end of '09.

Well, the final month of 2009 is here.  Hard to believe it’s almost the end of yet another year.  It’s cold, some of us will soon be studying for finals, others will be attempting to brave the crowds to do some Holiday shopping.  It’s a fun time of year, but also somewhat stressful.  So if you are looking for something fun (or relaxing) to do, why not head to the movies?  And there are lots of new ones coming out, many of which look pretty good.

 

Armored (Antal, 2009) – A newbie guard for an armored truck company is coerced by his veteran coworkers to steal a truck containing $42 million.  But a wrinkle in their supposedly foolproof plan divides the group, leading to a potentially deadly resolution.

Brothers (Sheridan, 2009) – A young man comforts his older brother's wife and children after he goes missing in Afghanistan.  Based on Susanne Bier's film, Brødre.

Serious Moonlight (Hines, 2009) – A high-powered attorney duct tapes her adulterous husband to the toilet ... right before burglars invade their home.

Did You Hear About the Morgans? (Lawrence, 2009) – In New York City, an estranged couple who witness a murder are relocated to small-town Wyoming as part of a witness-protection program.

Invictus (Eastwood, 2009) – A look at life for Nelson Mandela after the fall of apartheid in South Africa during his first term as president when he campaigned to host the 1995 Rugby World Cup event as an opportunity to unite his countrymen.

The Lovely Bones (Jackson, 2009) – Centers on a young girl who has been murdered and watches over her family, and her killer, from heaven.  She must weigh her desire for vengeance against her desire for her family to heal.

Avatar (Cameron, 2009) – A band of humans are pitted in a battle against a distant planet's indigenous population.

The Young Victoria (Vallée, 2009) – A dramatization of the turbulent first years of Queen Victoria's rule and her enduring romance with Prince Albert.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel (Thomas, 2009) – The world famous singing pre-teen chipmunk trio return to contend with the pressures of school, celebrity, and a rival female music group.

It’s Complicated (Meyers, 2009) – A romantic comedy in which two men vie for the affection of a woman.

Sherlock Holmes (Ritchie, 2009) – Detective Sherlock Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (Gilliam, 2009) – A traveling theater company gives its audience much more than they were expecting.

The White Ribbon (Haneke, 2009) – Strange events happen at a rural school in the north of Germany during the year 1913, which seem to be ritual punishment.  Does this affect the school system, and how does the school have an influence on fascism?