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Fa-la-la-la-la film frenzy

The best holidays movies (that have nothing to do with Santa).

Published Dec. 11, 2009

It's the holiday season! Most welcome winter with tacky sweater cookie exchanges and other Chrismukkah festivities, but for film nerds December is all about one man — no, Virginia, not Santa — Oscar. Just like every year, Hollywood has saved the best for last, and there is plenty to be joyful about at the movies this Christmas.

The heavyweight: 'Avatar'

It's been 13 years since we've heard from "Titanic" Director James Cameron, and for good reason. He's been cooking up this game-changer "Avatar" since 1995. Hailed as the new frontier of cinema, expectations are high for this entirely motion-captured 3-D extravaganza; the industry's been buzzing all year. Thirteen-year-old boys are sure to drool and special effects nerds are already preparing for the Twitter-ready moviegasm, but can "Avatar" live up to the hype? With a convoluted sci-fi plot and epic running time (almost three hours) it's hard to say "Avatar" will please everyone. Still, this long-awaited spectacle is worth checking out.

The shoe-in: 'Invictus'

Have you heard the story of the little Oscar voter who asked Santa if he could just get one Best Picture contender that combined a socially conscious historical biopic with a rousing sports story, maybe acted out by an older Awards favorite playing opposite a dashing young lead? And Santa said, "Well, Oscar voter, if you're good this year you can have all that and Clint Eastwood directing it!" Thus, you get "Invictus." Morgan Freeman plays Nelson Mandela in an inspiring story of young rugby player Matt Damon set against the backdrop of post-Apartheid South Africa.

The hard hitter: 'The Lovely Bones'

James Cameron isn't the only director jumping ship from his mega-hit to try something new. Peter Jackson, "The Lord of the Rings" himself, is ditching the hobbits and getting serious with this adaptation of the harrowing 2002 novel, telling the heart-wrenching story of young murder victim Susie Salmon as she watches her family grieve and killer plot his next crime. The heavy material is not typical holiday fare, but the studio trusted Jackson's unique vision enough to push release to awards season. Star turns by the brilliant-but-seldom-seen Stanley Tucci as the murderer and Mark Wahlberg as Susie's dad surely won't hurt.

The best bet: 'Up in the Air'

Leave it to "Juno" director Jason Reitman and 2009's debonair wonder-boy George Clooney to serve up the most pertinent, charming movie of the season. "Up in the Air" casts Clooney as Ryan Bingham, a suave corporate down-sizer who's great at his job but is really just in it for the frequent flyer mileage. It's already racked up mileage on the awards circuit, garnering multiple Best Picture prizes. "Air" promises a delightful look at the state of the recession — and if Clooney can charm you out of dwelling on the close-to-home layoff scenes, it's safe to call it a job well done.