INSIDE

The Screening Room

By Kelley Lyne

Another year has come and almost past, which means it’s time for The Screening Room’s ultimate guide to the upcoming holiday movie season.

So without further ado, here are the highlights.

Opening November 17th:
Casino Royale
There’s a new Bond in town and British actor Daniel Craig (Layer Cake) is out to prove he’s better too. Craig’s moody performance is said to be more than deserving to revive the 007 series.

Happy Feet
Heavy hitters Robin Williams, Elijah Wood, Nicole Kidman and Brittany Murphy supply the vocal talent for this animated feature from Warner Brothers. Featuring the fancy footwork of dancer Savion Glover, we have a feeling the Emperor penguin in Antarctica will never be the same.

Opening November 22nd
Deck The Halls
Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito co-star as neighbors who compete against each other in a contest to see who can create a Christmas light display that can be seen from space.

Tenacious D And The Pick of Destiny
Most likely for fans of Jack Black’s band Tenacious D, this fictitious comedy is about the beginnings of the band.

The Fountain
Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weitz star in this sci-fi fantasy/romance about a man in a 1000 year search for the fountain of youth.

Deja Vu
Oscar winner Denzel Washington sleuths his way through this tense, action-packed thriller. Wait. Do you get the feeling you already knew that?

Bobby
Arguably the most talked about and anticipated film of this holiday season, with too many A-list stars to name here. Bobby focuses on Robert Kennedy’s fateful last night at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles seen through various characters.

Opening December 1st
The Nativity Story
Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider) heads up a terrific cast in this traditional telling of the Nativity events.

Opening December 8th
Apocalypto
The million dollar question is whether director Mel Gibson’s recent bad publicity will hurt the film more than its lack of English dialogue. Who’s up for Mayans gone wild!

The Holiday
Can you say “Date Movie”? Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslett and Jack Black star as two couples, one British and one U.S., who switch houses to try to revive their marriages.

Blood Diamond
Leonardo DiCaprio sports a mean British accent in this political/action thriller about the fight to possess a priceless pink diamond. Jennifer Connolly co-stars.

Opening December 15th
Dreamgirls
This remake of the long running Broadway hit stars Eddie Murphy, Beyonce Knowles and Oscar winner Jamie Foxx. This has been in the making for a long time which means it’s either a big bang or a big dud.

Opening December 20th
Charlotte’s Web
Wunderkind Dakota Fanning shines as Fern in the live-action adaptation of E.B. White’s beloved children’s book of the same name. Sure to be a Christmas crowd pleaser. Need we say more?

Opening December 22nd
The Good Shepherd
Talk about a serious cast. Robert DeNiro, Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie-Pitt, William Hurt and Alec Baldwin all co-star in the movie that traces the origination and beginning of the CIA. Whoa.

Night At The Museum
Ben Stiller finds out that the exhibits in the museum in which he is a guard come to life when the doors close at night. Also stars Dick Van Dyke and Mickey Rooney.

Perfume
Murder and obsession are at the forefront of this period piece set in 18th Century Paris. Answers the question why perfume was such a hot commodity back then.

Well, that about wrap things up, and we’ll see you in the aisles for 2007! Have a happy holiday season.