Tom Long: Hollywood holidays

December movies will shine with something for everybody

The holiday movie season pretty much began and ended in early November with the release of "A Christmas Carol," the only actual holiday-themed film this year. And Thanksgiving became a blur of vampires, ninjas and John Travolta.

So now we're on to what we'll call the December movie season, where extravagant blockbusters -- "Avatar," "Sherlock Holmes" -- bump up against Oscar wannabes like "Nine," "The Lovely Bones" and "Up in the Air."

It's a heady mix of something for everyone: romantic comedies ("It's Complicated," "Did You Hear About the Morgans?"), historical tales ("The Young Victoria," "Me and Orson Welles"), serious drama ("Brothers," "Invictus") and even a classic animated Disney musical.

For moviegoers, December offers a feast as fine as any holiday banquet. If you can't find a movie to love in the next month, you need more mistletoe.

Dec. 4

"Armored" (PG-13): Matt Dillon, Laurence Fishburne and Skeet Ulrich star in this story of armored transport guards who decide to steal their own cargo.

"Brothers" (R): Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, Mare Winningham and Natalie Portman shine in a wrenching story of family and war, directed by Jim ("My Left Foot") Sheridan.

"Everybody's Fine" (PG-13): Robert De Niro plays a widowed father traveling the country to visit his kids, played by Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell.

"Transylmania" (R): College kids go to Romania to party -- sure, where else can you party? -- and run into vampires in this spoof.

"Serious Moonlight" (R): Kristen Bell, Justin Long, Meg Ryan and Timothy Hutton star in this story of burglars and bungled love, from the script Adrienne Shelley ("Waitress") was working on before her death.

Dec. 11

"The Princess and the Frog" (G): A princess kisses a frog -- and turns into a frog -- in this classically animated Disney musical that takes place in New Orleans. This will be the first Disney film in which an African-American character (voiced by Anika Noni Rose) is the heroine.

"The Strip" (PG-13): Strip mall employees face the reality of growing up when one gets married. Starring Dave Foley, who's already pretty grown up.

"Invictus" (PG-13): Director Clint Eastwood brings out big guns Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon for this story of how Nelson Mandela campaigned to host the 1995 World Rugby tournament to help unite his country. Obvious Oscar hopes here.

"Up in the Air" (R): George Clooney plays a man who spends his life flying from one place to another laying people off. Vera Farmiga plays the woman who appears to be his perfect match, Anna Kendrick is his young protege. (This film was partially shot in Detroit.) Directed by Jason Reitman ("Juno"). Can you say Oscar?

"Me and Orson Welles" (PG-13): A lucky teenager (Zac Efron) stumbles into a role in Orson Welles' 1937 production of "Julius Caesar." Also starring Claire Danes and Christian McKay.

"Skin" (PG-13): Sophie Okonedo stars in this true story of a black girl born to white parents in South Africa during apartheid.

Dec. 18

"Avatar" (not yet rated): James Cameron ("Titanic," "The Terminator") returns to the mainstream with this 3-D sci-fi extravaganza, about Earth's invasion of another planet. Starring Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana and Michelle Rodriguez and Stephen Lang.

"Did You Hear About the Morgans?" (not yet rated): Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker play an estranged couple who witness a murder in New York and find themselves relocated to small-town Wyoming.

"Red Cliff" (R): Director John Woo offers a historical epic about a great battle fought in China in the third century. Starring Tony Leung.

Dec. 23

"Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" (PG): Alvin and the gang go back to school and encounter competition from the girl chipmunk group Chipettes. Parents, hold your tongues and cover your ears.

Dec. 25

"Sherlock Holmes" (not yet rated): Robert Downey Jr. is Holmes, Jude Law is Watson, and Rachel McAdams is really good-looking in director Guy Ritchie's so-modern rendition of the classic sleuth, who, of course, is out to save all of England.

"A Single Man" (not rated): A day in the life of a forlorn gay man (Colin Firth) who has just lost his longtime lover, taking place during the Cuban missile crisis in 1962.

"It's Complicated" (R): Writer-director Nancy Meyers ("What Women Want," "Something's Gotta Give") wraps up Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin in a triangle in this romantic comedy.

"Nine" (PG-13): Director Rob Marshall ("Chicago") takes on this musical about a film director and offers the year's most star-powered cast -- Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Penélope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, Fergie and Sophia Loren.

"The Young Victoria" (PG): Emily Blunt plays Victoria, who takes over the crown of England at age 18 and quickly finds herself surrounded by political intrigue while falling in love with Prince Albert (Rupert Friend).

December (no Detroit date yet set)

"The Lovely Bones" (PG-13): Peter Jackson directs this story (based on the best-selling Alice Sebold novel) of a murdered girl (Saoirse Ronan) who watches over her family and her killer from heaven. Stars Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Stanley Tucci and Susan Sarandon. Again, major Oscar bait.

tlong@detnews.com (313) 222-8879