The GO Holiday Movie Preview

The best and worst coming to local cinemas this season.

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November 9

Fred Claus

PHOTO JAAP BUITENDIJK FRED CLAUS (PAUL GIAMATTI, VINCE VAUGHN)

Paul Giamatti is Santa, and Vince Vaughn is his regular-guy, troublemaking brother.
It’ll be good if: They make it naughty enough to make adults laugh. The previews are promising, but not hilarious.
It’ll be better if: They somehow reverse Giamatti and Vaughn’s roles; Vaughn a fake-bearded, sarcastic lug of a Santa and Giamatti his alkie brother, essentially channeling his character from Sideways.
See it?: Sure, though we’re getting the same sinking feeling about Vince Vaughn’s career as we have about Ben Stiller’s.

Lions for Lambs

You’ve seen the previews, which promises a vague, dense story about people who either oppose the war in Afghanistan or favor it… or something. It’s a who’s who of ’70s and ’80s greats: Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise.
It’ll be good if: All three main actors live up to their potential, and the story has an actual message about the war, not just grandstanding.
It’ll be better if: Cruise’s performance is a flameout... well... you know what we mean.
See it: We probably won’t, but if you like political dramas (or your mom loves Redford), you might want to.

November 14

Into the Wild (Moxie Cinema)

This is the high point of what might just be the Moxie’s best month of shows to date. This true story, based on the book by Jon Krakauer, tells the story of the reclusive Christopher McCandless’s journey to and disappearance in Alaska.
It’ll be good if: It simply lives up to the hype.
It’ll be better if: You read the book first. Krakauer’s work is pretty powerful.
See it?: Absolutely.

November 16

COURTESY PARAMOUNT PICTURES

Beowulf

We remember reading Beowulf in eighth grade English and having no idea what was going on. Couldn’t they have just done Huckleberry Finn?
It’ll be good if: The technology is all it’s cracked up to be; if a partially nude CGI Angelina Jolie is as good as the real thing.
It’ll be better if: A partially nude CGI Angelina Jolie is better than the real thing.
See it?: Why not. At least it’s not in Old English.

Love in the Time of Cholera

This was a book, right? A cast full of underappreciated talent (Catalina Sandino Moreno, Benjamin Bratt, John Leguizamo) could make this romantic flick a holiday season success.
It’ll be good if: It’s as well-received as the book.
It’ll be better if: Screenwriter Ronald Harwood can pull another The Pianist out of his hat; director Mike Newell channels more Four Weddings and a Funeral than Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (he directed both).
See it?: Guys, if you’re trying to score points, we suggest taking her to see this film rather than The Simpsons Movie at The Palace. Again.

November 21

Hitman

Based on the popular video game, nothing says “Thanksgiving” like Timothy Olyphant with an array of weapons.
It’ll be good if: It is better than other recent video game-to-film adaptations, like… hell… we can’t remember one.
It’ll be better if: They just release it straight to DVD, and open up another theater of Fred Claus.
See it?: No.

Lars and the Real Girl (Moxie Cinema)

We might be skeptical of the premise—a lonely man thinks his life-size doll is a real woman—if it didn't have Ryan Gosling in the lead role. After Half Nelson we can't not take him seriously.
It'll be good if: It's can serve as a real commentary on loneliness and perception; doesn't patronize at the end.
It'll be better if: Gosling does something Oscar-worthy.
See it?: We're there.