Debuting in US theaters the week of December 25 are two hot awards-season favorites in Vice Presidential biopic “Vice” and Nicole Kidman’s intense thriller “Destroyer.”
Another true-life story profiling the rise of influential anti-discrimination lawyer Ruth Bader Ginsburg in “On the Basis of Sex” the Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly comic farce “Holmes & Watson” and Reilly’s double act with British comedian Steve Coogan, tracing the final tour of a legendary comedy pairing in “Stan & Ollie.”
1. Vice (R)
Select release dates: Canada, USA – December 25; Australia, New Zealand – Dec 26; Ireland, UK – January 25; South Africa – Jan 31; France – February 13; Netherlands – Feb 28
Story: Dick Cheney goes from ruthless oil company CEO to US Vice President, seeing an opportunity to reshape the role and become the most powerful (and, eventually, generally despised) VP in the nation’s history. An awards-season favorite for its director and a transformed Christian Bale.
Starring Christian Bale (“Batman Begins” trilogy), Sam Rockwell (“Three Billboards…”), Amy Adams (“Arrival”) and Steve Carell (“Foxcatcher,” TV series “The Office”) and directed by Adam McKay (“The Big Short,” “Step Brothers”).
2. Holmes & Watson (PG-13)
Select release dates: Canada, USA – December 25; Australia, Ireland, UK – Dec 26; South Africa – January 4; Netherlands – Jan 10; France – February 27
Story: The greatest detective, Sherlock Holmes, as a brilliant but comically short-sighted dolt, is accompanied by his even less incisive assistant, Doctor Watson, as they attempt to foil a threat to the Queen’s life.
Starring “Step Brothers” leads Will Ferrell (“Anchorman,” “Get Hard”) and John C. Reilly (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “Guardians of the Galaxy”) and directed by Etan Cohen (“Get Hard”).
3. Destroyer (R)
Select release dates: USA – December 25; Canada, Ireland, UK – January 25; Singapore – February 14; Netherlands – March 14
Story: Veteran LAPD officer Erin Bell is forced to confront the remaining members of a gang she had infiltrated at the beginning of her career. A Golden Globe-nominated performance from Kidman.
Starring Nicole Kidman (“Moulin Rouge,” “The Peacemaker,” TV series “Big Little Lies”), Sebastian Stan (Marvel Cinematic Universe) and Tatiana Maslany (TV series “Orphan Black,”) and directed by Karyn Kusama (“Jennifer’s Body,” episodes of “Halt and Catch Fire,” “Billions,” “The Man in the High Castle”).
4. On the Basis of Sex (PG-13)
Select release dates: USA – December 25; France – January 2; Singapore – Jan 10; South Africa – Jan 24; Australia – February 1; Ireland, UK – Feb 8; Netherlands – March 7
Story: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, not yet a US Supreme Court Justice but a young law student, teams up with her husband to overturn a century of gender discrimination.
Starring Felicity Jones (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” “Like Crazy”) and directed by Mimi Leder (“The Peacemaker,” TV show “The Leftovers”).
5. Stan & Ollie (PG)
Select release dates: USA – December 28 (limited screenings); Ireland, UK – January 11; Australia – February 21; France – March 6
Story: Following an unfortunate but deeply hurtful misunderstanding, beloved English comedian Stan Laurel and American counterpart Oliver Hardy team up again for a final tour.
Starring Steve Coogan (“Philomena,” TV show “I’m Alan Partridge”) and John C. Reilly (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “Guardians of the Galaxy”) and directed by Jon S. Baird (“Filth”).