Summer movie guide for Puss in Boots and Avatar instalments, I Wanna Dance With Somebody
Leigh Paatsch breaks down the incredible new blockbuster releases to find the movies that will be worth a look in holiday break. See what’s coming.
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Boxing Day traditionally ushers in a fortnight of pure bliss for movie fans, a period renowned for an abundance of riches not seen in cinemas at any other time of the year.
Leigh Paatsch navigates the maze of diverse new releases to find the movies that will be worth a look in the hazy, lazy weeks ahead.
THE CROWD PLEASERS
These are sure-fire movie hits that tick every box.
AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER
Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana
Now Showing in General Release
Foreground: When a familiar threat to peace on Pandora returns to resume hostilities in a new guise, Jake must work with Neytiri and a new tribe of seafaring Na’vi warriors to protect their home.
Background: This is what you call saving the best until the last. As a groundbreaking, visually stunning cinematic spectacle, the long-awaited Avatar sequel undoubtedly lands the prize as the must-see movie of 2022 (a title held by Top Gun: Maverick until now). Early box-office figures are indicating this three-hour epic will dominate summer movie-going.
Close-Up: A rare case where a movie doesn’t merely live up to the hype. It blasts right past any prior expectations (or suspicions). Whatever you do, make sure you dive into The Way of Water on the biggest screen possible, and only in 3D. Yes, it’s been a while since we’ve had to don those pesky viewing glasses, but it’s the only way you’re going to experience the visual magic in full force.
I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY
Naomi Ackie, Stanley Tucci
Opens in General Release from December 26
Foreground: A chronicle of the short life, fluctuating fortunes and incomparable voice of Whitney Houston, one of the greatest female singers of all time, tracking her journey from obscurity to musical superstardom.
Background: This blockbuster biopic has been developed under the oversight of the late singer’s estate, which means it may not cover as much downbeat material as a number of recent docos about Houston. Producers headhunted the writer of the Queen smash hit Bohemian Rhapsody to handle scripting duties.
Close-Up: Little-known British actress Naomi Ackie beat a hot field of candidates to land the plum role of Whitney. Her most prominent screen credit to date is as Jannah in 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. To her relief, Ackie hasn’t be called upon to sing: the movie uses original recordings of Houston’s voice throughout.
GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY
Daniel Craig, Kate Hudson
Netflix from December 23
Foreground: During the Covid-19 pandemic, the brilliant and unorthodox private detective Benoit Blanc is hired by the only surviving relative of a technology CEO who has died in mysterious circumstances.
Background: The original murder-mystery hit Knives Out grossed over half a billion bucks worldwide in 2018. Netflix caused a sensation in film circles by buying the streaming rights to that movie and its sequel for a staggering $600 million.
Close Up: Daniel Craig has hinted audiences will learn “a surprise secret or two” about Benoit Blanc they won’t be expecting. As with the original, a large ensemble cast has been gathered (including Edward Norton, Janelle Monae, Ethan Hawke, Hugh Grant and, umm, Serena Williams) to keep the prime suspects in plentiful supply.
A MAN CALLED OTTO
Tom Hanks, Rachel Keller
General Release from January 1
Foreground: Otto is a curmudgeon who’s given up on life following the loss of his wife. When a family moves in nearby, he meets his match in a quick-witted youngster will turn his world around.
Background: The ever-popular Tom Hanks moves into the grouchy “get off my lawn” territory once occupied by Clint Eastwood in his heyday. The book on which this comedy-drama is based (titled A Man Called Ove) remained on the NYT Best-Seller list for over 18 months a decade ago.
Close Up: This is a passion project for Hanks, who has been attached to the project for six years after seeing the Oscar-nominated Swedish adaptation of the same bittersweet, yet endearing yarn. It is expected Hanks too will see some Oscars action for his work here.
OPERATION FORTUNE: RUSE DU GUERRE
Jason Statham, Hugh Grant
Selected cinemas from early January
Foreground: After the sale of a deadly new weapon threatens to disrupt world peace, Special Agent Orson Fortune recruits one of Hollywood’s biggest movie stars for an undercover mission.
Background: This is the one that true fans of tough-talking crooks and hard-boiled crimes will want to be all over. Why? Because the filmmaker responsible is one of the best in the biz with such fare: the one and only Guy Ritchie (Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, The Gentlemen).
Close Up: The original release date was cancelled earlier this year due to the outbreak of hostilities in the Russia-Ukraine War. Studio heads made the call because a noticeable proportion of the heavies in the movie are of Ukrainian origin.
PRESTIGE PICKS
The movies that will suit those with refined tastes.
THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN
Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson
General Release from December 26
Foreground: In a remote Irish village, two lifelong friends find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both of them.
Background: It is doubtful there has been a better-reviewed movie in 2022, with consistent placings on every end-of-year Top 10 list that matters. Writer-director Martin McDonagh has an impeccable track record on the big screen, as evidenced by his previous worldwide hit, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
Close Up: Stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson (both prominent in Oscars calculations here) were brilliantly paired in an earlier picture for McDonagh, the wonderful In Bruges.
TRIANGLE OF SADNESS
Woody Harrelson, Charlbi Dean
Selected Cinemas from December 26
Foreground: International supermodels Carl and Yaya are a celebrity power couple invited to join a luxury cruise with a rogues’ gallery of super-rich passengers, including a Russian oligarch, British arms dealers and an alcoholic sea captain.
