Good news for Christmas Day moviegoing! Two wildly different films hit theaters, and both are flat out great!
LES MISERABLES
The beloved musical arrives onscreen with all the epic power we were hoping for. Director Tom Hooper, fresh from his triumph with The King’s Speech, brings a grand vision to the classic tale of convict Jean Valjean and his search for redemption in 19th century France. Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Oscar lock Anne Hathaway lead the impressive cast, all singing live and giving Les Mis the rousing treatment it deserves. Many will applaud, many will cry, as Les Miserables must be considered a frontrunner for the Best Picture Oscar. Bravo! 4 stars (out of 5)
DJANGO UNCHAINED
The lovechild of blaxploitation and the spaghetti western, Django Unchained offers a badass bloodbath for those looking for something a little wild this Christmas. Writer/director Quentin Tarantino’s epically entertaining flick gluts on forbidden fruit as Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz play bounty hunters targeting a plantation owner (Leonardo Di Caprio, in a redefining performance). Sam Jackson impresses in a sinister performance, and Tarantino populates the running time with dozens of great cameos.
Expect a lot of brutal violence. Django is not for the squeamish, but what Tarantino film is? He has developed a taste for rewriting history to let the underdogs bring bloody comeuppance, and why not? It is delicious. 4 stars