We made it through another year at the box office, folks, and now it’s time to reap the final fruits of 2008.
After a year of the comedies, summer blockbusters and dramas we’ve come to know and love, Hollywood is ready to put the icing on the cake with a slew of buzzworthy flicks in December. Some will no doubt be Oscar contenders, others probably will be just plain awful.
However it shakes out, RedEye is here to help you sort through the hype with our handy, dandy movie matrix.
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Release date: Dec. 12
Who’s in it: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates
The story: A remake of the 1950s flick about an alien who comes to Earth to tell humans to change their violent ways.
Why we’re excited: Jon Hamm from “Mad Men” is in it!
Bonus: Reeves is in his element in yet another End of Days tale. Whoa …
Frost/Nixon
Release date: Dec. 12
Who’s in it: Michael Sheen, Frank Langella
The story: Director Ron Howard details the intense interview sessions between British talk-show host David Frost and former President Richard Nixon after Watergate.
Why we’re excited: It’s Howard at the helm — bound to be interesting.
Bonus: Did someone say ’70s soundtrack?
Seven Pounds
Release date: Dec. 19
Who’s in it: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson
The story: Smith plays a man looking for redemption and examining his impact on the lives of seven people.
Why we’re excited: Even after reading the early stories and watching the trailer, we’re not exactly 100 percent sure what it’s all about.
Bonus: Rosario Dawson. Need we say more?
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Release date: Dec. 25
Who’s in it: Cate Blanchett, Brad Pitt
The story: It’s the story of a man who ages in reverse.
Why we’re excited: This remake of the F. Scott Fitzgerald story is too weird to pass up.
Bonus: A creepy old-man-as-a-baby scene.
Marley & Me
Release date: Dec. 25
Who’s in it: Jennifer Aniston, Owen Wilson
The story: An adorable but naughty dog teaches a couple about life and potty training.
Why we’re excited: This was the first film Wilson worked on after his reported suicide attempt last year.
Bonus: Lots and lots of montages of a cute dog causing mayhem!
The Spirit
Release date: Dec. 25
Who’s in it: Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Eva Mendes
The story: It’s an adaptation of Will Eisner’s graphic serial.
Why we’re excited: Frank Miller, the dude behind the uber-popular “Sin City” and “300,” is at the helm.
Bonus: Cool special effects.
Valkyrie
Release date: Dec. 25
Who’s in it: Tom Cruise
The story: It’s the epic story of the failed plot to kill Adolf Hitler.
Why we’re excited: This is the biggest movie Cruise has done since, like, “Mission Impossible III.”
Bonus: Cruise with an eye patch. Doesn’t get much better than that.