Background: This caustic black comedy has been a clear Oscars contender in several categories since premiering at the Cannes International Film in May, where it received an 8-minute standing ovation. All boat scenes were filmed on the famous Cristin O, the former first yacht of the Onassis family.
Close Up: The initial release of this widely acclaimed movie was tinged with tragedy when lead actress Charlbi Dean died suddenly at age 32, shortly after the premiere. It is believed she perished from an immune deficiency linked to a car accident many years earlier.
THE FABELMANS
Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen
General Release from January 5
Foreground: A gifted teenager aspires to become a filmmaker in the 1960s. As he learns his craft, he uncovers a shattering family secret that teaches him a valuable lesson about how the camera never lies.
Background: That synopsis reads as a bit ho-hum until you find out whose life story is being told here. These are the formative years of one of the greatest to ever call ‘Lights! Camera! Action!’ on a movie set: Steven Spielberg. The man himself is calling the shots on this faintly fictionalised affair, which many are hailing as one of the finest works of a stellar career.
Close Up: This is Spielberg in a quieter, more reflective mode than the kind of work that redefined mainstream movies for multiple generations of fans from Jaws onwards. Nevertheless, this is the current favourite for Best Picture at the next Oscars, and it will take a mighty effort to knock it off (or for that matter, Michelle Williams’ solid grip on the Best Actress statuette).
THE LOST KING
Sally Hawkins, Steve Coogan
General Release from December 26
Foreground: An amateur historian becomes embroiled in a battle with Britain’s academic establishment over her theory regarding the whereabouts of King Richard III’s remains, which have been lost for over 500 years.
Background: This endearing blend of light comedy and mild drama is based on the true story of Scottish housewife Philippa Langley, whose unprompted archaeological research led to the discovery of a famous monarch’s grave beneath a car park in suburban Leicester.
Close Up: The production has been the subject of some controversy in the UK, with several leading figures in the archaeology game challenging the version of events presented here. Co-star, writer and producer Steve Coogan has waved away the accusations as ‘sour grapes’.
FAMILY FRIENDLY
These movies perfect for both the young and young at heart.
LYLE, LYLE CROCODILE
Shawn Mendes, Javier Bardem
General Release from December 26
Foreground: Lyle is a happy-go-lucky reptile who lives in New York City with the Primm family. He gets along great with all the kids in their street until one nasty neighbour keeps insisting Lyle belongs in a zoo.
Background: Adapted from two beloved children’s books from the 1960s by author Bernard Weber, this very appealing blend of live-action and animation is also a fully-fledged musical featuring songs by the killer Pasek-Paul writing combo (credits include The Greatest Showman, La La Land and Aladdin).
Close Up: The lead role of Lyle – the sophisticated saltwater crocodile who can’t speak but can sing – is played by popular Canadian performer Shawn Mendes. Elton John and Stevie Wonder also have cuts on the soundtrack.
PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH
Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek
General Release from December 26
Foreground: Puss in Boots discovers his passion for adventure has taken a toll: he has burned through eight of his nine lives. So he sets out on an epic journey to find the mythical Last Wish and restore all nine lives.
Background: Yes, it has been over 20 years since Shrek changed the face of animated family movies forever. And yet, the spin-offs still keep coming. Taking into account the popularity of the first Puss in Boots movie (which grossed over $700 million worldwide), this sequel is almost certain to be the biggest kids’ hit of the summer.
Close Up: The animation techniques used to illustrate this production are markedly different from the day-glow-dominated Shrek ‘house style’ of yesteryear. And much more attractive to the eye, too. Even the Big Bad Wolf has had a makeover!
MUMMIES
Eleanor Tomlinson, Sean Bean
General Release from January 5
Foreground: Three Ancient Egyptian mummies find themselves in present-day London. The trio must track down a magic ring belonging to the Royal Family, stolen by the ambitious explorer Lord Carnaby.
Background: Australia will be the first country in the world to get a good look at this lively action-adventure comedy. The voice talent is primarily British, with Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville very much to the fore as the chief villain of the piece.
Close Up: Producers paid a pretty penny for the rights to use the iconic Bangles song Walk Like an Egyptian a number of times throughout the movie.
ROALD DAHL’S MATILDA: THE MUSICAL
Alisha Weir, Andrea Riseborough
Now Showing in General Release
Foreground: The story of an extraordinary girl who, armed only with a sharp mind and a vivid imagination, dares to take a stand to change her story with miraculous results.
Background: This lavish adaptation of the Tony and Olivier award-winning musical pulls out all the bells and whistles to deliver an all-ages audience a great time, and succeeds wildly. The song-and-dance numbers are exceedingly catchy, and little kids in particular will enjoy hissing and booing the chief baddie played by a marvellous Emma Thompson.
Close Up: Families who can’t get to the cinema to catch this brilliant rendition of the timeless Roald Dahl tale need not lament for too long. Its streaming premiere has been bumped forward to Christmas Day on Netflix.
BLUEBACK
Mia Wasikowska, Eric Bana
General Release from January 5
Foreground: A young girl bonds with a magnificent wild blue groper while diving. Sensing the rare fish is under threat from poachers, she takes inspiration from her activist mum to save her new friend.
Background: After a lengthy gestation, this long-awaited adaptation of the award-winning book by Australian author Tim Winton finally sees the light of day. Winton says that “it’s the book I still get the most mail about, even though I wrote it in the mid-1990s.”
Close Up: With Avatar: The Way of Water spectacularly highlighting the beauty and delicacy of marine environments, Blueback’s clever filmmaking team (currently preparing a sequel to The Dry) could not have timed a release any better.
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