First Posted: 12/22/2014
In theaters:
INTO THE WOODS — Based on the musical comedy about a childless couple on a mission to end a witch’s curse. Starring Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Emily Blunt, James Corden, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine, Tracey Ullman, Christine Baranski, Lilla Crawford, Daniel Huttlestone, Richard Glover and Joanna Riding. PG; 2:05
THE GAMBLER — Literature professor Jim Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) leads a secret life as a high-stakes gambler. Always a risk-taker, Bennett bets it all when he borrows from a gangster and offers his own life as collateral. Staying one step ahead, he pits his creditor against the operator of an illicit gambling ring while garnering the attention of Frank (John Goodman), a paternalistic loan shark. As his relationship with a student (Brie Larson) deepens, Bennett must risk everything for a second chance. R;1:52
UNBROKEN — During World War II, Olympian and war hero Louis Zamperini (Jack O’Connell) survives for 47 days at sea in a raft, only to be captured by the Japanese navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp. PG13, 1:17
BIG EYES — Walter Keane’s (Christoph Waltz) portraits of saucer-eyed waifs make him a popular artist in the 1950s, but no one knows that it’s his wife, Margaret (Amy Adams), who’s the real genius behind the paintbrush. PG13, 1:45
THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES — Having reclaimed Erebor and a vast treasure from the dragon Smaug, Thorin Oakenshield sacrifices friendship and honor to horde the treasure, despite Smaug’s fiery wrath and Bilbo’s attempts to make him see reason. Sauron sends forth legions of Orcs in a sneak attack upon the Lonely Mountain. The fate of Middle Earth hangs in the balance, races of men, elves and dwarves must decide to unite or die. Starring Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ken Stott, James Nesbitt, Cate Blanchett and Orlando Bloom. PG13; 2:25
WILD — Driven to the edge by the loss of her beloved mother, the dissolution of her marriage and a headlong dive into self-destructive behavior, Cheryl Strayed makes a decision to halt her downward spiral and put her life back together again. With no outdoors experience, a heavy backpack and little else to go on but her own will, Cheryl sets out to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. Starring Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Thomas Sadoski, Michiel Huisman and Gaby Hoffmann. R; 1:55
NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB — Larry sets out on an epic quest to save the museum’s magic from disappearing forever. Starring Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson and Ricky Gervais. PG13; 1:38
ANNIE — Ever since her parents left her as a baby, little Annie has led a hard-knock life with her mean foster-mother, Miss Hannigan. All that changes when hard-nosed billionaire and mayoral candidate Will Stacks takes her in on the recommendation of his advisers. Stacks believes that he’s Annie’s guardian angel, but the plucky youngster’s confidence and sunny outlook may mean that Annie will save Will instead. Starring Jamie Foxx, Quvenzhané Wallis, Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale, Cameron Diaz and Michael J. Fox. PG; 2 hours
FOXCATCHER — When wealthy John du Pont invites Olympic wrestler Mark Schultz to move to his estate and help form a wrestling team for the 1988 Olympics, Mark sees a way to step out from under the shadow of his charismatic brother, Dave. When du Pont begins to lead Mark down a dark road, the athlete’s self-esteem slips away. Du Pont becomes fixated on bringing Dave into the fold, propelling all three toward tragedy. Starring Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo, Vanessa Redgrave and Sienna Miller. R; 2:14
EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS — (opening Dec. 12) Raised as an Egyptian prince, Moses learns of his Israelite heritage and frees his enslaved people. PG13; 2:30
HORRIBLE BOSSES 2 — Fed up with answering to higher-ups, Nick, Dale and Kurt decide to become their own bosses by launching their own business. But a slick investor soon pulls the rug out from under them. Starring Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Jamie Foxx, Chris Pine, Christoph Waltz, Kevin Spacey. R; 1:44
THE PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR — The penguins Skipper, Kowalski, Private, and Rico from DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Madagascar’ in their first feature film. PG; 1:32
THE HUNGER GAMES: Mocking Jay, Part 1 — Katniss Everdeen is back. She survived the bloody arena that is the Hunger Games, twice. Even though she made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. Staring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Julianne Moore and Philip Seymour Hoffman. PG13, 2:05
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING — In the 1960s, Cambridge University student and future physicist Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) falls in love with Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones). At 21, Hawking learns that he has motor neuron disease. Despite this he begins an ambitious study of time, of which he has very little left, according to his doctor. He and Jane defy terrible odds and break new ground in the fields of medicine and science, achieving more than either could hope to imagine. PG13, 2:03
BIRDMAN — A washed-up actor, whose previous claim to fame was his portrayal of a popular superhero, attempts to recapture his past glory by mounting a Broadway play. R, 2 hours
INTERSTELLAR — Explorers use a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel. PG13, 2:49
BIG HERO 6 — A devastating turn of events thrusts a them into a dangerous plot, a child prodigy, his robot and their friends become high-tech heroes on a mission to save their city. PG, 1:49
