Filmsane

It’s finally here. The last month of the year. December will bring a bunch of great movies that are worth paying attention to, and plenty of them are potential Oscar contenders.

Among the mix of heavy dramas and award worthy biopics, there’s Aquaman, the latest product of DC Extended Universe and with Jason Momoa reprising the role of Arthur Curry/Aquaman.

But out of all the movies that are headed to theaters this month, which are the best? Well, this is my selection and I hope you enjoy my picks.

Mary Queen of Scots

Director: Josie Rourke
Stars: Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie, Jack Lowden…
Release Date: 7 December 2018
Fun fact about the movie: Margot Robbie is the second Australian actress to portray Queen Elizabeth I. The first was Cate Blanchett in “Elizabeth” (1998) and “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” (2007).

Ben Is Back

Director: Peter Hedges
Stars: Julia Roberts, Lucas Hedges, Courtney B. Vance…
Release Date: 7 December 2018
Fun fact about the movie: Lucas Hedges is the son of the director Peter Hedges.

The Mule

Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Bradley Cooper, Michael Peña…
Release Date: 14 December 2018
Fun fact about the movie: This was Clint Eastwood first credited acting role since Trouble with the Curve (2012).

Mary Poppins Returns

Director: Rob Marshall
Stars: Emily Blunt, Dick Van Dyke, Meryl Streep…
Fun fact about the movie: 19 December 2018
Fun fact about the movie: Julie Andrews turned down a cameo appearance, fearing that it would be too distracting. She said, “this is Emily’s show, and I really want it to be Emily’s show.”

Aquaman

Director: James Wan
Stars: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Dolph Lundgren…
Release Date: 21 December 2018
Fun fact about the movie: Nicole Kidman, who plays Aquaman’s mother Queen Atlanna, had declined the role of Queen Hippolyta in Wonder Woman (2017) (in the comics, Diana Prince/Wonder Woman was Aquaman’s ally and sometimes love interest).

Welcome to Marwen

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Stars: Steve Carell, Diane Kruger, Eiza González…
Release Date: 21 December 2018
Fun fact about the movie: The first film Robert Zemeckis has directed for Universal since Death Becomes Her (1992).

Cold War

Director: Pawel Pawlikowski
Stars: Joanna Kulig, Tomasz Kot, Borys Szyc…
Release Date: 21 December 2018
Fun fact about the movie: The turbulent relationship between the main characters was inspired by the director’s real-life parents, who did break up and get together a couple of times as well as moved from one country to another.

Vice

Director: Adam McKay
Stars: Steve Carell, Christian Bale, Amy Adams…
Release Date: 25 December 2018
Fun fact about the movie: Christian Bale gained 45 pounds, shaved his head, bleached his eyebrows and exercised to thicken his neck for his role as Cheney. Bale said he achieved his hefty physique for the film by eating a lot of pies.

On the Basis of Sex

Director: Mimi Leder
Stars: Stephen Root, Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer…
Release Date: 25 December 2018
Fun fact about the movie: Natalie Portman was attached to star as Ruth Bader Ginsburg for at least 4 years as the project was stuck in development. She eventually dropped out and was replaced by Felicity Jones.

Destroyer

Director: Karyn Kusama
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Tatiana Maslany….
Release Date: 25 December 2018
Fun fact about the movie: While preparing for his role, Sebastian Stan met an FBI agent who was on the TV series, “Inside the FBI” in New York who gave him some tips.