragged on a little too long and seemed to lack some of the visual punch that the beginning and end showcased.

Dunst’s performance is everything the critics have applauded her for and more. She truly is incredible in this film.  Charlotte Gainsbourg also gave an absolutely wonderful performance and Kiefer Sutherland turned in his best work in some time.

Melancholia was good, but I can’t help but feeling that if the film’s second act had a slight re-edit, the film would have been excellent.

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