All Is Lost

Opening:

THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG—Part two of Peter Jackson’s second visit to the J. R. R. Tolkein well. Starring Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, and Orlando Bloom. Reviewed this issue. Flix, Maple Ridge, Market Arcade, New Angola, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive-In, Transit Drive-In, Transit Drive-In

A MADEA CHRISTMAS—It was only a matter of time. Starring Tyler Perry, Anna Maria Horsford, and Larry the Cable Guy. Maple Ridge, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Regal Walden Galleria, Regal Niagara Falls

ETC:

BASTARDS—Noir drama about a man (Vincent Lindon) seeking vengeance on the rich man he blames for the suicide of his sister’s husband. With Chiara Mastroianni and Julie Bataille. Directed by Claire Denis (Beau Travail). Reviewed this issue. Squeaky Wheel

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)—Jimmy Stewart gets to see what life for his friends and community would have been like had he never lived in Frank Capra’s holiday classic. Co-starring Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi, Frank Faylen, Ward Bond, Gloria Grahame, H. B. Warner, Frank Albertson, Sheldon Leonard, and Charles Lane. Screening Room

MADOKA MAGICA 3: REBELLION—Film adaptation of the anime series, also known as Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part III: The Rebellion Story. Screening Room

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944)— “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” debuted in this Judy Garland musical about a family preparing for the 1904 World’s Fair. With Margaret O’Brien, Mary Astor, Lucille Bremer, Leon Ames, Marjorie Main, June Lockhart. Thu 12/19 7pm. City Honors Auditorium, 186 E. North St. (www.chsfilm.org)

THE NUTCRACKER—As performed by the San Francisco Ballet. Screening Room

RICHARD II—From Stratford-on-Avon, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s presents David Tennant as the medieval king of England. With Oliver Ford Davies, Michael Pennington, and Nigel Lindsay. Directed by Gregory Doran. Amherst

SCROOGE (1970)—Everyone’s favorite curmudgeon in a musical adaptation that owes as much to Oliver! as it does to the Charles Dickens story. Starring Albert Finney, Edith Evans, Kenneth More, and Alec Guinness. Directed by Ronald Neame (Raise the Titanic). Screening Room

SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT (1984)—The original slasher Santa. Trivia: Director Charles E. Sellier Jr. spent most of his career before and after this making Christian-themed documentaries. Amherst

WE’RE NO ANGELS (1955)—Humphrey Bogart in a rare comic role, heading a trio of Devil’s Island escapees who become the unlikely Christmas benefactors of the distressed merchant whose store they hide out in. With Peter Ustinov, Aldo Ray, Joan Bennett, Basil Rathbone, and Leo G. Carroll. Directed by Michael Curtiz (Casablanca). Fri 7:30pm. The Old Chestnut Film Society, Philip Sheridan School, 3200 Elmwood (836-4757)