23/12/2011

Italian, American, but also British and French comedies, action and animation films and a dash of political engagement: laughs, adrenalin, love and adventure. These are the unmissable ingredients once again on offer in cinemas during the Christmas holidays. And if Italian cinemas are already monopolised by last week’s releases (the two national Christmas films, Finalmente la felicità [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and Vacanze di Natale a Cortina [+see also:
trailer
making of
film profile], in 608 and 750 cinemas respectively, and the American blockbusters Puss in Boots, The Ides of March and Sherlock Holmes – A Game of Shadows, which together take up another 1441 cinemas), today, December 23, the choice will be further expanded with the arrival on screens of five new films, with a predominance of French ones.

The Friday just before Christmas sees the release (distribution Moviemax) of the new chapter of the animated fantasy saga, produced, written and directed by LucBesson, Arthur 3 – The War of the Two Worlds [+see also:
trailer
making of
interview: Luc Besson
film profile], starring the tiny Mini-mes. Also an animation, but with Father Christmas as its main character, is another film which comes out today: the UK/US production Arthur Christmas - 3D [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Sarah Smith (distr. Warner Bros), in which Father Christmas sets up a highly technological team to deliver his presents in just one night. While France returns with a comedy produced together with Belgium Romantics Anonymous [+see also:
trailer
making of
film profile], directed by Jean-Pierre Améris and distributed by Lucky Red, in which Benoît Poelvoorde and IsabelleCarré (photo) are so shy that they are unable to express their feelings for each other; another French film is Black Gold [+see also:
trailer
interview: Riz Ahmed
film profile] by Jean-Jacques Annaud (distr. Eagle Pictures), with Antonio Banderas and Mark Strong as two rival emirs in the Arab states at the beginning of the 20th century.

And while a small Portuguese film, Luís Galvão Teles’s Aguasaltas.com [+see also:
trailer
film profile], will be the only release just before New Year’s Eve, on December 28 (distr. Kitchen Film), we will have to wait until January 4 to see the much awaited Immaturi – Il viaggio by Paolo Genovese, sequel to the Italian takings champion of last year, The Immature [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], with Raoul Bova, Ambra Angiolini, Ricky Memphis, Luca Bizzarri, Paolo Kessisoglu, Barbora Bobulova and Anita Caprioli (distr. Medusa). Finally, on the same day, it’s the younger generation’s turn with the release of Ben Palmer’s The Inbetweeners [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (UK - distr. Eagle Pictures), which tells of the adventures of four friends on holiday in Crete and which sold out at the UK box office this year.

The remaining releases of the Christmas period are all American, they are the romantic comedy New Year’s Eve by George Marshall, with Michelle Pfeiffer, ZacEfron, Robert De Niro and Halle Berry (comes out on December 23), the animation film AlvinSuperstar 3 - Chipwrecked (January 3) and Clint Eastwood’s latest, J. Edgar, with Leonardo Di Caprio (January 4).

(Translated from Italian)