Last week the AFI Film Festival wrapped up its 24th year and screened an impressive slate of close to 100 films from 31 countries. Fandango was lucky enough to attend the fest in Hollywood, and here are our picks for the five festival films you’ll want to check out once they come to a theater near you...
What's the Scoop: Jake Gyllenhaal plays a womanizing pharmaceutical sales rep pushing Viagra who meets his match in the very feisty Anne Hathaway. This fun romantic comedy also has a serious side as Hathaway’s character reveals a surprise about herself, just when Jake’s character admits he’s fallen in love with her.Release Date: November 24, 2010
What's the Scoop: One of the top movies on everyone’s awards lists is this biographical drama about England’s King George VI, played by Colin Firth. The King had a debilitating stutter, and sought help from an Australian speech therapist, played by Geoffrey Rush. His unconventional means showed the royal highness how to overcome his impediment and speak with confidence. It’s a well-made film about a very unlikely friendship between the duo.
Release Date: November 26, 2010
What's the Scoop: Natalie Portman is a shoe-in for a Best Actress nomination after delivering the performance of her career as a ballerina who begins to buckle under the combined stress of her demanding professional career and her equally demanding stage mom (played by Barbara Hershey). It’s an eerie, intense, psychological thrill ride all wrapped up in an art house film that also stars Mila Kunis.Release Date: December 3, 2010
What's the Scoop: Mark Wahlberg produces and stars as boxing legend “Irish” Micky Ward in this biographical drama set in 1980s Massachusetts. Christian Bale gives a standout performance as his crack addicted half-brother Dicky and Melissa Leo rounds out the dysfunctional family playing their very controlling and greedy mother. Expect a few Best Supporting nominations to come out of this one.
Release Date: December 10, 2010
What's The Scoop: This drama about a couple (Aaron Eckhart, Nicole Kidman) dealing with the loss of their young child drew raves from audiences in Toronto, with folks claiming this to be Nicole Kidman's comeback role. Expect to see Kidman's name in the hunt, too, for Best Actress this year and Eckhart for Best Supporting Actor.Release Date: December 17, 2010
